9.29.25 Regular Board of Education Meeting

001All right. Good evening. I'm going to call our regular board of education meeting for September to order. And I'm going to start with a resuscitation of our vision and mission. Our vision is that MMSD will be a learning community where all students are valued, challenged, supported, and inspired to reach for their dreams. And our mission, MMSD creates safe and inclusive schools, delivers high quality instruction, strengthens positive relationships, and partners with families and the community to achieve student self-determination and educational excellence. Tonight, we'll start with a remembrance of Anne Brooks. We'd like to ask for a moment of silence this evening for our district to recognize the passing of Anne Brooks, who was a behavior education assistant at Senate Middle School. Miss Anne is remembered as someone who was not just a staff member at Senate

002and MSCR. For over 17 years, she was the heart and soul of our school and afterchool community. Her presence was a constant source of comfort and joy, and countless students began their mornings feeling seen, valued, and welcomed because of Anne's unwavering dedication. as our behavior education assistant, MSCR staff, dance coach, and so much more. Anne possessed a rare gift for connecting with students during their most challenging moments. Her patience was limitless, her compassion boundless, and her belief in every student unwavering. She will be missed by many and our support and condolences are extended to her family at this difficult time. Anne's passing has taken a significant toll on so many staff and students in the Senate Star family and community and we remember her tonight. Please join me in participating in a moment of silence

003in honor of Anne Brooks. Thank you. We'll now move into the public input part of our agenda. And I'm going to start with the written statements uh for this meeting. There were 29 written statements submitted for this meeting, two in support of potential phoneree school day policy and 27 in support of addressing salary compression for veteran classroom teachers. We also have registered speakers um who are ready to share tonight either in person or online. And I believe we have two online speakers who we'll start with. Jesse, >> thank you. Our first online speaker is Patrick Grant. >> Uh, members of the board, Superintendent Gothard, I'm here to raise a serious concern about multiple policy violations. Sorry. Um, members of the board, Superintendent Gothard, uh, I'm here to raise serious concerns about multiple policy violations that

004I believe have been committed by the endorsement, use promotion of the SNAP mobile app for fundraising with MMSD athletics. I am a proud MMSD parents of two students at East. I'm active in the school through the boosters and the teams my kids are involved in. I have volunteered at MMSD schools since they were in kindergarten. In short, I am an MMSD supporter and I recognize the remarkable job you do when resources are continually under stress. After listening firsthand to the representative from Snap Mobile at the back to school sports night, I was skeptical. Those fears were confirmed when my kids came home after being required to give 20 names, email addresses, and phone numbers of people who can be targeted for donation on school grounds for the team by a person with power, in this

005case, the Snap Mobile rep. This directly violates policy 4510, the anti-bullying policy. The Snap Mobile platform publicizes who is given, who they are supporting, and how much. This lays bare those with means and connections, making it easy to deduce who hasn't given or those with limited means to financially give. Anonymous giving is allowed, but a review of one fundraising page revealed just two anonymous donors out of 179, and the names of those they were supporting were not anonymous. This can lead to ample data that could be used by some to tease at an athletes popularity or worth based on the number of social cheers on the app. Some may say the donation is optional, but the historical evidence of the social pressure to fit in is real. A fact that Snap Mobile profits by taking

00620% of all donations made in the campaign and ask donors to cover the the credit card fee and even tip the platform. Per policy 4510, I am reporting it to you, the board, so you can initiate an investigation with those impacted. And I'm asking that the investigator be independent from those who selected the SNAP mobile app within the district. In addition to 4510 policy 4121 which covers money solicitation and collection specifically reporting can only be done by grade building or school. The collection of money shall be in no way cause caused for embarrassment to students or parents and there should be no reward scheme for raising money all of which Snap Mobile does. Moving past the policy issues that I have raised. Superintendent Gothard, at the unveiling of the new MMSD logo, you evoked imagery

007of MMSD supported by the pillars of community. You said that you want to make sure MMSD is a destination school district for kids to learn and for a community to believe in and support. This is about community. This is about speaking for folks who just gave because they felt they had to for the team because it was endorsed by the district because they believed it would impact their standing or their kids standings within the team. Short term, you might raise money, but how how long until parents say don't play that sport or activity because they don't want to get hit for the fundraising or for the 20 uh of their friends names to publicly be named and shamed for how much they have not given because they are not on the snap mobile cheer wall.

008Each school in the district has a booster program. The local community you talked about, super Gothard is is is there uh where folks whose kids are in the schools are working to raise funds where I am tonight. It's not outsourced in Seattle, Washington. Make it easier for coaches and parents to work together, not drive a wedge between those with means and those without. The research is clear. Involvement in extracurricular activities is powerful in the education of our youth. Local community involvement in our public schools makes them stronger. Snap Mobile hasn't made a mistake. Don't repeat the mistake by continuing Snap Mobile use for winter and spring sports or other fundraising efforts. Be the pillars of the community stronger. don't cut them down uh or erode the very foundation of the community you want to thrive.

009Thank you. >> Thank you. Our next online speaker is D. Wetzel. >> Uh hello. Are you able to hear me? Okay. Thank you. I'm not able to um get my camera working. I apologize for that. Am I allowed to still read my statement without um the camera? Of course. >> Yes. Um, so I'm a retired SLP who gave this district 29 years of service. I sent all of you an email today detailing my opposition to the board voting to give themselves access to district health insurance. Maybe you didn't have a chance to read it yet. I know the people are busy. I'm here tonight to give you the highlights. I am 100% opposed to this because one, it is a conflict of interest. If all or most of the board receives district health insurance, who

010votes in favor when in the future when health insurance questions arise, who would make decisions regarding health insurance plans that involves health care options for thousands of district employees? At this time, I don't feel you have adequately answered these questions. Number two, equity. How is it equitable that the board gets to vote for giving themselves health insurance while approximately 1300 employees are not eligible due to various reasons? Do board members and district management really believe that there are not part-time staff who would also appreciate health insurance? MMSD only offers um so many hours for certain job positions and those hours magically fall below the threshold that one needs to be eligible for insurance. In the spirit of equity, perhaps the board could work on a plan that gives all MMSD staff health insurance. Maybe this

011plan would also help with the district's ongoing problem with staff recruitment and retention. Yes, giving um all staff would be an expense, but that is another conversation. In terms of expenses, how much would yearly health insurance for all board members and their families cost? What budget items will be cut each year so that the board can have yearly health insurance? I recognize being on the board is work and much of it is tedious and thankless. I'm sure there are times that you feel you have put in a lot of time that felt uncompensated. Well, welcome to our world. This district would cease to function without all the unpaid time from MMSD staff, including part-time staff. I recognize health insurance is a serious issue for our community. our state and our nation. But that is a

012separate issue. I personally believe that some type of singlepayer health care is needed. To close, I would remind board members are not employees. Board members are elected to serve the community and the school district. School board positions are not professional jobs that are meant for people to stay in long term. It is a public service type position that offers a stipend. Should board members have health insurance? Yes, everyone should have health insurance. Should board members receive health insurance through their work as an MMSD board member? Absolutely not. 100% no. Thank you. Thank you for your time. All right. Thank you to our online speakers. I'm going to now move to our in-person registered speakers. Um starting with first with I think it's Shandra or Chandra. I apologize if I mispronounced Stegner and then um following

013will be Kristen Conrad. Um hi. Is it Chandra or >> Chandra? >> Shand Chandra. >> Chandra. Yeah. >> Chandra. All right. Welcome. Um just as a reminder for yourself and anybody else who's coming in to peek, you have the three up here and then also a black box on the podium. When you see a yellow light, it means you're about 30 seconds. And then uh the red light means you're at time. If you're still finishing your thought, I'll give you a few additional seconds, of course, so we can um hear you close your >> I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Chandra Kelchshire and I am a product of, a parent of and a teacher of MMSD. My story is different from my colleagues who are also speaking

014tonight. Mine is different because not only have I been affected by wage compression since starting in MMSD, I lost nine years of experience when I signed my contract in 2011. I started my teaching career in 97 and another school district and I have taught every year since. When I was hired in MMSD in 2011, I had 14 years of experience, but the district only acknowledged five of those 14 years on the pay scale. This is now my 29th year of teaching, and I am on level O. O is the 15th letter of the alphabet, year 29, level O. This is 14 levels below where I would be if I were hired in MMSD today. I was first made aware of paycale discrepancies in 2017. That year, I had a new teaching partner who brought 16

015years of experience with her to the district. When she signed her contract, she was rightfully placed on the level of the pay scale, acknowledging all 16 years of her experience. 2017 was my 20th year of teaching, yet I was being paid for 11 years. I had four more years of teaching experience than my partner, but was being paid for five years less. As I dug deeper, I learned that new hires were being placed on the salary schedule in correspondence with their experience, as it should be. In 2019, I first contacted the board of education and the school district about the nine years that I lost when I came to the district. I stopped pressing the matter due to CO. I recently learned of two MMSD employees who left the district for personal reasons and have

016since returned. Upon returning, they were both rightfully placed on the salary step that directly corresponds with their teaching experience, earning them back years lost from wage compression. One teacher left on Q, returned just after three years, and was placed on BB. Consider this. This is my 29th year of teaching and I'm on level O because I started in 2011. Had I started my career in 97 with MMSD, I would now be on level V. Yet, a teacher new to MMSD this year, also in her 29th year of teaching, was rightfully placed on level CC. There is a $13,000 difference between level O and CC. It is inequitable that three teachers with the same amount of experience are so far apart on the pay scale. I am asking you, the board of education, work with the

017district to rectify these discrepancies. I am not just asking for myself. I believe all classroom teachers should be on the letter of the pay scale that directly corresponds to their total years of teaching experience. Thank you. >> Welcome Kristen. after after Kristen will be Heather Cal Kelchure I think it is. Okay. Uh good evening President Nichols, members of the board, Dr. Gothard. My name is Kristen Conrad and I'm a fifth grade teacher at Glenn Stevens Elementary. I'm here to highlight a significant issue in our district compression salary. This is a problem that undervalues our veteran educators, weakens our staff morale, and puts our students long-term success at risk. Although I'm happy to see competitive salaries for new teachers by not moving veteran staff to match their years of service, you inadvertently devalue our knowledge, skills,

