Waunakee board approves revised harassment policy after debate over separate anti‑hate‑speech rule

The Waunakee Community School District board voted to approve a revised harassment policy (board policy 411/411‑1) at its regular meeting after several months of drafting, public comment from staff and students, and discussion about how the policy would interact with athletics rules.

The policy change grew out of work that began last November to fold an anti‑hate‑speech component into the district’s harassment policy rather than keep it as a stand‑alone rule. Gina Pagel, an Arboretum teacher, told the board she appreciated the district’s move to address harmful language but said students she and others heard from “thought it would speak more firmly if the harassment policy was a separate policy as it already existed.”

Board members and administrators described the process as collaborative. Dr. Brown, the district superintendent (first name not specified in the meeting), said the administration had sought legal counsel and consulted with nearby Dane County superintendents during drafting. “We do know and understand there is a lot of language in the policy itself,” the superintendent said, and administrators provided a draft staff guidance document so employees would know “if I’m the person, what do I do?”

Teachers’ union leadership and other educators urged the board to continue listening to students. Molly Gruber, an early‑childhood speech pathologist and co‑president of the Waunakee Teachers Association, said students at a recent Multicultural Student Achievement Network (MSAN) conference were “all very adamant that the anti hate speech policy be a separate policy,” and said the district should keep working to make sure student voices are heard.

Some board members raised concerns about how the policy would interact with external rules for athletics. Jack Heinemann, a long‑serving board member and former treasurer, said he worried the policy could conflict with Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) competition rules governing transgender participation. “That would be my concern,” Heinemann said.

Administrators responded that the district expects to follow WIAA rules for athletics while using the harassment policy to address and investigate complaints of harassment. “We will follow the WIAA when it comes to our sports and we’ll protect our kids in the space of harassment if any situations or concerns come our way,” the superintendent said, noting guidance from legal counsel and the Seventh Circuit court informed the district’s approach.

The board took up the policy as an action item following a 3‑0 policy committee recommendation. A motion to approve the revised harassment policy (411 and 411‑1) was made and seconded; the board approved the policy by voice vote. The meeting record does not show a roll‑call tally of yes/no votes for this item.

Administrators said the policy text and a staff guide would remain open to further edits as needed and that the district planned communication and training for teachers and staff about next steps.

The policy vote closes a months‑long drafting process that included legal review and input from parents, students, staff and other superintendents in the area. Several speakers urged continued communication so students and community members would recognize the change and understand how to use the policy.

Board materials listed the policy by number and placed the item on the agenda after policy committee review; the administration and union representatives said they will continue outreach to students and staff as the policy is implemented.