[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6286145,"mediaKeyId","2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea","parentId",2564804,"title","Waunakee board approves budget planning, facility work, Title IX policy updates and consent items; roll-call on bond sale","audioSeconds",1961,"startMs",2866000,"endMs",4827000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea&start=2866&end=4827","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea/thumbnail_2866000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6286145/Wisconsin/Waunakee-board-approves-budget-planning-facility-work-Title-IX-policy-updates-and-consent-items-roll-call-on-bond-sale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286145-1e5ff123cbfa953900973e3eb7cba971/orig.mp4?Expires=1775404641&Signature=Jl~rFGTDDx99pSzfqlvwdxaYqDT-XfAdp8DkFHlK-5l-r-bzNC2pPKiMDxqC5mf7gMenNwv1iJon7W3aNIajrhEfD8LNuY9Ms40vNuFzdaxXiq6H7JgJ~ycVojE7SDA2-7r2Dyr0N0-LDxXbH9vOgDcpQ39725lFckIOPa96BVYkSy9i0evyiXOVmTnDAaf5Q8p-E6YNBlQV4fwnvKv2AJ-4Q359SePfDHy~2OoKKDqt6BF435qcvWLiXt4QcEttrc0iOElWwLhk8b0ii6~OQ8AlVAXXuP6AWo9Wdui-IICwJYJTF7InRsB6yvZqhWXfDS0n3uEVbJiJb1V9wLdZnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waunakee Community School District","date","2025-03-11T13:43:35Z","article","The Waunakee Community School District board approved several administrative and committee recommendations at its regular meeting, including preliminary budget planning for 2025–26, selected summer capital maintenance projects, policy updates and consent agenda items.

Budget: The board approved the district’s 2025–26 preliminary budget planning process. Administration described the plan as status-quo planning amid an ongoing state budget cycle and said it will integrate any changes from the state budget into later drafts.

Facilities: The facilities committee had reviewed priority 1 capital maintenance projects and asked the board to approve a small subset with immediate timing needs. The board approved the request; examples mentioned included updating clocks, bells and the public-address system at Arboretum and replacing original cafeteria tables at Prairie to meet lead times for fall delivery.

Human resources and benefits: The HR committee reported it had evaluated self-funding for health insurance and found the most competitive self-funding option would raise spend by approximately 27 percent compared with current costs, so administration is now pursuing two carriers (Group Health Cooperative and Dean/SSM) for further consideration. The committee is also assembling wage data to consider a multi-year plan using referendum funds to raise hourly wages toward market averages; administration said a two-year, $1 million plan is under consideration contingent on committee review.

Policy: The board approved updated policies reflecting the 2020 Title IX regulations and agreed to circulate a succinct staff-facing summary. The DEI subcommittee also approved updated harassment-policy language and forwarded it to the policy subcommittee for further review.

Consent agenda and gifts: The board approved the consent agenda with one item (co-curricular report) voted on separately. The board acknowledged two gifts in the meeting packet: a $1,360 equipment donation for engineering/design courses and a pledge of $60,000 from district design partner EUA (split $20,000 per year for three years) to the student financial assistance fund. Administration also noted students taking advantage of Start College Now/MATC and similar early-college opportunities.

Votes at a glance
- Approve February minutes and meeting agenda: voice votes (approved)
- Approve selected priority 1 facility projects (clocks/PA at Arboretum; cafeteria tables at Prairie): voice vote (approved)
- Approve 2025–26 preliminary budget planning process: voice vote (approved)
- Approve policies updating Title IX language to the 2020 regulations: voice vote (approved)
- Approve consent agenda (with separate vote approving co-curricular report): voice votes (approved)
- Bond anticipation note sale ($52,000,000): roll-call vote (approved; yes: Katie, Judy, Ted, Jeff, John, Anne Hetzel)

Board members also discussed legislative developments and advocacy letters; administration will circulate materials so board members may sign letters supporting continued renewable-energy incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waunakee School District BOE Video Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","At its regular meeting the Waunakee board approved the 2025–26 preliminary budget planning process, several priority facility maintenance projects, Title IX policy updates and consent agenda items including gifts and early college applications; the board also approved the $52 million bond anticipation note (roll-call).","taxTitle","Waunakee Community School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",58058,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6286150,"Local firm Advanced Concrete honored for sustainable work on Heritage Elementary; district reports $19 million in local subcontract awards",124,632000,756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea&start=632&end=756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea/thumbnail_632000.jpg","/articles/6286150/Wisconsin/Local-firm-Advanced-Concrete-honored-for-sustainable-work-on-Heritage-Elementary-district-reports-19-million-in-local-subcontract-awards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286150-ea689e2f73b27a9383b21e7278773774/orig.mp4?Expires=1775404641&Signature=aE0zBE4YIvmLVt0hEEoNv3kY0XqCXqkhlxiVrv0hQy2-nL~tVFxdIopj~y~9sEtPo2uOHZYJb206CDmrZX5HOSOQMDAmK~WcoZ-n0177GFuTvTOC2fGEBOh9MU56cddt8mDDzWMvgmowUDitFIsUBP0ItEsKyXqG8Sf3MSsXQAQKVoqgXoqMsSyTkj-1H7OpyPq2a-5s8vwbi7T42hKr7qvu64-kSIgD7~5ZGSmU4IJwzxk1Ivi~wyz-56WzYN7vj2wlzMVqohlFyDfh8UEsGvRiOtLKzCTqsrRBfae8IMDU78LLSQ7saGUmlgvPVhDxMjwsMVHNwFPjzIxFhoZoMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee Community School District recognized Advanced Concrete and other local subcontractors for their role in constructing the new Heritage Elementary School and presented an industry award to contractor representatives.