018and the institutional history that our long-erving educators bring to the schools every day. It sends a message that experience and dedication are not valued. I grew up here in Madison and I'm a proud product of MMSD schools. I was thrilled when I got a job in Madison years ago because I wanted to give back to the community and school district that gave me so much. I chose to stay in MMSD over the years because I believe in this community and the commitment in education. I believe in MMSD so much that my own children are either currently attending or have graduated from MMSD. I spend an enormous amount of time and energy on my students and the school that I teach at. In my time here, I've seen countless former students graduate. I've helped develop new

019curriculums over the years. I've been on numerous committees, and I've mentored new teachers and teammates. I have trained practicum and student teachers and gone out of my way to build relationships with students and their families and have extended beyond the walls of my classroom. My passion for teaching has also rubbed off on many of my former students who have gone on to become educators, some of whom teach here in MMSD. I was discouraged to find out that starting my 30th year teaching, I find myself not making much more than a firstear teacher. That makes it difficult for me to plan my family's future. And it's disheartening to feel that my dedication is not financially recognized. If we don't fix this, I worry our district will lose our most experienced and dedicated staff, and our students

020will be the ones that suffer. If I was hired right now by MMSD using the current HR policy, all my years of experience teaching would put me at level DD. That's almost $10,000 higher than what I'm currently making on level V. That doesn't even include all the money I've lost over the years with a compression beginning in 2001. Veteran teachers are your most valuable resource. I hope you value our loyalty and dedication for all the years of service we've given to the district. We shouldn't have to leave and return to get the pay we deserve. Please make it right with us and fix the salary compression. Thank you for listening. All right, we'll have Heather come up and then following will be Jamie Cone. Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My

021name is Heather Keler and I'm a kindergarten teacher at Chavez Elementary. I'm here I'm here also to highlight the significant issue of salary compression. It's a problem that's undervaluing our veteran teachers and currently we currently weakening our staff morale. We are happy to have competitive salaries for new teachers, but it's sending a message that experience and dedication are not valued around the community. I've always advocated for Madison schools and I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach here. I grew up attending MMSD schools and after college at WMadison, I started working in the district first as a substitute in 1994 and then as a classroom teacher in 1996. My family lives here and my two children are graduates of Madison Memorial. I welcomed my 30th class of kindergarteners this fall and I'm so proud to teach

022each and every one of my students and it brings me great pride to watch them grow up in elementary school and I love hearing how they're doing after leaving elementary school. In recent years, I've been very saddened to learn that MMSD has been taking off the first levels of the pay scale and hiring new educators with less experience than me at higher pay levels. For example, as you've heard, I have two friends new to the district this year. One with 28 years of experience placed on level BB on the pay scale and another friend hired uh with 29 years placed at CC. Imagine how this made me feel after dedicating my career to MMSD 30 plus years to only be on level X, the 24th letter of the alphabet. It's disappointing to feel that my

023dedication is not financially recognized. And I'm asking that myself and all of my colleagues be paid according to how many years we have been teaching just like the new hires are being paid. I should be on level DD, which is 30 years. Veteran teachers are our most valuable resource and please make it right with us and fix the salary compression. Thank you. After Jamie will be Stacy Smith Buckley. >> Hi, my name is Jamie Cone. I am a first grade teacher at Chavez Elementary. Um, I am also was also a former coach at Memorial High School for 16 years and I'm a parent of two MMSD students. Actually, one for one has graduated. Um, I'm here also to talk about the salary compression. Um, while we are happy to see competitive salaries for our new

024teachers, not moving veteran staff to match current salary levels devalues our knowledge, our skills, and institutional history that long-erving educators bring to our schools every day. It sends a message that our experience and dedication are not valued. I started working for this district in 1998 as a coach at Madison Memorial High School. While coaching, I completed my student teaching experiences in all MMSD schools. I left for a year and came back to Madison. I enjoyed all my experiences in the Madison schools and knew that I wanted to have a career here in this great community and this great school district. I'm currently in my 26th year of teaching. While working in the district, I have been a part of many district initiatives to help move our scholars and community forward. I have served on district

025math committees, leadership teams, created and implemented assessments and curriculum to support great learning. I have served as a staff and a parent representative on parent teacher and student organizations. I have served as a mentor teacher for current staff in our school district as well as a cooperating teacher for the new University of Wisconsin for over 18 years. When I realized what was happening with this salary compression, I was taken back. Why would a school district that I have dedicated my heart and soul as a parent and a teacher not have realized this error? After 26 years of teaching, I am still at level T and I should be on level Z. That is a huge difference in pay. This makes it really hard to plan for my family's future and it's disheartening to feel that

026my dedication is not financially recognized. This is not just about compensation for our staff. It's about investing in our students. You can't replace knowledge and experience that veteran teachers bring to our schools. Veteran teachers are an integral part of helping our students grow socially, emotionally, and academically. Veteran teachers are your most valuable resource. Please make it right with us and fix the salary compression. Pri prioritizing salary equity for our experienced staff is the best way to ensure the long-term health of our district and the continued success of our students. I ask that you take steps to address this issue urgently and thoughtfully. Thank you for your time. >> Stacy coming up and then it will be followed by Veronica Webb. >> Good evening, President Nichols, Dr. Gothard, members of the board. Thank you for the

027opportunity to speak today. My name is Stacy Smith Buckley and I'm a reach teacher at Chavez Elementary and Randall Elementary and I'm here to talk about the critical issue affecting our district, the lack of salary equity from our experienced staff, referred to as salary compression. This problem impacts staff morale, encourages turnover, and ultimately hurts our students. I'm happy to see competitive salaries for new teachers, but by not moving veteran staff to match devalues our knowledge, skills, and institutional history that long-erving educators bring to our schools every day. It sends a message that experience and dedication are not valued, not to mention putting us at a disadvantage for retirement in our current economy. For me, this isn't about budgets. It's about people. I want to share my own experience with you. I am a product of

028MMSD. Um, and I have been a teacher in this district for 27 years. For my first 13 and a half years in Madison, I was um at elementary and middle school, I taught special education, I taught reach, I taught instructional technology. And after that 13 and a half years, I had the opportunity to come and work downtown in instructional technology. I was an instructional resource teacher, a teacher leader, and then a tech coach. Um and later on at while being a tech coach, I was disheartened um to learn one of my um colleagues in in the tech coach role um who was hired after I was. Um so he had less experience than me in teaching and no experience in doing that coaching role was hired at a higher salary than I was. Um because

029as I found out with salary compression that steps were removed from the salary schedule. Regularly participating in equity meetings at that time in central office staff for full days and not feeling like the district was really treating me with that same level of equity as my newly hired peer did not sit right with me. But I remain in the district because ultimately I love teaching. Um I I'm passionate about working with kids, instructional technology, coaching staff and um right now teaching reach, teaching steam concepts to kids is important to me. If I was hired right now by MMSD Oh, sorry. Thank you for your time. All right, we have Veronica coming up and then following will be Jana Casey. Good evening, members of the school board. My name is Veronica Webb and I teach at

030Chavez. I'm here to speak about the impact of salary compression for myself, our district, and the future of teaching as a profession. Following the call to teach is my life's mission. This is my 31st year of teaching. I have had over 600 students pass through my classroom. Over 30 years of teaching students to read, to write, understand numbers, develop critical thinking skills, and learn how to get along with others. Something very much needed in today's world. But along with that, it's the development of relationships with students and families. This is done over a very long period of time, years of simply showing up and caring. You know you've done something right when your students come back to visit, invite you to their graduation parties, receive emails from parents saying that you made a difference in

031their child's life. After 15 years of teaching at MMSD, I left. I left because my father was dying of cancer. The doctors gave him six months to live and it turned out to be three. We moved our family to New Zealand. Very far away from the sadness, giving me time to grieve. When it was finally time to return to the US, we could have picked anywhere. We came back to Madison. I love this district and I love my job. Teaching isn't a stepping stone to another career, not a launching pad to administration or the IT world. Some student teachers see this job as a way to get somewhere else. Not many of us stay long. I'm invested in this profession and I'd like to think that this district is invested in me. A commitment to

032people who take care of our future. building relationships, harnessing loyalty and trust to do the right thing. Salary compression undermines morale. New teachers should not be getting paid more than experienced ones who have put in their time. The skill of teaching is developed. It's not handed over the minute you get your degree. Salary compression sends a message that dedication, loyalty, and experience isn't valued. Putting kids first has always been our driving force. Today, we're putting teachers first. Newer teachers see it. It determines whether or not they stay. How many teachers will actually retire at 60 rather than quit and find something with a higher wage? It's time to show your commitment to quality education and to the people who have stayed committed to this district. Establish practices that show equity. Thank you for your time.

033All right. I believe we have Janna. Janna. Okay. And then following will be Marie Stargo. Maybe Seagel. All right. Thank you. >> Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Janna Casey and I'm a special education program support teacher at Chavez Elementary, home of the Cheetahs. I have been employed with MMSD for 34 years since 1991. I'm here also to speak about salary compression. I just want to start by saying that this is my first time speaking at a MMSD board meeting. I've had I've shown my support over the years in other ways, but when it came to speaking at a board meeting, I relied on others who would speak up. But now my time has come. It's time for me to speak up with this issue of salary compression.

