Waukee Area Residents to Elect Three Candidates to School Board Sept. 13

Its rapid growth is astounding and on Sept. 13, Waukee area residents will vote for three candidates to help govern the Waukee school district.

Only three seats are open on the school board. Incumbents Jerry Ripperger, Susan Bunz and Larry Lyon will all seek re-election this year, while challengers Todd Dohrmann, Kurt Hiatt and Rob Thelen will all attempt to unseat them for a four-year term on the board.

Waukee schools Superintendent Dave Wilkerson said he expects the candidates to focus on several topics parents in the district probably now discuss at the dinner table.

“I don’t know that there is one single hot-button topic, but growth will continue to be a challenge for the school board to deal with,” he said.

Standards-based reporting, communications, school year start and end dates, as well as early dismissal concerns are certain to be among the many topics candidates will choose to take on.

Residents interested in hearing from the six candidates may attend the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce school board election forum at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 in the Theatre Arts Building at 655 E. University Ave. Former Chamber president Chris McLinden will moderate.

Attendees are asked to register at www.waukeechamber.com/registration or by calling (515) 978-7115. There is no cost to attend.

If you have a question you’d like to have answered by the six candidates, you’re encouraged to submit them to info@waukeechamber.com by Friday, Sept. 2, or leave them in the comments section at the bottom of this article.