Madison College Seeks Employer Partners for Biotech Leadership Grant Program

Madison College Seeks Employer Partners for Biotech Emerging Leaders Grant Opportunity

Madison College is currently seeking employer partners in the biohealth, biotech and healthcare industries to participate in the development of a new Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) grant-funded program focused on leadership development.

The proposed Biotech Emerging Leaders Development Program is designed to strengthen leadership capacity among current and emerging leaders through competency-based, experiential training. The program will focus on key leadership areas such as effective communication, emotional intelligence, conflict navigation and leading people and processes.

Through this initiative, participating organizations will have the opportunity to invest in high-potential employees while helping shape a program tailored to industry-specific needs. Madison College will manage grant writing, administration and reporting, and will work with partners to align training schedules with business operations.

If awarded, the grant is expected to cover approximately 50% of training costs, with participating employers responsible for the remaining portion. Employees will not incur direct costs for participation.

Organizations interested in partnering should be willing to support employee participation and provide input on program development and outcomes.

Employer partners are currently being identified, with interest requested by March 18, 2026.

For more information or to express interest, please contact:
mabaldwin3@madisoncollege.edu or customizedtraining@madisoncollege.edu

MMSD Provides Update on “Building for the Future” Boundary Review Process

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District is providing an update on its ongoing “Building for the Future” plan, a multi-year effort to review school attendance areas, plan for future enrollment and align facilities with the city’s projected growth.

The work is designed to take a proactive systemwide approach and includes a comprehensive attendance area and boundary review, an enrollment strategy and an updated long-range facilities plan. Recommendations are expected to be presented to the Board of Education in early 2027 following an extended period of community input.

“We are planning ahead for the growth we know is coming to Madison and Dane County,” said Cindy Green, assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “This is an opportunity for us to take a comprehensive look at our system and better understand what our community wants to see in its schools. That insight will help guide thoughtful, long-term decisions and create opportunities for innovative programs that meet the needs and interests of our students and families.”

The review is informed in part by projected population growth and new housing development in the Madison area, as well as current enrollment patterns and building capacity. The district is also aligning this work with planned school construction and renovation projects approved by voters in 2024.

At this stage, the district emphasizes that no decisions about boundary changes have been made.

“We are still in the input phase,” Green said. “It is important that we hear from our community before any potential scenarios are developed or considered.”

Initial feedback gathered through a fall survey highlighted several priorities for families, including a preference for neighborhood schools, minimizing student transportation time and maintaining strong school communities. The district notes that additional engagement will be critical, as survey participation represented a small portion of MMSD families.

As part of the next phase of the process, MMSD will host 11 community engagement sessions during the first two weeks of May. These sessions will provide families, students, staff and community members with opportunities to learn about the process, ask questions and share perspectives.

Scheduled sessions include:

• Monday, May 4, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Robert M. La Follette High School, 702 Pflaum Road
• Tuesday, May 5, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at East High School, 2222 E. Washington Ave.
• Wednesday, May 6, noon to 1:30 p.m. (virtual) and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at West High School, 30 Ash St.
• Thursday, May 7, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Vel Phillips Memorial High School, 201 S. Gammon Road
• Friday, May 8, noon to 1:30 p.m. (virtual)
• Monday, May 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at John F. Kennedy Elementary School, 221 Meadowlark Drive
• Tuesday, May 12, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Boys & Girls Club – Allied Family Center, 4619 Jenewein Road, Fitchburg
• Wednesday, May 13, noon to 1:30 p.m. (virtual) and 6 to 8 p.m. at Paul J. Olson Elementary School, 801 Redan Drive, Fitchburg
• Thursday, May 14, 5 to 7 p.m. at Bayview Community Center, 103 La Mariposa Lane

Virtual session links will be shared on the district’s website in advance of each event.

The district’s guiding principles for the review include considerations such as transportation efficiency, walkability, school capacity and maintaining balanced student demographics, all of which will be evaluated together as potential options are developed.

The goal is to make decisions that will serve students well into the future while minimizing disruption whenever possible.

