[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6172629,"mediaKeyId","5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f","parentId",5386671,"title","Safety coordinator outlines drills, reunification plans and grant applications; district applied for DOJ/COPS funding","audioSeconds",720,"startMs",2760000,"endMs",3480000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f&start=2760&end=3480","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f/thumbnail_2760000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6172629/Wisconsin/Safety-coordinator-outlines-drills-reunification-plans-and-grant-applications-district-applied-for-DOJCOPS-funding","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172629-7b643a2a59466250b6198c41123e9ed1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889392&Signature=Ot~7NdFro~oIiVf9oBfUGkBea9Uactd5nXxGs1tTnypRYmWEkUA9xx875Un806l~jV8RJWff2k8-UA21AKIFrkBnJZzHsaXU~82FTvwhfB4WWH-zIG10D0MjPVHMxseJMl15ctHkC8Jb1bc-oTJlODkr6oNrNOB8IfpaaobHHpQtJJYimmYT6bvJvJZk0Xq3Y7RZZuPf9GCEfxKoY5ytt24KVf0g9AgI~52d8BOUO2RMM-pNoaldYfOowiazCe4EtN0HJmzScJHRDntgPx7y8lP8Vr7F~sKenAk4BY9O4lUAbRinNO6GwdZSN7YjSIx98dFWIPjWZ4C1NYRNR~eEGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waunakee Community School District, WI","date","2025-07-15T01:15:12Z","article","Dustin Liebeck, the district’s safety and security coordinator, gave the board an overview of safety work completed since his February hire, described training and reunification plans for the coming year, and said the district applied for a Department of Justice grant aimed at school-violence prevention.

Key points from the presentation
Liebeck described his role leading the district safety committee, coordinating required monthly drills under state statute, and advancing the district’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and Standard Reunification Method (SRM). He said SRP provides uniform language and actions across buildings and that staff and first responders have been trained on those protocols. He also said the district will host a multi-day SRM training event with a focus day on reunification and that neighboring districts and local businesses have agreed to support large-scale reunification by providing space if needed.

Grants and assessments
Liebeck said the district completed a DOJ Office of School Safety grant that supplied first responders with digital maps of school buildings so responders can locate doors and interior areas quickly during an incident. He also said the district submitted a COPS (school violence prevention) grant in June; that application included items such as exterior security-camera upgrades, automated exterior gates, customized SRP/SRM training in English and Spanish, a full-scale active-threat exercise, and a part-time project manager to oversee grant implementation if awarded. He told the board the grant award decision is expected Sept. 30.

Drills, third-party assessments and next steps
Liebeck said building assessments required every three years by the Department of Homeland Security will be completed by a third party by September. He summarized planned physical enhancements — clocks/bell/PA integration to support SRP activations, improved building access control, door-propped-open alarms, more cameras on buses and improvements to the bus-tracking app — and said staff will inform families about reunification procedures and signage in advance.

Attribution and context
Information in this article comes from the coordinator’s presentation to the board; no formal actions were required or taken on grants or staffing at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WCSD BOE July 14, 2025 Monthly Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District safety coordinator Dustin Liebeck briefed the Waunakee School Board on drills, reunification planning, building assessments and a submitted DOJ/COPS grant application that would fund cameras, automated gates, customized training and a part-time project manager if awarded.","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},6172640,"Waunakee staff outline internal alternative-education pilot, propose leased vehicles for McKinney-Vento transport",393,1507000,1900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f&start=1507&end=1900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f/thumbnail_1507000.jpg","/articles/6172640/Wisconsin/Waunakee-staff-outline-internal-alternative-education-pilot-propose-leased-vehicles-for-McKinney-Vento-transport","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172640-450431583354b6e1b4fba38cb88a98be/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889392&Signature=eo1XWPsm1iuOdLocqyoUn5COwqPnixkMXmzGz3cuZzKE-~95JOxpi-UfZO95na6yuCITroZPBmIe7r9M~lKqGwI4oKa3gER9MKoRCmCT2-eubreyEHs5wSg7-J1xcVUtr-lPOKWalAObrQ6zTM3wL6AYHQGewiTzl2KJxnSy4PNPqAPswoxHvYn4nS5AR12Sy~8Mxnk0X4IXiaUCt3S3KZt7LJ9-iLXod06~BWMGSdci2JMtE6VY8fiyo4Q5CUrQwMFBx8YMF8e8u9u3ypakLdBMlg5tMOweyMtIgLiWOhAt~O9JHnkmxbO31aJPGY3Jq8KjO8R1EFlY4kwNfm9uBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff described plans for a small, district-run alternative-education placement and a revised transportation approach for students in McKinney-Vento (homeless and highly mobile) status during the board’s budget discussion.

