Board accepts 49 open‑enrollment students and creates wait lists for early grades

The Pewaukee School District Board on May 19 approved acceptance of 49 open‑enrollment students for the 2025–26 school year (36 district seats plus 13 tuition‑waiver students) and established wait lists for oversubscribed grades.

John Gann explained the district opened 37 seats in January and received 155 applications; most applicants (145) were new to the district. The largest demand was for 4K, where 20 seats were available and 51 applications were received; the board authorized a wait list of 31 students at 4K. Wait lists were also created for 5K (14 students), grade 2 (3 students) and grade 5 (7 students). One application for a special‑education program was denied because that program was closed to additional open‑enrollment placements under the board’s January action.

Gann clarified sibling preference: board policy gives priority to siblings for available seats and 19 sibling applicants filled most of the 4K seats. Board members asked about net enrollment effects; Gann said the district counted 2,249 students in the current year and anticipates roughly 2,259 next year, with a projected net increase of about 10 open‑enrollment students after graduations and typical movement.

Board members unanimously approved the acceptance motion and the wait‑list motion by voice vote; recorded abstentions and oppositions were minimal and noted in the meeting minutes. The board discussed “tuition waiver” status: state statute allows students who begin a year as residents but move midyear to maintain resident status or apply for waivers; administrators explained the statutory open‑enrollment tuition figure is set at the statewide average per‑pupil amount (approximately $9,600) but tuition waivers covered by board action raised no immediate revenue impact to the district for this vote.

Administrators will manage the wait lists and report final September counts that affect funding and staffing.