[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6264912,"mediaKeyId","3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146","parentId",3095712,"title","Operations Work Group approves minutes and adjourns after discussions on budget, benefits and design","audioSeconds",14783,"startMs",459000,"endMs",15242000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146&start=459&end=15242","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146/thumbnail_459000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6264912/Wisconsin/Operations-Work-Group-approves-minutes-and-adjourns-after-discussions-on-budget-benefits-and-design","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264912-0ae1c2cdfb181b81d422f4346ee8a31d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775617940&Signature=NBEB-HVs-k0P3WW3PzZknEFE8KYZ~~JDvA5zgJ5SvdCJIwkvV9eVzMYqxy41fjTrmCnvQwc2CqBQmH97Lp9atZFI8crAzboXNWRUi3LRQbd0BcQfQj0gPhRkTTe5HxKgiEdOT8VOf1vKrACr4KNXgnZ3XExS4qfq1w-8Ps9yLMeU65WSwvVHZP9C-JpiPdzTSOxR-3yr7H~uwzbWRSWRBfMIiNXXkahPccG0cujZITltmY9OjR24KxjFQjS7rNtl-6afUsUyxjAWP3~YORL5GnRFP-xI1IDh26Mbz3gl5CPXMHgQn5HaPWW4yQDEbnTrEmZcfzG72DOaeil7NCZjbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Madison Metropolitan School District, WI","date","2025-04-23T16:20:11.307Z","article","Early in the meeting the Operations Work Group voted to approve the minutes from its March 10, 2025 meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded; the chair called for an advisory vote from an attending trustee and the group approved the motion by voice vote. Later, at the meeting’s close, a motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Nut graf: The record shows routine procedural actions (approval of minutes and adjournment) were completed by voice votes; substantive policy and budget decisions remained at the discussion stage and were sent back to staff for follow up.

Ending: Staff will return with requested analyses and revised policy language for future board consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4.21.25 Operations Work Group","oneSentenceSummary","The work group approved the March 10, 2025 minutes by voice vote and later moved to adjourn; no other formal votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt.","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},6264917,"Board reviews procurement threshold and travel‑reimbursement policy language; staff seek $50,000 consent threshold",1214,12846000,14060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146&start=12846&end=14060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146/thumbnail_12846000.jpg","/articles/6264917/Wisconsin/Board-reviews-procurement-threshold-and-travelreimbursement-policy-language-staff-seek-50000-consent-threshold","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264917-2fd0a26251cb49abddd087890ab74582/orig.mp4?Expires=1775617940&Signature=RtH9IrLpwNSk0XaxKjF~3Ystj6kc4iPRrA62TMNJXfSv1f7UaT2mgyNct1WhmwTSc9T1mL0ZFoqeU6YVj5K2wAuHbxd~ByRka~CfmhyGKUSd8xkQWAUKsjttZyX1qW5jRDFvKZn81OWJTYLIy8tdg-OIneS~pCzOZ1AR~MpRf6FkL6uJtQB~RU2CMqh~WvTFsYhy~Skn4t0660PsYC5ZFBkmzJ2RCg8iXMMvqXQoNsGJHyvL7xvEKCJSVIF3QzZX-eRmQl0EhU82bB3IvIq-iYryXrVYGf-WZbbdOqn1K2Gmko16dTDKNkeYwjiguF6kk2MsVn3T1RURaGrWEBTPog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District business staff reviewed three policy areas on April 21: the purchase/contract approval threshold in Policy 6244, travel‑reimbursement timing and the board’s fund‑balance policy.

On procurement, staff presented requisition volume by threshold for recent fiscal years and peer comparisons. The current board policy requires board approval of purchases or contracts above $35,000. Administration recommended increasing the threshold to $50,000 (and said a data comparison would justify thresholds higher than $50,000 in some peer districts), arguing the district’s ERP controls, procurement review and legal review of contracts provide oversight and that a modest threshold increase would reduce repeated consents for routine contract awards. Several trustees said they were comfortable moving to $50,000; one trustee said she remained opposed to raising the threshold, citing caution with public funds and a preference for more board review on larger procurements.