Learn more about this initiative and upcoming engagement opportunities on the MMSD website, and submit any related questions to the “Building for the Future” Boundary Review topic of the district’s Let’s Talk platform.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 7,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Lake View Elementary Principal Named State Environmental Education Administrator of the Year

MADISON, Wis.—Principal Nkaujnou Vang-Vue of the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) Lake View Elementary School has been named the 2026 Administrator of the Year by the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) in recognition of her leadership in advancing environmental education at the school.

Over the past eight years, Principal Vang-Vue has helped shape Lake View Elementary into a school where outdoor experiences and sustainability are part of daily instruction.

“Outdoor learning is an equity strategy that connects to students’ funds of knowledge and helps build their sense of self as learners,” Vang-Vue said. “I am proud of the work happening at Lake View and grateful to our educators, students and partners who help bring these experiences to life every day.”

Under Vang-Vue’s leadership, Lake View’s five-acre campus has been developed into a variety of outdoor learning spaces — including a literacy-focused StoryWalk and a nature course that promotes movement and exploration — and designed to support hands-on instruction and reflect the diversity of the school community. The school has also hosted environmental education summits and shared its work with educators from across the state.

“Principal Vang-Vue has created a learning environment where students can engage with the natural world while building critical thinking and problem-solving skills,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “Her leadership reflects the kind of innovative thinking that helps students connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.”

Vang-Vue will be recognized during the WAEE’s 2026 Celebration of Excellence in Environmental Education on April 11 at Escuela Verde in Milwaukee.

To learn more about outdoor education at Lake View Elementary, please visit the school’s website.

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About the Madison Metropolitan School District

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is the second-largest school district in Wisconsin, serving more than 25,000 students across 52 schools. The district’s vision is that every school will be a thriving school that prepares every student to graduate ready for college, career and community. With more than 6,000 teachers and staff, MMSD is committed to ensuring the district’s goals and core values are held at the center of its efforts, so students can learn, belong and thrive. For more information, visit mmsd.org.

Dupaco warns consumers about new wave of IRS impersonation scams this tax season

DUBUQUE, Iowa—As consumers prepare for the 2026 tax season, Dupaco Credit Union urges its members to stay alert to the evolving IRS impersonation scams—especially those topping the IRS’ 2026 “Dirty Dozen” list of scams. The IRS reports that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal personal information, refunds and financial account access from unsuspecting taxpayers. 

“Tax‑related scams spike every year, but this season we’re seeing fraudsters use technology that makes their impersonations startlingly believable,” said Jill Gogel, Vice President, Fraud Services at Dupaco. “If someone reaches out claiming to be from the IRS—especially with urgency or threats—stop immediately. A pause and a quick verification could prevent significant financial harm.” 

Two scams included on this year’s IRS Dirty Dozen list that Dupaco is seeing more frequently involve increasingly advanced uses of technology.  

First, there’s phishing and smishing—scam emails, direct messages and text messages pretending to be from the IRS. These remain one of the most common schemes this tax season. This type of message often uses language or links to fraudulent websites that are designed to capture sensitive information. 

Then, there’s the fast-growing trend of AI-enabled phone impersonation scams. Scammers are now using technology to clone a voice to make a caller sound like someone you might know or trust—this is also known as deepfake AI. Then, they combine it with a spoofed caller ID and automated robocalls to create an urgent scenario.  

“It’s important to remember the IRS will not initiate contact by email, text message or social media for any personal information,” Gogel adds. 

She also reminds members that scammers often rely on urgency and emotional pressure, using phrases like ‘verify your account,’ ‘claim your refund,’ or ‘your account is locked.’  

“The IRS will never demand immediate payment or request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or other payment apps like Venmo or Zelle,” says Gogel. 