034I cannot be quiet. I have to speak up. As a dedicated and loyal veteran teacher, I have to speak up. As someone who has been significantly impacted by salary compression, I have to speak up. Salary compression is a problem that undervalues our veteran educators, weakens our staff morale, and most importantly puts our students long-term success at risk. The issue of salary compression is about the teachers who have shown their commitment and dedication to MMSD. I would like to briefly share my family's lifelong commitment and dedication to MMSD with you. My history with the district goes very deep. I have been part of MMSD my whole life. I attended elementary through high school in the district and graduated from Memorial High School. I attended WMadison and volunteered and did my student teaching also in MMSD. My

035entire family, husband and children also attended and graduated from MMSD. Both my parents were long-term teachers, longtime teachers and coached. And I knew from my earliest memories that I wanted to be just like mom and dad. I also wanted to live up to the words from Mrs. Grooms. Mrs. Mrs. Grooms was my kindergarten teacher at John Mir Elementary School. And if you've been around M and Miss Lee long enough, you know about these happy grams that I have saved over the years. Um, she had a big impact on my life. And one day, I proudly received a happy gram that said, "Jana was so kind and helpful, a big helper today. The rest is history." From that time on, I have made my career of helping others, advocating for people with disabilities, teaching countless scholars,

036and mentoring special education teachers for 34 years. I love my job and I'm so very thankful. Let me highlight the inequity with salary compression. For me personally, if I were to be hired right now using HR policy, I would be at level HH. I am not. I'm currently at AA. I am seven levels from where I would should be, which is approximately $6,500 less per year. I'm here tonight asking that my levels as well as my colleagues be fixed to where they should be. This has major implications for my retirement and my family's future. It's disheartening to feel that my dedication is not financially recognized. Please make this a priority and fix the salary compression. Thank you. All right, following Marie. >> Hi, I I'm Marie Sangle. I am this is my 28th year of

037teaching. Um I've been at Memorial High School for that whole time. I have um three beautiful children who have re who have graduated from um Memorial and some of their fabulous teachers have already spoken from Glenn Stevens. Um in addition, many of their other teachers are in the room. Um I have done it all. I I run an organization um Pure Partners for 10 years and we were freaking rockstars. We did an amazing job. I have helped new teachers. I'm the one who's like they're not sure what to do. I'm like, "Hey, make sure you do this and do that." They come and they ask me for help. I'm asking for your help. 28 years, seven levels. Let's be real, y'all. I was hoping for an overload this year. Not because I want more stress

038in my life, but I be wanted to be able to pay my bills better. I have four jobs. I work I have 28 years of experience. I have two jobs in the summer. One that goes all year long and another job that I just came that's going to help me be a little more sustainable. But I shouldn't be hoping for an overload. I want to just be able to teach my kids. Let me tell you, it's a relief not to have the overload and a little bit of a that I just get to teach my kids and not have an overload this year. But I don't want those extra jobs. I just want to be paid what I'm worth. So, seven letterers down, it's fair. I've been here to speak to you about things before.

039I've stood, like I said, I've stood up for other parents. I've stood up for kids. I've I'm there, right? I've taken the training. I've listened to you guys. I've t I Yeah, you know, like I'm there. So, the precedent is there too, right? We know that student services has already received their double salary compression has been fixed. Please bring it to the table. Do the study. do what's best for all of us and let us have our fair share, too. Some little lovely new human should be making enough money that they don't have to have that many jobs, right? And I'm going to be there to support them, but it's time for you to step in and support all of us. Thank you. Our next speaker is Michael Harris and then followed by Allison Greg.

040Good afternoon board. Dr. Gothard. My name is Michael Harris. I'm an educator at Vel Phillips Memorial High School. I'm here to talk about my disapproval for the salary compression practices that are currently in place. I began teaching in the district in 1994 and during that 30 plus years I have become an active citizen, a community leader. I've been a head coach for three different programs. I'm also uh very proud to say that I love my job as an educator. I recall very distinctly the first time that I started teaching. My mentorship with the veteran staff that I had as my predecessors were the individuals who helped me understand the concepts of loyalty, dedication and commitment. And I have been very very uh committed to that engagement in the countless hours of volunteering and advocating for

041in behalf of the MMSD school district much as my predecessors have done before me. This continues to be grounded with my core values and we all know that is placing our children's growth and learning first and foremost. The annual wage increases that we have currently for veteran staff would help ensure that the maintenance of ex and of our experiences with leadership will continue with the integrity that we are talking about that has made our district a valued community asset. As I get closer towards retirement, I would like to leave with a feeling of feeling valued, earning back those steps that were eliminated within the salary compression would help that and by paying our staff what we are worth and experience. Thank you so much for your time. Right. Good evening everyone. Um, thank you for

042this opportunity to speak. Um, my name is Allison Grigg and I have a child enrolled at Chavez Elementary. So, I'd like to thank the take the opportunity to thank all the teachers. I know you're doing an amazing job there. Thank you for helping out my child and others. Um, I'm also a representative of the Wisconsin chapter of Say Yes to Recess. So, I'm switching up the topic a little bit to recess here. Uh, so Say Yes to Recess is a national nonprofit that is working to restore recess in our public schools. Now, we get asked a lot, what does it mean to restore recess? For the last two decades, recess has been cut down in order to make way for more instructional time and more standardized testing. Yet, despite that, test scores have not significantly

043increased. What has increased is behavioral issues in the classroom. Teachers cannot teach when they are dealing with disruptions in restless children. What has increased is physical health issues. Children are less physically healthy now than they have been in previous decades. And we've seen a huge increase in mental health problems. It's said that depression rates in Gen Z are 150% more than previous generations. This is a crisis. For this reason, I am advocating for 60 minutes of recess in Wisconsin public elementary schools. Recess is obviously not the only solution to this problem, but studies show it can make a big difference. Physical health improves. Behavior problems decrease, which actually leads to better quality time in the classroom. Teachers notice that they're able to teach more even with less classroom time. Test scores go up. Studies have

044found that they go up 10% in math and 7% in reading. And more importantly, mental health anxiety decreases by a whopping 70%. Now, the lawmakers at the capital want to keep creating more laws that add tests and more instructional time to our school kids day. And at Say Yes to Recess, we say no to that. We know that teachers, staff, and administrators are doing their best with the limited resources they have. And we've heard a lot about the different brain breaks and movement incorporated in the classroom and think that's amazing. But it's not the same as recess as unstructured outdoor time where kids can go in the fresh air and decide for themselves what they want to play. So for that reason I am saying yes to recess and I invite you to join me

045and say yes too. We are asking the MMSD school board to endorse our organization while we seek to introduce a 60-minute recess bill and legislation. Thank you. Next, we have Gregorio Ariano, I believe, and then Elva Tyson. >> Uh, good evening. My name is uh Gregorio Ariano. I'm a third grade teacher at Glenn Stevens Elementary School and an educator of over 20 years. I am fortunate that the salary compression does not impact me because I was bo I was ra I was hired in 2017. But I am here in support of all my fellow teacher colleagues that are impacted by this. in particular the teachers that are near retirement whom it will greatly impact throughout their retirement if their salary is not commensurate with the number of years of their teaching. I hope that the

046board member will work to find an equitable solution for all teachers. Your actions will show your continued support for all teachers so our students, families, and community can thrive. Thank you very much. After Elva will be Peter Anderson. >> Hello. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak. My name is Elva Tyson. I teach at Glen Stevens Elementary School. I'm here to talk on multiple issues. First and foremost, salary compression and the impact it has. Now, I have been negatively impacted by the unintended consequences of salary compression. Based on my hire date, I should be at least four steps lower on the salary schedule. This translates to a deficit of approximately $4,300 annually. I do not begrudge new hieries from being offered competitive wages. However, when the initial steps were dropped from the salary

047schedule, the salaries of current educators should have been adjusted accordingly. Since the passage of act 10, experienced educators have felt undervalued, unappreciated. This has been felt with increased workload and especially since we have to fight for absolutely almost every single cost of living adjustment as if this were an unforeseen expense. This includes the very offensive cola will be tied to the passage of a referendum antics that are often presented to us. It is in the district's best interest to retain experienced staff and demonstrate good faith by adjusting the compressed salaries. As a colleague just noted that many of us could leave, get all of our years of experience and signing bonuses for being in shortage areas, some special education, some bilingual, and other licenses. But we stay because we love this community. Please don't take

048advantage of that love. Second issue I would like to address is your proposal to offer our health insurance to yourselves as board members. As mentioned previously, employees have to have at least 50% time a 50% position in order to qualify. I believe the discussion last year was um raising that minimum requirement to 75%. I actually don't know the outcome of that, but I know that it was a discussion. So, um I think that you would also need to consider if you were to give yourselves this health insurance, that would be part of the compensation package. We are often told that we cannot receive our cost of living adjustment because we're looking at the entirety of our compensation package and healthcare is part of that. So, I don't understand how you would justify that when the

049board itself says, excuse me, our our handbook says that we need to work at least 19 hours a week in order to qualify for that health insurance coverage. Secondly, the salary increase that you're proposing for yourself. I would ask you to reflect on how you have handled our cost of living adjustment over the last years and act accordingly. Looking at what your salary is, an average of 9 years at 1 and a.5% plus that 18% for one year, that would basically be about $9,870. At 2% for 9 years and one year at the 8% cost of living adjustment, that would be $10,331. Please consider how you are using our financial resources. Thank you. Hi, my name is Peter Anderson. Can I uh share with you a personal note to the letter I sent to you

050on Friday about opposing the stipend increase? Last summer, our wonderful granddaughter, who is Mexican, was subjected to vicious, racist comments at a summer camp. She went to a Christian summer camp. I can't begin to tell you the rage I felt, the righteous indignation, the righteous anger. But the key thing I want to reason I'm mentioning that is that righteous anger may be righteous but it doesn't mean it's constructive in terms of the remedies that flow through our emotions when we are angry. I want to say this because I want to underscore I fear that when you read the letter you're going to say well we've solved the problem. We got now doing the science of reading. All those objections that I raised in that letter are now met. This would be the furthest thing from

051the interests of the troubled kids who are in your charge. First, it attempts it would attempt to glide over the decades that it took for the district to change. And even then, you only change when the legislature mandated that. And the reason for that inexcusable neglect of those in your care was because you are blinded by social justice group think. Group think that is so devastatingly wrong it consigned tens of generations of black students to crippled lives after they left your charge. Second, that group think focusing mercilessly and relentlessly on uncovering systemic racism while ignoring the need to teach the kids to read does not work. year after year after year of ignoring the fact that you're failing to teach 95% of your black students. The failure of this self-destructive worldview is far deeper than

052just using the wrong teaching methods. extends to the tyranny of low expectations. And you're being so wrapped up in rooting out systemic racism that you stop caring about teaching your kids to read and resort to pathetic diversions instead. And your inability to understand that giving deprived kids the love that they need and deserve must be accompanied by consequences as well. While you have abysmally failed your most challenged children, you suffer the ultimate indignity of being surpassed by Mississippi. Mississippi who has risen from the state that was next to last to now ninth highest. >> Thank you, Mr. Anderson. Do we have your letter? >> What? >> You sent a letter. Thank you. Well, I just wish you had some capacity at this time for the same moral indignation I do for the results you're producing.