On travel reimbursement, staff proposed aligning policy to current practice: require monthly submission of employee travel claims, with supervisors signing within the following month, and process payments at the IRS standard mileage rate. Staff described an existing workload: in 2024–25 their team processed roughly 15,800 checks and said timely monthly submission reduces year‑end processing spikes and speeds reimbursement. One trustee urged discussion with union representatives before finalizing handbook language affecting employees.

Nut graf: Administration recommended modest changes to procurement and travel reimbursement policy language — raising the consent threshold to $50,000 and tightening submission timing for mileage/reimbursements — while trustees asked for peer comparisons, audit implications and additional staff/unions consultation before final adoption.

Trustees asked staff to return with peer policies tied to audit findings and to bring a final recommended text for a second/third read. Staff said they would provide additional district policy comparisons and a memorandum on internal controls and audit implications.

Ending: The board directed staff to prepare the follow‑up materials and to return the policy changes for formal consideration at a future meeting; trustees signaled comfort with a $50,000 threshold as an initial amendment but asked staff to collect additional peer‑policy and audit information.","Trustees discussed raising the board‑level approval threshold for purchases and contracts from $35,000 to $50,000 (staff also noted peers with higher thresholds), and reviewed travel‑reimbursement timing changes intended to accelerate employee reimbursement.",{"_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},6264921,"District proposes $35.7M in priority investments for 2025–26, including grow‑your‑own teacher pipelines and custodial staffing",256,9819000,10075000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146&start=9819&end=10075","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146/thumbnail_9819000.jpg","/articles/6264921/Wisconsin/District-proposes-357M-in-priority-investments-for-202526-including-growyourown-teacher-pipelines-and-custodial-staffing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264921-feb472f8e1296d857b30f9d7cadcee12/orig.mp4?Expires=1775617940&Signature=BbcUzc~KdIfUZqonszUUP8B7vLv7hod1qJEXrqqwNfqbo5ZWcIwU30WWEh7R3c3-yRlxn8c0rNsQLSIuXnBFB7YHyOUiwlVGRu1pA1oeP5yAuy96yhaR6bmSMfjJWShbTJgFJ4RMV3HMa0BA4sHnIIvuzgtoGAsXay9xeqLNX1JdodNf8ttBXUoiBXOscNC1-~DEUuUI-wtvGPjQ4lXVjcjiGIXwQv8iHyQMM1rsZSTgTpLrxu0zaGIoe4Y1xl0N5Esiy7dd8MEOeGKgXUF1FfnvC0lrHk1U9B9mf185Bg0MWtD9OK2klf5s7C3CCGsF6e22fLJK0lz0oxcXSjz35w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief budget staff and program directors presented possible 2025–26 operating investments on April 21 and outlined a schedule to present a preliminary budget for board action in late June. The staff package combines baseline roll‑forwards with new strategic and equity proposals.

The administration outlined two tables of priorities. Table 1 included step and lane adjustments and a 2.95% CPI assumption (estimated $10.1 million), a proposed 20‑FTE unallocated pool for enrollment flexibility, continuation of class‑size policies and an allocation adding roughly 12 FTE compared with 2024–25 primarily to preserve K–1 small classes and expand full‑day 4K. Table 2 totaled roughly $15.2 million and included items proposed for new or continued funding: health insurance baseline renewal estimates (~$11.3M), dental/long‑term disability (~$0.8M), a second cohort for the Grow Your Own associate‑degree teacher pipeline (budgeted per‑cohort tuition and stipends), continuation of leadership pipeline (DLPP), subsidized substitute bonus continuation, and expanded summer programming including a pilot Freedom Schools site with plans to expand next summer.

