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District reports WAVE notification failure during elementary drill; vendor retested system
Summary
District Administrator Dr. White told the board the WAVE emergency‑notification system failed during a recent elementary school drill; the vendor tested it afterward and it worked, but administrators and parents remain concerned and the district is following up with the vendor and county.
Dr. White reported to the board that a recent emergency‑notification drill at the elementary school revealed a failure of the WAVE system: "The system in the elementary school did not work," she said, noting staff and parent concerns.
District staff contacted Tom Hausner, the company sales representative, and conducted a subsequent test over the weekend that Dr. White said was successful. Despite the successful retest, Dr. White said the district remains concerned about consistent performance and will continue debriefs with elementary and secondary staff, communicate with parents and pursue follow‑up with the vendor and county contacts.
Dr. White said the district is aware that many Walworth County schools use the WAVE system and that, at present, other districts contacted (Elkhorn, Badger and Bigfoot) reported the system working for them. She emphasized that school safety remains a top priority and that other layers of the district’s security systems were used when the WAVE notification did not function.
Why it matters: Reliable mass‑notification systems are a critical part of school emergency response; even intermittent failures can undermine staff and parent confidence, and the district said it will continue testing and vendor follow‑up.
Next steps: Dr. White will debrief elementary staff, continue communication with families, and keep the board informed of findings and any recommended changes to the notification system or vendor arrangements.
