Board expands Best Buddies inclusion program to Waunakee middle school

The Waunakee Community School District board voted to extend the Best Buddies program and unified physical‑education offerings to the middle school following committee recommendation and public comment from staff and parents.

Tiffany, who presented the committee’s findings, said the high‑school Best Buddies program has nearly 100 participants and has helped change school culture by increasing inclusive social interactions between general‑education students and students with disabilities. “We just thought adding this Best Buddies at the middle school would just be an extension of that culture‑changing innovation,” Tiffany said, noting parent advisory input and plans to begin unified PE at the middle school next year.

The board approved the expansion by voice vote; administrators said high‑school students will help introduce middle‑school peers to the program and that the addition aligns with ongoing efforts in adaptive sports and inclusion.