[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6311323,"mediaKeyId","2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5","parentId",2396345,"title","Madison board renames Southside Elementary for educator Laurie Mancari after divided public input","audioSeconds",1532,"startMs",2798000,"endMs",4330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5&start=2798&end=4330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5/thumbnail_2798000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6311323/Wisconsin/Madison-board-renames-Southside-Elementary-for-educator-Laurie-Mancari-after-divided-public-input","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311323-361bd75373a7beb755934866a4c6d9ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1777146740&Signature=c1ED0YGp2zKSOZ7JSxQB8Gp8kbgmTaiGquq9mWYSmFxaU-863RcQmZ96wS1MDeo25xYEgdqOQ6c9jCViylA0sNRKPhZhwGGgp-PwoDyUH1ndpIgC084momd9VWmpmBA8Px0MAEeueD6aAK6wPy10dwGDyeYygNZ2zLT6xWnhSx3w7cLc1ENh1GDP0uS3bg~pi47VwLSRv66Vl1uoDV70jHGQwC0uLLKGnGAd367LaP~oDm6yWgxx0kJ6YyLmtkdeby8t6~1XNErVWeWjtQTM7X2~sZqAHrDfjk6ccJucj4ZrjI7f7CTxP6ryDc9tKtO9pckEt17zm6S4k8chir-ofQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madison Metropolitan School District","date","2025-02-25T13:55:45Z","article","The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Board of Education voted 6–0, with one recusal, on Feb. 24, 2025, to rename Southside Elementary School as Laurie Mancari Elementary School.

The vote followed recommendations from an ad hoc citizen renaming committee and several rounds of community engagement. The committee presented four names ranked after outreach and student input: Southside Community (ranked highest among students), Ada Deer, Laurie Mancari, and 9 Springs. Associate Superintendent Anu Ebi told the board that 77 students participated in the final ranking; in kindergarten through second grade classes were counted as a single vote, which the committee said accounts for 58 students in that cohort.

Board members who supported the motion said the naming would honor a longtime educator whose work left an imprint on the district. \"I can definitely support Laurie Mancari for the name of this school,\" Board member VanderMeel said during the discussion, citing Mancari's impact on students and the community. Board member Simkin moved the motion to adopt the name Laurie Mancari; the motion was seconded and then approved by the board.

Opponents of replacing the Southside name urged the board to preserve continuity for the school community. Asenda Brown, the community schools resource coordinator at Southside Elementary, told the board the name \"Southside Community School\" reflects the school's identity and would provide stability after recent transitions. Students' rankings had shown Southside Community as the top choice among the pupil respondents, which some board members cited as a complicating factor in their deliberations.

Board members debated the relative weight to give the renaming committee's recommendation, student voice, and staff and family preferences. One board member said they had been \"surprised\" by the student ranking and that it gave them pause; another said naming a building after an educator creates a lasting lesson for future students about who the community values.

Board discussion also included a procedural clarification: a board member later read the relevant naming policy and said the policy requires a public hearing at least 14 days prior to a naming decision, which constrained the board's ability to add additional name options at that meeting without a policy change.

The formal motion recorded a 6–0 tally in favor with one recusal. The board thanked the renaming committee and community members for their work and said the district would follow up on implementation details.

Why it matters: School names signal community values and history to students and families. The board's decision honors an individual educator while prompting continued concern among some families and students who preferred a name tied to place and continuity.

