News Release
February 25, 2026
Strengthening Community Safety: Monona Grove School District and Safe Communities Launch O.A.K. Box Partnership
Schools are places where people gather every day. Students attend classes Monday through Friday. Parents come for conferences in the evenings. Families and neighbors fill the stands for Friday night football games and weekend basketball tournaments. Schools are shared community spaces. They serve as resource hubs and safe places where people can access support for themselves, someone they love, or even the person sitting next to them in the bleachers. Because schools are central to community life, they are essential locations for increasing access to prevention and harm reduction resources such as Overdose Aid Kits, also known as O.A.K. Boxes.
O.A.K. Boxes, put simply, are first-aid kits for overdose situations. They contain harm reduction and recovery resources that can be used during an on-site emergency or taken home for future use. Each box includes naloxone (Narcan), the life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses; fentanyl test strips; medication disposal methods; rescue breathing masks; step-by-step instructions on how to administer naloxone; and information about local harm reduction and recovery services.
The Monona Grove School District and Safe Communities are proud to announce a partnership to install O.A.K. Boxes in every Monona Grove School District building, including Cottage Grove School, Glacial Drumlin School, Granite Ridge School, MG21 Charter School, Winnequah School, Monona Grove High School, and the District Office. In addition to installing the boxes, all staff members will have the opportunity to receive training on how to administer naloxone so they are prepared to respond in the event of an emergency.
While we hope an overdose never occurs in our schools or community, preparation saves lives. We do not always know what experiences a child or family may be facing. By increasing access to lifesaving tools and education, we empower individuals to respond in an emergency and support one another safely.
At the same time, O.A.K. Boxes create opportunities for conversation. They help reduce stigma, increase understanding, and build compassion around substance use and recovery. Together, Monona Grove School District and Safe Communities are taking proactive steps to ensure schools remain places of safety, support, and care for the entire community.
Calls to Action:
● Visit safecommunities.org to learn more about Overdose Aid Kits, their locations throughout Dane County, and available harm reduction and recovery resources.
● Request an Overdose Aid Kit for your organization at safecommunities.org.
Potential Interviewees:
● Sarah Brockman, School Nurse, Monona Grove School District, sarah.brockman@mgschools.net, 608-316-1401
● Danielle Kuhns, School Nurse, Monona Grove School District, danielle.kuhns@mgschools.net, 608- 839-8460
● Lilly Roe, O.A.K. Box Project Coordinator, Safe Communities, lroe@safecommunities.org, 608-577-9272
Media Contacts:
● Safe Communities
-Lilly Roe, Communications Coordinator, lroe@safecommunities.org, 608-577-9272
● Monona Grove School District
-Katy Byrnes Kaiser, Information & Strategy Officer, kathleen.kaiser@mgschools.net, 608-316-1960
