Waukee board hears strategic plan update, approves policies, staffing and construction milestones

Superintendent Dr. Buck presented a quarterly update on the Waukee Community School District strategic plan and the board of directors approved several routine business items, including policy second readings, handbook updates, staffing authorizations and construction milestones.

Dr. Buck summarized progress across the district’s five strategic priorities. Under Priority 1 (student success), he said transitional kindergarten registration has begun and noted interest at in-person and upcoming online sessions. He reported the district is piloting or expanding alternative programming with a “core” program currently in place at Waukee High School and Timberline to better support students who need specialized instruction at their home sites. Dr. Buck also said the district had recorded 121 mental-health referrals and 230 social-work referrals in the first semester, and that some schools had been identified for proficiency or learning-growth gaps under the Iowa school performance profiles; those schools are working through the…