** MMSD Department of Human Resources

A Resource Guide to the District

"Best Place for Education" - Money Magazine

Madison's first public school, a one room log house, opened in 1838 at the corner of King and Doty Streets. The schoolmistress, Miss Louisa Brayton, was paid two dollars a week. By 1861, waves of immigrants were putting new demands on America's once homogenous schools and educators began to question whether the curriculum they had devised could meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population.

Today, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second largest in the state of Wisconsin, serving about 25,000 students. Its 46 schools include 30 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, four comprehensive high schools, and one alternative high school. The district also has early childhood programs, and alternative programs at the secondary level.

The district covers approximately 65 square miles, including all or part of the cities of Madison, Fitchburg, and Monona, the villages of Maple Bluff and Shorewood Hills, and the towns of Blooming Grove, Burke, Madison, Middleton, and Westport.

Behind this success is an experienced, award-winning teaching staff. Nearly half of the district's teachers have at least one master's degree and an uncommonly high number have doctorates. The average teacher in Madison schools also has more than 12 years of classroom experience. This internationally recognized faculty includes Wisconsin's Teacher of the Year, the state's Earth Science Teacher of the Year, and winners of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching of Science and Mathematics.

Safe Classrooms & Hallways
Madison's schools are safe places to learn. Visitors are impressed by quiet, safe hallways and classrooms which provide positive learning environments for children. A "zero tolerance" policy relating to disruptive behavior coupled with innovative alternative programs have succeeded in keeping the suspension and expulsion rates below the state average. The district also has a higher than average rate of school attendance and low rates of habitual truancy compared to other districts.

Proven Performance
Madison's schools have established an impressive track record of educational excellence. Consider these facts:

  • Madison students outscore their state and national peers on basic skills tests in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies;
  • Madison students earn scores that are over 20% above the national average on the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. In fact, in 1997, MMSD student ACT scores were the highest in Wisconsin;
  • Madison's graduation rate is higher than the national average and higher than the state average in a state with one of the nation's highest graduation rates;
  • Madison students are over six times as likely than students in other districts to become National Merit Scholars.

Improving on Excellence
To make successful schools even better, teams of administrators and support staff provide direct support to the schools to help them meet the goals. Each school sets targets relating to student achievement, attendance, and participation in school programs and activities, as well as school climate, as developed by teams of teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

Community Support
At the heart of the Madison school district's success is community support. Madison invests more in its public schools than other Wisconsin communities. Parents and local residents also devote countless hours to the school teams that monitor progress and develop school improvement goals that challenge Madison's schools to build on the district's tradition of excellence.

The combination of smaller than average class sizes, an excellent staff, rigorous academic standards, and community involvement and support is a proven recipe for success. The result is widespread satisfaction with the quality of the community's schools.

MMSD at a Glance

Board of Education 2006-07
There are seven members of the MMSD Board of Education, who are elected in April and serve a three-year term. Regular Board meetings are usually held on the first Monday evening of every month, at the Doyle Administration Building.

Superintendent of Schools
The Superintendent of Schools is appointed and supervised by the Board. The Superintendent is responsible for administering all aspects of the operation of the Madison Metropolitan School District.

Assistant Superintendents
The Assistant Superintendents oversee various departments, schools, and staff. They often have additional oversight areas, as assigned by the Superintendent.

Public Information (663-1903)
The Public Communications/Public Relations staff and Legislative Lobbyist are housed within this office. Staff are responsible for public communications, business and media relations, community partnerships, and advocacy for the MMSD.

Human Resources (663-1864)
The Department's purpose is to serve the District and the community by establishing, developing, recognizing, and maintaining a quality work force for the education of students.

Human Resources has four major divisions: Benefits, Employment (including Substitute Placement), Labor Relations, and Payroll.

  • Benefits - The Benefits Division has primary responsibility for the administration of a wide variety of employee benefits, including health, life, and dental insurance, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, long-term disability insurance, sick leave escrow, and the Employee Assistance Program.
  • Employment - The Employment Division has primary responsibility for the recruitment, screening, and referral of candidates for all District position vacancies. It also provides administrative, technical, and clerical coordination of all personnel transactions, including promotions, transfers, and reclassifications. This Division also oversees the Substitute Placement Office.
  • Labor Relations - The Labor Relations Division has primary responsibility for the labor management program involving seven bargaining units representing 3,600 employees. Work involves handling negotiations, grievance processing, disciplinary cases, prohibited practice complaints, and arbitration.
  • Payroll - The Payroll Division has primary responsibility for the administration of employees' payroll.