Talent development and pipeline programs drew detailed explanations. Jen Chevi (talent development) summarized Grow Your Own programs: a cohort pathway that partners Madison College with UW–Madison to move district staff through an associate degree, into a bachelor’s and teacher certification; full tuition, books and a stipend (about $17,000 per participant) were elements of the model; preliminary costing on cohort expansion was included. An accelerated licensure program for special education (a two‑year master’s pathway) and a district leadership preparation pipeline (DLPP) were cited as having strong participant diversity and external grants. Staff said cohort programs include wrap‑around advising, developmental coursework funding and service agreements.

District leaders proposed adding 11 FTE custodial staff to serve new referendum square footage and to reduce overtime; the administration said custodial overtime and workload increases are costly and raise injury risk. The presentation included a market adjustment for trades positions, citing local wage comparisons and recommending step and lead‑worker changes to improve recruitment and retention.

Cindy described 4K expansion plans: the district will add multiple full‑day 4K sections next year and expand community partner slots (about 120 more wrap‑around slots at community sites). The district reported third‑grade intensive summer literacy increases and a plan to run two Freedom Schools sites in summer 2026 at approximately $120,000 per site.

Nut graf: Administration proposed an initial $35.7 million package of investments for 2025–26 that mixes baseline cost growth (pay/benefits) with strategic equity items — grow‑your‑own teacher development, expanded 4K and custodial and trades staffing — while warning that projected increases in health insurance and market volatility create budgetary uncertainty.

Board members asked for more detail on selection criteria for Grow Your Own cohorts, the sequencing of capital and operating costs, and the relationship between rapid housing growth pockets and school allocations. Staff said they maintain a weekly development watch with City of Madison planning to track residential permits and feed those data into capacity planning.

Ending: Administration scheduled additional budget amendments and community communications and asked trustees to flag items for further analysis ahead of a June preliminary budget vote.","Administration proposed a package of potential 2025–26 investments — $35.7 million in items including health insurance increases, staff retention/‘grow your own’ programs, 4K expansion, custodial and trades wage adjustments — and said its preliminary budget will be brought to the board in June.",{"_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},6264926,"MMSD faces double‑digit health insurance renewal; board weighs cost‑sharing options",194,4364000,4558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146&start=4364&end=4558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146/thumbnail_4364000.jpg","/articles/6264926/Wisconsin/MMSD-faces-doubledigit-health-insurance-renewal-board-weighs-costsharing-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264926-c0bfcd716fcf32e8c2fd3bfb395d6e9a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775617940&Signature=BU6TjmZMU24xgJazKqH88Y4ULdujZZXShbeBGNWW46TsXQ9W9IzST7EDq9BgbCDrCLMwh2mY7RkCD8IgS5UqK4obiKZrOrtQy5zVvcILfsG4avWi5DBuHhzZJDHTulkofu-eyigKW2JZG6etP0rFj5bps1~yPzkFBSp~6EbYbnNQZeuLbbeSiHs7oQrO3Hp7uwP2lJ2l7vWrPMKfurbBjxSHqWYrM5s~FCR~HNqu6q5~pZStCw8iCcYbypdnUvnZ5MHdSG8RyyoF9wLBBkYie1HRWKaPe4TYW~A17ot2dWgkxDs1zRVlMdy9GAgEwrksq~-HwKJokcIqoJeOjQZrZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rachel Carabell, the district’s benefits manager, told the Operations Work Group on April 21 that renewal quotes received for 2025–26 would raise the district’s employer share to about $84.4 million, an increase of roughly $11.3 million (15.3%) if plan designs remain unchanged.

Consultants from M3 and district benefits staff laid out the renewal landscape: Quartz (an HMO referred to in the meeting as “Quartz” or “Courts”) submitted a renewal in the high‑teens percentage range and Dean Health Plan’s renewal was quoted at a lower nominal rate in the packet but Gartner‑style volatility has made single‑year comparisons difficult. Rachel summarized the district’s baseline projection: employer premiums rising to about $84.4 million for 2025–26 with employees paying an average 6% of premiums and retirees covering 100% of their costs.