District administration said the district and its design-build partners prioritized local subcontractors and suppliers during the Heritage Elementary and current middle school projects. A district presenter said more than $19,000,000 in subcontract and supplier work from those projects was awarded to companies based in Waunakee.

Jacob Jankowski, an owner of Advanced Concrete, said the firm nominated the Heritage Elementary project to the Wisconsin Ready Mix Concrete Association and that the project won a statewide sustainability award in the sustainable category. He said the concrete mixes used included up to 30 percent supplemental materials in current mix designs and that lessons from the Heritage project carried forward to the middle school work.

The board thanked Advanced Concrete, Vogel (the contractor referenced by presenters) and the local partners for their work. Company representatives presented an award to district leaders during the meeting.","Advanced Concrete and other local subcontractors were recognized for sustainable concrete mixes used on Heritage Elementary; administration said more than $19 million in work from the district's projects was awarded to Waunakee-based subcontractors.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6286155,"Parent urges Waunakee schools to adopt neurodiversity-affirming practices, specialist and universal design",210,397000,607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea&start=397&end=607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea/thumbnail_397000.jpg","/articles/6286155/Wisconsin/Parent-urges-Waunakee-schools-to-adopt-neurodiversity-affirming-practices-specialist-and-universal-design","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286155-b69e31623ace5906d14038e042850bc4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775404641&Signature=dsHlD20068OQMyP79fxZ16q8R43Fj74Mb~kryofgmlv4INSkRSWhmOhbtkiw9NQtNMF~OG3--FkYhKu9oZLBFPt29ZfMTbUBdtEFqi8JGVSK~JK9ho~pOhEv1H~MesD0A3Kb6eBxAvSNDE8dcO1Ur63l8eS7W6onJ5pCr8iW60DlNSUDEME6~Jjy~Uf1KJdG3SFcT8TBiaBUiGhCY~ZtsyrNpOhSEJDDGnIRxlslh5ACj7CAY7CxV542-pMNc2JnqI5~bP~vt8mSkSi2SWeqqG3cmDC-U1M3W3dHV~2253~So7XfrHU29MpSNO7-jS4MlUzbYwV3gtgKp~2JMbfFXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Waunakee parent and member of the district’s DI committee told the school board the district should adopt formal neurodiversity-affirming practices, increase staff training and hire an on-site neurodiversity specialist.

Jackie Sacobiak, who said she has three children in the district, told the board that about 20 percent of the population is neurodivergent and that many classroom practices and disciplinary tools are out of date. She urged mandatory training for all staff, a dismantling of ableistic beliefs in school culture, adoption of universal design for learning (UDL) and creation of a parent resource center to improve school–family collaboration.

Sacobiak criticized disciplinary methods such as lost-recess behavior forms and said schools should address underlying causes of behavior rather than treat symptoms. She also recommended a district resource to help parents navigate supports and said a specialist could reduce teacher time spent managing challenging behaviors.

Sacobiak cited examples of accommodations used widely in other contexts—closed captioning and voice-to-text—to illustrate how UDL supports access for all students. She concluded by urging the district to move from compliance-based practice to intentional inclusion.","A parent and DI committee member asked the board to require neurodiversity training for staff, add a district neurodiversity specialist, adopt Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and create a parent resource center.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6286160,"Board holds public hearing on DPI waiver to use 'Laude' ranking for Wisconsin Guarantee admissions",230,941000,1171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea&start=941&end=1171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea/thumbnail_941000.jpg","/articles/6286160/Wisconsin/Board-holds-public-hearing-on-DPI-waiver-to-use-Laude-ranking-for-Wisconsin-Guarantee-admissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286160-8fb4e75ed081ff359fcab891415bba96/orig.mp4?Expires=1775404641&Signature=KnW-fHCg8rBjqIqkgZGR5Pfj~thHC~N9Qw1ImDDEuQ3MFVs4LOB35rtuJccnaXFWisTSBsjrAOuHPRpuCt0bvB1iIwK9gdswu6-emtHonOVfSmiu73tTZHv8ZX93BNnqMUIwgKL~7HeEhQ4b6BQ0dhF5Q3LYdjnvY9V~7DVH9I0WMLUvQPY3YiORG~OKTePTsbtjQwanq~v0uRon0by7EZS-AZz5xvHfV9ADiQgyiWbcEPXJJqhjWd2pEVc~i-ALHCY4fEFpYSsRAL~7kApq-h7rCj2hp-gWW82VG~0I8EK8C6mGyrf76~IokBayilmmiHKf9KH8K2J7J23RknLxZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee Community School District held a public hearing on a proposed waiver to the state program commonly called the Wisconsin Guarantee, in which districts report top-ranked juniors for preferred admission to University of Wisconsin campuses.