The alternative-placement concept is intended to replace costly external placements. Staff said external placements can range from about $50,000 to $150,000 per student and that the district’s estimate for a small group of students this year could approach “almost a half a million dollars.” The proposed district model would start small — staff mentioned roughly four intermediate-school students as an initial cohort — and would be staffed by one dedicated teacher with some students continuing to use paraprofessionals already assigned in their home buildings.

Staff described the program location as space identified across from the district wellness clinic and said the site is “safe, easily accessible” with a receptionist on site, a side door that can be secured for student-only entry, a cafeteria and conference space for instruction and group activities, and room for therapy work. Staff also discussed partnering with community providers, mentioning the Waunakee Psychological Center and the use of therapy dogs and trauma-informed services.

On transportation, staff proposed leasing two vehicles to create a district-operated program for McKinney-Vento students. Staff said current contracted transportation runs cost more than $200 per day regardless of attendance; leasing district-run vehicles was presented as a more cost-effective approach that would provide consistent drivers and familiar faces for students.

Funding and staffing
Staff said the third draft of the budget includes three full-time-equivalent positions added from the second draft to support the pilot: one teacher for the program, plus two paraprofessionals for incoming students who require one-to-one support. Staff also noted the draft increases contingency, OPEB contributions, and transportation budgets to support the changes.

Next steps
The alternative-placement pilot and transportation proposal are included in the third draft the board approved to advance. Staff said they will refine costs as placement counts and transportation logistics are finalized and as the district finalizes the budget at subsequent steps.

Attribution and scope
Details in this article come from the staff presentation during the budget discussion; the board did not adopt final contracts or a full program implementation plan at this meeting.","District staff outlined a small internal alternative-education pilot and proposed leasing two vehicles for McKinney-Vento transportation, both included in the third draft of the 2025–26 budget advanced by the board.",{"_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},6172645,"Waunakee board approves third draft of 2025–26 budget amid state aid redistribution",1622,638000,2260000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f&start=638&end=2260","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f/thumbnail_638000.jpg","/articles/6172645/Wisconsin/Waunakee-board-approves-third-draft-of-202526-budget-amid-state-aid-redistribution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172645-c92da8db1500dbd29548cf4b8efa152a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889392&Signature=H~8tFNg0MPh-JbnoVqGkMKAJbF0QLq3Hf9jajE4y3fUJDsWPGMJUTg8GHLFBZAWdwaPxjjeanLxw256FFa6EK5vG~Nbab~MnFilob6IJIeC5BMeBkpbs32WBGcQfy4JhhyyWY9jky~fUsAvIfe9wF-G9Y5bIZ5hqzW5OUeUc965gcyawqkJWctpXs82BE6fZ9zhzvvFrfrXrYakjnZoZh5UJU0j8M2xnJ-ITMg07C1iYRfyt9Y5lbZWrUlkstYNYZYP0ZPsZ31vitjK1epPd0r44SyCgZiEV9Dt8Z64nzxnRzE8TmwtldZQyaAPFDqnXgEeTAJazczygsAzL4P5GsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee School Board approved the third draft of its 2025–26 budget on a voice vote after staff described both large increases in state-directed “spendable” revenues and a simultaneous redistribution of state equalization aid that reduced aid to many Dane County districts.

School business staff described the state budget as producing “one of the most significant increases in spendable revenues” for schools, including a $325-per-student increase in the revenue limit formula and larger special-education categorical aid and high-cost special-education reimbursements. At the same time, staff said a redistribution of state equalization aid resulted in a roughly $1.9 million swing from earlier estimates for Waunakee, leaving local property taxpayers to fund a portion of the statewide per-student increase.

Why it matters: The combination of higher state-directed per-student dollars and a reallocation of equalization aid changes how much revenue the district sees from the state versus local property taxes. Board members were told the net effect is a larger starting levy figure than in recent years and that impacts will vary by community depending on local equalized values and new construction.

