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Board adopts policy updates tied to Wisconsin Acts 57 and 89; approves co-curricular and student handbook changes
Summary
The Germantown board approved a package of policy updates reflecting Wisconsin Acts 57 and 89, amended language on district-approved communication platforms with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2026, and approved updates to co-curricular and student handbooks including expanded participation eligibility and clarified device-search language.
The Germantown School District Board of Education voted June 16 to adopt a set of policy updates and handbook changes that the policy and teaching-and-learning committees recommended.
Policy committee chair Mr. Barney said the updates (covering board member behavior, student supervision and welfare, staff use of personal devices, student technology safety, social media, volunteers, and child abuse/neglect) were driven by changes in state law — specifically Wisconsin Act 57 (parental notification requirements for alleged sexual misconduct reports) and Wisconsin Act 89 (requirements governing employee-student communications and mandated staff training).
The board amended committee language to remove example app names (such as TeamSnap, GroupMe) and instead require a district-approved list of athletic and extracurricular communications platforms; the board set the effective date for those policy changes as Sept. 1, 2026, to give the district time to finalize that approved-platform list. Mr. Barney moved the amendment, which passed by voice vote, and the board subsequently adopted the amended policy package.
Separately the board approved updates to co-curricular and student handbooks for 2026–27. Key changes include clearer participation requirements (attendance minimums to participate in after-school activities), alignment of device and Chromebook language across elementary, middle and high schools, a clarified standard for school officials to confiscate and examine electronic devices (limited to cases with reasonable suspicion of law, policy, or rule violations), and a specific note that Kennedy Middle School co-curricular activities are available to resident students including those enrolled in certain non-district programs.
Board members said the changes reflect recent state law and the district’s effort to standardize expectations across grade levels. The board approved the handbooks, co-curricular handbook updates, and the new Women in Business co-curricular group for Germantown High School in separate voice votes during the meeting.
