WATERLOO SCHOOLS RECEIVES PETITION FOR PUBLIC VOTE
Waterloo, Iowa – August 15, 2024 – The Waterloo Community School District (WCSD) has received a petition from community members calling for a public vote on the issuance of bonds for the district’s $165 million project to construct a new high school at the current Waterloo Career Center (WCC) location on Katoski Drive. The petition, which gathered the required number of signatures, seeks to place the issue on the ballot for the upcoming November election.
Earlier this summer, WCSD Board of Education voted 5-2 in favor of moving forward with issuing bonds for the project after months of work with INVISION Architecture of Waterloo. Since December, the district has held 14 town hall meetings and work sessions to engage the community and assess the feasibility of the project.
“I am incredibly proud of our leadership team, including board members, principals, and staff, who have dedicated countless hours to this project,” stated Dr. Jared Smith, Superintendent. “Their commitment and hard work have laid a strong foundation to ensure a brighter future for our students. We are excited to continue sharing our vision with the community in the coming months.”
The proposed project aims to build a comprehensive high school campus to serve the district’s 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. The new facility would be placed on the same campus as the WCC and is expected to provide state-of-the-art educational resources and infrastructure. If constructed, it would be the only high school campus in the State of Iowa that offers on-site career and technical education to every student.
The district plans to use funds from the statewide 1% sales tax, known as Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE), which specifically allocates for school infrastructure needs or district property tax relief. Although the state authorizes the use of these funds, the public has the right to submit a petition to call for a public vote on the expenditure.
On Monday, August 26, Superintendent Smith will recommend that the Waterloo Schools Board of Education vote to proceed with adding the measure on the November 5 ballot. If the board proceeds with calling a public vote, eligible voters who live within the WCSD’s boundaries will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to proceed with using SAVE funding to pay for the project.
Waterloo Schools is committed to engaging with the community and ensuring that all voices are heard. The district will provide additional information and opportunities for public input as the November vote approaches.
For more information about the project, visit WaterlooSchools.org/bridging-futures.
###
