[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6095309,"mediaKeyId","2839403-43cb3e7e2447059e90765788233a8c31","parentId",2839403,"title","Waunakee to Withdraw from Dane County School Consortium; District to Manage Youth Apprenticeship Grant Directly","audioSeconds",1809,"startMs",73000,"endMs",1882000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2839403-43cb3e7e2447059e90765788233a8c31&start=73&end=1882","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2839403-43cb3e7e2447059e90765788233a8c31/thumbnail_73000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6095309/Wisconsin/Waunakee-to-Withdraw-from-Dane-County-School-Consortium-District-to-Manage-Youth-Apprenticeship-Grant-Directly","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095309-9407fad53744556e4a971a5d36a2456f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140176&Signature=lA1MID2d6dZ~kz8mpSUuNyEkNUe0RvyjPc2KT9yJgjsbfM~0vSQiKcG3JnsTHU1Q1fmyTCOMr0DWRSXIjOT-vGAw~1B5ESgV3qhSaIsoNdkrLpWDLS7xrFv~oBz9CluvpIR0zEV41Lae7Cu8gXVIbpAIvl6J7QDc~guHNdBsOPpTzrk7cr197-e1O4oYMjd9HfK9YJGMA6T9bpJ7ihPBtMPtY7ul5wTVkNDpTLZUxrhcvKVhWhtsB-sXx3PpXbLHq3QsO-4S~mcwjprjRYAaXvI-SS7pPmkpKhCOL7FgaF5PqQu7sLbYPjLvQz3Hlj9ydRTDnw3To0d15IQSzqQgRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waunakee Community School District, WI","date","2025-04-01T23:40:08.563Z","article","Michelle, the district's career-and-technical education leader and Youth Apprenticeship coordinator, told the Waunakee Community School District Board on April 7 that the Dane County School Consortium (DCSC) has been unable to secure a fiscal agent and cannot continue operating after June 30 unless one appears.

The board voted to accept Michelle's recommendation to withdraw from the consortium and support dissolving it so the district can receive Youth Apprenticeship grant funding directly through the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin. The board also approved staff requests to provide operational support, including hiring a part-time administrative assistant to process apprenticeship paperwork and data.

The decision matters because the state-funded Youth Apprenticeship program supports students placed in employer-mentored pathways to high-skill, high-demand careers. Michelle told the board Waunakee's Youth Apprenticeship enrollment has grown from about 31 students in 2010 to 72 this school year and that conservatively the district expects roughly 85 students next year. She said Waunakee now has the largest number of youth apprentices among Dane County districts.

Under the consortium model the workforce development board writes and submits the grant, while a fiscal agent—the consortium previously routed funding through Monona Grove's designated funds—managed reimbursements and shared costs. Michelle said the consortium recently reimbursed districts roughly $450 per senior while the state grant's reimbursement level has averaged about $900'$950 per student in recent years (full funding is $1,100 per student when awarded). She said some consortium-held funds, including about $35,000 identified for Waunakee, are currently held in Monona Grove's designated account and that district leaders hope designated balances will be transferred back to local districts after dissolution.

Michelle outlined operational changes the district will assume if it withdraws: the district will work directly with the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, which will charge a roughly 5 percent administrative fee to manage grant reimbursements. The district will gain more direct control over related-course approvals and receive grant reimbursements for students once they are placed in the program rather than only when they complete the program. She also said some costs previously borne by the high school or school-to-career budget'for example, CNA class fees and mileage for site visits'could be charged to the grant budget going forward.

Board members asked about staffing and budget implications. Michelle told the board she expects to need at least a part-time administrative assistant to handle data entry and paperwork for apprenticeships; she said the proposed grant budget already includes a line for support personnel plus funds earmarked for biotech and vet-tech classes, CNA testing, mileage and recognition events. The board discussed the timing and the remaining April meeting of the consortium; Michelle said the consortium's bylaws require a 90-day notification timeline and that the consortium meeting on April 11 would address formal dissolution steps.

A motion to accept Michelle's recommendation and to provide the requested local support passed without recorded opposition; a board member noted the district will follow up with other superintendents and the April consortium meeting to ensure any designated funds are distributed to member districts.

Board members and staff discussed transition items such as memoranda of understanding with training partners named by Michelle (UW Health, UW veterinary programs and a local biotech training provider), and emphasized that local coordinators will manage related coursework approvals for students with special education or English-learner needs. Michelle also said the district will assume responsibilities previously handled centrally by the consortium, such as student application processing, site visits (about three to four per student per year), and local recognition events.

