Many people are curious what the mascot and school colors will be for the new high school in Waukee. To us, this shows the interest and investment our community has in our growing district.
People have moved to Waukee—in record numbers—for the exceptional education our staff provides and they’ve stayed because we’ve delivered on those expectations. A second high school will allow us to expand opportunities for all of our students and create spaces where new opportunities can be implemented.
Our leaders understand how fortunate we are to have the community’s support as we grow as a district. When we asked the community to vote on the bond referendum in 2018, it was passed at more than 90 percent. To us, this shows that our community is supportive of our decision to grow the school district into two high schools. Because the bond referendum passed, we are able to design a 21st-century facility that allows us to meet the current needs of students and educators.
After the completion of the Waukee Innovation & Learning Center in 2013, it was clear to us that students are learning in different ways than they did in the past, and educators are teaching in a different way—for the better. Most districts in the state are not building new facilities; instead, they have to be creative with the resources they already have with declining enrollments. We are taking a hard look at how we spend taxpayer dollars to make sure it’s in the best interest of our students and staff, to last long into the future of Waukee Community School District.
To circle back to the frequently asked questions about the mascot and colors, we will be working with current staff and key stakeholders to help us through these and all of the important decisions. We do not want to have a split district with an “us vs. them” mentality. Waukee is a tight-knit community, with our schools being the anchor, and we don’t want that to change. Engaging our staff from the beginning has been very beneficial in making decisions on classroom layouts, how we use the spaces in the new buildings, and resources we can provide to enhance learning. This has worked well for us in the past and will continue to build a sense of community and excitement for the new school. We are going to enjoy this journey and have some fun in the process, so stay tuned.
An official groundbreaking event for the new school was held on Dec. 11. We were proud to involve the entire community in the ceremonial groundbreaking. For more updates on the construction of the new high school, visit https://2ndhs.waukeeschools.org/.