2017 School Board Elections – 5 Positions Open for Election


Five (5) Waukee Community School District board positions are open for election this year on September 12, 2017.

Strong leadership in every school district is critical to moving education forward in this state. School board members play significant roles in their communities – members must have leadership, vision and dedication. School board members are locally elected public officials charged with accountability for student learning, determining educational goals, setting policy, overseeing school finances and other duties. Across Iowa, nearly 2,000 men and women serve on local school boards, guiding the education of more than 475,000 young people at an annual expenditure of more than $5.1 billion.

School board members are elected to serve four-year terms, with elections taking place in odd-numbered years. Those elected receive no pay. Experienced school board members say the rewards of service lie in meeting the needs of children and communities.

Four seats currently held by David Cunningham, Wendy Liskey, Patrick Nehls and Mary Scheve, are up for election for the full four-year term and the seat Jerry Ripperger was appointed to serve after the resignation of Scott Blum is up for election for the remaining two years of the term. Ethan Huisman and Susan Bunz have two years remaining before their seats will be up for election.

The filing period for school election candidates will begin on Monday, July 10 and end on Thursday, August 3 at 5 p.m. Nomination papers must be turned in to the School Board Secretary, Lora Appenzeller-Miller at the District Office by 5 p.m. on August 3. Nomination papers that have been accepted for filing are then delivered to the county auditor on Friday, August 4 by 5 p.m. The auditor cannot accept nomination papers earlier than August 4 because they are required to be available for public inspection at the school office during the filing period. Based on the district’s voter count, candidates will need 50 signatures.

Lora Appenzeller-Miller, chief financial officer and board secretary is the filing officer for candidate nomination papers in school elections, but the county auditor’s office is available as a resource to help you if you have questions during this process.

Nomination papers for the Waukee Community School District school board election are available on the Iowa Secretary of State website.