Madison Metropolitan School District board meeting, Sep 28, 2026

1 h 35 min · 11 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 35 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Madison school board approves $30,000 for library door buttons on 5⁠-⁠2 vote 1:19:30

  • Speakers at public comment asked the board to cut technology spending in favor of student-facing staff and asked that veteran teachers be placed on the pay scale level matching their years of experience. 10:38
  • The board also approved the sale of $65 million in tax revenue anticipation notes at a total interest rate not to exceed 4.5%. 50:50
  • The board voted 5⁠-⁠2 to amend the June preliminary 2026⁠-⁠2027 budget by $30,000 in Fund 10 for accessible door buttons at the libraries of four high schools. 1:19:30

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (14)
  1. Call to order and staff and student awards 0:13
    • Savion Castro called the meeting to order and read the district's vision and mission statements. 0:13
    • A presenter recognized two staff members and three high school students with the monthly People Purpose Pride Awards. 1:17
  2. Written statements and public comment 9:04
    • Savion Castro said 33 written statements were submitted, including 24 in support of a budget that reduces technology spending and prioritizes student-facing staff and 6 in support of equal pay for equal experience for veteran teaching staff. 9:04
    • Several speakers at public comment asked that all teachers be placed on the pay scale level that aligns with their total years of experience. 13:36
    • Other speakers asked the board to cut back on technology spending, and one speaker spoke in support of putting buttons on library doors. 26:41
  3. Approval of minutes 38:26
    • Savion Castro moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting dated August 24th, 2026. 38:26
    • Savion Castro announced the motion carried. 38:44
  4. Board president's announcements 38:44
    • Savion Castro said 37 Madison students were named semifinalists in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. 40:02
    • Savion Castro thanked donors, including Doxa Church for a donation of $13,750 to Lincoln Elementary School. 41:16
  5. Superintendent's report 41:33
    • The superintendent's report said the district welcomed back more than 25,000 students on September 1st and 2nd. 41:38
    • The report said Phase 1 referendum projects continue to move forward on time and on budget and that Phase 2 groundbreaking ceremonies are set for October 14th. 46:12
  6. Work group reports 47:47
    • Nichelle Nichols said the instructional work group focused on school improvement planning and professional learning. 48:00
    • Ali Janae Muldrow said the operations work group discussed topics including cash flow borrowing and got a first look at a compensation study that will return to the board with recommendations at a later date. 49:01
  7. Borrowing resolutions 50:19
    • Savion Castro moved to approve the sale of $65 million in tax revenue anticipation notes at a total interest rate not to exceed 4.5%. 50:50
    • Further motions set parameters for the sale of not to exceed $160 million in General Obligation Promissory Notes Series 2026 and not to exceed $48 million in bond anticipation notes. 51:36
    • Blair Mosner Feltham said the mechanism was for the district's next phase of borrowing. 52:11
    • Savion Castro announced that each motion carried. 51:36
  8. Budget amendment for library door buttons 54:27
    • One board member said they would not vote in favor because it plans for deficit spending and the work could fit within capital maintenance funds, and a district staff member said that fund has $7 million and estimated about $6,000 per door. 1:02:51
    • One board member said they were voting in favor of the amendment, and another said they were voting against it. 1:09:09
    • Savion Castro announced the motion carried 5⁠-⁠2. 1:19:30
  9. Consent agenda 1:19:29
    • Savion Castro moved to approve all motions in Section 10 of the agenda, and no separations were requested. 1:19:29
    • Savion Castro announced the motion carried 7⁠-⁠0. 1:20:33
  10. Committee reports 1:20:33
    • The Student Senate report said the group met September 9th and September 23rd and set five meeting norms for the year. 1:20:41
    • Martha Siravo said fall MSCR programs have over 15,000 people enrolled. 1:23:36
    • Nichelle Nichols said the Policy Committee is gathering policy proposals to prioritize at a board retreat on Friday, October 2nd. 1:23:58
  11. Title IV administrative cap waiver 1:25:28
    • Savion Castro moved to authorize a waiver application to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to waive the 2% administrative cap on the 2026⁠-⁠27 Title IV grant application. 1:25:28
    • Savion Castro announced the motion carried. 1:25:58
  12. Behavior education plan ad hoc committee 1:25:58
    • Savion Castro moved to establish a 24-person committee to update the behavior education plan, with a chair designated by the board. 1:25:58
    • One board member said they hoped the committee would produce clear solutions that the board could put money behind. 1:29:41
    • Nichelle Nichols asked whether community members would have seats on the committee or be engaged after it forms. 1:29:56
    • Savion Castro announced the motion carried. 1:32:51
  13. Dissolving school renaming committees 1:32:51
    • Savion Castro moved to dissolve the citizens ad hoc committees on renaming LVM, Lindbergh and Chavez elementary schools, which were renamed on August 24th, 2026. 1:32:51
    • Savion Castro announced each motion carried. 1:33:23
  14. Unusually hazardous transportation plan 1:34:12
    • Savion Castro moved to approve the unusually hazardous transportation plan proposal. 1:34:12
    • Savion Castro announced the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned. 1:34:39

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

Other meetings

Other meetings of this board

Video: posted by the district as “9.28.26 Regular Board of Education Meeting”