Next steps: The board did not attach specific implementation dates to the renaming at the meeting; staff and community representatives said logistical details — signage, communications, and any associated costs — would be managed as part of district processes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2.24.25 Regular Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Board of Education voted 6–0, with one recusal, on Feb. 24, 2025, to rename Southside Elementary School as Laurie Mancari Elementary School.","taxTitle","Madison Metropolitan School District, School Districts, Wisconsin","taxId",14857,"location","Wisconsin","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311309,"Madison speakers urge district to oppose WIAA ban on trans female athletes",1477,251000,1728000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5&start=251&end=1728","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5/thumbnail_251000.jpg","/articles/6311309/Wisconsin/Madison-speakers-urge-district-to-oppose-WIAA-ban-on-trans-female-athletes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311309-6853e9d2be2a3dc3ffe8dcd923e122dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1777146740&Signature=dVPuQPrl5kQkuHJPmEXya3vurh~lahNgliiKk3Q~61Sni3bnDJDRw2TdV~D4ueN6Qicfxh3DiIbo0de1fBAD4bi-B88UJUXD0y24tH2DS6XyQ0Gu-zEqhSr2JICBFO6O0xMS-3xYumGgDfMcwinDW1ygAn7jv31IcX-CaZ9S-WduYzwJajMwsClUrC5r58VRpbVdJQE-FgdTA3ReZinbgUH0Um2LvFOu2tOMba6UIS6D7qsWZLgytiF2l1fe3tAXhsQCePR94YBO32Npb0DxUa5-PepPGjHdnboLIW6OS6XkF1B48ZRLY1MOCSPlPJ73BBwamILuqoF-8wkn2Qq6cQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple speakers at the Feb. 24, 2025 Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education meeting urged MMSD to resist following a recent Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) policy barring trans female athletes from participating in girls' competitions.

A non-binary youth who identified as a student speaker said exclusion from girls' sports \"will make [sports] more exclusionary\" and argued there is no scientific basis for the ban. A parent of a transgender student at Memorial High School reinforced that view, saying the policy \"outs people\" and deprives students of the social and developmental benefits of team sports.

\"We want everyone to feel as though they belong, and that is not what we're doing if we follow this ruling of WIAA,\" the parent said, urging the board to reject the WIAA change and to uphold Title IX protections and district commitments to inclusion. Another speaker described the broader political context and urged the board to make a firm statement that MMSD will continue to support trans students in school sports.

Board members did not take immediate formal action on the WIAA policy during the meeting. Speakers asked district leaders to publicly affirm noncompliance with the WIAA ruling and to clarify how district sports programs will treat transgender athletes going forward.

Why it matters: Athletic participation affects student well‑being, inclusion, and access to extracurricular opportunities. Community speakers called on the district to clarify whether it will follow the WIAA policy and to use district authority to protect transgender students' access to sports.","Several youth and parents told the Madison Metropolitan School District board they want the district to oppose the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association's ban on trans female athletes and to publicly affirm support for transgender students in school sports.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311314,"Parents, alumni and boosters urge MMSD to keep existing high-school logos, criticize redesign process",1427,122000,1549000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5&start=122&end=1549","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5/thumbnail_122000.jpg","/articles/6311314/Wisconsin/Parents-alumni-and-boosters-urge-MMSD-to-keep-existing-high-school-logos-criticize-redesign-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311314-c1bc58f08b5c8748c449cffd0943c0a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1777146740&Signature=E7H7rSdgMVm2aXZUQrC8fMamew9lBlnjkuA8rVUnVGpUNLBHSsFvr3IDep2TyfTZ~6ca5M~EtEjbXak-DsJWw9nk~M3IU79-fbqlV~sYvpIR8g07JNQYZS90l4gqDiCXYDM1COaNLac~ekD8gvEYSxKl9tGY~p9G6WwFwAsv6tRHPrrhn5yKsySY7IdXTLfbOcExQ4ekZdVh4oArjttxhASBZtB-AB0h5~4AeiVBMMPbsgZ9UGp9Mzchqkn7iG8a8UxT0qREEeIvQALJpn1Twyy9-lG1U~Buj2PDEgxCqd69deSbAVKzDjKnsGDAJmd5ZvxrVz~xhyyPyM3FCCLROQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several community members used public comment at the Feb. 24, 2025 Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education meeting to object to proposed new logos for the district's high schools.

Jesse Wickerser, a parent of two MMSD students and a West High alumnus, told the board the new logos were \"not necessary\" and that no compelling reason had been given for the change. He also criticized the district survey used to solicit feedback, saying it did not offer an option to keep the existing logos and therefore skewed responses. \"Any money that's proposed to be spent on such an endeavor would be much better put to use purchasing uniforms and things that MMSD currently leaves to local booster clubs to purchase,\" Wickerser said.

Jamie Baylor, president of the West High Booster Club, said boosters have raised substantial funds for students and facilities and that the proposed West logo \"looks a lot like AI.\" Baylor urged the district to retain student‑designed logos and to involve students in any branding work. Baylor said booster groups have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in support over the years and asked the board to prioritize student needs over a district‑wide branding change.

