Wausau School District Pupil Services Department

• Alternative High School Program

  • The Alternative High School Program, located on the campus of Northcentral Technical College, serves students at risk of not completing high school in a traditional setting. 

• Marathon County Juvenile Detention Facility Secure Detention

  • The Marathon County Juvenile Detention Facility Secure Detention, located at 7015 Packer Drive in Wausau, is a secure placement facility for juveniles involved in criminal activity.

  • Teacher: Josh Nowinsky

• PEER (Prepare Educate Empower Rebuild) Program

  • PEER provides short-term, intensive, individualized education programming with the goal of preparing the student to return to their typical or permanent educational setting as soon as possible.  Specially-trained teachers, social workers, and other support staff implement an individualized plan developed by the student's educational team.

  • Staff:

    • Heather Rasmussen, School Counselor
    • Amalia Wegner, Teacher
    • Lisa Hunt, Social Worker
    • Jessica Fischer, Teacher
    • Mike Immel, Support Staff. 

Important note:  All alternative education placement determinations are made by school administration.

The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Program is  about prevention and intervention.  Prevention is designed to help students avoid or minimize future problems related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.  Intervention programs, on the other hand, are designed to help students  who are already experiencing problems.  

For more information, please reach out to our Wausau School District ATODA Coordinator, Dr. Shannon Young.

School social workers are a link between home, school, and community. The role of the social worker is to assist students, staff and, parents with a variety of home and/or school issues that affect a student’s performance at school. Social workers collaborate with other school staff to help students overcome obstacles to education by offering knowledge of social, emotional, and mental health issues.

Today’s students face many social and personal problems that threaten their ability to do well in school and inhibit their progress toward becoming productive citizens. School social work intervention promotes educational success.

DPI School Social Work

Our School Social Workers

Here in the Wausau School District, our counselors are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and expertise to support academic, career, and social/emotional development in students.  

Wisconsin's Comprehensive School Counseling Program Model

Our Counseling Team

The Marathon County School-Based Counseling Consortium comprises of nonprofit and for-profit mental health clinics, public school districts, and community organizations. Consortium counseling agencies are able to provide on-site mental health counseling or virtual counseling to students in some Marathon County public schools including  West High School, East High School, John Muir, Horace Mann, John Marshall, Riverview,  and G.D. Jones.

If you would like to refer your child for school-based counseling or would like more information, please complete the form below and a representative from your child's school will contact you.

School-Based Counseling Referral Form

Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Section 504 law ensures that the child with a disability has equal access to an education. The child may receive accommodations and/or modifications to better meet their needs.

 Under Section 504, an individual with a disability is defined as a person who: (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity; (2) has a record of such an impairment; or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. The determination of whether a student has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity (and therefore has a disability) must be made on a case by case basis.

If you believe your child has a disability that is impacting one or more major life functions, please contact your child’s school counselor or you may contact Sara Gardner, 504 Coordinator, at 715-261-0742 or email at sgardner@wausauschools.org.

The Wausau School District also has suicide prevention resources for students.  In all of our schools, there are counselors, social workers, and psychologists that have extensive experience and training in supporting the mental health needs of our students.  In addition, the Wausau School District is part of the Marathon County School-Based Counseling Consortium, which provides licensed therapists to each building.  We want you to know that you and your child(ren) should never hesitate to reach out to any member of the Pupil Services team, if you ever need support.  They are all here to help.

EMERGENCY SERVICES:

• North Central Health Care Crisis Services:  If you or someone you know is having mental or emotional struggles, it is important to know there are people who care and will provide help.   Crisis Hotline:  715-845-4326 or 800-799-0122.
• 24-7 Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotlines:  North Central Health Care offers 24/7/365 confidential and anonymous crisis and emergency phone counseling and intervention to help you through your roughest moments -- be it emotional, mental health, suicide. prevention or substance abuse issues.  Crisis Hotline: 715-845-4326 or 800-799-0211
• Emergency/Crisis - Call 911:  Connect with law enforcement regarding an emergency.  Officers will make a welfare check to the home to make sure everyone is safe. 
• 800-273-TALK (8255): National Hotline will link you with Crisis Care in any area in the United States. 
• 800-799-0122:  Toll free call connecting you to Crisis Support in the Marathon, Langlade, and Lincoln Counties.
• 715-845-4326:  Connecting you to Crisis Support in Marathon, Langlade, and Lincoln Counties. 
• TDD 715-845-4928:  For those with hearing or speech difficulties.  

Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Campus Crime Stoppers - Stop-Solve-Prevent Crime

The Wausau School District, in partnership with Marathon County Crime Stoppers, Inc., is participating in the Campus Crime Stoppers school safety program.  The program's goal is to Stop, Solve, and Prevent Crime, in an effort to promote school safety and maintain a safe learning environment for students and staff.  

Students are encouraged to 'step up and do the right thing' and take an active role in helping to keep their school safe.  Students may report information about illegal or unsafe activity at their school at school-related events, or anywhere in the community.  Students report feeling safe at their school knowing there is a safe, secure way to report information while never having to reveal their identity.

How It Works

Students remain anonymous by reporting directly to Crime Stoppers via the P3 Tips App (which has been loaded onto the student iPad or Chromebook), calling the 2-hour hotline, or sending a tip via web at their website.  To speak to a trusted adult and remain confidential students may report information directly to a school official or school resource officer.  Once the tip information is verified the student may be eligible for a cash reward.

Remember, if you see something, say something.  Help keep our schools safe.  Remain anonymous.  Earn cash rewards.  

The Wausau School Board may provide individual instruction to students who are unable to attend classes because they are temporarily not in proper physical or mental condition.

A request for homebound instruction needs to be placed in writing and must include the following information: 

• the nature of the medical condition
• the probable duration
• present evidence of the student's inability to participate in an educational program
• indicate whether the student currently has an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan)
• indicate whether the student currently has a Section 504 Plan
• indicate whether the student should be evaluated for an IEP and/or Section 504 Plan
• indicate whether the student is or will become a school-age parent (Wisconsin School-Age Parents)
• indicate whether homebound study is requested as part of a program or curriculum modification.

The special education teacher (case manager) will convene an IEP Team meeting to consider the request for homebound services.  Each case is considered on an individual basis.  

To learn more about Homebound Instruction in the State of Wisconsin, Qualifications, and next steps, please, visit the Homebound Instruction:  Questions and Answers for Families  document from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).  

Homeless children and youth are defined as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and include children and youth who meet any of the following criteria:

• In a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground
• On the street
• In an abandoned building or other inadequate accommodations, or
• Doubled up with friends or relatives because you cannot find or afford housing

Then, your preschool-aged and school-aged children have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act.  Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, your children have the right to: 

• Go to school, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there. They must be given access to the same public education, including preschool education, provided to other children.
• Continue in the school they attended before you became homeless or the school they last attended, if that is your choice and is feasible. If a school sends your child to a school other than the one you request, the school must provide you with a written explanation and offer you the right to appeal the decision.
• Receive transportation to the school they attended before your family became homeless or the school they last attended, if you or a guardian request such transportation.
• Attend a school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless. Children cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
• Enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schools cannot require proof of residency that might prevent or delay school enrollment.
• Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
• Enroll and attend classes in the school of your choice even while the school and you seek to resolve a dispute over enrolling your children.
• Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs.
• Receive transportation to school and to school programs.

When you move, you should do the following:

• Contact the school district’s liaison for homeless education (see phone number below) for help in enrolling your child in a new school or arranging for your child to continue in his or her former school. (Or, someone at a shelter, social services office, or the school can direct you to the person you need to contact.)
• Contact the school and provide any information you think will assist the teachers in helping your child adjust to new circumstances.
• Ask the local liaison for homeless education, the shelter provider, or a social worker for assistance with clothing and supplies, if needed.

If you have questions, please contact our Coordinator of Pupil Services and Homeless Liaison Andy Grimm.

ASCA - Race and Equity Resources 

Beyond the Golden Rule - A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice 

Understanding Prejudice - Tips for Teachers and Parents

How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism

Local Food Pantries

The Market by The Neighbors’ Place

• Location: 360 Grand Avenue (Community Partners Campus)
• Hours:
  • Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Monday & Wednesday: 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Food Pantry by First Presbyterian Church

• Location: 406 Grant Street
• Hours: The second and fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Food Pantry by Saint Paul’s United Church of Christ

• Location: 426 Washington Street
• Hours: The second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Salvation Army of Marathon County Food Pantry

• Location: 202 Callon Street
• Hours: Every Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Bread and Produce Distribution Hours:
  • Monday through Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Food Pantry by Wesley United Methodist Church

• Location: 1101 Elm Street
• Hours: Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Please call for an appointment: 715-842-3768)

Community Center of Hope

• Location: 607 13th Street in Mosinee
• Hours: Tuesdays: 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Thursdays: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. 

Covenant Community Presbyterian Church

• Location: 1806 Weston Avenue, Rothschild
• Hours: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month

New Hope Community Church - Ruby’s Pantry

• Location: 229375 County Road J, Wausau
• Hours: Registration: 3 p.m., food bundles available from 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month