WATERLOO SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT ADDRESS COMMUNITY REGARDING THE FUTURE OF EAST AND WEST HIGH SCHOOL
Waterloo, Iowa – The Waterloo Schools Board of Education President Astor Williams, Vice President Lyle Schmitt, and Superintendent Dr. Jared Smith are issuing a joint statement to address concerns circulating in the community about the future of Waterloo East and West High Schools. In particular, misinformation has surfaced stating the district will close East as soon as the new unified high school campus is built.
If approved by voters on November 5, Waterloo Schools plans to build a new, comprehensive high school campus for all 10th through 12th grade students. The new school will be located next to the Waterloo Career Center on Katoski Drive. This strategic plan also includes restructuring learning environments for the district’s 6th through 9th grade students. Specifically, East and West High School buildings will transition to junior high schools, serving the district’s 8th and 9th graders and maintaining the rich traditions of the Trojans and Wahawks mascots.
“We understand that there have been conversations about the plans for these two historical campuses. We want to assure our community that both East and West High Schools will remain integral parts of our district’s educational landscape,” said President Williams. “I will personally not support a plan that does not include equitable opportunities and facilities for all students in all areas of our District. If indeed after November 5th we are moving in the direction of one comprehensive 10-12 high school this needs to be one of the primary focuses of everyone in the community.”
Superintendent Smith emphasized the district’s commitment to providing a high-quality learning environment at both locations. “While some areas of East and West may be older, the student population in each building will be cut in half when they transition to junior high schools, allowing educators to focus on the best learning environments within each building,” stated Smith. “Additionally, we have invested and will continue to invest in ongoing maintenance and upgrades to ensure their viability for years to come,” stated Smith.
Waterloo Schools has dedicated significant resources to enhancing the high school buildings. Over the past twenty years, the district has invested over $13M at West High School and over $14M at East High School. These investments included security camera upgrades, auditorium renovations, roofing projects, locker room additions, science classroom remodels, bleacher replacements and more.
The district’s strategic facilities plan includes the use of Physical Plant Equipment Levy (PPEL) funds for ongoing maintenance and improvements at both campuses. This will ensure that the district can continue to provide a safe and supportive learning environment while also investing in the new high school building.
“The junior high plan at East and West will improve the most problematic segment of our school system; the transition from 8th grade into high school,” said Vice President Schmitt. “We expect the number of 9th grade dropouts to drop dramatically, which will uplift our community as well as students. Smaller learning communities at East and West promise to serve the well-being of students during their pivotal maturity years, far into the future. Abandoning either junior high would be counterproductive to student success.”
“Our team is dedicated to the East High and West High communities,” Smith assured. “We deeply respect the Trojan and Wahawk traditions and are committed to preserving and maintaining both schools for decades to come.”
On November 5, residents who live in the Waterloo Schools boundary have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to use sales tax to build the new high school campus. Authorizing the use of the 1% statewide sales tax ensures that property taxes will not be raised to pay for the $165M project.
Scheduled to be completed by the 2028-29 school year, the plan would also realign Hoover Middle School, Bunger Middle School, and George Washington Carver Academy, serving students in grades 6 and 7. Elementary schools within the district would remain the same.
For more information about the project and the bond referendum, please visit WaterlooSchools.org/Bridging-Futures.
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