053Thank you for your time, madame. Our next speaker will be Michael Anderson and then followed by Elizabeth Mets. Good evening and thank you for your time. I'm here to talk against the proposal for the board to increase their compensation and to allow board members to be on the employee health insurance plan. As a former school board member, I was always told and always believe that our priority should be first and foremost to do whatever is best for the students. our second highest priority to do what's best for the staff of the district. It's my opinion that this proposal does neither of these. Right now, about a quarter of employees do not qualify for the same health insurance that the board is trying to enroll themselves in. Right now, other school districts are preparing for federal

054and state funding losses while the voters in this district approved millions of dollars to help students and staff not to be able to give a raise to the board. And also, as a side note, when I was on the board, I made about $1,200 a year. Thank you. Good evening members of the board and Dr. Goth. Um, my name is Liz Metszoff and I'm a proud third grade teacher at Stevens and a parent of two graduates of MMSD. I'm also here to talk about salary compression and its effect on myself and to fight for the other educators in this room as well. I began substitute teaching in 1993 and signed my first contract in the year 2000. I'm currently at a level O or 15 years of experience even though I've dedicated 25 years of

055my life to the district to the children in this district. I've also mentored over 40 student teachers from several universities within Dayne County and my experience should be valued by the district. I shouldn't have to waste the time of HR personnel to rehire me in order to get the pay level I've achieved through the years I've spent in MSD. I'm not asking for a huge amount of money. It's the principle of being paid for my value and years in service. Please consider the years myself and other colleagues have dedicated ourselves to this district and adjust our pay to reflect the dedication, experience, and talent that we bring to MMSD. Thank you for listening. Our next speaker is Andrea Misarelli and then followed by Maria Brown. All right. Good evening, school board, Dr. Gothard, and the

056Madison community. I'm here to speak about the single most valuable asset in our district, our loyal veteran staff. They are dedicated educators who have committed their careers to the students and families of Madison. Over the past decade, public education has faced a period of profound turbulence. Our schools have navigated a storm of instability. From national attacks on the profession to the fears of deportations and threats to our students identities. From the challenges of a global pandemic to navigating a revolving door of leadership. Through all of this, our veteran staff were the ones who provided stability, consistency, and a familiar face to our students and families when everything else was changing and blowing up in our communities. and through it all. Um, and in the last six years, the district has been led by five different

057superintendent. New staff often came and left in a revolving door. But these veteran staff, they stayed. Our veterans veteran staff are the backbones of our school. They don't just fill a role. They pos they possess a irrep irreplaceable institutional knowledge that benefits every student and colleague. Over the years, they built profound community relationships and trust with our families. Our veterans teacher skills are honed over the years of practice and learned how to adapt to different students. This is important because their advanced skills allow them to manage complex or challenging classroom dynamics effectively, ensuring a better learning environment for everyone. They are also the first line of training for new teachers. This me this mentorship is critical because the guidance of a veteran staff can significantly reduce the turnover rate of our new teachers, ensuring we

058retain the new talent we work so hard to hire. While HR departments across the nation are offering large signing bonuses and deals to tr attract new talent, we have inadvertently forgotten about the loyal staff who have been here through it all. Our veteran educators feel underappreciated and more importantly their paychecks show it. This is the crisis of the salary compression. I ask members of the board and administration to immediately take action to fix the salary compression for our veteran staff. We must show our veteran staff that their years of service in the district matter. We must make a bold statement. Loyalty is honored and celebrated in Madison. This isn't just a retroactive fix. It's a proactive investment. By honoring those who stayed, we send a clear message to our younger staff that Madison commi cares

059and is committed and wants you to build your career and stay here, too. Specifically, I urge you to fix the salary compression for all staff hired prior to the 2018 school year to ensure their current salary steps match their experience level at which HR is currently hiring new candidates. Now is your time to invest in the educators who have already invested their lives in our children and community. Thank you. Good evening, Dr. Gothard and school board members. My name is Maria Brown. I'm a Spanish teacher at Hamilton Middle School and wish to speak to the issue of salary compression. As a veteran teacher, it is disheartening to hear that colleagues who have left the district and later returned have been valued for their years of experience by the correct placement on the salary schedule. While

060those of us who have chosen to dedicate our teaching career to MMSD are not valued and are paid less than our years of experience. In my 31 plus years of teaching in Madison, I have mentored over dozens of practicum and student teachers and taught thousands of Spanish middle school students, some of which are seated here today. Um, we know the solution to this has financial implications for the district, but it is the right thing to do. Veteran teachers likeelves are the most impacted by the multiple times the district removed steps from the salary schedule without adjusting those of current staff. Please value your veteran teachers knowledge, talents, and experience by fixing this issue. Thank you. Our final two speakers, Lisa Dindorf and Ben Jagger. >> Good evening. Uh, thanks for having me tonight. I didn't

061know I was going to be able to talk because they they said if you got here after 5, um, you wouldn't talk. So, but I made it 5:30. So, here I am a little unprepared. But, um, a teacher in the district nonetheless for the last 21 years, meaning salary comprehension impacts me, but it doesn't just impact me. It impacts my friends. My friends are single parents. My friends have been teachers and they're holding down multiple jobs and trying to raise children alone. I am lucky enough to be in a position where I get to help them by talking to them and being their friend. I still want more money. Money's nice. Budget shows priority where you put your money and who you put it into. We have experience. We have heart. We have passion. Teacher

062turnover is real. Ripple effects are real. We work with children. If we're happy, children are happy. If we love what we do, they love what they do. Thousand employees in this district have been underpaid for decades. Literally decades. 30 years. That woman has been working for 30 years. and we got to hear about her student teaching. Student teachers don't make money. They go to school, they go to work, they don't make it's the only career where you have an internship, an apprenticeship where you don't make money. It's wild. This is a this is a passion job and this is a data meeting. So, please look into salary, our salaries. Do the same as what you did for student services. It would be greatly appreciated because when you know better, you do better. Maya Angelo, thank

063you. Hey, good evening. Ben Jagger, Memorial High School Music. Um, I've dedicated my entire 26-year career to MMSD families, and I love teaching here. I want to keep teaching here. Um, it's come to my attention that my salary has been compressed several levels and I look forward to the board and the district resolving this issue. I think it's a great investment uh and will strengthen the commitment that I and other veteran teachers have uh in continuing to serve the MMSD families. Thanks for listening. Thank you to all of our speakers tonight. Um we appreciate you taking the time to come out and to express your thoughts, opinions, and stories tonight. Um, I'm going to move us into the next portion of our agenda, which is approval of the minutes. I move that the board of

064education approve the minutes from the regular meeting dated August 25th, 2025. >> Second. >> Any corrections to the minutes? All right. Seeing none. Uh, student representative Lee, your advisory, >> I. >> All those in favor? I >> I. >> Those minutes pass unanimously. Next, we'll have news from around the district. Um, and Vice President Pearson and I will um alternate these C celebrations. >> Okay. Celebrating our community. MMSD proudly celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15th. We recognize Hispanic Americans important contribution and influence on our history, culture, and achievement. Celebrating our students, Kayla Shelton, a senior at Vel Phillips Memorial, placed first in business communication at the Future Business Leaders of America National Leadership Conference. This also marked the first time a Memorial student has has won first place at a

065national local event. Yay. Okay. The Madison Metropolitan School District, MMSE, holds the distinction of having more semi finalists for the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program than any other Wisconsin district. We have 43 semi-finalists this year. Last year, we had 23. It's a big accomplishment, y'all. West High School has 28 semi-finalists, the highest in the state. East has four semi-finalists. Val Phillips Memorial has 11 semi-finalists. Nationally, there are approximately 16,000 finalists selected out of 1.3 million senior students nationwide. they have an opportunity to advance in the program for the chance to win scholarships. And to wrap it up tonight in tonight's consent agenda, the board would like to acknowledge and thank all the individuals and organizations who continue to donate to the district and especially UW Credit Union um who provided a donation of $17,000 $17,6927

066for a sensory room at the Row Elementary School in memory of Terry Paps. So, thank you uh to everyone who supports MMS State. With that, I will pass over to our superintendent for his update. Thank you, President Nickel. Jess Bessie, are you ready to roll the slides? Okay, President Nichols, members of the board, staff, and community, thank you so much for this opportunity. We are excited, although it's been more than three weeks, we're excited to welcome back our 26,000 students, 6,000 staff and educators for the start of the school year. Our team spread out across the district that first day to help students rejoin their schools and their communities. I joined our scholars at Western Mundo, White Horse, LVM, and Senate and enjoy connecting with longtime MMSD families, many of whom I taught or served

067as their principal. Moments like these are good reminders of how connected we are because of the work we do. Although Madison continues to grow, it's clear that our schools are at the heart of our community. Speaking of community, I also want to acknowledge the many partnerships we have. Our partners are an important part of the work we do. One of our key partners is the Madison Public Schools Foundation. Just last week, I joined the Madison Public Schools Foundation as part of their annual Partners for Progress event. Not only were they recognizing current supporters, they were cultivating relationships to help build our support network, which ultimately benefits our students. Another one of our partners, Wisconsin Athletics, joined our students at Carl Sandberg Elementary School to read to our students and distribute free books. I joined them

068for the first part of the morning, and it was clear that these student athletes are role models for our students. The smiles on their students' face spoke volumes about the athletes as the athletes engaged with them and read books to them. Our partnership with Wisconsin athletics will continue throughout the year with athletes visiting other schools including Hawthorne, John F. Kennedy, Lake View, Aldo, Leopold, Mandota, Orchard Ridge, and Lori Man Carrey. These partners as well as many others uplift and support our students and educators and help make these possible by providing resources such as books, school supplies, and winter coats or through experiences like sharing the joy of reading. We appreciate all of our partners and are grateful to collaborate with them. Those partners as well as our community will also be important to building for

