The Waunakee Community School District budget committee voted on Jan. 5 to recommend that the school board reallocate three existing kindergarten–four FTE into in‑building 4K classrooms, a step staff says would help replace capacity lost when two partner sites declined to continue.

Steve, the committee’s lead presenter, said the recommendation would reassign “three FTE that are currently between grades K through 4 to a 4Ks option in each of our buildings” as AM/PM rooms, prioritizing partner sites that contracted with the district. Miranda, the district’s 4K administrator, explained licensing requirements and staffing logistics: “For 4Ks, you have to have an early childhood [license],” she said, noting many elementary teachers hold compatible credentials and HR would coordinate staff interest and assignments.

Why it matters: two partner providers—St. John’s Preschool and Inspire—did not continue participation in the district’s partner 4K offering, reducing partner capacity. Steve told the committee that reallocating three FTE internally would avoid adding new positions and could preserve partner contracts: “The goal is to fill the centers and our three classrooms,” he said.

What the committee discussed: members pressed staff on demand estimates, placement policy and equity for partner providers. Committee members asked staff to quickly survey current 4K families to estimate how many will continue in district 4K; Steve noted the district’s practice that current open‑enrollment 4K students would be allowed to continue without reapplying. Miranda added that the district would target families not requiring wraparound care so partner centers can continue serving families that rely on full‑day services.

Formal action: an unidentified committee member moved to recommend reallocation of the three K–4 sections to in‑building 4K; the motion was seconded and the committee recorded an affirmative vote to forward that recommendation to the full board for action at the next board meeting. The motion was framed as guidance for open‑enrollment numbers that the board must set in January under state law.

Logistics and next steps: staff were asked to:
- Survey current 4K families and report results to the committee by next Monday to refine open‑enrollment openings; Edward (staff) offered to pull the family contact list.
- Work with HR (Bridal, HR director) to identify licensed teachers willing to move to in‑building 4K assignments.
- Prioritize placing open‑enrollment students in partner sites before assigning them to district‑run rooms when partners have capacity.

The committee also asked the policy committee to discuss transportation implications for private partner programs; Steve noted state law limits school bus obligations to home‑to‑school routes and that parent‑contract arrangements are an option for privately run programs.

The recommendation will appear on the school board agenda next Monday for a formal vote.