Gogel offers these tips to protect yourself during tax season: 

• Ignore unsolicited messages claiming to be from the IRS via email, text or social media. 
• Verify suspicious phone calls by contacting the IRS directly at its published phone numbers listed on IRS.gov. 
• Enable two-factor authentication on all financial accounts like Dupaco’s Shine Online and Mobile Banking. 
• Monitor your credit report for signs of identity theft. Dupaco members can use Bright Track, the credit union’s no-cost credit monitoring tool.  
• Set up eNotifiers to receive real-time alerts about account activity. 
• Contact Dupaco before taking action if you’re unsure whether a message or request is legitimate. 
• Slow down and trust your gut. If something seems off, it usually is. 

For more fraud prevention resources visit dupaco.com/protection.

About Dupaco Community Credit Union 

Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 180,000 with assets exceeding $3.6 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations.  Learn more at www.dupaco.com.

Unlocking New Opportunities: Madison Reading Project expanding literacy services to Sauk County children

Madison, WI – Madison Reading Project is thrilled to announce it is expanding its service area to include Sauk County, starting with its early literacy services for young children. We believe every child deserves the chance to fall in love with reading. 

Since our pilot program began in 2014 at the Salvation Army Neighborhood Center, we have fostered curiosity, listening, trust, and collaboration to enhance access to resources. We’ve significantly expanded our services, reaching children from birth to 18 through our work, and launched various literacy programs to bring books and engaging events directly to communities. The impact of 12 years has been significant to the county, in the volume and quality of resources, the longevity of programs and relationships, and the willingness to be innovative to enhance book accessibility and book joy for all children, families, and educators. 

We will start with the youngest readers and introduce Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for Sauk County families later this week, providing invaluable resources to support young readers. Thanks to the generous support of the Roots & Wings Foundation, our expansion will focus on early literacy services that build the foundational skills kids need before kindergarten.

Our small but mighty team is devoted to staying curious, being in the community, and making an impactful difference. This expansion marks an exciting new chapter, and we invite you to stay tuned as we share plans and ways you can get involved. Together, we can ensure that all children, families, and educators across our region have access to quality literacy materials and books to read, dream, and succeed.Beginning March 19, parents and caregivers can easily enroll their child(ren), birth to age 5,  in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to receive, at no charge, a carefully selected free book by mail every month that corresponds with the child’s age. Enrollment is at www.MadisonReadingProject.com/imaginationlibrary 

“We’ve been administering Imagination Library in Dane County since 2021, and thanks to the generous support of Roots & Wings Foundation, we’re now able to widen our reach,” says Rowan Childs, Madison Reading Project Co-Executive Director/Founder. “More than 13,500 children in Dane County receive this amazing gift in the mail every month and jumpstart literacy in their home. When families sign up their newborn, by the time their child turns five, the family will have received 60 books through the mail, helping build their home library, which not only enhances literacy skills, but also provides important opportunities for parent-child bonding.”

“About 3,500 children throughout Sauk County could be enrolled,” adds Deirdre Steinmetz, Co-Executive Director. “We are elated to grow this program to serve rural communities and bring the excitement of early literacy resources to more kids.” 

Each child is welcomed to the Imagination Library with The Little Engine that Could, and at age five, “graduates” with Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come. Books mailed in between those are based on their birth year, starting with board books and moving through more complex learning stages.

“We’re eager to make an impact in learning in Sauk County by putting more books into the hands of young children,” adds Sarah Burke, Madison Reading Project’s Early Literacy Coordinator. “More books in homes means more family bonding time and more opportunities to experience the joy of reading together.”

“We are overjoyed to be joining the Sauk County community and look forward to learning and growing alongside local children, families, and educators to inspire the next generation of lifelong readers,” Childs adds.

Questions about the Dolly Parton Imagination Program? Email: imaginationlibrary@madisonreadingproject.com

Facts to know:

• Children can be enrolled on the day they are born
• Children can be enrolled at one location- if that household is the address of a grandparent, friend, or relative, their name needs to be used as the parent to ensure delivery.
• Every child under 5 in a household can be enrolled. Duplicate titles may occur
• Madison Reading Project has funding from Roots & Wings Foundation to continue this program for five years.
• Dolly Parton Imagination Library works with local nonprofits to provide books to children in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland. Over 300 million books have been gifted since the program’s inception in 1995.