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Waunakee board adopts separate harassment policy including anti‑hate language
Summary
The Waunakee Community School District board approved a revised harassment policy that incorporates an anti‑hate‑speech provision as a stand‑alone element after months of review and legal consultation.
The Waunakee Community School District board approved a revised harassment policy that separates and explicitly addresses anti‑hate speech, the board decided at its regular meeting.
The policy update was presented by district staff after work dating to November and review by legal counsel, administrators and educators. Dr. Brown, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the draft reflects input from “parents, our students, our staff, our district administration” and outside legal and superintendent colleagues who had worked through similar policies.
The policy discussion drew public comment and board questions about how the policy would interact with athletic eligibility rules. Board member Jack raised a potential conflict with WIAA sports rules and said that concern was “my concern” as the policy addresses gender identity and competition. Dr. Brown responded that the district’s guidance is to follow federal and circuit‑court decisions where applicable and to maintain compliance with WIAA rules for athletics, saying the district’s “guidance was to follow the Seventh Circuit” in terms of harassment decisions and that the district would also “follow the WIAA when it comes to our sports.”
Teacher‑representative Molly Gruppi, who identified herself as an early‑childhood speech pathologist and co‑president of the Waunakee Teachers Association, urged the board to keep the anti‑hate language clearly separate from other harassment language and said students who participated in a recent Multicultural Student Achievement Network panel asked for the anti‑hate policy to be “a separate policy.”
After discussion, a board member moved to approve the new harassment policy. The motion was seconded and the board voted in favor by voice vote. The policy will take effect as adopted; board members thanked staff and committee members who worked on the revision.
Board members and staff emphasized that the policy aims to protect students from harassment while remaining mindful of legal and athletic governance that may impose separate requirements.
