The July 21, 2026 regular meeting centers on several decisions with long-term operational and financial significance for Waukee Community Schools. The Board is scheduled to consider construction actions for a district office renovation project, review major capital expenditures already underway across district facilities, adopt legislative priorities for the coming state advocacy cycle, and conduct first readings of numerous board policies, including a new policy governing artificial intelligence in education.
Facilities remain a major focus. Along with a public hearing and contract award related to the district office addition and renovation, the consent agenda includes more than $2.2 million in construction pay applications covering projects at Waukee High School, Waukee Middle School, Walnut Hills Elementary, Waukee South Middle School, Trailridge Stadium, and the Landing at Kettlestone development. Several change orders are also scheduled for approval.
The meeting also addresses educational programming through an update on the District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP), intended to strengthen post-secondary readiness. In governance matters, board members will review numerous policy revisions affecting student eligibility, medication administration, electronic devices, employee social media, public records, meal charging, and new district guidance on the educational use of artificial intelligence.
Additional business includes updated district fees, approval of several new staff positions, numerous contracts and vendor agreements, personnel actions, financial reports, open enrollment information, and donated technology equipment for district meeting spaces.
Major Discussion and Action Items
District Office Addition and Renovation Project
One of the meeting's most significant actions is a public hearing followed by consideration of resolutions approving the plans, specifications, estimated cost, and construction contract for the WCSD District Office Addition and Renovations Project.
The hearing allows community members to comment before the Board considers formal approval of the project documents and awards a construction contract. These actions move the project from planning into implementation.
District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP)
The Board will receive a presentation from the Director of Post-Secondary Readiness regarding the District Career and Academic Plan.
The presentation is intended to update board members on how the district prepares students for college, career, military, and workforce opportunities. The plan serves as an important strategic document guiding career exploration, academic pathways, and post-secondary readiness across grade levels.
2027 Legislative Priorities
Board members will review the Iowa Association of School Boards legislative platform and select Waukee Community Schools' preferred legislative priorities for submission.
These priorities influence the district's advocacy efforts with state policymakers and identify the issues the district believes deserve attention during future legislative sessions.
Major Policy Review
The Board will conduct first readings for a substantial package of board policies covering governance, employment, student services, instructional programs, athletics, medication administration, public records, transportation reimbursement, meal charging, and school operations.
Among the most notable items is a new Artificial Intelligence in the Educational Environment policy accompanied by implementation regulations, reflecting the growing importance of AI tools in instruction and school operations.
Facilities Use Guidelines
The Board is scheduled to adopt updated facilities use guidelines covering general district facilities, the Waukee Innovation & Learning Center, and the district natatorium.
These guidelines establish expectations for outside organizations and community users seeking access to district facilities.
Updated Fees and Staffing
The Financial Services Committee recommends approval of an updated FY2026-27 schedule of fees.
The Board will also consider adding several positions, including:
- 2.0 FTE shuttle drivers.
- 1.0 FTE Mock Trial sponsor.
- 2.0 FTE seventh-grade assistant cross-country coaches.
- 0.33 FTE Registered Behavior Technician.
These additions support transportation, student activities, athletics, and specialized student services.
Contracts and Agreements
The consent agenda contains dozens of contracts involving instructional resources, technology, cybersecurity, health services, professional development, athletic programs, facilities, telecommunications, software, and educational partnerships.
Rather than representing a single initiative, these agreements collectively support day-to-day district operations and upcoming school-year programming.
Financial Matters
Financial oversight represents a significant portion of the meeting.
The Board will review May financial reports, purchasing card activity, ACH payments, cash balances, operating statements, donations, accounts payable, and outstanding fee reports.
Major construction payment requests include:
- Waukee High School Fine Arts Addition and Renovations — Pay Application #25: $636,237.25
- Waukee High School Tennis Court Renovations — Pay Application #4: $480,136.94
- Waukee Middle School Restroom, Locker Room and Fire Alarm Renovations — Pay Application #1: $388,189.63
- Landing at Kettlestone Plat 2 Public Improvement Project — Pay Application #1: $214,108.10
- Trailridge Stadium Storage and Batting Cage Project — Pay Application #1: $171,973.24
- Walnut Hills Elementary Parking Lot Renovations Phase 2 — Pay Application #2: $155,038.11
- Waukee South Middle School Pavement Replacement — Pay Application #2: $133,210.43
- Waukee High School Track and Field Renovations — Pay Application #4: $96,032.57
- Waukee High School Fine Arts Furniture — Final Pay Application #3: $22,534.04
The Board will also consider change orders totaling:
- Landing at Kettlestone: +$616.03
- Waukee High School Track: +$3,885.84
- Waukee High School Tennis: +$3,910.24
- North Operations and Transportation: –$3,049.00
The consent agenda additionally includes numerous contracts for instructional software, cybersecurity, telecommunications, curriculum materials, transportation-related purchases, professional services, and grant agreements, along with acceptance of donated conferencing equipment from Heartland Business Systems.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The governance agenda includes two major policy packages.
