The Madison school board voted four to three last night to approve changes to the district’s employee handbook. The changes mean a switch to how the district reviews its teachers for personnel decisions. Notably, the changes remove seniority as the sole factor determining which teachers get laid off first. Under the new policies, seniority would […]
The Latest on Madison K–12 Schools Reopening
President Biden has vowed to reopen most K–12 schools within the first 100 days of his presidency. Is the U.S. on track to meet this goal? Here in Wisconsin, Madison Metropolitan School District recently announced their phased reopening plan, slated to start next week. But teachers in Wisconsin haven’t received vaccines yet, resulting in mixed […]
Madison and Deforest School Districts Agree to Boundary Swap Aimed at ...
On January 25th, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and the Deforest Area School District agreed to a swap of attendance boundaries that would shorten commute times for future students in both districts, and allow them to attend schools that are closer to home. A memo written by MMSD staffers describes the swap as a […]
Falk Elementary School to be renamed in honor of Milele Chikasa Anana
At its meeting last night, the Madison Board of Education voted unanimously to rename Falk Elementary, located on the city’s west side, in honor of Milele Chikasa Anana. Chikasa Anana was a trailblazing Black Madisonian who, among a host of other accomplishments, was the first Black person to be elected to Madison’s school board. The […]
What’s in the MMSD Referenda?
In July, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction announced an estimated $5,539,000 decrease in State Funding for Madison Metro Public Schools. However, this November, Madison voters will decide on two referenda that would put $350 million into their public schools. The more expensive referendum of $317 million, would provide building improvements to Madison’s four comprehensive […]
Back-to-School 2020: A Virtual Start and Two Referenda
It’s that time of year again: back to school! But things are looking pretty different this year, with Madison schools slated for an all-virtual start. First up today, we discuss the plan for virtual teaching and what to expect from MMSD with school board president Gloria Reyes. Then, we hear from Mo Cheeks, president of […]