The staff team presented several options to reduce the district share of the increase, including increasing medical deductibles (e.g., from $100 to $200 single / $400 family), raising office‑visit co‑pays, rescinding dependent visit waivers and increasing pharmacy or specialty drug tiers. A summary slide estimated that increasing the single deductible to $200 and family deductible to $400 would yield about $1.0 million in premium savings, while changing the primary‑care co‑pay to $50 could yield similar savings; a composite set of adjustments (deductible, ER co‑pay and specialty drug co‑pays) was shown to reduce the projected renewal increase from 15.3% to about 9.6% in one scenario.

Board discussion was robust and clearly divided on principles. Board Member Vandermuellen said bluntly: “I’m very against any plan design changes,” arguing that higher cost‑sharing undermines retention and makes care unaffordable for employees with serious medical or family needs. Several board members urged sensitivity to employees who work irregular hours or part‑time and to avoid measures that would discourage parents from taking children to the doctor. Others, including Board Member Sumpkin, said the district must share some of the rate increase because health‑care inflation is beyond what local taxes alone can absorb.

Staff also compared MMSD’s current employee premium contributions to other large Wisconsin districts (Milwaukee Public Schools, Racine, Kenosha, Dane County and other Dane‑area districts) and noted that some peer employers require higher employee contributions. Rachel said the district will not pursue eligibility changes for part‑time workers at this time; that idea was discussed in earlier meetings but staff reported the board signaled no interest in revoking eligibility.

Nut graf: With insurer renewals showing double‑digit upward pressure, district staff recommended trustees consider limited design changes (deductible and co‑pay adjustments and dependent waivers) to shrink the fiscal hit; trustees split along lines of cost‑containment versus preserving employee access to care.

Staff emphasized tradeoffs: measures that target high‑cost services (specialty pharmacy, emergency care) spread savings across fewer members but can distort care patterns; increasing widely used cost shares (deductible, office visits) spreads savings widely but raises out‑of‑pocket costs for many. Rachel and consultants said pharmacy specialty costs remain a major driver of overall plan claims and that plan design changes in pharmacy have limited short‑term savings impact relative to total pharmacy spend.

Board members asked for more granular impact modeling by employee salary band, and about whether rebalancing membership between carriers (Quartz vs. Dean) would materially reduce premiums; staff said carrier network capacity and provider access complicate single‑carrier strategies and the district has been working to keep provider access broad for members.

Ending: Staff asked for board guidance on which design options to pursue in negotiations and offered to return with more analysis of member impacts and of alternative premium contribution models that would allocate premium shares by employee salary band rather than a flat percentage.","District staff reported projected health insurance renewals that would raise employer costs by about $11.3 million (15.3%) under current plan designs and presented a menu of cost‑sharing and benefit design options for trustees to consider.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6264930,"MMSD staff present schematic progress on referendum schools, highlight growth, community input and tariff risk",946,549000,1495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146&start=549&end=1495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095712-913a3494dd48416aae039d371c170146/thumbnail_549000.jpg","/articles/6264930/Wisconsin/MMSD-staff-present-schematic-progress-on-referendum-schools-highlight-growth-community-input-and-tariff-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6264930-092d79a389f2d030a8d113baa7577227/orig.mp4?Expires=1775617940&Signature=fH4RPy3xkAUOFXjPZz1hSh0WD2kZ2ZIiYaUKjo3rMLAGLJ7~n6euMecpwOkvnRQ0pXsoQpBoqQabzYdi3T1VhzV~euv4oDjADa05yoVo0ZONZCwptnN-wXPE3iyP8xZ6DHQLAB53ywVYtqFLAG7EyQedu4XQaPPAwd~Ar6jaMTAcEhmO-kZnhHrlypEn8InDAEKgzsflIea~fyYqwDUemszqXJkzTWlZJismlw8vp08Fn5gZP-raDgT~936~GXDuURByOALLNyYVdX4Tu3eff5dA38SAR~UWH7yklRqaYPzt88T1n8dp~J7-8uy4ANyaNam1qD3r2p-SWjp0OcJTyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scott, a district project lead, told the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Operations Work Group on April 21 that the referendum program is on schedule through schematic design and that staff have begun a 50% schematic-design review for Phase 1 schools. He said design work is incorporating curriculum needs and community use of school spaces, and that construction documents will be refined with price checkpoints as designs advance.

