Waunakee district outlines fast timeline and possible $5,500 4K reimbursement after state program change

Waunakee Community School District officials used a special board meeting to map a compressed schedule for responding to changes in the state’s "Get Kids Ready" program and to preview budget scenarios that could include raising per-student 4K reimbursement to $5,500.

"Providers may not participate in Get Kids Ready if they also contract with the public school district to provide 4 k in the same year," Steve, a district administrator, told the board, summarizing a key constraint in the 2025–27 state budget that forces providers to choose between the state program and local partnerships. Dr. Brown, a district leader, emphasized the session was "a discussion item only" and said the goal was to give partners and the board information to make timely decisions.

Why it matters: The district said the state restriction could materially affect its 4K student count in 2026–27, which in turn would change state equalization aid and shift costs to local property taxpayers under Wisconsin’s revenue-limit funding system. District staff said they ran multiple scenarios — from offering no district-run 4K to increasing partner payments — to show trade-offs for enrollment, staffing and taxes.

What the district proposed: Staff outlined a near-term calendar. The budget committee will meet Dec. 1 to review grade-by-grade and school-by-school projections and refined scenarios. The board could vote Dec. 8 on a contract offer to existing 4K partners, with the district asking partners to respond by Dec. 19 so families can access enrollment timelines. Staff also proposed a community 4K task force to study long-term program options.

On reimbursement levels: Dr. Brown reported a short-term proposal to raise the district’s per-student payment to partners from roughly $3,600 toward $5,000–$5,500. "We want to increase the dollar amount ... to $5,500," Dr. Brown said, describing that as a potential way to preserve community partnerships if partners decline the state program. Board members asked how that increase would be financed and whether it would force a referendum; staff said some options (reducing contingency, adding open-enrollment slots to raise revenue, or reducing kindergarten sections) could offset costs but that the issue requires detailed Dec. 1 analysis.

Budget risks and trade-offs: Board members and staff discussed preliminary figures. One board member estimated increasing rates could cost about $500,000; another warned a $5,000 commitment already showed a roughly $343,000 first-year deficit in an initial high-level scenario. Steve cautioned that losing 4K students to the state program would reduce state aid and ultimately raise local property taxes unless offset by other revenue or program changes.

Operational and policy items: Staff reviewed the district’s open-enrollment policy excerpt and explained how the board sets open-enrollment slots annually based on class-size limits, desired student–teacher ratios and enrollment projections. The district noted it has historically allowed students accepted via open enrollment to continue without reapplying; while Wisconsin law allows boards to require reapplication at transition points, Waunakee does not currently do so.

Next steps and public engagement: Staff proposed holding an in-person review of any approved contract on Dec. 15 and recommended forming a community task force in February to examine long-term 4K models, including full-day options or district-run classrooms. Staff stressed Dec. 1’s budget committee meeting will provide the detailed numbers the board will need to decide whether to make a contract offer on Dec. 8.

The board did not take formal action on 4K at the special meeting. The session ended with a motion to adjourn that carried by voice vote. The district said partners and parents can continue to send questions to Miranda, a staff member coordinating partner communications.