Board hears Waterloo plan, set to vote on bond work tomorrow

Administrators presented a districtwide plan for Waterloo and other elementary buildings and said bond-funded repairs and upgrades should proceed even if the board decides the school’s grade configuration later.

“...we had made the decision to put Waterloo on pause for this year,” Superintendent Shaw said, describing an administrative pause communicated to the public around late May. He and district staff said the bond vote planned for the board’s next meeting is intended to initiate building work — secure entrances, restroom updates and HVAC — that voters approved in 2020.

Parliamentarian Darla pressed administration for a record of any prior board deliberations about Waterloo, citing Board Policy 122 and saying the board and public appeared to learn about the pause at the same time. “So all I'm asking is if we did, please show me where and when prior to May that this board deliberate and discussed that,” she said.

District officials said the $2 million listed for Waterloo in the current bond package will cover core infrastructure work and that finishing classrooms and cosmetic items may require supplemental sinking-fund dollars. Administration reported roughly $7.1 million of bond proceeds remain and estimated approximately $8 million would be needed to finish all projects across the district without using other funding sources.

Tomorrow’s agenda is limited to initiating bond work, staff said; final decisions on whether Waterloo reopens as K–6, pre-K–4 or another model will follow community engagement and later board votes.