069the future MMSD's boundary review. We are watching our city grow right before our eyes knowing that Madison is continuing to grow and will have an additional 100,000 people by 2050. We must be proactive in planning how this change is going to impact MMSD. This is where building for the future comes in. Our team will work closely with MGT, a nationally recognized firm, over the next two years. As part of this work, we will assess current school attendance areas and MMSD district boundaries, establish attendance areas where development is occurring in areas near land owned by MMSD, and we'll evaluate current programs and choices to ensure MMSD schools remain responsive to aspirations and priorities. Our Madison community and our school communities are important to the outcomes of this work and are needed for this work to be

070successful. We'll continue to engage them in the process as well as keep them informed as to what is happening. And one way is through our website at mmsmsd.org. To wrap up tonight's report, I want to share that we launched MMSD's first official brand identity. Thank you to all of you who were able to attend the event and celebrate this important moment with staff, educators, and community members. For those unable to join us, I'd like to share our brand launch video. Jesse, if you could roll that. [Music] [Applause] We're here unlaunching the new brand for the Madison Metropolitan School District. As you can see, the capital, you can see a book celebrating literacy, and you can see two strong pillars that are holding our city up, just like this community has for hundreds of years. I

071like that it brings the whole city of Madison together with a really monumental place for the city, right, the capital. >> I love the book because I'm a reader and I think reading is critical to education and growth. >> The M is Madison school district. It's the pillar that's holding up the capital, the city of Madison. I think it's really important that the logo reflects our community and has the iconic Capitol dome um and the, you know, really bright colors that I hope represent the vibrancy and excitement that are in our schools. That is our future is our students and they lift us all up. >> I see a revitalization and a change happening in our school system and I think a new logo is going to help to promote that even better. making sure

072the Madison Metropolitan School District is a destination school district for kids to learn, for staff to work, and for our community to believe in and support. >> We are Madison Metropolitan School District. >> We are Madison Metropolitan School District. I am Madison Metropolitan School District and proud to be [Music] >> some incredible cameos in that video. Thank you to all that were part of that. As you know, it's the first time we took a purposeful approach and strategic lens to develop an image our students, staff, families, and community could connect to. And I found that the those connections are being made. While I was at the Partners for Progress event, people shared that not only could they see positive change happening at MMSD, they could feel it and you could see the connection in the

073launch video we just watched. This brand identity, this new brand identity belongs to all of us and boldly positions MMSD as the destination school district it is. President Nichols, members of the board, this concludes my report. >> Thank you, Superintendent Gothard. Uh, sounds like it was a good month and it was a a great uh brand reveal and the shots are amazing with the capital behind you. All right. Um, all right. We are going to move on to our next agenda item. We're going to report on the items that proceeded through the instruction workg group held on September 8th, 2025. And I will pass that over to chair of the instruction board group, board member Moldro. >> Board President Nichols. September, we reviewed the 2024 2025 highlights of the year. Um, we had a little

074bit of a data analysis. Then we looked forward to our upcoming school year 2025 2026. Um, October we are doing a secondary uh a review or an update on secondary specifically earning college credit industry credentials as well as work-based learning experiences. with a review of new aligned performance objectives. Our minor topic this October will be an update on school wellness and foreshadow a timeline to update the wellness policy. >> Thank you. >> Uh next we're going to report on the items that proceeded through the operations work group held on September 15, 2025. And I'll pass that over to the chair of the operations work group, board member Castro. >> Thank you. So on September 15th, we heard from first student and an overview of transportation throughout the district. We heard from building services that provided

075a referenda update. Um we looked at our summer school counts and further prepared for the final budget vote in October. We reviewed budget amendments and then reviewed a cash flow borrowing um proposal from the administration. And uh so our next meeting is October 13th, 2025 where we will get the third Friday final September count for students. Um hear from the facilities team again, hear from HR, and then finally prepare for the final budget vote at the end of October. >> Thank you. All right. We had no action items that proceeded through the instruction work group and several that proceeded through the operations group um from September 15th. So we will take them one by one. The first one being um one of the action items is that we have a resolution authorizing temporary borrowing. Um

076so I'm going to read that motion. I move that the board of education approve the sale of the $55 million tax revenue anticipation notes at a total interest expense of 2,375,6944 a true interest cost rate of 2.69%. >> Second Maya. >> All right. Are there any questions or discussion on this item? All right. Seeing and hearing none, student representative Lee, your advisory vote. >> I. >> All right. All those in favor? I. All right. That means none opposed. And that passes unanimously. All right. Okay, we'll move on to the next item. This is a budget amendment related to board member compensation. I'll read the motion. I move that the board of education amend the June preliminary 202526 budget in the following amount fund 10 for $60,100. Second for the sake of discussion. Okay. So, um,

077the full description, I'll just read the full description out loud and then open it up. So, the description for this motion is to increase the board of education stipen to $15,000 per year and provide compensation of $100 for attending and participating in half-day retreats and $200 for attending and participating in full day retreats. Following an affirmative vote of this motion, the board shall amend board policy 1550, which is is its policy on additional compensation for board members pursuant to board policy 1301 proposed policies. The board of education president will receive an additional $1,200 annually. The board vice president, instruction workg groupoup, and operations workg groupoup chairs will receive an additional $600 annually. So that is the full description of this amendment. All right. Board member Vanderm. >> Yes, I'm speaking in favor of this and

078I'd like to give a little history of the entire situation. Board hasn't raised its pay since 2014. In fact, um, in 2014, last time the board pay was raised, Dean Lumos in 2014 raised the pay, it was seconded by James Howard. I was kind of surprised this morning to see in the paper on how the editorial board says we're not supposed to increase our pay, yet he did the same. It does baffle me. But I digress. The problem is as follows. We need to take all compensation seriously. I am strongly in favor of this, but that includes that we have to make sure our staff is taken care of. Therefore, I formally ask that we look into compensation, not a study, but actual compensation to determine where we can put individuals on the steps so

079that they are paid what they deserve as well. And for all those reasons I stated, I am voting yes. >> Thank you, board member Maldro. Thank you so much. I want to thank my fellow board members for supporting me in crafting this amendment to our budget. Our budget is a moral document. It does say like what we believe in and I think investing in our in ourselves and our and each other. Um is both uh about making sure that people are interested in this role and recognizing the work that goes into it and also making sure that people are able to do this role. Um it is a tremendous investment of people's time, of people's families. Um and I think that our compensation, our stipen needs to be reasonable and that means uh it needs

080to increase with time like anything else. I really appreciate the recognition of the additional labor of our board president, our board vice president, our instruction workg group chair, and our operations work group chair. I also appreciate the update for our retreats, which hasn't happened since 1994. I do think that we've spent a really significant amount talking about this. Um, and I think it's important to remind folks that the board knows that they are not employees of the district, but it is not actually abnormal to compensate elected officials, right? Uh, somebody like Ron Johnson is getting healthcare for his role as a senator. somebody like Robin Voss is getting healthcare to gabble in and out of session. Um, and so I I think when we think about the precedent that has been set by this board,

081we have to take into consideration that the work of education is commonly associated with women. The work of this board is done by a group that is majority women, majority people of color. and devaluing our labor has a historical connotation and reality to it that we have to confront in order to make sure that people of all types of backgrounds can sit at this table and do this work, can afford the child care it takes to be available to this kind of role um can you know have some level of dignity and self-respect as they pursue this kind of leadership and it is because of that I am proud to vote in favor of this amendment to our budget. Anyone else? Yes. Board member Saravo. >> Thank you, board member Nichols. I am in favor

082of this move as well. I did some deep diving into the history of Madison and to when they've made adjustments in the past and they've notably made adjustments when there have been additions to the workload and over time with no child left behind and then act 10 and now we have the dismantle in the department of education. I can only imagine what we're going to be handling on the local level is just simply going to be increased over time as we try to maintain the standards and everything that we have now and to continue to make sure that our students and our staff can thrive in all of our buildings. So, I'm in favor of this and I understand all the work that goes into being a board member, not only at this table, but

083everything else that happens behind the scenes. So, thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay. board member Castro. >> Good evening. Thank you. Um I just want to speak in support of this as well. Um there's been some um mis characterization of my words taken out of context. I think well I know for sure in general that it's supported by academic literature that low pay is a barrier of entry for marginalized folks to reach local office. And so for that reason I um am in support. In many ways, this board is a anomaly in that regard in terms of our composition when you look at the scope of history, like the grand scope of history. Um, but it that's not guaranteed. Um, things are subject to change and so that's why, you know, I'd support this for

084not this board, but 30 years from now, uh, what a school board could look like here. So, thank you. So yeah, um I like to also do research and go on deep dives into things. Um, and when you look at just historically, um, to Savian's points previously in some of the meetings, just historically looking at school boards just across the United States, looking at who has historically served on them, the reasons why school boards historically have existed. Um if you think about education and who education was meant for um you can kind of paint the picture of over time this is how things have gone in this country. Um and so just coming from that context and looking at um even in Madison who historically has been um able to participate, I am a single

085parent of three teenagers, right? And I'm not saying by no means that you know this work should be compensated more per se just because of that. Um there is a lot of work that goes into this. um we put a lot of time into it. And if you consider um maybe there are folks who um are in poverty or low-income folks that may want to possibly serve to support their community and the education of their children. Um do they have the option to be able to do that? Um we think about folks who are part of underserved or underprivileged communities even with Madison. Um and then you think about who is meant to be able to um be a part of this. Um if you look just in general over the US, you see that

086school boards are also there are many that are unpaid. Um yet the the task is high. And I know that there's been this conversation around a job versus um public service. And I don't think anyone on this board currently at least what I you know from folks I know and have passed and in the past have s come to this as looking for a job right um and I think it's important to note that um if you look at conversations for the past at least 10 years around um stipens or some kind of compensation for board members and you look at even areas around us Chicago um you look at Milwaukee look at other folks um it I mean the conversation is there but I think what I also want to like make sure that

