MMSD board approves $55M temporary borrowing, raises board stipend, and adopts multiple budget amendments

The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education on Sept. 29 approved the sale of $55,000,000 in tax-revenue anticipation notes, adopted several budget amendments to expand programs and facilities, and updated policy language related to board compensation.

The board first voted to approve temporary borrowing to sell $55,000,000 in tax revenue anticipation notes at a total interest expense of $2,375,694.44 and a true interest cost of 2.69 percent. The board’s motion passed unanimously, with Student Representative Lee giving an advisory “aye.”

Budget amendments and key board votes

- Board member stipend increase (approved): The board amended the 2025–26 budget to add $60,100 in fund 10 to increase board stipends: an additional $1,200 annually for the board president and $600 annually for the board vice president, instruction work group chair and operations work group chair. The board voted to adopt the amendment; Student Representative Lee recorded an advisory “aye.” The board also approved a corresponding amendment to board policy 15.50 (additional compensation for board members) and waived the usual second reading required by policy 13.01 to effect the change immediately.

- Board health-care access for members (failed): An amendment to add $194,600 to fund 10 to make board members eligible for MMSD health, dental and vision insurance (with a required monthly contribution indexed to administrative employees) failed. Several board members and the student representative expressed concerns about parity for district staff and the logistics of extending employee benefits to elected board members; the amendment did not pass.

- Board professional development stipend (failed): An amendment proposing a $3,500 annual professional-learning stipend per board member (funded from fund 10) failed. The board discussed intent to support member learning but concerns were raised about equity and the timing of the proposal.

- 4K expansion (approved): The board approved a $595,600 amendment across funds 10 and 27 to expand full-day 4K programs and grow early-care partnerships, adding 7.0 full-time-equivalent positions. Board members spoke in favor of broader access to full-day 4K and cited early-intervention benefits.

- Special education staffing (approved): The board approved a $27,350,500 amendment (fund 27) to meet the needs of students with individualized education programs, adding 4.687 FTE to provide services required by federal law.

- Capital investments (approved): The board increased fund 41 (capital expansion) by $2,000,000, a 40% increase in the planned fund-41 levy for building- and site-related capital expenditures.

Consent agenda separations and contracts

- Schools of Hope / Urban League contract (approved): The board approved a memorandum of agreement renewing the Schools of Hope partnership with the Urban League of Greater Madison for Oct. 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, and approved an expenditure of $430,000 from the district’s strategic partnerships operating budget for high-intensity tutoring focused on literacy and math at middle schools.

- Madison Metro bus passes (approved): The board approved a purchase of bus passes from Madison Metro Transit for $1,260,000 using the district’s FY26 transportation operating budget. Administrators said the passes and supplemental routes provide student independence and supported transportation for summer and school-year programs.

- Donation accepted (approved): The board accepted a donation from UW Credit Union to fund a sensory room at the Roe Elementary School; the amount recorded in the meeting materials was approximately $17,000 and the donation was accepted during the consent separations.

Policy update

The board approved an amendment to policy 15.50 (additional compensation for board members) to reflect the stipend changes and codify related logistics. The board waived the second reading normally required by policy 13.01 so the policy revision took effect immediately.

What passed, what failed

The meeting produced a mix of proposals: borrowing and several program and capital funding amendments passed unanimously; measures to add board health insurance and an annual professional-development stipend for board members failed after discussion. Several members described the stipend increase as a step toward making elected service more accessible and offsetting the time demands of board work, while opponents or those voting no on the insurance amendment cited equity concerns for district staff and the complexity of extending employee-benefit structures to elected members.

Next steps

Several successful budget amendments will be reflected in the district’s revised 2025–26 budget and appear in implementation planning; the board and administration indicated continued work on transportation partnerships, Schools of Hope monitoring (including dosage and attendance measures), and the 4K expansion. Several public commenters who spoke on salary compression asked the board to address that issue in the upcoming October budget process; that matter remains outstanding.