Budget, Planning, and Accounting Services (663-5420)
The Accounting Department is responsible for all financial functions of the District, including: Accounting, Reporting, Audit, Accounts Payable, Budget Development, and Budget Management.

Educational Services
The Department of Educational Services houses the divisions of English as a Second Language (ESL)/Bilingual Education, Special Education, and the Four Year Old Program. Appropriate services are provided to eligible students based on their individual needs. These services may include both direct services and supports provided by trained staff as well as consultation to regular education teachers. Please contact the appropriate coordinator listed below for more information regarding these services:

  • English as a Second Language/Bilingual Education - Amy Christianson (663-1915)
  • Special Education:
    • East/LaFollette Elementary Schools - Curt Weber (663-8489)
    • Memorial/West Elementary Schools - Jan Duxstad (663-8487)
    • Middle Schools - Scott Zimmerman (663-8486)
    • High Schools - Ted Szalkowski (663-8491)
  • Director of Educational Services - Jack Jorgensen (663-8429)

Teaching & Learning (663-5204)
The mission of the Teaching and Learning Department is to provide content area leadership and staff development in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and the acquisition and use of instructional resources with the ultimate goal of enhancing student achievement. Coordinators for Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Languages, Fine Arts, Environmental Education, Driver Education, Physical Education, Vocational Education, Talented & Gifted (TAG) Education, and Title I work in this department. Special projects and programs in the Teaching and Learning Department include Gateways to Literacy, Gateways to Algebra, Reading Recovery, Stress Challenge, the MMSD Planetarium and Observatory, and the Science Materials Centers.

Staff and Organization Development (663-4956)
The Staff and Organization Development Team coordinates:

  • District-wide training/development and provides facilitation, consultation and planning assistance to all school and department groups. Such assistance might include help planning effective professional development or improving systems and processes - such as meeting management or decision-making strategies;
  • The School Improvement Process (SIP) and provides assistance to schools throughout the year as they work with data, select goals, and develop action plans and assessment strategies;
  • Professional Advancement Credits (PAC) awarded for in-district opportunities and independent study, and for some opportunities available outside the district that receive PAC Committee approval;
  • Action Research opportunities whereby participants examine their own educational practice using the techniques of research.

Library Media Services (663-1926)
This department oversees all District LMCs, media processing, media production and distribution, film library, and the Instructional Materials Selection Center/Educational Reference Library (IMSC/ERL). The IMSC/ERL is located on the second floor of the Doyle Administration Building, and provides reference materials for staff, including kits for use in the classroom.

Technical Services (663-5847)
The Department of Technical Services works to promote effective use of computer technology throughout the District by providing consultation, technical assistance, hardware, software, internal and external information systems and data bases, and district local area and wide area networks.

Purchasing and Administrative Services (663-5930)
Administrative Services is responsible for contracting for the purchase of all goods and services for the MMSD. They also oversee printing services, mail delivery, telecommunications, and transportation of all students for the District.

Alternative Programs (663-1907)
For over twenty-five years, Madison has provided secondary students the opportunity to enroll in alternative programs. Madison's alternatives are voluntary schools of choice, serving over 600 students each year. The alternatives provide a continuum of choices that contribute to keeping the dropout rate significantly lower than other large Wisconsin cities, and contribute to the district goal that all students graduate.