087we understand is that even if we compare um the work that we do because we are elected officials and we are politicians technically um right and we look at other politicians or elected officials in our city a city Madison alder makes about almost $15,000 um assuming 20 hours of work and um I know that they have tried tried to increase the alder pay or compensation. Um they represent between 11,000 and 15,000 people. You go into the day county supervisors, they make about 12,000 as it was stated. Um and they will have an increase. Um again, but then you look at the district in which they also support. Um, you know, I think when we are making sure that we are having folks that want to be able to to do this work. Um, and I

088know there's this idea that um that just because we have uncontested races, that means that, you know, folks um that by this we can increase that. And I do agree that it it it allows us to have um and recruit folks that to want to do this work. Um and it doesn't necessarily mean that this is all that it is. Um but it is important to consider to set up folks. Maybe my kids want to uh run for school board in the future. Um and it allows them to do that. Or maybe some young folks, maybe Claire would like to um while she's in college or somewhat. So I do think um looking at it as a way to um increase participation um and um to have differencing of folks to be able to serve

089I think is extremely important as well. Um, with that, I do support this. Um, I think, um, you know, when this should be done is the is the question. And so, um, but I do support overall the the increase of a stipend. Um, and to make it clear, it is a stipen. We know we're not employees. >> Thank you. Okay. Can you repeat your question on the microphone? >> Uh, quick question. Um, is this retroactive? Is this immediate or is this for the next term? board member Vander, President Nichols, board member Vandermillan, I'm recalling from our operations work group that we put the entire annual um investment in the amendment, but it would start the next cycle. So, it would start immediately after this vote, but it wouldn't go back uh to this to to

090to July, excuse me. So, it would be a little bit less this year than the total amount there, but moving forward, of course, it would be that much. That's what I recall from our operations work. >> I I thought so, but I wasn't positive, so I wanted to be sure. Got it. I really appreciate. Thank you because that was my only question. >> Great. >> And thank you for writing. >> If there are no other comments, I would I would also like to add myself in. Um, as first let me just say I I am in support of this amendment and I appreciate all of the thoughtfulness that has gone into write it and all of the folks who have been also emailing us and and letting us know different points of view about this.

091Um, here are some reasons why I can wrap my head around being okay with this. One is the board is is pretty much set up next month to approve over a $790 million budget that represents this district's investments in our staff and our programs um and operating this budget. And um with that comes a lot of responsibility. I also feel like since I've been on the board, right, I was sworn in in April of 2022. So I've completed one term and I'm just starting the beginning of a second term. Um this board has maintained um a real commitment to provide total compensation for our employees to the greatest extent possible. I know that you know sometimes our employees have had to come forward and and um you know apply a little pressure for that but

092generally we have been committed to that. We've also have been through a lot of change in this district just in the three years I've been on this board a lot. Um, and on a more personal level, board members who are elected, um, know that when we're elected or I want to believe when I look at all of my colleagues, we're not running for the stipen. are running because we care deeply about this district and yet we are also parents, homeowners, taxpayers, um caregivers, like you name it, right? And so we do the we do the duty and we take the responsibility for what it is. And um and I also think though that as cost of living has increased over time, we also feel it just like everybody else in our district and we feel

093it just like everybody else in our city. Um we know that we're not employees. Um, and you know, we're not employees and we play a critical role in hiring and retaining one of the biggest employees that we're responsible for, which is a superintendent. And if you've watched this board over the last five years, there has been a lot of leadership change and and I think this board has um taken its responsibilities seriously. So I believe it the the duties and the seriousness in which board members bring to the role um as well as the the cost of living and inflationary changes that we've seen over the years combined with our dedication and commitment to make sure that our employees um have had as much compensation as as we could provide you know to the greatest

094extent possible. I think um speaks for who we are. I would also say that to board member Vandermuan's point, the the board compensation hasn't been changed in like a decade. Um, and so even if you went back 10 years and you did just the cost of living increase, just that, and you multiplied it year by year by year, I I did the math just for the three or four years budget cycles I've been here, we'd be closer to 9,500 just for the last four years. That's not including the first half of the decade, right? So, you know, um 15,000 may seem like a lot if you're not thinking about it's been a decade and um there have been inflationary shifts um accordingly. So, I say all that to say that I I do support this

095and I also um support it in recognition of hearing employees who are still coming forward asking for a salary compression to be rectified. um and knowing that we we have important and and serious work ahead of us um to make sure that we can keep every employee face healthc care changes um on the horizon and and do right by our district and our community. So those are my comments. All right. Given there are no further comments, um I will ask for representative student representative Lee's advisory vote. >> I Right. All those in favor? I All right. Those opposed abstain. All right. You got that, Jesse? All right. Thank you. All right. Okay, we have another item which is budget amendment on board member healthc care. I'm going to read the motion. I move that the

096board of education amend the June preliminary budget in the following amount from fund 10 of $194,600. >> Second for the sake of conversation. >> Okay. And I'll do like I did with the last one. The description that is available for this amendment is that board of education members shall be eligible for Madison Metropolitan School District Healthcare uh parentheses health, dental, and vision with a required monthly contribution that is indexed to the percentage of premium paid by administrative employees of the district as defined in the handbook. All right. Any discussion here or member Maldrum? >> Thank you. I am not going to be voting for this motion tonight. I believe in healthcare for all people. I believe that board members have to be well enough to show up and do this work. Um I also think

097that this has been a tremendously timeconsuming conversation that has required a significant amount of research from our administration. And after all of that work we've done in collaboration, uh I think that we need to navigate what it would look like to have uh an option for the board that was truly separate and unique um from the staff and administration themselves. I will be voting against this tonight and my hope is that were we to bring this up again publicly um we would have a greater exploration of what an alternative option would look like. um that would put us in alignment with other elected officials who are insured through their position um as elected officials. I also think it's really important to acknowledge um that I I'm I'm really torn between kind of the logistics of

098making this happen and the moral conviction that is we we need to make sure that we're taking care of each other. I also want folks to know that it resonated with me deeply that there are over a thousand MMSD staff who do not have access to MMSD healthcare. And so that is another reason why I am able to vote in favor of something that I brought forward to the board this evening. Um, my hope is that we do not discuss this again in the near future and that we um, you know, really value the conversation we were able to have about this. Um, but do not bring it back to to our conversation for the next couple years. I think we've got a lot of things to focus on. We've spent a lot of time

099focusing on this. Um, and I think it's time to move on and and shift gears to our greater priorities as a body of governance and as a district. Thank you. Any further comments on this amendment? All right, board member Muljo, I want to thank you for bringing this amendment forward. I want to uh thank everyone on the board for their thoughtfulness on this amendment. Um, I also had decided, as much as I liked the sentiment of the amendment, um, that I would not be able to support it for slightly different reasons. But I wanted to make sure that if board members were eligible that we did not find ourselves in a compromised position around um being able to to make the the kinds of decisions that we need to make for employees. And and so

100um at this time I I wasn't planning to vote for it, but I appreciate that you also have put forward um that you are planning to vote no even though you brought it forward. Representative Lee. >> Yeah. So, thank you board member Moldro for sharing those thoughts because when I was going over um the agenda um I shared the sentiment that um I would vote yes um for my advisory vote, but after hearing your sentiments, I think I'll be voting no just in agreement with um what you said. All right, seeing no hands on this one, then I will ask for a vote. Student Representative Lee, your advisory vote. >> No. >> Okay. All those in favor? All those opposed? All right. So, that amendment fails unanimously. Next item is another board amendment. I'll read

101the motion. I move that the board of education amend the June preliminary 2025 2026 budget in the following amount from fund 10 $24,500 >> second. And like the other amendments, I'll read the description. That board members shall have access to $3,500 per year for professional learning as it specifically relates to serving as a board member. This stipen amount can be used to attend national or instate conferences and workshops, including costs of registration, transportation, lodging, and food. As applicable, such expenses shall be compensated pursuant to the PERDM rates that are current with MMSD guidance. Any unused stipens shall be forfeited if not used within that that then current year. All right. Any questions or comments on this amendment? board member Maldra. >> I am also planning to vote against this amendment this evening in part because

102I have been on the board for about seven years. Over the course of that seven years, I've attended three conferences. One of those conferences was entirely online. Um, and so I deeply like respect the sentiment of this amendment and the investment in the learning of this body. Um however I am not sure this is the right way to uh direct resources I guess in the long term especially when I think um there's not necessarily uh a demonstrated history of utilizing this resource. The other thing I find really challenging about this amendment is that I would really love for us to have this kind of approach to professional development for our staff. Um, and I think to give it to ourselves without having that conversation in terms of the implications for for the folks who work

103for us. And I'm sure there are so many people who would feel like they could benefit greatly from attending a conference, but also feel like they could benefit greatly from being able to, you know, have less student loan debt when they when they become a an educator. Um, and so it is for those reasons I'll be voting against this amendment tonight. I greatly appreciate the spirit of it. Um, and I support my my fellow board members in voting how they see fit. Vice President Pearson. >> Yeah, I want to say thank you, Michelle, for, you know, kind of finding a way to add professional development in. Um, I think for us to ask our staff in this district to do professional development um to find ways to embolden themselves um further. Um I think it

104is important for board members to do something very similar um as a person who seeks out uh multiple opportunities um statewide but also national um to um learn more to deepen my understanding in certain areas. Um I've taken the opportunity to be a part of many organizations um because we don't have a way necessarily um to pay for any um professional development per se for um board members outside of maybe the the WASBY or something like that. Um and so you know working with other organizations to hopefully see if they would you know give a scholarship for folks that um would like to do some things and it has worked in many areas some not so much. Um but I do think it is important to find some way um for board members to do

105some of that professional development um and be able to um you know invest in us doing better to help us make better decisions. um just during our tenure here. Um I think to Ali's point um figuring out a way to do it. Um I'm not sure if the 3500 is the best way. I think board president um Nichols for figuring out you know what it might look like if we were to do something like that. Um, but I do think um having access to um resources to be able to do that I think is important. Um so I will not be unfortunately um supporting it in the form it is now. Um, but I do think I hope I do hope that we do have the conversation of what that might look like, especially as