A district presenter described the local 'Laude' ranking system, which first calculates honors eligibility for students with a 3.0 GPA and then adds points for defined high-rigor courses. The presenter said the district seeks a DPI waiver allowing the Laude system to be used to identify the top 5 percent and top 10 percent of juniors rather than a strict GPA rank, noting other Wisconsin districts have obtained similar waivers.

The presenter told the board that using Laude would align how the district reports students for the Wisconsin Guarantee with local honors and graduation-recognition practices. He said the change would not alter most students’ admission prospects to UW–Madison because Waunakee historically sends many more than the top 5 percent to that campus; the top-5 cohort in a typical class is roughly 17 students.

Board members asked procedural and implementation questions about how many students would be designated and whether students must apply early action to receive the preferential admissions consideration. Administration reiterated that the student still must meet campus requirements and apply on the early timeline for the Wisconsin Guarantee to apply.

Because the request is a DPI waiver the district conducted the public hearing required by statute; administration said the formal vote on the waiver will occur at a committee meeting.","District administration presented a waiver request to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction asking to substitute the district’s local 'Laude' ranking system for a strict GPA rank when reporting top 5%/10% for the Wisconsin Guarantee; the matter will be voted on in committee.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6286165,"Waunakee school board accepts $52 million bond anticipation note to fund referendum projects",591,3689000,4280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea&start=3689&end=4280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2564804-94e0150602b6dda52dff2ea5f4f223ea/thumbnail_3689000.jpg","/articles/6286165/Wisconsin/Waunakee-school-board-accepts-52-million-bond-anticipation-note-to-fund-referendum-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6286165-8ab6c94ede9813c2a986315a829701a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775404641&Signature=bSJM7hqY9unUoYxwOTmN5ankWIVgmoTmXGsLhltHqifkUe6Z2J--mhPeuDEIp5Nvjo~cMbzX5qjc8NWZ9~qhheTAsudPBicRC4yjb1uQZ-d9KurTSnKJkB9dMO5PFtFDQdoB7zcUSm2Lvr7LS4qB68LgWsil2b8s1q0wzGRfphSNQ7lNmPKm8uFO8RFjEI3pyMc2pRHIybiHG22ILyHNM6ys7ldVk4cz08otb15PmJhoTo9PdQBtdeOvbhhy3XjSV-fp4-AsmXSQLfdD4k9jgdlOjaL-Z3q-UhziN-Xyo28nKYBpdxWDi4Ut7MKWHrg3CU91aW2ihCLCBKLfrq62yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee Community School District board voted to accept the sale of a $52,000,000 bond anticipation note that will fund work from the district's $175,000,000 referendum, administration said.

Administration told the board the winning bid, submitted by Wells Fargo, carried an interest rate of 3.617 percent after a public sale earlier the same day. District staff and financial advisors said the timing allows an April 1 closing so the board can preserve borrowing flexibility and potentially refinance to longer-term bonds if interest rates fall.

The board heard a presentation that laid out the proposed payment plan for the note and a schedule showing how the borrowing fits into the district's long-term debt plan. Administration also described a financial plan that targets a 2.1 percent annual debt-service levy increase and uses some interest proceeds from the referendum to smooth tax impacts for existing property owners.

Board members moved and seconded a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of the $52,000,000 bond anticipation note; the board then took a roll-call vote and approved the resolution.

The district’s presentation also noted the final sale came in roughly $975,000 lower in interest cost than a prior plan estimate. District staff said that lower-than-expected pricing improves the overall financial outlook for the referendum projects and preserves options to convert the anticipation note to longer-term bonds before the five-year limit expires.

The board asked about long-term levy impacts and administrative staff emphasized the figures apply to the district’s debt-service fund, not operational spending. Administration recommended approval of the sale and noted the related authorizing resolution cites section 67.121(e) of the Wisconsin statutes.","The Waunakee Community School District board voted to accept the sale of a $52 million bond anticipation note, part of a previously approved $175 million referendum, with winning bid priced at 3.617%. The sale closes April 1 to preserve favorable borrowing options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waunakee board approves budget planning, facility work, Title IX policy updates and consent items; roll-call on bond sale

Local firm Advanced Concrete honored for sustainable work on Heritage Elementary; district reports $19 million in local subcontract awards

Parent urges Waunakee schools to adopt neurodiversity-affirming practices, specialist and universal design

Board holds public hearing on DPI waiver to use 'Laude' ranking for Wisconsin Guarantee admissions

Waunakee school board accepts $52 million bond anticipation note to fund referendum projects