Speakers criticized the involvement of a large vendor and asked for a more grassroots, student-led design process. They also said any districtwide rebrand would be slow to implement across existing facilities and athletic uniforms and therefore should be weighed against other district priorities.

Why it matters: Branding choices can affect alumni and community identity, fundraising practices by booster groups, and ongoing costs tied to athletic gear and facility signage. Several speakers asked the board to prioritize direct student support and to ensure student voice in any design process.","Multiple parents, alumni and a high-school booster club president told the Madison Metropolitan School District board that proposed new high‑school logos are unnecessary, poorly designed and that the district should instead involve students and community members in any redesign.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6311319,"MMSD board approves school-closing policy change, $30,000 partnership renewal and reappoints hearing officer",230,5100000,5330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5&start=5100&end=5330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2396345-da94f0cd4fd9c39930cdc95ceadde1e5/thumbnail_5100000.jpg","/articles/6311319/Wisconsin/MMSD-board-approves-school-closing-policy-change-30000-partnership-renewal-and-reappoints-hearing-officer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6311319-e95c59707dbd6e670f0df003c4703283/orig.mp4?Expires=1777146740&Signature=eVmbvWxZJDkBdB2Wvd3I~5EIYFNrmo-W3xrbx1nOxLpY~rnlKjAu4g0r6-ydikVTUqE1p0~RnpWMbHcbDLdbEVLKZnkTVvbZ6vm8YMqny7Z-DtpWmSWtf-65YNA8~oPu-91O0LFz2P16CcpM26PLvBIN4DS2tQx97E4TWEe5yn2YDFGeFHhOQNo3aSu5Sxe~MVXGUwsErhYo8Vre28EYckIWIEaKBi2LKo-Jn94TtNhnJN~w3ha~hIlkZwJAXoES27BdDo3cNIiaPx375uYhY0nM6wNjte8dCim2VXCe3dXtxOz9Dg6sMNCGL7yYFTK-xTnk7~wMdcqlBh17jF4Wtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education approved several operational items during its Feb. 24, 2025 meeting, including a revision to the district's school‑closing policy, a $30,000 renewal for a partnership with Simpson Street Free Press, and the reappointment of an independent hearing officer for pupil expulsion proceedings.

Key votes at a glance

- School‑closing/inclement‑weather policy: The board revised policy 3031 (school closing) to update references (notably replacing some collective bargaining language with employee handbook language) and clarified notification procedures. The motion was adopted and the revision was made effective immediately.

- Simpson Street Free Press partnership ($30,000): The board approved a $30,000 allocation from the 2024–25 strategic partnerships operating budget to the Simpson Street Free Press for core-subject instruction via student‑led newspaper writing and publishing during after school and summer, contingent on a completed memorandum of agreement. The board noted this was a renewal of a prior partnership.

- Independent hearing officer reappointment: The board reappointed Matthew Bell to the district's pool of independent hearing officers for the 2024–25 school year under board policy 4045 and Wisconsin Statute 120.131(1)(e), ensuring the district meets statutory timelines for expulsion hearings.

Other consent actions: The board adopted the consent agenda and approved the minutes from its Jan. 27, 2025 regular meeting. All motions recorded at the meeting passed unanimously unless otherwise noted.

Why it matters: The policy revision updates district procedures for weather and closure decisions and clarifies communication responsibilities. The Simpson Street partnership funds continued journalism instruction and hands-on literacy supports for students. The reappointment of a hearing officer ensures the district has the required administrative capacity to carry out statutory due-process timelines for expulsions.

Implementation and next steps: District staff will finalize the Simpson Street memorandum of agreement, notify partner organizations of the approved funding, and proceed with the revised school‑closing procedures and hearing officer assignments.","At its Feb. 24, 2025 meeting the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education approved revisions to the school‑closing/inclement‑weather policy, renewed a $30,000 partnership with Simpson Street Free Press for after‑school journalism instruction, and reappointed an independent hearing officer; motions passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Madison board renames Southside Elementary for educator Laurie Mancari after divided public input

Madison speakers urge district to oppose WIAA ban on trans female athletes

Parents, alumni and boosters urge MMSD to keep existing high-school logos, criticize redesign process

MMSD board approves school-closing policy change, $30,000 partnership renewal and reappoints hearing officer