Subcommittee OKs handbook edits, approves higher hourly driving pay to encourage staff transport

The Waunakee Community School District Human Resources Subcommittee advanced revised handbooks for teachers, hourly employees and administrative support and approved changes that include a higher hourly rate for staff who transport students in certain circumstances.

District administrators said handbook edits are the result of year-long committee work and multiple staff contributions; the changes aim for consistent language across employee groups while highlighting substantive changes. "When I say 24 different amounts, we have 2 contributions now," Brian, the district staff presenter, said while explaining the benefit-premium breakdown for hourly employees.

One substantive handbook change discussed would add an elevated hourly rate for employees who accept driving duties for students who require transportation outside normal bus routes, notably students in special education and students covered by the McKinney Vento Act who have temporary housing. Administrators said the district often pays outside services that are more expensive and that offering district staff higher driving pay and mileage reimbursement could provide cost savings and more consistent drivers for students.

Committee members asked about insurance and liability when staff use personal vehicles. District administrators said district insurance policy applies when students are transported in district vans or approved personal vehicles, but noted that claims can lead to subrogation between insurance companies and that individual-policy effects can be complicated; staff advised they had not encountered staff reporting personal premiums rising from approved student transport in prior practice. Administrators also said mileage reimbursement would apply when staff use personal vehicles.

Subcommittee discussion clarified the driving-pay proposal is intended for to-and-from student transport for eligible students, not as additional pay for standard co-curricular travel where driving is part of a stipend and already considered inclusive. Committee members asked staff to clarify handbook language to state approved personal vehicles and school vans explicitly.

The subcommittee also reviewed day-calendar differences for associate principals (elementary associate principals on a 210-day calendar vs. 238 days for secondary associate principals) and said the handbook edits reflect common practice in peer districts. The group approved advancing the handbooks to the full board; staff said supplemental handbooks (substitute, volunteer, aquatic center) will be advanced separately in June.

The committee approved the handbooks by motion and voice vote and directed staff to make minor clarifying edits to the hourly-driving language and to coordinate messaging and implementation with the McKinney Vento social worker and transportation staff.