The following is a release from Waterloo Superintendent Jared Smith regarding his proposal to combine the Waterloo East and Waterloo West football teams a year early.
After considerable discussion and reflection following last week’s Board meeting, I have made the decision not to bring the proposal to combine the East and West football programs for the 2027–2028 school year back to the Board at the upcoming meeting.
I continue to believe that combining our football programs one year early has significant benefits and could be the best long-term path for our football program. At the same time, it was clear from last week’s meeting that many students, families, alumni, and community members feel strongly about maintaining separate East and West football programs during the schools’ final years.
The voices of our students were especially important to hear. They spoke passionately about what it means to represent East and West, and about the pride, tradition, and history associated with their
school.
This is something I understand personally. I attended West High School as a student and later had the opportunity to work at East High School as an employee. I understand the rivalry, but I also understand the tremendous pride people have in both schools. There are valid perspectives on both sides of this conversation.
We also have to recognize the timing. Our football teams have been working hard to prepare for the upcoming season, and the East/West football game is right around the corner on August 28. The last thing I want is for this discussion to become a distraction for our student-athletes and coaches as they prepare to compete and represent their schools.
For those reasons, I have decided not to bring the proposal back to the Board at this time.
As we do with all of our athletic programs, we will continue to monitor participation, roster numbers, student safety, scheduling, finances, and the overall student experience in the months ahead. If circumstances change or indicate that we need to revisit the conversation, we will do so thoughtfully and with continued input from our students, families, coaches, and community.
The transition to Waterloo United is a significant moment in the history of our district. There will be many decisions ahead, and we will not always agree on every step or every timeline. What is important is that we continue listening to one another and remain focused on doing what we believe is best for our students.
For now, our focus should be on supporting East and West, celebrating the traditions of both schools, and giving our student-athletes and coaches the opportunity to have a great football season.
Dr. Jared Smith
Waterloo Community Schools Superintendent