Dear MMSD Families,

We hope you are enjoying this beautiful Wisconsin summer, and finding opportunities for fun and relaxation. You are encouraged to reflect on the many awesome things we accomplished last year - many of which are highlighted in this “Year in Review” video.

There continues to be much to celebrate, with this edition of the Family newsletter highlighting ongoing successes and examples of excellence from the MMSD community. This includes the recognition of three years of MMSD retirees; a La Follette alum leading our referendum construction; exciting updates taking place in our buildings; Lake View Elementary’s “Story Walk”; and so much more. 

You are also encouraged to take advantage of free summer bus passes for MMSD secondary students, and free breakfast and lunches for all MMSD students. Additionally, the district continues to offer free COVID testing. Information on these items can be found below.

School and district staff are busy preparing for the 2022-2023 school year. (Remember, online enrollment begins August 3.) These efforts help to ensure all of our learning spaces are places where our students, staff, and families can thrive.

Sincerely,

Carlton D. Jenkins, Ph.D.

Superintendent

MMSD Celebrates Juneteenth

MMSD students, staff, administrators, and families joined in celebrating and supporting our community at the 2022 Dane County and Madison Juneteenth event on Saturday, June 18. MMSD staff walked in the parade along with Human Resources staff hosting a “recruitment/hiring” booth at Penn Park.

"Juneteenth was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate emancipation day, and to display the wealth of Black excellence in our community. It was heartwarming to see the diversity of MMSD staff and students who showed up in such strong numbers in recognition and support of our scholars and families," reflected Carolyn Stanford Taylor, MMSD Deputy Superintendent of Engagement, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

See photos from the event

MMSD Celebrates Retirees at Reception

The MMSD community celebrated outgoing staff members’ years of dedication at the Retirement Reception on June 23. We’re thrilled to also honor retirees from the 2020 and 2021 school years, whose celebrations were postponed due to the pandemic.

At the event, staff recognized the immense impact these retirees have made in our community, with some working in the district for almost 40 years. Speeches, food, gifts, and camaraderie between staff made for a perfect send off at the Monona Terrace.

To you retirees - thank you for serving the students, staff, families, and community of MMSD. We are deeply honored by the commitment you made to MMSD, as well as the countless lives you have touched during your service. Your legacy will continue to inspire for many years to come.

See list of retirees and photos from the event

FREE Summer Bus Passes for Middle and High School Students

To make it easier for students to access the city this summer, Madison Metro and MMSD

have teamed up to provide free summer youth passes to MMSD 6th graders through high school students. Passes are available for pick up at middle school and high school summer semester locations. Passes are pre-activated and can be used from now through August 2022.

FREE Breakfast and Lunch this Summer for All MMSD Students

The MMSD Summer Food Program provides free meals over summer vacation. During the school year, MMSD Food & Nutrition serves children and youth who qualify for free or reduced-price meals due to low household income. The summer program offers students nutritious meals when school is not in session. Children can eat for free, Monday through Friday. MMSD offers breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Meals vary by location. No application is required. All sites will be closed on Monday, July 4.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds the Summer Food Program and the State of Wisconsin administers the school meal service. All children 18 years of age and under can receive up to two free meals per site. Sites qualify if the school in the attendance area has more than 50% free and reduced lunch enrollment, or if more than 50% of the children participating at the site qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

See Sites

Reminder: MMSD students have access to digital tools and resources over the summer. Grade level resources are available to keep your scholar engaged. Visit our site for summer learning resources.

Online Learning with Madison Promise Enrollment Deadline July 15

Did your student discover that they THRIVED in a virtual learning environment? Does your student prefer the independence and choice offered by online school? MMSD scholars in grades 4-10 can register NOW for the district’s ‘Madison Promise Online Program’ for next school year.

Madison Promise is the ONLY virtual learning platform through the district for the upcoming school year for elementary, middle, and high school students. This tuition-free, online program offers rigorous academics, delivered by innovative MMSD teachers who prepare students to be community, college, and career ready. Madison Promise is built on five key principles:

• Strong student engagement
• Teachers who excel at building strong relationships
• Quality training/professional development for teachers
• Flexibility
• Student’s school of choice (voice & choice)

The registration window has been extended through July 15, 2022. This is the only opportunity to apply for MMSD virtual learning for next school year. 

Apply NOW!

Online Enrollment for the 2022-2023 School Year Begins August 3 at 8 a.m.

MMSD is supporting returning and new families of elementary, middle, and high school students to complete the enrollment process 100% virtual. Reminder, you must enroll each student every year.

Elementary and Middle: 

For students who have no changes to certain information, going to their elementary or middle school during assigned enrollment days will be optional.

High School: 

Whether students have changes to certain information in the application or not, going to their high school during assigned enrollment days is required.

Enroll online starting August 3 at: Go to mmsd.org/enroll

Forgot your password? Click Here

No Internet? Need help?

Visit one of the libraries or community centers that offer computer access during their regular hours. See mmsd.org/enroll or call 663-4957 for more information.

Visit mmsd.org/enroll for more information.

La Follette Alum Leads Referendum Construction as MMSD Architect

Alisa Brown walked the halls of La Follette High School every day as a student before graduating in 2003. Today, she’s walking the same hallways, but this time as an architectural assistant in MMSD, designing and organizing the school’s 2020 referendum construction.