  • Accelerated Learning Academy (Grades 7-10) - For students behind academically; an opportunity to get caught-up in a small school environment with a fast-paced curriculum. Phone: School Office 204-4234.
  • Malcolm Shabazz City School (Grades 9-12) - An alternative to traditional high school. Initial interview required. Phone: 204-2440.
  • School-Within-A-School (SWS) - Combines academics and vocational education. Generally 6.0 credits needed to enroll. Housed at La Follette and Memorial. Must be 16 and in 3rd year of high school. Phone: La Follette 204-3600 or Memorial 663-5990.
  • Work and Learning Center (WLC) - Academic and vocational program where students work 1/2 time and have academics 1/2 time; a two-year program; students must be in their third year of high school. Phone: Brearly Street, 663-4221 or Capitol, 442-0601.
  • Diploma Completion Program (DCP/Night School) - Generally 11 or more credits. Meets M-Th 6:30 - 8:30pm. One course meets M-T, second meets W-Th. Students usually work days. All requirements are offered. Must be 16 years old. Phone: East 204-1600 or West 663-4100.
  • Contracted Services: High School Completion
    • MATC for Credit - Students 16 years old or older, 3 credits behind, and have a history of attendance problems. Students take courses for high school credit at MATC. Admission to the program is through high school single point contacts.
    • HSED/GED - The high school equivalency diploma or General Educational Development Test is an educational alternative to a traditional high school diploma. Students must be 17 years old before entering the program. To receive an HSED, students must successfully complete 5 tests. Contact home school single point contact for application.
    • MATC - Offers HSED preparation for students who are currently 18 years old.
    • Omega - Offers HSED/GED preparation for students who do not finish school.
    • Operation Fresh Start - Nonprofit Education and Employment Training Program. Includes employment training and HSED/GED component. Sixteen-year olds may be accommodated for non-HSED/GED program via special arrangements.
  • Highly Specialized Programs
    • School Age Parent Program (SAPAR) - Available to pregnant teenagers. Special assistance, maternity classes and academic instruction provided. Phone: 204-4220.
    • Single Parent Project - Pregnant and parenting students may receive help arranging financial assistance and childcare, as well as receiving counseling and support. Phone: 204-2440.
    • REPLAY - Middle school alternative for at-risk 7th and 8th graders; held at NIP. Phone 273-6603.
    • CLUSTER - 7th and 8th grade alternative for at-risk students. Phone 204-4222.
    • Transition Education Program - The mission of the Transition Education Program (TEP), which is sponsored by the MMSD, is to provide homeless children and youth equitable access to educational opportunities afforded "housed" children. Services include, but are not limited to, direct instruction, academic screening, advocacy, transportation, school supplies, resource development, staff development, public speaking, and coordination of community services. The goal is to have all homeless students meet the high academic, behavioral, and attendance expectations of the MMSD. Emphasis is placed on overcoming barriers that prevent homeless children from being successful. Phone 663-1907.

Educational Options (663-1908)
Educational Options works with alternative educational options; implements and follows through on a fair, equitable expulsion process which reinforces safety and order in the schools as well as provides for treatment and re-entry for expelled students; and acts as a liaison with the courts on truancy petitions and other court cases involving younger juveniles.

The goal of Education Options is to provide information to, and the opportunity programming for, students who have difficulty in succeeding in the regular middle and high school programming by accessing alternative educational options in the MMSD.

Health and Student Services (663-8427)
This department is responsible for the placement and supervision of all nursing staff, social workers, and psychologists within the District, providing services to all students. Health Services oversees the coordination of information related to immunizations and contagious diseases among MMSD students.

Planning/Research and Evaluation Services (663-4942)
The major purpose of Research and Evaluation (R&E) is to provide the Board of Education, District Administrators, and school and program personnel with data which will inform their decision making. In relation to program and policy decisions, they design and conduct evaluations. They review existing data, literature and research, collect new data, analyze and interpret data, communicate findings, and provide recommendations.

Madison School Community Recreation (MSCR) (204-3000)
In addition to a full range of interscholastic athletic programs, Madison offers recreation opportunities for all ages, including summer playgrounds and camps, sports skills camps, after school clubs for elementary and middle school aged youth, middle school intramurals, arts classes, swim lessons and open swimming, and many adult arts, fitness and sports programs. These activities are offered through the district's Madison School-Community Recreation Department (MSCR), a division of MMSD.

MSCR's recreation programs are open to people of all ages. Activities are offered year-round in neighborhood schools, parks, and at the Hoyt Building. Brochures with detailed program information are mailed directly to all residents of the MMSD. These brochures are mailed in March and August, and can be found at local libraries throughout the year and at the MSCR office at 3802 Regent St., in the Hoyt Building.

Food Services (204-4001)
The Food Services Department prepares and provides breakfasts and lunches at all MMSD schools. Their staff assist in all schools and at their main office on Pflaum Road.

Building Services (204-7909)
Building Services maintains all buildings and grounds of the MMSD.