Staff presentation and board response
Steve (staff member) and Ally (staff member) walked the board through line-by-line changes between the second and third draft: open-enrollment revenue rose from about $2.7 million to nearly $3.1 million in the draft; high-cost special-education aid projections increased (from roughly $375,000 to $775,000 in the model); and special-education categorical aid estimates rose as well. Staff also called out a $266,000 revenue source that was moved inside the district’s revenue limit as part of the state budget adjustments.

Board members asked about the timing of property-value data used to calculate the tax levy. Staff said municipalities receive new-construction reports from the State Department of Revenue in August and that the state publishes equalized values around Oct. 1. The board was told that the district will refine levy numbers as that data arrives.

Program and operating changes included in the draft
The third draft also includes programmatic items staff described as priorities for the coming year: an internal alternative-education placement staffed by district personnel (initially small scale), transportation budget changes to better serve McKinney-Vento students, added contingency and OPEB contributions, and modest increases to legal and termination-benefit funding. Staff described the alternative-placement plan as a lower-cost alternative to full external placements and said it would begin with a small cohort drawn from the intermediate grades.

Next steps
The board approved the third draft and staff said they will present more detailed levy and long-term financial planning options at a board workshop in August. Board members directed staff to prepare options for lowering the levy for discussion at that workshop.

Vote and action
The motion to approve the third draft passed on a voice vote with all members saying “aye.”","The Waunakee School Board approved a third draft of the 2025–26 budget after hearing staff explain a mix of increased state “spendable” revenues and a redistribution of equalization aid that raises local levy pressure. Board members voted to advance the draft and will consider levy-reduction options at an August workshop.",{"_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},6172636,"Board approves middle school track resurfacing change order and capital maintenance requests",336,2269000,2605000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f&start=2269&end=2605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386671-20d20f51fe2cca0452c1d8ac369ad98f/thumbnail_2269000.jpg","/articles/6172636/Wisconsin/Board-approves-middle-school-track-resurfacing-change-order-and-capital-maintenance-requests","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172636-5d5944af9094b332e8e1c7da5c136800/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889392&Signature=jDlrg4LyjhwkWHvWBPMXJnKUFCpydBKGnX0B8l6FOq0zeya1vWeNNigvzakAlKqzrgaJ8yGyG8PGc3shaUJ9sX70AapnbGaZ3mFGR~9xeDWBxXiaBLkovB3~D9Ygyo5Yw1e2s5H~BCsxw8aXqLZh0x0OOy6vnTc6hMOsgfQGlUup6A3LC1oeOgGJlNj2mzCxwcJ5zFxO5SUn9wENDGu3bOcJdQXuwvqbYGREpKivdeawql25RhYG6zU9jPTzSDIz0Q6eRB31Mu1ZDKyfCGP99WXy7LzcDZb743lqV2faFxdB~M8oPKgibI4yg~OdoS1sCTUX2Vcj-g2W-ia2ReJYFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee School Board voted to approve a change order to add outdoor athletic improvements at the new middle school and separately approved a set of capital maintenance projects recommended by the facility committee.

Track and outdoor facilities
Staff told the board that resurfacing the middle school track had been an alternate in the project budget but strong bids allowed the district to include the track in the main project. The resurfaced track is suitable for middle school practices but not for hosting full meets, staff said. The facility committee recommended the change order on a 3–0 vote and the full board approved the item; board policy requires change orders of $100,000 or more to be approved by the full board.

Capital maintenance requests
The board also approved the committee’s recommended capital maintenance list, a running log of projects completed since the referendum and a short list of new maintenance requests. Staff said the maintenance tracker and the middle-school contingency tracker will be key topics at the August board workshop when the board examines funding options tied to the levy.

Vote and procedure
The facility committee moved both items forward and the board approved them by voice vote with all saying “aye.”","The Waunakee School Board approved a facility change order to add outdoor athletic improvements at the new middle school — including a resurfaced track for practices — and approved a separate list of capital maintenance projects. The facility committee recommended the track change order; the full board approved the items by voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Safety coordinator outlines drills, reunification plans and grant applications; district applied for DOJ/COPS funding

Waunakee staff outline internal alternative-education pilot, propose leased vehicles for McKinney-Vento transport

Waunakee board approves third draft of 2025–26 budget amid state aid redistribution

Board approves middle school track resurfacing change order and capital maintenance requests