Waunakee school board emphasizes community outreach ahead of referendum, approves DECA trip
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Summary
The Waunakee Community School District board spent the meeting reviewing its self-evaluation and planning broader community engagement for an upcoming referendum; the board also approved a DECA out‑of‑state competition request and set follow-up steps for survey analysis and facilitator selection.
The Waunakee Community School District board used a regular meeting to review its annual self-evaluation and to plan expanded community outreach ahead of an upcoming referendum, while approving a request for students to attend an out‑of‑state DECA conference.
The chair opened the discussion by calling the self‑evaluation a tool “to improve our relationships, improve our working abilities, [and] prove our governance as a working board,” and asked members to identify strengths and improvement themes for the 2026–27 school year. Board members highlighted respectful deliberations and a mix of new and experienced voices but said engagement and advocacy require more attention.
Several members pressed for clearer monitoring that ties data to administrative guidance. One board member said the district should not “get numb by looking at numbers” and wants monitoring to include recommendations from leadership about how to respond when metrics show issues. An administrator noted cabinet presentations given this year (beginning, middle and end of year) and offered to prepare summaries of each school’s improvement plan for a summer meeting so the board can see how building actions connect to the data.
A recurring theme was community engagement for the upcoming referendum. One board member urged a multidisciplinary outreach group that would include parents, educators, realtors, business owners and others who may not usually engage with the district; another urged using survey data to identify underrepresented groups and to invite a representative mix rather than holding only open sessions. Board members suggested using focused workshops or facilitated sessions (two to three meetings) and solicited administration help in recommending professional facilitators.
Members also discussed communications strategy. The board agreed it should more actively use public channels such as social media with messaging coordinated through the administration so posts are consistent, and to prepare vetted responses if misinformation appears. Administrators confirmed April drop‑in sessions will provide devices and assistance for community members who want to complete the district survey.
On procedural items, the board approved a request for the district DECA (the student organization) to attend an out‑of‑state, competition‑style conference and tournament. The motion to approve the trip passed unanimously by voice vote. The meeting concluded after the chair summarized next steps: analyze the survey results, have administrators propose facilitator candidates and prepare school improvement summaries, and return to the board for follow‑up planning.
The board adjourned after the business of the night.