Pre-referendum, Brown collaborated with the design teams and stakeholder groups to develop the referendum construction plan, and connected with the community during informational sessions. With construction now underway, Brown is representing Building Services at both La Follette and Memorial’s construction meetings, and will serve as representative for Hoyt, the future site of Capital High School. She’s also the MMSD connection for the referendum furniture purchases at all six sites.

“I was so excited to apply [for the role]. The job description spoke directly to my interests, and tending to the facilities that serve Madison was aligned to my values,” Brown said. “Many days, working at MMSD Building Services feels like working in a design-build firm with our in-house trades and engineers. Having been a student in a handful of our buildings was a huge bonus when onboarding.”

Construction is in full swing at La Follette this summer, including crucial behind-the-scenes updates to the school’s almost 60-year-old mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems. While Building Services employees’ skill and depth in repairing the systems has kept them operating “long past their projected life,” their overall condition, environmental factors, and goals of installing mechanical air conditioning for all sites required an update, Brown said.

“It’s no surprise that I’m very excited for La Follette’s transformation,” Brown said. “Returning the Welcome Center entrance to the traditional main entrance of the school, along Pflaum Road, is going to be a wonderful change. There is so much to be excited about!”

Other La Follette plans include combining the commons and cafeteria into one comprehensive gathering space, and enclosing the pit between the A and B wings to create useful classroom space.

As a La Follette Lancer herself, Brown can ensure the school is an enriching, quality space for all students for generations to come.

La Follette Construction Update

There is a lot of construction activity happening at La Follette High School this summer. Workers have started heavy demolition of markerboards, windows, and casework in the classrooms and hallways in preparation for brand new finishes coming soon.

Outside the building, crews are wrapping up soil preparation work using a process called soil stabilization in the stadium area. Once complete, the area will be ready to pour the new curb around the track. Meanwhile, the new gym addition is coming along nicely as the foundation is being poured soon.

Ongoing construction activities

• Doing demolition in the breezeways to allow equipment access to the new hallway, which is slated to be complete by the end of summer.
• Cutting the new elevator pit in preparation for the elevator shaft to be built.
• Removing windows in the exterior courtyard areas.
• Starting excavation for the new addition on the south side of the building.

See the full update

East Construction Update

Since the first phase of construction began last month, crews are making abundant progress throughout the school this summer. Environmental and demolition work is complete in the classroom renovations on the third floor. In addition, workers have started site excavation for the cafeteria and classroom additions. In the new welcome center entrance, the foundation for a new elevator has been poured and the walls are being constructed. This new elevator will improve building accessibility for students, families, and visitors.

In the coming weeks, new drywall partitions will be installed in the third-floor classrooms, followed by mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection work to prepare for the new systems to be installed.

Ongoing construction activities

• Starting demolition in the lower-level locker room.
• Building the elevator shaft in the new welcome center lobby to improve accessibility.
• Beginning excavation work for the cafeteria and classroom additions.
• Progressing with masonry restoration work throughout the building façade.

See the full update

New Southside Elementary School Construction Update

Last week, crews prepped the site for construction activities and installed signage and fencing around the area for safety. A temporary sidewalk leading to the rear entrance of

Badger Rock was installed, which will be used for student and staff building access when school is back in session. Investigation work for existing onsite utilities is underway. Workers have also started constructing a new stormwater retention basin and underground piping system.

What’s happening this summer?

• Beginning demolition of the overhead canopies at the existing building entrances.
• Continuing investigation work for onsite utilities.
• Starting the foundation excavation process to create a solid base for the new addition.

See the full update

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of kids? Join our team!

See all employment opportunities and apply for positions.

Jefferson Renaming Ad Hoc Committee Paused Until Fall 2022

At the June 28 Citizens’ Ad Hoc Committee for Renaming Jefferson Middle School meeting, committee co-chairs, with support of district administration and the Board of Education president, made a recommendation to pause the committee’s work.  

The MMSD Board of Education voted to establish this committee on March 14. Since May, the committee has met four times; three members have declined participation in the committee, leaving membership at nine instead of the required 12. 

The pause will allow time to establish the full 12-member committee; adjust the evaluation rubric; and for all committee members to submit scoring of proposals. Present committee members voted unanimously to pause meetings, tentatively resuming in October.

Read more

COVID Testing

Now through July 29, Accelerated Clinical Laboratories is offering COVID-19 testing at all Summer Semester sites, MSCR Camp Compass sites, and Allied Learning Center. Before going to a school, please check operating hours to verify that testing sites are open.

Before going to test:

• Check hours and directions for desired testing site
• Register through COVID Connect
• After registering you will receive an email from COVID Connect; bring this email with the QR code to the testing site

News From Around the District 

In case you missed it, there have been some great things happening in Madison Schools, with many being shared by local news partners. For a good read, click on these links and check them out! Follow us on Facebook for daily news from around the district @MadisonSchoolsWI.

• Learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. Lake View Elementary School’s StoryWalk a hit on Madison’s north side
• How Demetria Prewitt overcame injury, setbacks to orchestrate comeback season
• MMSD central office staff member, Adam Clausen, named one of Wisconsin's most influential Asian American Leaders by Madison365.
• MMSD plans to create 55 new support staff positions for schools.
• Q&A: Cherokee Middle School principal receives statewide recognition.