106new board members are coming on um and um help continue their their learning as well as board members who have been here um for a while to continue learning. So, thank you >> member Saravo. >> Thank you, board member Nichols. I actually also plan on not voting in favor of this particular I being new and trying to take in all the different experiences that come with being a board member and all the learning opportunities that are out there. I do not feel that I even have the fullest idea of what is all going to be available because I find value in all the local opportunities that we have. But also, we definitely need to be connecting with those outside of Wisconsin across the country. And I have no idea what kind of um commitments those

107have and if some of those are going to be virtual or if there's going to be value to attend in person. And I know all board members have different availability when it comes down to those kinds of opportunities as well. And but I do value the professional development of what it means to be a school board member and the things that we can do in order to um bring more to the table and to make sure that we're sharing that with our fellow board members. >> Thank you. Board member Mosner Felton. Um, I would be voting in favor of this uh amendment. I think it's a a great start. Um, and it's a one it's a oneyear budget amendment that I think um may very well work and I appreciate the um I appreciate as

108we continue to work together on our shared priorities um this opportunity should it pass um to be able to make make moves on that. So, I'll be voting in favor. Thank you. I'll just add um I know that when I submitted this budget amendment, it was a little bit later than the other budget amendments. So there wasn't as much time I think for analysis um to really look at the history of um board members you know being able to attend um development opportunities and and so I'm sure there is some history of that and um but in absence of that um depending on how you all want to vote just uh just as the reminder here is that you know when I Part of the motivation for this was when I remember when I first

109came on the board, you start getting emails, not only emails from all of our MMSD people, you also get emails from like the National School Board Associations and some of these other entities. And I I remember being like, "Oo, that looks like it would be a great conference, but I don't know what is that something I can go to." like it it just never felt clear on what as a board member you could do um to learn more and to to to really be um in a growth mindset about what it is what there is to learn about being in a governance seat. So the really the spirit around this amendment was just to try to make that a little bit more transparent and visible that if there are board members who have the time

110and the interest and the flexibility that there are dollars that you don't have to feel like you're questioning whether you can attend something. And if there are other board members who feel like in their lives they they can't attend something, it's it's not a judgment. It's it's more to say, okay, you didn't use the funds, you didn't need them that year. Um, so I'm okay with whatever way this goes. Um, as as long as you knew the spirit of the amendment. All right. So, with that, um, Student Representative Lee, your advisory vote? >> No. >> All right. Um, that was deep, too. Okay. Um those in favor I All right. And those opposed. All right. That motion fails. It looks like five. Yeah. Two. Can I Can I make that? Can I make another All

111right, we have a few more amendments. Thank you all. All right, next amendment. I move that the board of education amend the June preliminary 2025 2026 budget in the following amount fund 10 and27 for $595,600. This one is to expand 4K programs within our schools and to grow our 4K early care and education partners. By fostering a 4K community approach, we build a foundation where children, families, and educators thrive together, leading to a more successful and resilient school district. This will uh increase full-time equivalent positions 7.0 zero FTE. >> All right. Board member Moldro seconded. Any conversation or comments on this one? Yes, board member Maldra. >> I know we've talked about this a lot. Um and and I think because tonight we're we're talking about what it means to be on the board. I'm

112thinking back to when I first came onto the board and we didn't have full day 4K. This is a a recent phenomena and something we have invested in significantly over the course of the last half a decade. I'm very grateful that we continue to do this work and expand this work. Um, and I know how much it means to our our young people and to their families. So, I'm proudly voting in favor of this investment in 4K. >> All right. Any other comments? All right. board members arrival. >> This one kind of hits me personally that too because the the full day forecast I think is an excellent opportunity for young learners to actually get an idea of what a full day looks like when you have your half days available. It's such a different

113experience and as one I took my child an extra year to give her that opportunity and the really good impact that that had upon her school experience. I'm highly in favor of doing more programs like these and really appreciate that we are expanding this. >> All right, Vice President Pearson. >> Yeah, this is one of the things where I'm super excited about. I think it was something that I definitely when running for school board talked a lot about expanding 4K and as a a parent who um had to experience the half day 4K um for my twins um while being a state employee um it was very very difficult to navigate that and in in terms of like transportation and all kinds of other um situations. So, um having our kiddos, um be able to

114have that extended day and then have it at more sites is just like really beautiful to see. Um and making um this investment in just um our our youngest learners in our district. Um but also too, I just want to mention that um the state legislature needs to ensure that they are fully funding 4K and that um they need to make that increase. Um it it's proven that it works for our kiddos. Um and as districts across the state expand, as we expand, um uh the state legislature needs to take accountability in ensuring that they are adequately funding um 4K in public education. >> Thank you, board member Vandermillan. >> Yes, I'm happy to uh vote for this amendment. Very simply, as an autistic adult, the first thing, one of the things you learn is

115that a white child is diagnosed at approximately 18 months of age with autism. A black child or Hispanic child is closer to four or five years. The difference is 4K. The difference is preschool. The difference is early intervention. To not support this would be going against everything I believe in. So, I strongly support it. But I also support what my colleague Maya said, Maya Pearson says. There's no such thing as a quarter of a child, a half a child. These are our children. Period. And they need to be funded as such. Therefore, I'm happy to support this. >> All right. Oh, board member Castro. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, I just want to note that, you know, I was a head start baby. I'm living example of the effect of the impact of early childhood

116education and it's one of the more proud things that we've done proud things that I'm proud of that we've been able to do as as a group um and throughout the district you know the whole team um you know this combined with the new reading strategies which we adopted one full year before act 20 was passed um I just wanted to note we're really important. So, um, yeah, thank you to the administrative team and Dr. Gothard for submitting this amendment. >> Yes, indeed. All right. Um, represent student representative Lee, your advisory vote. >> I. >> All right. All those in favor? I. All right. That passes unanimously. Next budget amendment on special education services. I move that the board of education amend the June preliminary 202526 budget in the following amount fund 27 $350,500. >>

117All right. And the description here is to meet the needs of students with individualized education programs as required by federal law. Uh the amendment is to increase full-time equivalent equivalency positions by 4.687 FTE. All right. Board member Vandermill. >> I am enthusiastically supporting this. For years, we've worried on special ed because we had could not retain staff because there wasn't guaranteed funding for these positions. This is something that is needed to be done. It encourages and shows that our district is valuing special education and it is an absolute honor to vote for this. >> All right, any other questions or comments? All right, student representative Lee, your advisory vote. >> I. >> All right. All those in favor? I. >> All right. Great. Passes unanimously. Final budget amendment. I move that the board of education

118amend the June preliminary 202526 budget in the following amount for 40 fund 41, the capital expansion fund of $2 million. Second, Maya. >> All right. And the description reads, "$2 million increased investment in our facilities that will represent a 40% increase in the $5 million Fund 41 levy for capital expenditures related to buildings and sites. Upon expending part or all of the fund, a district's shared cost is increased on an amortized basis. Fund 41 allows us to minimize or control shared costs shared cost increases as the expenditures are amvertised over a longer period. >> Second, Nikki Vander, >> it was already seconded. I was just reading the description. >> Any questions or comments? All right. Uh hearing none. Student Representative Lee, your advisory vote. >> I. >> All those in favor? I >> I >>

119All right. That looks like it passes unanimously. Moving on to our consent agenda. I move that the board of education adopt and approve all of the motions set forth in section 10 of the electronic agenda prepared for the September 29th, 2025 regular school board meeting exactly as said motions are written. By voting affirmatively on this motion, a board member expresses his, her, or their affirmative vote on each of the motions consolidated hereby subject to any express separations that have been made by any member of school board. >> Second, Maya. >> Okay. Are there any separations? >> 10.23. Board member Maldro. >> President, I'd like to separate 10.8 8 and 10.14. >> Okay. All right. 10.8, 10.14, and 10.23. Thank you. All right. Otherwise, um I will move forward. Student Representative Lee, your advisory. >> I

120>> All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> All right. Thank you. That passes unanimously. Moving on to separations 10.8. Let me This is a memorandum of agreement and contract for services with Urban League of Greater Madison Schools of Hope. All right. I'm going to read the motion. I move that the board of education approve the memorandum of agreement for October 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026 for a one-year renewal of the highintensity partnership with Urban League of Greater Madison as set forth in the documents prepared for the September 29th, 2025 regular meeting. In addition, I move that the board of education approve an expenditure in the amount of $430,000 to be paid to the Urban League of Greater Madison for the Schools of Hope Middle School tutoring program using funds from the

121Strategic Partnerships operating budget. The initial contract shall run through June 30th, 2026. I need a second. >> I'm sorry. You need to second Ali Moldro. >> Thank you. Discussion. Board member Baldro. >> Second. >> I was like, is the motion? Um, thank you so much, board president Nichols. I wanted to highlight this um partnership because I am tremendously excited about it and what it has the potential to mean for our middle school students. I would like to ask Dr. McCrae, Cindy, I'm so sorry to make thank you Cindy Green for for speaking to our investment in schools of hope and our partnership with the Urban League. >> Board member Moldro, could you please repeat your question? I apologize. My question is what is the intended outcome of this investment? So, I am very excited about

122our investment in middle school tutoring, but can we speak to kind of the areas of tutoring or what some of that will look like and mean to our middle school students? Um, and also speak to the the partnership. >> Yeah. Um, thank you for the question. So, first, this is a longstanding uh really proud partnership that we have with the uh Urban League of Greater Madison. Um, I'll highlight one thing before I answer your questions. It's intentional for a one-year MOA because we are going to be working with members from the Urban League this year to reinvision what the future partnership may be. There were some changes that happened last year and so it affords us an opportunity to think maybe differently or how we want to go about the future partnership. So, we're really

123excited about that. Um, the two main areas that our tutors focus on is literacy and math. So they work with our students mostly after school in the areas of literacy and math. We also measure dosage. So it's not just about literacy and math skills, but who's coming, how often are they coming, and what is that impact both having on their skill development, but also on their attendance during this school day. >> Thank you so much. I am very excited to vote in favor of this partnership and the work of Schools of Hope. Thank you all so much for bringing this to our board and all the work that goes into our to supporting our middle school students in the area of literacy and math. >> Thank you. We're excited, too. >> All right. Any further

