Madison parents and teachers urge district to restore staff after referendum as allocations cut

Dozens of parents, teachers and students told the Madison Metropolitan School District’s Operations Work Group on March 10 that proposed staff allocation cuts will harm classroom learning and widen inequities after voters approved a 2024 operational referendum.

Speakers described specific school-level losses they said are already planned and asked the district to reexamine the allocation model and improve communication with school communities.

The comments came during the meeting’s public-comment period and during a subsequent staffing-and-allocation update presented by district staff. Speakers said that some schools face cuts despite rising enrollment and that reductions in arts, special education and bilingual supports will disproportionately affect lower-income families and English learners.

“My name is Jen Strait. I’m here tonight representing over 200 Bell Phillips Memorial High School families, students, alumni, Madison taxpayers,” said Jen Strait, who urged the district to reverse proposed reductions to music staffing at BPM. Strait told the panel she had submitted a letter signed by more than 200 supporters and said projected music enrollment had increased by “over 115 students” while “proposed FTE is decreasing by 0.2.”

Other speakers gave school-specific figures. West High chemistry teacher and department chair Jen Carlin said she was told…