Waukee voters support $117M bond referendum to build a second high school

The Des Moines Register

Voters in Waukee overwhelmingly approved a $117 million bond to build a second high school.

That means in three years, the western suburb will be cheering on two football teams, each with their own mascots and school colors.

Waukee is just the second Iowa district in the last 40 years to go from one high school to two. Ankeny’s Centennial High School opened in August 2013.

The referendum passed Tuesday, 2,988 to 322, according to unofficial election results from the Dallas County Auditor's Office.

636396204413497264-second-high-school-schematic-design.jpg
Waukee's second high school will sit on 100 acres of land north of Hickman Road and east of 10th Street. Another 60 acres will house a youth sports complex built by the city.

"This is the right thing for our district and our students, and I’m pleased that the voters understand that," school board president Susan Bunz said Tuesday night. "I'm extremely pleased we can get this done and have it in place so that when the next generation of students come into Waukee schools, we'll have the space for them."

Waukee, Iowa's fastest-growing school district, is expected to exceed its operational capacity at Waukee High School next year. The district expects to have 2,448 high school students by 2021, when the new school is scheduled to open.

The second high school, which has yet to be named, will be located about a half-mile north of Hickman Road, near the Waukee Family YMCA.

The 395,000-square-foot building will be equipped with innovative features like a two-story, glass-walled media center; a rooftop terrace with outdoor seating; and a greenhouse.

A high school and youth sports complex is planned for the Waukee School District's second high school. The city's portion of funds will come from Apple Inc. in a public improvement agreement made as part of Waukee's financial incentives package for the tech giant's new data center.

It's part of a 160-acre joint development with the city of Waukee that includes a community youth sports complex. The district will build a football stadium and track, two baseball fields, two softball fields, 12 tennis courts and four practice fields. The city's $7 million contribution to the complex will feature 12 softball and baseball fields, a fishing pier and playground.

A $1.1 million upgrade at the existing Waukee High School will add parking and new student collaborative spaces and improve technology systems.

The Waukee Community School District is still working to create new boundaries that will determine who will attend the new high school. Students in the classes of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 will be the first to attend the school when it opens in the fall of 2021.

The bond will not affect property tax rates, according to the Waukee school district.