The district emphasized community engagement as a major design input. Scott and other staff described public sessions, door‑to‑door outreach around Sherman Middle School and Shabazz High School, student poster presentations at Seneca (referred to as “Senate” in materials) and hands‑on workshops at Sherman and Shabazz. Scott said students asked for flexible learning spaces, more daylight, privacy and inclusive design for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. “They brought some amazing things up about folks that are deaf and hard of hearing. How do we have visual things and on lights?” he told the group.

Cindy, a district staff member leading enrollment and program work, said the district plans to expand some specialty enrollments: Shabazz’s enrollment goal is to grow from about 115–120 students now to roughly 150 with a new building. The presentation included a district planning map showing pockets of housing growth and a projection that, relative to prereferendum assumptions, the district is about 270 projected students higher in capacity need across the Phase 1 project area. Scott gave school‑level projected increases of 34 students at Sherman and 29 at Shabazz over a 15‑year horizon.

Board members pressed staff about shared staffing, capacity and curriculum. Board Member Mulgrew asked whether the two schools colocated in a combined facility could share staff; staff answered certification and program differences limit sharing of classroom teachers but some support and specialized roles could be shared. Mulgrew also urged staff to include Hamilton and O'Keeffe middle schools in growth projections for a fuller district picture; staff replied Hamilton shows little room to expand and will require alternative solutions if additional students arrive.

Board Member Muldrow asked how the district is accounting for tariffs and market volatility. Scott said staff are working with construction managers to price‑check designs frequently, identify materials at risk and, where prudent, buy in bulk and store materials to lock current prices. “We will go buy it now have commonality and use the buying power that we will have, and then store it,” Scott said.

Staff described sustainability and resilience planning. Scott said geothermal is being planned for all referendum schools where feasible and that the district is coordinating with Madison Gas & Electric on electrification, redundancy and FEMA‑rated priorities. Architects and project staff said they are designing flexible lab and CTE (career and technical education) spaces, community‑accessible performance areas and site designs that limit tree removal, include green space and consider storm‑water retention and rain gardens.

Nut graf: The district presented evolving 50% schematic designs for Phase 1 referendum schools, emphasizing student and neighborhood input, flexible learning and sustainability while acknowledging cost risks from tariffs and supply constraints; trustees asked for tighter enrollment modeling and clearer planning for shared services and future adaptability.

In discussion, trustees recommended deeper instructional guidance to augment student ideas with “best practice” design choices. Muldrow urged the projects to preserve arts, theater and dance spaces and to reuse previously purchased materials where appropriate. Several trustees asked for continued transparency to families and staff as designs change.

Staff said next steps include further public input in September, a fall set of design checkpoints and a construction design criteria package targeted for early November. Scott said the team will continue outreach tools including Mentimeter surveys and additional school‑level workshops to validate programming and circulation plans. He also said the district is setting mechanical and utility locations on Phase 1 sites so future expansions would be easier and less costly.

Ending: Staff scheduled a May 2 internal bus tour of development sites and said they will return to the board with updated designs and pricing checkpoints as schematic design proceeds.","District staff described schematic-design advances for Phase 1 referendum schools, said student, staff and neighborhood input is shaping flexible learning spaces, and warned tariffs and supply constraints could raise construction costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Operations Work Group approves minutes and adjourns after discussions on budget, benefits and design

Board reviews procurement threshold and travel‑reimbursement policy language; staff seek $50,000 consent threshold

District proposes $35.7M in priority investments for 2025–26, including grow‑your‑own teacher pipelines and custodial staffing

MMSD faces double‑digit health insurance renewal; board weighs cost‑sharing options

MMSD staff present schematic progress on referendum schools, highlight growth, community input and tariff risk