City and School District Prepare for First Day of School

The City of Waukee and the Waukee Community School District are excited for the start of the 2016-17 School Year on Tuesday, Aug. 23. Road construction will be wrapped up in several areas of the community before the start of school. The Douglas Parkway extension and Alice’s Road intersection improvements will ease traffic pains near the new Grant Ragan Elementary. The new turning lanes at Alice’s Road and Olson Drive should alleviate traffic back-ups during peak times. Those utilizing Grand Prairie Parkway and Ashworth will find the new turning lanes are completed there as well.

The School District’s project to add additional parking along Park Road near the Waukee High School is also scheduled to be completed prior to August 23.

Even with many road improvements done, officials are urging parents, students and all area residents to allow extra time for travel, to be patient and to pay close attention to their surroundings during the first couple weeks of school.

“Traffic is most congested during school drop-off and pick-up, especially in areas near Waukee Elementary and Waukee Middle School. We ask that parents and guardians do not park in the designated drop-off areas. Please complete drop-off or pick-up and move along,” Waukee Police Chief John Quinn said. “We run into back-up and dangerous illegal passing problems when people park in those areas.”

Quinn also notes that it is essential to never block the entrances to school parking lots. Emergency vehicles need to have access to the schools at all times.

The Waukee Police Department and Waukee Community School District believe that if everyone works together to be safe and follow traffic laws, it will enhance the safety and welfare of the children, pedestrians and members of our community.

“Our number one priority is keeping everyone safe, and we need cooperation to do so,” Chief Quinn said.