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Waukesha board adopts policy changes to curb improper staff‑student communications under new state law
Summary
The Waukesha School District board approved revisions to multiple policies to comply with 2025 Wisconsin Act 89, adding definitions for grooming and boundary violations, limiting staff‑student communication to district‑approved platforms, and requiring annual staff training and clear disciplinary consequences.
The Waukesha School District Board of Education on June 10 approved a package of policy revisions aimed at tightening staff‑student digital communications and student safety in response to 2025 Wisconsin Act 89.
The policy changes, presented by Policy Committee chair Eric Brooks, cover student supervision and welfare (policies 1213/3213/4213), staff use of personal communication devices (7530.02), acceptable use and student technology safety (7540.03), social media (7544), volunteers (8120), and child abuse and neglect reporting (8462). "The law requires that all public and private schools adopt formal policies by September 1st, 2026 governing appropriate communication between employees and students," Mr. Brooks told the board, summarizing the state requirement driving the revisions.
Key updates added explicit definitions of grooming and professional boundary violations, mandated that staff use only district‑approved platforms for student communications (district email, district website tools and approved social media accounts), and required annual staff training to help personnel identify and report grooming or boundary violations. The child‑abuse policy revisions establish standardized, time‑sensitive protocols for notifying families when misconduct is suspected.
Administration said it will review district communication practices during the summer to determine whether additional platforms should be added to the approved list. The changes also extend communication restrictions and professional standards to volunteers.
Board members framed the revisions as implementing a state mandate and strengthening student protections. The measures were approved as part of the consent agenda and recorded on the board's roll call as passing unanimously.
The administration will bring implementation details to committees this summer, including how the district will communicate platform limits to staff and volunteers and how annual training will be scheduled and documented.
