MMSD naming committee forwards four Southside candidates to Board after 30-minute public hearing draws no speakers

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) naming committee on Jan. 7 moved four finalist names for Southside Elementary to the district's Instructional Work Group and flagged the item for the Board of Education's Feb. 3 meeting, with a final board vote slated for Feb. 24.

The committee said the public hearing was open for 30 minutes but received no live public comments; staff noted the district continues to accept written input on its website. Committee members reviewed the ranking process used to narrow nominees and agreed the four names should advance for board-level review.

The four names the committee ranked and advanced are Southside Community, Ada Deer, Lori Manicari and 9 Springs. Committee members asked the district to share meeting links and YouTube information so the public can watch the Feb. 3 instructional work group meeting and the Feb. 24 board meeting.

Committee staff described the public-registration process used for the hearing: the written-registration portal opens at noon the Friday before a meeting and virtual attendees may register in the hour before the meeting begins. Because of low participation, staff said they will increase communications and outreach ahead of the board-level hearings to solicit more input.

District staff also described next steps after a board decision. The internal implementation checklist includes notifying the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and completing legal and administrative steps; staff said schools typically take about a school year to plan celebrations, order signage and complete other changes after a name is finalized.

School staff invited committee members to visit the building and to participate in community events. "February 14th is our schools 'Read Your Heart Out' event," said Andrea Craft, interim principal at Southside, encouraging participation and noting the event will prioritize Black families and Spanish speakers in dual-language immersion classrooms.

Ed Murray, speaking as a committee member and representing the community group 100 Black Men of Madison, said the organization will read to students at Southside as part of a broader effort across 10 elementary schools. "The 100 Black Men of Madison has chosen 10 elementary schools, and I believe this is one of them," Murray said.

The committee approved the meeting minutes from Dec. 17 by voice vote and then recessed briefly to complete the 30-minute public-hearing window before adjourning. Committee members were invited to provide any further written comments to staff for forwarding to the board.

The committee emphasized that the board will follow up with its own public-hearing process; staff reiterated that additional opportunities for public comment will be available at the Feb. 3 instructional work group meeting and the Feb. 24 full Board of Education meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Dec. 17): motion made by Ed Murray, seconded by Darlene; ayes recorded and minutes approved. - Referral of four finalist names to Instructional Work Group/Board: advanced by committee consensus for formal consideration at the Feb. 3 and Feb. 24 board-level meetings (no formal recorded roll-call vote during this meeting). - Motion to adjourn: moved and seconded; carried.

Next steps: the committee will share meeting links for the Feb. 3 instructional work group meeting and the Feb. 24 Board of Education meeting; the district will solicit additional written and live public comments ahead of those meetings. If the board approves a name, schools typically use the following school year to finalize signage and plan celebrations, staff said.