Legal Services (663-1868)
The primary responsibility of the Legal Services Department is to provide legal counsel to the Superintendent and Board of Education. Consistent with that responsibility, Legal Counsel represents the District in all litigation, renders legal opinions, interprets Board policies, investigates all claims filed against the District, acts as Parliamentarian at Board meetings, serves as the administrative liaison for certain Board committees, drafts contracts and responds to day-to-day legal problems faced by District staff. In addition, on behalf of the Board of Education, Legal Counsel defends against complaints filed with administrative agencies such as the Equal Opportunities Commission, Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, Equal Rights Division, Worker's Compensation Division, Unemployment Compensation Division, Office of Civil Rights, State Department of Public Instruction and the U.S. Department of Education. Legal Counsel also advises and represents the Board of Education on all petitions that are filed which require a hearing.

Additional MMSD Resources:

MMSD Planetarium
The planetarium, open since 1966, seats 64 and serves over 20,000 visitors each year. Reservations can be made to bring your group to participate in a program at the planetarium. In addition to program offerings, the planetarium also serves as a resource for teachers, students, and the general public - including monthly public programs. Please feel free to contact the planetarium if you need any astronomical/space science related information or materials. The MMSD Planetarium & Observatory collectively publish a monthly newsletter called Madison Skies throughout the school year. The MMSD Planetarium is located at Memorial High School.

MMSD Stress/Challenge Program
The MMSD Stress/Challenge Program includes the high and low ropes courses at the School Forest, and many school ropes courses throughout the district. A ropes course is a tool to help build community, fine-tune group skills, and allow participants a chance to challenge themselves in a safe environment. MMSD teachers may reserve time at the School Forest by contacting the Stress/Challenge office at 204-4140, or by completing an on-line reservation form. MMSD staff who wish to acquire leadership skills for the courses should contact the Stress/Challenge office to get more information about future inservice opportunities.

School Forest
The 287-acre Madison School Forest is located southwest of Verona in Wisconsin's unglaciated driftless area. The Forest includes the Olson Oak Woods State Natural Area, a prime example of a Wisconsin southern dry forest with remnants of presettlement days. The Pine Plantation was planted by school district staff and students. An old field provides an example of another ecosystem. The School Forest is a special place of natural beauty and biological diversity - a unique environment that provides opportunities to experience and enjoy nature first-hand. The campground includes kitchen, dining shelter, nature center, four sleeping cabins (60), a measured acre, and a large open area for games.

The School Forest offers Nature Hikes led by trained naturalists. These hikes can be tailored to the teachers' requests. Naturalists are also available for classroom activities or exploration of natural areas within walking distance of your school.

Channel 10 & Channel 20
Cable TV Channel 10 offers a wide variety of programming for the entire Madison community; much of it produced by school district personnel. Conversations with school board members and district staff, public hearings and meetings, programs about teaching and learning, shows on educational issues, fitness and wildlife. All these and more can be seen on Cable Channel 10's evening lineup. During school hours, Channel 10 telecasts instructional programs selected by Madison teachers for use in Madison classrooms.

Teachers and administrators will also find a wide range of excellent teleconferences and programs available each week between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. on Cable Channel 20, many of them locally produced. For more information, call 663-1961.

Employee Assistance Program
The MMSD offers an employee assistance program to aid employees with job related problems, the problems of personal relationships, mental, physical, or emotional health, alcohol or other drug abuse, finances, legal difficulties, grief, or any combination thereof. Assistance is available through employee volunteers known as Resource Coordinators. Their names and locations are listed in the MMSD Staff Directory, and on posters in district buildings. Participation is voluntary and confidential.

Post-Trauma Counseling for MMSD Staff
The services of a Trauma Specialist are available to help MMSD provide post-trauma counseling for employees. A licensed professional is available to help us respond to traumatic events, such as homicides, suicides, tragic accidents, natural disasters, school bombings, gun threats, and other school-related critical incidents.

MMSD Department of Human Resources
545 W. Dayton Street, Room 133
Madison, WI 53703

MMSD Job Line: (608) 663-1865
TTY (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf): (608) 663-1744
Fax: (608) 204-0346

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Last updated: July 19, 2007
Editor & Publisher: Christina Anderson
Webmaster