Waunakee board approves budget planning, facility work, Title IX policy updates and consent items; roll-call on bond sale

The Waunakee Community School District board approved several administrative and committee recommendations at its regular meeting, including preliminary budget planning for 2025–26, selected summer capital maintenance projects, policy updates and consent agenda items.

Budget: The board approved the district’s 2025–26 preliminary budget planning process. Administration described the plan as status-quo planning amid an ongoing state budget cycle and said it will integrate any changes from the state budget into later drafts.

Facilities: The facilities committee had reviewed priority 1 capital maintenance projects and asked the board to approve a small subset with immediate timing needs. The board approved the request; examples mentioned included updating clocks, bells and the public-address system at Arboretum and replacing original cafeteria tables at Prairie to meet lead times for fall delivery.

Human resources and benefits: The HR committee reported it had evaluated self-funding for health insurance and found the most competitive self-funding option would raise spend by approximately 27 percent compared with current costs, so administration is now pursuing two carriers (Group Health Cooperative and Dean/SSM) for further consideration. The committee is also assembling wage data to consider a multi-year plan using referendum funds to raise hourly wages toward market averages; administration said a two-year, $1 million plan is under consideration contingent on committee review.

Policy: The board approved updated policies reflecting the 2020 Title IX regulations and agreed to circulate a succinct staff-facing summary. The DEI subcommittee also approved updated harassment-policy language and forwarded it to the policy subcommittee for further review.

Consent agenda and gifts: The board approved the consent agenda with one item (co-curricular report) voted on separately. The board acknowledged two gifts in the meeting packet: a $1,360 equipment donation for engineering/design courses and a pledge of $60,000 from district design partner EUA (split $20,000 per year for three years) to the student financial assistance fund. Administration also noted students taking advantage of Start College Now/MATC and similar early-college opportunities.

Votes at a glance - Approve February minutes and meeting agenda: voice votes (approved) - Approve selected priority 1 facility projects (clocks/PA at Arboretum; cafeteria tables at Prairie): voice vote (approved) - Approve 2025–26 preliminary budget planning process: voice vote (approved) - Approve policies updating Title IX language to the 2020 regulations: voice vote (approved) - Approve consent agenda (with separate vote approving co-curricular report): voice votes (approved) - Bond anticipation note sale ($52,000,000): roll-call vote (approved; yes: Katie, Judy, Ted, Jeff, John, Anne Hetzel)

Board members also discussed legislative developments and advocacy letters; administration will circulate materials so board members may sign letters supporting continued renewable-energy incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act.