Committee moves to change open-enrollment guarantees to 'preference' for siblings and moved-out residents

The Waunakee Community School District Policy Committee voted to forward a proposed change to the district’s open enrollment policy that would replace longstanding guarantees for siblings and students whose resident families move out with a preference status and a computerized random selection process when demand exceeds space.

Tiffany (staff member) explained the proposed changes and said current practice of guaranteeing siblings or students whose resident families move out has been used strategically by some families (for example, enrolling a non-disabled sibling first so a student with significant disabilities will be auto-admitted the following year). Tiffany and other staff said that guarantee status can create planning and staffing challenges when the district lacks space or specialized staff to meet complex needs.

District administrators described three tiers available under Wisconsin law: guarantee (current practice), preference (proposed middle tier—siblings get priority over other applicants but only within available spaces), or no preference. The committee heard staff recommend moving to preference so district staff (Tiffany and enrollment administrators) can plan staffing and placements while still giving siblings priority ahead of a randomized selection for remaining seats.

Staff also proposed switching to a computerized random selection method when seats are limited. Administrators noted the change should be communicated widely and promptly because families often plan moves based on the current guarantee; staff said communications should begin immediately so families have time to respond before decisions about space are finalized in January.

The committee voted to forward the open-enrollment change to the full board.