Subjects include:
- Board elections.
- Meeting notices.
- Equal employment opportunity.
- Open enrollment procedures.
- Student expression.
- Athletic eligibility.
- Student participation in non-school sports.
- Medication administration.
- Physical education.
- Private instruction.
- Religion-based exclusions.
- Multicultural education.
- Public records.
- Employee social media.
- Student social media.
- Student personal electronic devices.
- Meal charging.
- Employee travel reimbursement.
The most significant new proposal is Policy 605.10 establishing district guidance for artificial intelligence in the educational environment, supported by separate implementation regulations.
The packet schedules reports from:
- Student Board Representatives.
- The Superintendent and Board President.
- The District Career and Academic Plan presentation.
- Policy Committee.
- Financial Services Committee.
- Capital Projects Committee.
Consent materials also include personnel reports, open enrollment information, financial statements, donation reports, accounts payable documentation, and cash balance updates.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel matters primarily appear within the consent agenda through the regular personnel report and addendum.
Separate action items establish additional staffing capacity in transportation, behavioral services, extracurricular programming, and middle school athletics. These additions suggest operational adjustments in preparation for the upcoming school year.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Construction activity remains extensive across the district.
Projects referenced include:
- District Office Addition and Renovations.
- Waukee Middle School restroom, locker room, and fire alarm renovations.
- Waukee High School Fine Arts addition and renovation.
- Waukee High School tennis court renovations.
- Waukee High School track and field renovations.
- Walnut Hills Elementary parking lot improvements.
- Waukee South Middle School pavement replacement.
- Trailridge Stadium storage and batting cage project.
- Landing at Kettlestone public improvements.
- North Operations and Transportation project.
These projects demonstrate continued investment in instructional spaces, athletic facilities, transportation infrastructure, accessibility, and district operations.
The agenda provides several opportunities for public participation.
A formal public hearing will be conducted before action on the District Office Addition and Renovations Project, allowing oral and written comments regarding project plans, specifications, contract documents, and estimated costs.
Members of the public may also address the Board during the regular public communication period. Individual speakers are limited to three minutes.
Students and families may be affected by updated instructional policies, artificial intelligence guidance, revised student activity rules, expanded athletic staffing, and continued investment in educational facilities.
Employees may see changes involving employment policies, travel reimbursement, equal employment provisions, social media expectations, and additional operational staffing.
Taxpayers and residents have an interest in the district's ongoing capital investments, construction oversight, contract approvals, and legislative priorities that may influence future education funding.
Community organizations that use district buildings may be affected by revised facility use guidelines for schools, the Innovation & Learning Center, and the natatorium.
- How will the District Office renovation improve district operations and customer service?
- What is the anticipated construction timeline for the District Office project?
- How will the new artificial intelligence policy be implemented in classrooms?
- What safeguards will accompany student and staff use of AI tools?
- Are the current construction projects remaining within approved budgets?
- How were the recommended legislative priorities selected?
- What factors led to the proposed staffing additions?
- Will updated district fees affect extracurricular participation or student services?
- What outcomes are expected from the updated District Career and Academic Plan?
- How will revised facilities use guidelines affect community organizations?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 21, 2026: Board conducts public hearing on the District Office Addition and Renovations Project.
- July 21, 2026: Board may approve project plans, specifications, estimated costs, and construction contract.
- July 21, 2026: Board considers first readings for numerous policy revisions.
- July 21, 2026: Board selects legislative priorities for submission to the Iowa Association of School Boards.
- Following first readings: Policy revisions would return for later consideration before final adoption where required.
- Following approval: Construction projects continue through approved pay applications and change orders.
Key Takeaways
- District Office renovation approvals are among the meeting's most significant actions.
- More than $2 million in construction payments are scheduled for approval across multiple projects.
- The Board will review the District Career and Academic Plan.
- Legislative priorities for 2027 will be selected for state advocacy.
- A new artificial intelligence policy receives its first reading.
- Numerous additional policy revisions affect students, employees, and district governance.
- Updated facilities use guidelines are proposed for district buildings.
- Updated district fees and several new staff positions are recommended.
- Financial oversight includes May operating reports, accounts payable, donations, and cash balances.
- Public comment is available during both the public hearing and regular communication period.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Waukee Community Schools
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Waukee, iowa
- County: Dallas
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
Waukee Community Schools, Waukee Board of Directors, July 21 2026, regular meeting, District Office renovation, DCAP, District Career and Academic Plan, legislative priorities, IASB, artificial intelligence policy, facilities use guidelines, capital projects, Waukee High School, Waukee Middle School, Walnut Hills Elementary, Trailridge Stadium, Kettlestone, transportation, athletics, cybersecurity, contracts, pay applications, change orders, public hearing, student policies, employee policies, district fees, personnel, construction
