MMSD Highlights Homelessness Awareness Month with Community Support Efforts

MADISON, Wis.—Throughout November, the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) Transition Education Program (TEP) is recognizing Homelessness Awareness Month by inviting the community to support students and families experiencing housing instability.

For the 2024–25 school year, as many as 1,304 MMSD students and 141 non-school-aged children met the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act’s definition of “homeless”: those lacking a “fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.” That total represents approximately 5% of the district’s total enrollment, underscoring the scope of the challenge within the Madison community.

“Each of our students deserves stability, belonging and a sense of safety,” said Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard. “Homelessness affects every aspect of a child’s well-being and education, and it’s our shared responsibility as a community to ensure every student has what they need to learn and thrive.”

As it does every year throughout November and December, MMSD is accepting donations of clothing and personal care items to help meet the needs of students and families. Requested items include hair and skin care products, laundry soap, body wash, deodorant, feminine hygiene items, toothpaste and toothbrushes, socks (any size), hair accessories, coats, boots, waterproof gloves and snow pants. Donations may be made at the Doyle Administration Building (545 W. Dayton St.) or at individual schools across Madison.

Later this month, MMSD also plans to create a visual representation of the students and families who have experienced homelessness in the past year. The display will be located outside the Doyle building, and will serve as a reminder that housing instability affects children and families throughout our community.

“Homelessness can look different for every family, but what remains constant is the need for care and connection,” said Jani Koester, TEP resource teacher. “The display will represent real students, each with their own story, resilience and hope. Our goal is to make sure every one of them feels seen, supported and valued.”

TEP supports students and families experiencing homelessness throughout the school year. Community members interested in contributing to its ongoing donation center or learning more are encouraged to contact tep@madison.k12.wi.us.

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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.

Vierbicher Expands Madison Office with Move to 525 Junction Road

MADISON, WI –Vierbicher, a leading planning, engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying firm, has relocated its Madison office to 525 Junction Road, 7th Floor, Madison, WI 53717.

The new office reflects Vierbicher’s continued growth and commitment to providing exceptional service to communities, municipalities, developers, and private clients across southern Wisconsin.

“Our Madison team has grown significantly in recent years, and this move allows us to better serve our clients and our people,” said Rod Zubella, PE, CEO. “The new space enhances collaboration, comfort, and flexibility for both our staff and our clients.”

The Junction Road office features expanded work areas, modern conference and collaboration rooms, and upgraded amenities designed to support teamwork and innovation.

Vierbicher’s Madison office plays a key role in projects Throughout Wisconsin and beyond, including Chapter at Madison, Middleton High School Borden Athletic Complex, Habitat for Humanity projects in Stoughton and Sun Prairie, UW Campus Hilton Garden Inn, and the i3Product Development Facility.

Founded in 1976, Vierbicher provides integrated services in planning, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and surveying from five offices across Wisconsin.

For more information, visit vierbicher.com.

Dupaco’s Holiday Club helps members save year-round and spend smarter this season

DUBUQUE, Iowa— Systematic saving continues to pay off for Dupaco Credit Union members. Through the credit union’s popular Holiday Club savings account, members collectively saved $5,806,201 in 2025. On average, each participating member saved $1,151.11, helping them prepare for holiday expenses without relying on credit cards or last-minute borrowing. 

Dupaco’s Holiday Club is designed to make saving simple and automatic. Members regularly transfer money into a designated account throughout the year, and on October 31, the balance—plus earned dividends—is automatically deposited into their checking account, just in time for the holiday season. 

“The habit of systematically saving money is a core principle of Dupaco,” said Joe Hearn, Dupaco President and CEO. “Through Dupaco tools like our Holiday Club, we’re helping members plan ahead, avoid post-holiday debt and enjoy the season with peace of mind. It’s a simple but powerful way to build financial confidence.” 

To help members make the most of their savings and spend wisely this season, Dupaco shares a holiday budget guide that can be found at dupaco.com/holiday-club.  

A few tips to keep costs in check—without sacrificing the spirt of giving, include:  

• Draw names for a gift exchange to reduce costs while making gifts more meaningful 
• Plan ahead to take advantage of deals and avoid last-minute overspending 
• Sign up for store emails to access exclusive discounts and sale alerts 
• Focus on experiences and heartfelt gifts to celebrate the season without overspending 

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ABOUT DUPACO 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 177,000 with assets exceeding $3.6 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.  

