The Waunakee Community School District Board of Education voted to increase kindergarten open‑enrollment capacity by four seats and signaled support for reallocating three K–4 teachers to establish district 4K classrooms.

Steve (budget committee presenter) told the board the committee recommended a staffing reallocation scenario that would reassign three teachers to create district‑run 4K AM/PM classrooms in each elementary school. "We would no longer as a district have the capacity to serve all of the 4 year olds in the community if they chose to sign up with us," Steve said, describing how two community partners told the district they planned to partner with the state instead of the district next year.

The recommendation followed a budget committee review of open‑enrollment law and capacity calculations. The committee noted that state law requires boards to declare open‑enrollment openings in January and to include special‑education capacity in those calculations. Administration shared Miranda’s recent outreach to families, which indicated 4–5 currently open‑enrolled 4K students were unlikely to continue in district programs.

Board member Mark moved that the board accept the budget committee recommendation and add four additional kindergarten open‑enrollment seats to reflect Miranda’s family‑intent data; the motion was seconded and carried on an aye vote. Board members said they expect administration to prioritize filling contracted partner sites first and to monitor summer enrollment and staffing needs.

Administration told the board that the shift of some community providers to the state program introduces logistics questions: though parents could theoretically enroll partly in the district and partly in state‑partner programs, most families would need district transportation between sites. "If our goal is to maximize participation in 4K, the transportation just absolutely has to come with it," Steve said; he added that transportation options will be discussed at the policy committee.

Board members and administration said the reallocation proposal was designed to avoid new spending by moving three teachers into funded 4K positions; they left open the possibility of adding staff mid‑summer if demand exceeded the reallocated capacity. The board also asked Miranda to continue surveying family intent and to report back to the budget committee.

The district’s motion updates its open‑enrollment counts for next year and is non‑appealable under state statute once approved. The board directed administration to proceed with enrollment messaging and advised administrators to keep the board informed about partner commitments and parent interest.