The Waunakee Community School District policy committee recommended forwarding transportation changes to the full board after discussing a plan that could remove middle-school bus service, replace summer shuttles with short/long routes, and narrow alternative-transportation eligibility (phased change from 'babysitters' to licensed daycare). A one-year, single-family exception to allow an out-of-district bus pickup was approved.
District administrators presented a proposed update to the student cellphone policy to comply with a state law effective July 1. The proposal preserves bell-to-bell restrictions in K–8, keeps instructional-time restrictions for high school pending a needs assessment, enumerates four state exceptions, and defers detailed device procedures (medical/device use, wearable tech) to handbooks.
A Waunakee Community School District committee approved a $1,000,000 capital maintenance budget and authorized board approval for projects that exceed $25,000, clearing the way for immediate maintenance work and administrative implementation under district purchasing policy.
Coaches and staff asked the committee to consider spending soccer fundraising dollars (reported account balance: about $106,000) on equipment, hauling carts, goals, branding, security cameras and handicap parking improvements while longer‑term team‑center planning continues; staff said funds are held at a local education foundation and would be reimbursed after purchases.
District staff told the committee that mid‑project reconciliations increased projected savings, allowing the district to set aside roughly $1.2–$1.3 million for summer 2026 high‑school work; subcontractor awards were described as pending board approval and staff said construction would start in June and aim to finish in August.
Curriculum subcommittee reviewed winter i‑Ready results showing about 74% of grades 5–8 at or above the 50th percentile in ELA and 77% in math, but presenters warned growth measures show reading meeting targets while math growth fell below the national median, flagging math for attention this spring.
District staff told the curriculum subcommittee that AI is being used primarily for text leveling, translation, rubrics and to create substitute‑friendly lesson plans; the district recommends approved tools (Brisk, Gemini, Diffet) only after privacy review and blocks general‑purpose chatbots on school devices.
District staff presented a revised Academic & Career Planning guide with course flowcharts, eliminated non‑sequential prerequisites, and explained the Laude honors system (GPA plus Laude points) used under a state waiver for Wisconsin guarantee top‑percent calculations; committee moved to forward the guide to the full board.
The Waunakee Community School District board approved a budget committee recommendation to require the Waunakee Community Cares Coalition (WCCC) to use $28,000 remaining in the district Fund 21 grant account before the district provides partial funding, and authorized beginning hiring for five FTE positions to prepare for 2026–27 operations.
The district will discontinue shuttle service between elementary schools for summer school and require one consistent morning pickup and one consistent afternoon drop‑off per student to improve safety and operational predictability, trustees voted.
