[{"_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",6172808,"mediaKeyId","5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb","parentId",5386672,"title","District unveils safety coordinator initiatives; DOJ and COPS grant applications seek cameras, training and a reunification plan","audioSeconds",706,"startMs",2794000,"endMs",3500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb&start=2794&end=3500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb/thumbnail_2794000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6172808/Wisconsin/District-unveils-safety-coordinator-initiatives-DOJ-and-COPS-grant-applications-seek-cameras-training-and-a-reunification-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172808-d84262ccc756d78923d844a35378a661/orig.mp4?Expires=1772872659&Signature=VjkivtzOqKzJK0GGx7Hkw1zig2hiYKLQF-KlU2ipMD46aIllpa6-smfM0YdfvGU1HMmBQcOtQCsraSM-o5Ih5EU56LYxooWzlk5E~BMV8SPO0KO2SkFZ0IgghK1qElYuT5KdY~QVfwOGoC2Gl-Az3Qy7iJSztmV8aJl2~7r5CXsQD3kQ0BvZio94jBLJeFmxW5JG928sBrTu1O9fZYHwHuW2CIDXuxklzD2SlW38B5vtzLLQnWINQSHYFcsJQNOj48U2LCewvNjdCRHLlKh8IQLppoOUglXfxF7NPzQQfPXJgsSoGarzv66N89RPLCeP0LtjtAQxDUOLfGmpXpx66g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waunakee Community School District, WI","date","2025-07-11T13:46:33Z","article","The Waunakee School Board heard a presentation from Dustin Liebeck, the district’s safety and security coordinator, on current and planned safety and security work, including completed mapping for first responders, monthly required drills, upcoming building assessments, and a large COPS grant application submitted in June.

Liebeck said the district has implemented the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) for uniform crisis responses and has scheduled multi-day SRM (standard reunification method) training by the I Love You Guys Foundation, including a full day dedicated to reunification exercises. He described a recently completed Department of Justice grant that provided digital building maps to first responders so they can locate doors and internal locations quickly during an incident. “If you think of an ambulance responding to a school and being told to go to Door 3 and they don't know the building, this will come up onto their pad now,” Liebeck said.

The district also submitted a COPS (School Violence Prevention Program) grant in June that, if awarded, would fund updated exterior security cameras, automated security gates, customized SRP/SRM training in English and Spanish for staff and families, a full‑scale active‑threat exercise with county partners, and a part‑time project manager to deliver the work within the grant year. Liebeck told the board the COPS grant decision is expected September 30.

Liebeck said third‑party building assessments through the Department of Homeland Security will be completed by September and that building‑level safety enhancements are planned for the coming year, including clock/bell/PA linkage to SRP activations, door‑prop alarms, visitor management improvements and additional bus‑camera coverage. He noted monthly drills are conducted in accordance with Wisconsin statute and that the district will work with neighboring districts and local businesses to support large-scale reunification if needed.

Board members asked about training exercises and staffing capacity; some members raised the question of whether the coordinator role as currently funded (0.5 FTE) matches the scope of expected work. Liebeck and Dr. Brown said the position works with a broader team and that grant funding could support a project-coordinator role if awarded.

No formal board action was required; the board received the report and will consider grant outcomes and staffing questions following grant decisions and future budgeting work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Waunakee School District BOE Video Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","Dustin Liebeck, the district’s safety and security coordinator, briefed the Waunakee School Board on completed responder mapping, planned reunification training, building assessments and a pending COPS grant application that would fund cameras, gates, training and a part-time project manager.","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},6172810,"Board approves middle-school track site changes; resurfaced track will support practices but not competitions",171,2269000,2440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb&start=2269&end=2440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb/thumbnail_2269000.jpg","/articles/6172810/Wisconsin/Board-approves-middle-school-track-site-changes-resurfaced-track-will-support-practices-but-not-competitions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172810-febc1f4fce4d12447c685e75a0988121/orig.mp4?Expires=1772872659&Signature=Drz2RYB9~KgDPZ05dwlsCG~BSKeL1gVEKwg70qPzEQzuSZzTC4yj~ogVQQmFNkYLJzq-zBGbYV0rDl63E0bvlOo1RWIEYrLMxLf0E62q~bibq-sXVNReK3BeA1vPAfw~2XuObp22MiFZ9q0n0RdqBJhPVYvdszUtBbFKs5zT07HBgC3J7AzUE6CTaW-L6kKTA7yMyF8Hs1bbvw67hMXYQE9yVgwDfwanBdl4IKeHuhHFiuo5rB-OsfRZl-NsDFQBJFEgvK4y-1un8z8RZlpMhhPN-JU~gj3jIKH-BFCR7uh437RYp5Zq-XR5HD0xD6akTLqU6zy0CsyIsRFBcU6Pkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee School Board approved a change order to add outdoor facilities work at the new middle school, including a fully resurfaced track and a new storage shed for athletic equipment. The facility committee previously recommended the change on a 3–0 vote.