Per Mar Security Services Honored as 2025 Gold Partner of the Yearat Axis Connect and Converge Conference

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Per Mar Security Services, a leading provider of total security solutions for residential and commercial clients based in Davenport, IA, has been named the 2025 Gold Partner of the Year by Axis Communications at the 20th annual Axis Connect & Converge Conference. Axis Communications, a global leader in network video and security solutions, presented these annual awards to celebrate partners delivering extraordinary value and impact.

“We are honored to be named a Gold Partner of the Year by Axis. This is really a reflection of the dedication of our teams in learning and recommending video solutions, particularly our live video monitoring service. The security world is increasingly moving toward a video-centric service and I’m proud that we are leading this effort,” said Chris Edwards, President of Electronic Security, Per Mar Security Services.

“Partnerships are the foundation of success. On behalf of Axis, I congratulate Per Mar Security Services on this well-deserved award. Their commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes truly sets them apart,” said Larry Newman, Senior Director of Sales, Axis Communications, Inc.

Axis partners with more than 90,000 organizations across 179 countries through a diverse range of programs.

About Per Mar Security Services

Established in 1953, Per Mar Security Services is the largest, family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest, with more than 3,000 team members and 28 branch locations. The company provides full-service security solutions for homes and businesses, including live video monitoring, security officer services, smart home automation, burglar and fire alarms, access control, security cameras, alarm monitoring, investigative services, and background checks. For more information about Per Mar Security Services, please visit permarsecurity.com.

MMSD Board of Education Approves 2025–26 Budget

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) Board of Education has approved the district’s 2025–26 budget, which outlines how it will use its resources to support students, staff and families in the year ahead.

The approved budget totals $668 million, with $577.1 million dedicated to day-to-day school operations. This year’s plan reflects a 10 percent increase in both revenue and expenses compared to last year, driven by ongoing investments in staffing, student programs and school facilities.  

The district’s total property tax levy (the amount collected in property taxes) will go up by about 20 percent, meaning that the tax rate will increase by about 96 cents for every $1,000 of property value. State aid to MMSD will decrease by about 19.5%. Still, the state will allow the district to receive an additional $325 per student under the revenue limit, providing a bit more flexibility in the overall budget. 

The 2025–26 budget keeps MMSD on a strong financial footing, with a projected general fund balance of $78.8 million, which falls within the Board’s targeted range of 12 to 18 percent. The district continues to hold top bond ratings of AA+ and SP-1+, speaking to its continued fiscal stability and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

Most of MMSD’s budget—about 81 percent—goes toward paying and supporting staff. This year’s plan includes an average 4.95 percent pay increase, made up of a 2.95 percent base wage increase and step increases based on years of service. MMSD will also maintain its current health insurance plans and continue offering full-time benefits to part-time employees who work at least half-time.

“We have worked really hard, especially with rising costs for health insurance and some other things that are out of our control, to prioritize our employees,” said Board President Nichelle Nichols. “I’m really proud of the fact that we have a balanced budget, and that we are in a good position, as stewards of the referendum dollars that our community has entrusted to us, to move this district forward.”

In total, MMSD’s staffing plan for 2025–26 includes approximately 4,246 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, an increase of about 59 over last year. The district is adding custodial staff to help care for newly renovated buildings, additional building-based substitute teachers, and more staff to support early learning and multilingual education.

Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard said the budget reflects MMSD’s continued focus on students and staff, beginning with the district’s youngest learners.

“For me, it starts with 4K, which I see as such an important introduction into our district, into community, into the way that staff and principals and teachers receive students and their families,” Gothard said. “A lot of the things that we’re investing in are going to continue to be tied to what our students and families desire, and ensuring that they know we’re making a sustained commitment to listening to them.”

Assistant Superintendent of Financial Services Bob Soldner noted that the 2025–26 budget builds on last year’s successful referendum and provides stability for future planning.

“This budget balances investment in students and staff with careful fiscal management,” Soldner said. “It positions MMSD to meet current needs while planning responsibly for the future.”

The budget continues investments in full-day 4K, early reading instruction based on the science of reading, career and technical education (CTE), daily world language access in middle schools and mental health supports for students.

More information, including the full 2025–26 Budget Book, is available on the MMSD 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.