Michelle and the board stressed that while the change will increase operational work for the district's apprenticeship lead, it also yields higher projected grant revenues, fewer district overhead costs to external consortium fees, and more direct local control over program implementation.

Ending: Board members complimented Michelle's leadership, approved the recommendation, and directed staff to continue coordinating with the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin and other Dane County districts to ensure a smooth transition and to pursue return of designated grant funds currently held by Monona Grove.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WCSD BOE March 31, 2025 Board Evaluation","oneSentenceSummary","Michelle, the district's career-and-technical education leader and Youth Apprenticeship coordinator, told the Waunakee Community School District Board on April 7 that the Dane County School Consortium has been unable to secure a fiscal agent and cannot continue operating after June 30 unless one appears.","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},6095304,"Waunakee Board Reviews Listening-Session Notes; Directs Central Office to Close the Loop and Plan Follow-ups",4714,1897000,6611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2839403-43cb3e7e2447059e90765788233a8c31&start=1897&end=6611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2839403-43cb3e7e2447059e90765788233a8c31/thumbnail_1897000.jpg","/articles/6095304/Wisconsin/Waunakee-Board-Reviews-Listening-Session-Notes-Directs-Central-Office-to-Close-the-Loop-and-Plan-Follow-ups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6095304-1393e1923e567483425e04462c115e3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140176&Signature=XrVA2bhYwIjQqSQAUwTnzzU2XpA3X6MHhZ3m1CPaiSyy9DnIwsO16kINs9hGJpdwnedRyhF7pIppm7msefaBc10wTgrAt8SHD8oPeBva6O1IXu5iMTmYhpAvXIUZiDQSJiUOalDtmfwa8E0~yX2Bf6ClbCY~2Kpd~uSWi2GbVYhTUgVo5Lb52dYkNFhgZUQxwsUaFe2fwQwvF16OtCdxq-eyBUo1x~LP9buAYoWFDGfa3MYSINbf8BqLxkDN6f13wtgn2uEtvbS1avaPDSyGk8It3dPLFke2PvwVkwZQa3x05RIAxaSorUEYzAI3KeqflffS7uYNcNWZd-ooGpaCOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 7 board evaluation meeting the Waunakee Community School District Board reviewed compiled notes from recent listening sessions and the board's annual self-evaluation, and directed central office staff to route the items to appropriate building principals and curriculum leads for follow-up.

Board members asked for a clear process to 'close the loop' on concerns captured during listening sessions and asked administrators to return a status update in May. Several members asked that central office establish a timetable for follow-up so the board can see which items required action, which items had been declined with explanation, and which needed further evidence or discussion.

Specific items discussed included: requests for sufficient decodable readers at early grades and questions about access after initial digital trials; teacher feedback and follow-up on new testing processes (Act 10/Act 20 testing); custodial and maintenance impacts from new furniture and cafeteria changes; onboarding and training processes for support staff and paraeducators; and the district's crisis/safety plan and how the board can access or review it without compromising operational confidentiality. Board members also asked for a regular summary of large contracts (transportation, food service) including end dates and key performance indicators so the board has a single reference point for upcoming contract renewals.

On governance items the board discussed onboarding for new members (suggestions included a high-level annual calendar of recurring board activities and a 30-60-90 orientation/checklist), community-engagement strategy (experiment with town-hall formats, open houses and targeted invitation sessions used by peer districts), and legislator outreach (annual breakfast and site visits to show programs to representatives). Members emphasized the need to reach a broader, representative sample of the public rather than only those who consistently attend meetings.

Members also discussed leadership succession planning. Administrators said the board should be assured a succession framework exists and that central office will assess assistant principals and teacher leaders to identify candidates interested in administrative pathways; central office described work this spring to engage APs and track teacher leaders pursuing administrative licensure.

The board requested that central office: share the compiled listening-session notes with building principals and curriculum directors before the next cabinet meeting; prepare a high-level calendar of recurring board activities for new members; provide a one-stop summary of major contracts and their renewal timetables; and return a status update on follow-ups at the May meeting. No formal board votes were required for these directions; board members agreed on next steps during discussion.

Ending: The board scheduled follow-up and asked staff to present a short status report in May; members said they would use the district's next workshop to fold relevant items into the upcoming year's goals and priorities.","Board reviewed compiled listening-session notes and its own self-evaluation, asked central office to route items to building principals and curriculum leads, requested follow-up on mental-health concerns, onboarding and succession planning and set a timeline for central-office review and a May update.","actionData","errors"]

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Waunakee to Withdraw from Dane County School Consortium; District to Manage Youth Apprenticeship Grant Directly

Waunakee Board Reviews Listening-Session Notes; Directs Central Office to Close the Loop and Plan Follow-ups