Board presenters said the track resurfacing had been included as an alternate in the project and was moved into the main contract because bids were favorable. “Because we are able to fit that into the project, we want to make sure middle‑school student athletes can fully utilize this property and be able to practice for their programs at the middle school,” Steve Neli told the board. He noted the resurfaced track will accommodate practices but is not large enough to host full-size meets.

The plan includes a new shed at the top of the site plan to store maintenance and track equipment, and the interior turf/field area will also be available to the football program for practices. Because the requested change order exceeded the superintendent’s approval threshold, policy required full-board approval for change orders of $100,000 or more; the board moved and approved the item on a voice vote.

The board also received the built-in “middle-school contingency tracker” — a running log of project contingency funds, change orders and funds remaining — and was told the district has the resources available to accommodate the change. The board approved the change order by voice vote.","The board approved a change order to include resurfacing and site work for the new middle-school athletic complex. The resurfaced track will enable middle-school practices and football use but is not sized for full competitions; the facility committee recommended the change 3–0 and the full board approved it.",{"_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},6172812,"Waunakee board approves third draft of budget; draft shows 10.4% tax-levy increase",1355,601000,1956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb&start=601&end=1956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb/thumbnail_601000.jpg","/articles/6172812/Wisconsin/Waunakee-board-approves-third-draft-of-budget-draft-shows-104-tax-levy-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172812-5275a7b39d7953a006c04b0e0f5855b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1772872659&Signature=IN5ydOuN-ugQZps5yZ9-LkqCwyaa5AoySpGFh2Ra7rDRx~QPNgPYragEBU5aLyhp3jApHq2qE0JxEdmsJ51zciPZfA3jnXIXDfOAmjd~3xg-aifrjzlzp6fXF3MLXIYFbpmFCbHRh7PkVr0ZzZswyfS-SSvwY1HPcaHquajcD0yKphon12D4KFCjyzfZ8Jcp6pTuneb5xK3TsQJxQ0EiOXzzweWxAGaSRh5O~kPDEW3CG~niIE495SjP92SFcATva86pGVBA1i3tFM69TgjXa6AUdxDSY7TaRUAEhzJ~WDAHzsx6xjohxsge9D~PJTgLTpCyvr-ojOSZUwUi247Y5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waunakee School Board on Monday approved the third draft of the district budget, a plan officials say reflects both a historic increase in some state school funding and a redistribution of aid that raises local property-tax obligations. The draft presented to the board shows a 10.4% increase in the school tax levy compared with last year.

The budget discussion focused on two linked developments: the biennial state budget’s increases in some school revenue streams and a re‑distribution of state equalization aid that reduced the district’s aid compared with earlier estimates. “The first thing to know about the state budget … is it’s one of the most significant increases in spendable revenues that we’ve seen in public schools for a very long time,” Steve Neli, a district staff presenter, told the board. Neli said the package includes a $325-per-student increase in the revenue-limit formula and larger special-education categorical aids.

Why it matters: school finance technicalities shifted where the new money comes from. Board presenters told members the $325-per-student increase is being funded on a statewide basis by local property taxes because there was no net increase in state equalization aid. As a result, the district’s budget model saw a swing of roughly $1.9 million from earlier estimates. “What you see on the screen for state equalization aid for Waunakee is a $1,900,000 change from what we had assumed in the second draft of the budget to the third draft of the budget,” Neli said.

