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Board workshops on Act 89 policy changes for staff‑student communications and grooming definitions
Summary
Administrators briefed the board on required policy updates under Wisconsin Act 89 covering staff–student communications, definitions of grooming and boundary violations, required training and parent‑notification timelines; board members asked about training for volunteers, coaches and the board itself and raised enforcement and intent‑versus‑impact questions.
The board held a workshop on policy revisions necessary to comply with Wisconsin Act 89, which requires districts to adopt formal policies governing staff‑to‑student communications, define 'grooming' and boundary violations, and require annual staff training and parent notification timelines. Administrators recommended restricting individual adult‑to‑student communication to district‑approved platforms (email, ParentSquare) and emphasized mandatory reporting obligations and training through VECTOR.
Board members asked whether non‑staff coaches and volunteers would be covered and whether the board itself would complete training. Administrators said volunteers should rely on the official coach or program lead for communications, and that head coaches should use district‑approved channels; staff suggested the board would also participate in required trainings. The group discussed the difficulty of drawing lines (for example, student hugs) and the district's preference to "err on the side of safety," with a September 1 adoption deadline noted by administration.
