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Waunakee students present MSAN to school board and ask for continued support for inclusion work
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Summary
Members of the Multicultural Student Achievement Network (MSAN) told the Waunakee Community School District board about their work toward student belonging, shared personal experiences of microaggressions, and asked for support to expand the club, complete a microaggression video and attend national conferences.
Members of the Multicultural Student Achievement Network (MSAN) spoke to the Waunakee Community School District board about efforts to build belonging for students of color and urged ongoing district support for the student-led group.
The presentation, given as the board’s Warrior Spotlight, described MSAN’s goals, outreach and action steps. Students said they have formed affinity groups, contributed student perspectives at DEI and Equal Opportunity Schools meetings, run freshman outreach and promoted participation in advanced courses. “MSAN is more than just an activity. It’s a community,” a student said when introducing the group.
The students outlined planned next steps: finishing a microaggression video to be shared with staff and students, fundraising to support student-led programming, and expanding the club’s social media presence to raise awareness. Sebastian, who said he moved to the U.S. three years ago, described MSAN as a space that helped him find peers and confidence: “MSAN didn’t just give me a club. It gave me a community, real friendships, and amazing opportunities,” he said.
The presentation also recapped a recent national MSAN student conference the students attended. One student described the conference as “inspiring,” noting opportunities to network with peers from other districts and to develop action-plan strategies the club can apply locally. The transcript records the students referring to a conference trip held November 12–14, 2025 and said they returned with new ideas for programming and advocacy.
Board members thanked the students and presented each with a certificate of appreciation. Chair Melissa Hill (board chair, speaking from the dais) praised the students’ personal stories and urged trustees to support their attendance at future conferences.
Why it matters: Students told the board they are bringing direct student experience into district DEI work and class-level discussions, including contributing to district “You Belong” commitments and ESQ surveys. The students asked the board to help sustain funding for trips and for the microaggression video screening so the district can amplify student voice in its equity work.
What’s next: Students said they plan further fundraising and want to continue attending DEI meetings and national conferences; board members endorsed the students’ work and presented certificates of appreciation at the meeting, and trustees encouraged them to return with progress updates.
