Madison Reporter

The Board of Education meeting held on December 16, 2024, addressed various issues and updates within the district. Community members can access these meetings online via MCPASD TV on YouTube.

The meeting commenced with Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue and board members expressing condolences to the Abundant Life Christian School community following a tragic incident. The MCPASD stands in solidarity with them during this challenging time.

Jim Coursey took the Oath of Office as the new board appointee for Area IV. He brings nearly three decades of public service experience and has recently joined the Middleton community, attracted by its educational opportunities.

Middleton VFW made a $500 donation to Middleton High School to provide yearbooks for students in need. Andrew Shuck delivered the check on behalf of VFW, which was appreciated by the school community.

Dr. Monogue praised the achievements of Middleton High School's Model United Nations Club at an international conference in Chicago, where they were recognized as "Outstanding Small Delegation." Individual honors went to Dina Abdel-Megid and Truman McRay.

Asher Torbeck, Safety and Security Coordinator, gave his first update on district safety measures. His report covered staff training, development of Situation Response Teams (SRT), building safety protocols, compliance with state requirements, and trauma-sensitive practices during drills. A reunification training drill is planned for February 2025.

A presentation was given on Act 95 implementation by Peg Shoemaker and other education leaders. It outlined guaranteed admission policies for University of Wisconsin institutions based on class rank criteria. A weighted grading system will be introduced starting in the 2025-2026 school year to meet these requirements.

Assistant Superintendent Jerrud Rossing updated attendees on Phase 1 of Sustainability Planning within the district. The focus is on energy efficiency projects like solar installations and geothermal retrofits with an estimated cost of $13,555,000 funded partly through external sources such as Focus on Energy.

The Board approved emergency crisis plans after reviewing them but withheld public sharing for security reasons. Brian Anderson from Wipfli LLP presented a financial audit report confirming compliance with accepted accounting principles without significant deficiencies identified; it received board approval.

Community members are encouraged to access agendas and minutes online through provided directions for detailed insights into past meetings' discussions.