124questions? All right. Um, student representative Lee, your advisory vote. >> I. >> All those in favor? I >> I. >> All right. Passes unanimously. Moving on to the next separation. 10.14 Madison Metro bus passes. And the motion reads, I move that the board of education approve the purchase of bus passes bus passes, excuse me, from Madison Metro Transit System for 1,260,000 using funding from the fisc year 26 transportation operating budget. >> Second, Ali Moldro. >> All right, discussion. Board member Moldro. Thank you. I have often said that my bus pass was my like passport to independence. I think being able to access the city buses is so deeply meaningful to our students. I'm tremendously grateful for the investment our community has made in bus rapid transit and what that means for our young people who

125are engaged in a v variety of programs and opportunities throughout our community. I am hoping we can I could ask either Dr. McCrae or our superintendent Dr. Gothur to speak a little bit more to uh this partnership and what it means to for our young people have access to public transport. >> Board President Nichols, board member Mold Roman. I have Scott Shia, our exe senior executive director of building services provide a little background on on Metro. And one thing I will point out, one of the reasons that I think this is an important highlight is I believe Scott, correct me if I'm wrong, 40,000 rides the data >> we had over the summer we had 80,000 rides just for this alone >> and and I think it really highlights to your point exactly how students

126are using this. Scott if you could share a little bit more please. >> Yes. Currently we have 31 supplemental bus routes during the school season moving all of our students throughout our district to variety of different schools. We have 5,046 metro passes currently issued to students. We have uh like I said 2400 students over the summer use 80,000 of those rides to give them independence to move around the district get other educational opportunities and engage in our community and we'll continue to keep doing that work year over year especially as new director comes out with MMSD ination with Metro >> Scott can you come closer to your mic please? Thank >> I do that all the time. Um so I'll repeat a few statistics here. We have 31 supplemental routes called dodger routes to move

127across our city for our school and our students. We had tw 2,400 students over the summer use bus passes with 80,000 rides over the summer giving that independence and moving throughout the district for the community work that they do and interacting with our community. Um as uh Metro comes on with their new active director, new director, we'll be working with them to continue that partnership for a few more years keeping going forward. Our contract does expire this year, but we are planning we're already working towards the future. keep expanding this program to give our students more opportunity. >> Thank you so much for speaking to the importance of allowing our young people to access public. I am really thrilled to hear that we are hoping to prolong this partnership. This is a partnership that really

128emerged during the pandemic. Um and it also is a partnership that I think I value even more now that we've switched to yellow buses for our middle school students. Um because that that first passport to my independence that was my bus pass is something that was given to me in sixth grade when you know our middle school students rode the city bus. And so bridging that gap so that our young people are still getting that early access to public transportation I think really builds you know the life skill of knowing how to navigate your community. I also want to say I deeply appreciate that this work as a parent. Um, I am a mother of three, which really just means like I'm an Uber driver, y'all. Like an unaid Uber driver. Um, and so this

129it's really nice to be able to tell, you know, my oldest child to to get to work on her own every once in a while. Um, thank you for for this work and this partnership. It's really great to see our our public transportation, our city, our community come together to support our young people um in in making this place their home and their own. Okay, President Carson, >> I just have one question as we are um thinking about renewing the contract since you mentioned that. Um do we know that each ride is a paid ride or is there a cap? So for instance, like if a student uses their bus pass for one ride um and they use it again, it's capped at that price. So, if it's like a ride is like $2, it's

130capped at $2 for the day and essentially no matter how many times they use that pass, it's only $2 for that one ride. Do we know that by any chance or does that make sense? >> Yeah, it makes sense. I don't know. If I have that data off hand, I'll back up with you. >> Okay. Yeah, if we can figure that out because like there might be some savings, too. Um I know like for seniors it's like capped at like six bucks or something. So if they use it right and so if they use it multiple times it goes up to a certain dollar amount and then it's it it doesn't charge is what I'm saying. So um but also I want to be also give some gratitude for this program as well with three

131teenagers and now they have jobs and they get around the city on their bikes and on the bus. So grateful as a parent. >> I think that does it. Thanks Scott. All right. Doesn't look like there's any further comments. Uh, student representative advisory vote >> I. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I. >> All right. Thank you. That passes unanimously. Going to the next separation 10.23. >> Okay. Hold on. Let me read the motion. This was the donation that we acknowledged at the beginning of the meeting tonight. I move that the board of education accept a donation in the amount of $17,0927 from UW Credit Union in memory of Terry Paps for a sensory room at the Row Elementary School. >> I pull second Nikki Vander. >> Okay. >> I pulled this

132because I know we thanked them the first time, but I I believe this could not be a more tr a more fitting tribute to a lost teacher than to continue her work. This sensory room will make a huge difference and it's something that needs to be focused on and the thank you is heartfelt on that. Thank you. >> Thank you for that board member Randy Mill. >> All right, student representative Lee, your adviser. >> I >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> All right. It passes unanimously. All right, we are now going to keep moving through our agenda. We are into other reports to the board. Uh, city county schools collaborative committee. There is nothing to report because we did not meet inember student senate. >> Yeah. So, we had our

133second meeting of the year. We opened applications for our two new committees, student wellness and education equity. Um, in student wellness, we're trying to focus on student safety, mental health, and substance abuse. And in education equity, the students are focusing on diversity in AP and honors courses. Um, we familiarized many students with board docks. So, we had a little lesson on that. And we had our first ever middle or first middle school student of the year. So, yeah, super exciting. Well done. Thank you. Next is Madison School and Community Recreation or the MSCRY Committee. >> Thank you, President Nichols. Our advisory committee met on September 17th and we'll meet again in the middle of November. Some news from MSCR. Fall activities are off to a great start with over 10,300 people registered for programs and

134afterchool clubs and sports getting underway. Just this afternoon, over 200 Madison Middle School athletes competed in the first MSCR cross country meet at Oland Park. Uh, and this fall, super excitingly, MSCR has expanded youth apprenticeship opportunities for MMSD high school students developing their skills working in MSCR afterchool programs, working directly with younger students. I'm super super excited to hear that MSCR is also excited to begin work on a new strategic plan that will guide MSCR's future work and align it with the district's emerging strategic framework. Also, don't forget uh to make MSR happen, people need to be doing that amazing work. MSR is hiring in after school aquatics, arts, dance, fitness, inclusion services, sports, and more. >> We're off to a good start. All right. Next, is there an update from the policy committee? >>

135Yes, our update is that at our um board retreat in October uh October 10th, we will be bringing forth um a process for us to initiate uh board policy um as well as hopefully discuss a calendar to do the board work around policy. >> Thank you. All right, I'm going to move us into other business, which is board policy 1550, the policy on additional compensation for board members. This is redlined and considered a first read. So, am I reading this motion? Okay. All right. I move that the board of education approve policy 1550, additional compensation for board members in accordance with the documents prepared for the September 29th, 2025 regular meeting. The policy will be revised effective immediately. >> Second. >> Okay. Um, the red line version has some language in here that did not

136pass tonight. Um, I see your hand, Barb Moldro. So, is it assumed that the the language that did not pass would automatically be struck from this? Okay. All right. Board member Maldro. >> Yeah. I I think it's complicated to vote on this policy because two parts of it have actually already appeared is my understanding in our agenda. So we already voted on the shift in relationship to the retreat when we were talking about the board budget amendment and then the shift related to PD we was also a board budget amendment. So I'm wondering are we voting again on the policy to reinforce the vote rel to compensation that's driven our retreats. >> It was solely the reason May I should have asked that first. The reason is to change the language to show that the

137increased compensation on board retreats and the other language that did not pass would be strict. >> Am I correct? >> I'm comfortable voting in favor of this particularly in relationship to the uh retreat compensation because we we voted to approve that earlier in our conversation about the board stifen. Um I I think it's an update that is in a lot of ways pretty overdue. It hasn't been changed since 1994. Um the other thing is is I think we've gotten to discuss this update pretty thoroughly in terms of the policy implications related to this update and the budgetary implications. So we did uh speak to this policy in both of the work groups in which we were talking about adjusting um this this rate per day and half day in relationship to retreats. >> It just

138codifies the language. That's the only thing >> I greatly appreciate the work that went into updating this policy so that it could be in alignment with um our our budget amendment. All right. There aren't are there any? >> Yeah. Do we need to? >> Okay. So, um I request that um because the the way that 1301 currently that we have to um read each policy twice before we come through. And so the way that the motion is currently um it is to go ahead and approve it in alignment with our um budget amendment um passage. Um so in that we just also have to further move that we are bypassing a second review of board policy 1550 um as it is required pursuant to board policy 1301. Therefore the board shall vote on whether to

139adopt the amended policy um at the September regular board meeting. >> Okay. Board member Mald. I'm happy to wave policy I'm sorry 1301. I'm happy to wave policy or I move that we wave per policy 1301 in order to uh change policy 1550 this evening. >> Second. >> Do we need a vote on waving it? >> Okay. We'll take a vote on this. Although we already had a motion table but fine. Um so all those in favor >> I >> oh I sorry I >> right any none of any opposed. Okay so we have uh unanimous unanimously approved waving policy 1301. Now we're going to go back to policy 1550. Board member Maldo. Thank you. I want to acknowledge that bypassing policy 1301 is in part something I'm comfortable with because we've done a really

140thorough review of the budget implications of this very slight adjustment to the policy. The other reason is I think we've spent a lot of time on this and I think it's a a good idea um to to move forward in this work and not prolong it in order to um meet the standards of policy 1301. So, I am voting in favor of this shift to policy in order to change the board's stipen as it relates to our retreats or and I I'm grateful that we're doing this change um because I think it is tremendously past due given that it was adjusted last time in 1994. >> All right. Thank you, board member Maldo. All right. So, we have the motion um to approve policy 1550. We've already waved our second read for policy 1301. So,

141student representative leave your your advisory vote. >> I >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> All right, that passes unanimously. All right, let me just see if we have any other business. We have no other new or old meeting. All right. Uh board member Van Remulan makes a motion to >> second. >> And Castro's in for the second. All those in favor. All right. Thank you. meeting as a