The draft also reflects higher estimated reimbursements for high-cost special education and higher special-education categorical aid. The presenters listed several specific revenue-line increases between the second and third drafts: open-enrollment revenue rose from about $2.7 million to nearly $3.1 million, high-cost special-education aid rose from roughly $375,000 to $775,000, and special-education categorical aid was revised from about $3.5 million to $4.2 million.

Board members and staff discussed how the additional revenues could be used. The budget team recommended boosting the contingency fund, restoring annual contributions to the district’s post-employment benefit (OPEB) trust, and increasing the budget for termination/separation benefits and legal services. The third draft also includes a $100,000 proposal for transportation to better serve McKinney‑Vento (students experiencing homelessness) placements and to reduce reliance on an expensive external contract.

Alternative‑placement proposal included: staff presented a plan to create a district-run alternative‑education placement to serve students who otherwise require expensive out‑of‑district contracts. Tiffany (district staff member) estimated alternative-placement contracts can cost $50,000–$150,000 per student; the district’s internal program would start small, with one teacher and some existing paraprofessionals, and was presented as a lower‑cost option to serve five students projected for the coming year.

Next steps: the board approved the third draft and will present it at the annual meeting in August. District staff said they will bring options for lowering the levy to a board workshop in August and will use state property and equalized value reports in August and October to refine levy projections.

No motions or amendments beyond approval were recorded; the vote on the third draft passed on a voice vote.","The Waunakee School Board approved a third draft of the 2025–26 budget that reflects major state funding changes — including a $325-per-student revenue limit increase — and a proposed 10.4% increase in the district tax levy in the draft the board will present at its annual meeting.",{"_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},6172805,"Board approves student attendance at CADCA midyear institute on consent agenda",72,71000,143000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb&start=71&end=143","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5386672-8daf4d2e6e85f7c5438dcafb448fa6fb/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6172805/Wisconsin/Board-approves-student-attendance-at-CADCA-midyear-institute-on-consent-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172805-e093888605e1e4a1f6f86f37313a5998/orig.mp4?Expires=1772872659&Signature=CO~iBhGhIax4iUJkGKr5TdB6jVJ0JWTn~~KCTMey7yE278lQaKNqrOBGuf4rToewmF1QGXN-zIOCEAOZ5ahvw9od65DCpYwPQY7jOWL0oKSd5hz7awq3-YHrnfGmxRQzRl0S28-hd9IrJwgKak8BjdZRhrhbSQ3kyOPuq0NtFHkBaQsjKlo2Dc2~ax0VeTLTjjuJuKV4~JiqNc9agZzmRs3UBku88dvqcIWdk2gQMSug9ClfAcRa1wPJI-YR63mKkG1i0zVK3jpVjPcmFcdV87astZVo4L65COdEJ0Xv4IcqiG8s~P5YmMyjq7jVW3sNvvQ~f6AY4BO67oSymxl3FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During public comment, Tim Decora, project coordinator for the Waunakee Community Cares Coalition (WCCC), asked the board to approve travel for two juniors — named as Lauren Pellman and Korina Zerbel — along with staff chaperones, to attend the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) midyear training in Nashville July 21–24. Decora said the training is intended to develop student leadership in substance-use prevention and that similar approvals had been granted in past years.

Board members were told the travel request was included in the meeting’s consent agenda. The consent agenda, which included that travel authorization along with routine items and closed-session items noted in the packet, was approved by voice vote.","A public-comment item requested board approval for two Waunakee High School students and two adults to attend the CADCA midyear training in Nashville July 21–24; the item was included in and approved as part of the consent agenda.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District unveils safety coordinator initiatives; DOJ and COPS grant applications seek cameras, training and a reunification plan

Board approves middle-school track site changes; resurfaced track will support practices but not competitions

Waunakee board approves third draft of budget; draft shows 10.4% tax-levy increase

Board approves student attendance at CADCA midyear institute on consent agenda