Madison explores partnership with MB Education to run community center after‑school and summer programs

The Madison City Commission continued a discussion about transferring operation of the community center's after‑school and summer programming to MB Education, a provider that serves several regional schools. Jamieson told commissioners the new material in the packet was projected program costs and that the after‑school/summer program fund is separate from the general fund; MB CEO Carrie Teigen joined by Zoom to describe MB's mission and programming and said MB currently serves about 350 students in its summer camps.

"Our mission is to uplift the potential in children, women, and families through opportunities that empower all," Carrie Teigen said, describing MB's curriculum, enrichment and social‑emotional components. Jamieson and Jamal of the community center said MB and city staff have compared proposed weekly rates (presented as an apples‑to‑apples comparison) and noted increases are projected because prior grant funding is no longer available. Jamieson said, "in '24, we received around $88,000 in grant funds," and that last year the after‑school fund ran a $22,000 deficit.

Commissioners pressed operational and timing questions: Jamal reported conversations with about eight families and the advisory committee, and said families' main concerns were whether location would change (it would not) and what rates might look like under MB. MB representatives said they anticipate their rates would be "pretty comparable" to the city's draft; Carrie Teigen emphasized affordability and staff compensation when describing how MB would set fees. Commissioners did not vote to transfer programs at the meeting but gave staff direction to continue negotiations and to draft a facilities‑use agreement; Jamieson said a formal motion may be appropriate later when terms are ready.