Press and Media
Press
Capital Times: Vote 'Yes' for Schools
Fireside Chat Answers Burning Referendum Questions
School question lost in the shuffle?
Vote 'yes' For Madison Schools
Drumroll starts for school 'yes' vote, The Capital Times
School referendum deserves supports, says former critic, Fitchburg Star Alliance (PDF)
Council majority signs on in support of school referendum, Isthmus
Backers are optimistic on school spending, Isthmus
One Question Wraps Up $23.5 Million MMSD Referendum
Building new school on west side is best long-term solution
Madison schools referendum targets 3 problems
School pro-referendum group mixes old with new online
Letters from Supporters
Thorough Analysis Supports "YES" Vote on School Referendum - By Lawrie Kobza
Support Citizen Task Force Decision, Vote Yes!
Madison School Referendum Deserves Broad Community Support
Multimedia
News 3 Editorial - Neil Heinen
Click Here to download/print the Yard Sign that you can use as a poster
MMSD streaming video on the referendum
What Others are Saying About MMSD
Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP, March 2002, MMSD Functional Analysis report:"The Madison Metropolitan School District is and has historically been recognized as one of the best in the nation. This valid reputation is based on student achievement results, depth of instructional programs, and innovation approaches to serve a student population with diverse needs... During the past decade, astute fiscal management on the part of the District has allowed it to accommodate this commitment to exceptional, quality and comprehensive education for all students."Julie Underwood, dean of the UW-Madison School of Education, May 2, 2006:
"I've seen districts around the United States, and it really is remarkable that the Madison School District is raising the achievement levels for all students, and at the same time they're closing the (racial achievement) gaps."Police Chief Noble Wray, "Principal for a Day" at Memorial High School, March 2006:
"They're teaching Braille to Mandarin and everything in between. I think if most citizens of Madison could see what this school is doing, they'd be impressed with what they are getting from the money we spend on education."Adam Gamoran, director of the Wisconsin Center for Educational Research, May 2006:
"My conclusion is that the strategies the Madison school system has put in place to reduce the racial achievement gap have paid off very well and my hope is that the strategies will continue." Madison has "bucked the national trend."Liz Lauer, Restaino Bunbury real estate agent, June 2006:
"If someone is coming in from outside of Madison, and they are from the UW, or the hospital, or a large company, there are certain schools that people hear about again and again. I had a client for a large company that told me they did not have children, and had no plans to have children, but that they had to buy a house in the West High School attendance area because it has the highest SAT scores in the state!"Steve Goldberg, executive director of CUNA Mutual Group Foundation, May 2006:
"We are very impressed with the local schools. We know the role they play with our young people is so critical to the future success of our community..."Nancy Schrimpf, Heritage Credit Union, member services director, May 2006, a school volunteer:
"Meeting and getting to know some of these students was a very rewarding experience. These kids ranged from local kids that were born and raised here to immigrant students that came here not knowing any English. I found these kids to be bright and intelligent and very ambitious. Too many times we only hear negative stories about today's youth. It was a rewarding experience for me to know there are wonderful kids, too."MMSD:
From 1996 to 2006 the school property taxes on the average-priced home in Madison have increased less than 1% ($14), while the average-priced home has increased 80% in value.