WisDOT Invites You To Attend US18/151 Public Involvement Meetings

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) invites you to attend one of our two upcoming public involvement meetings (one in-person and one virtual) to present and gather feedback on the US 18/151 Corridor Study between the US 18/151 interchange in the town of Dodgeville and County PD (McKee Road) in the city of Fitchburg. The study corridor is approximately 35 miles long and travels through Iowa and Dane counties.

The purpose of the meeting is to:

• Introduce the study
• Present draft study purpose and corridor needs
• Gather feedback

Both meetings will include a prerecorded presentation and the chance to ask questions of study team staff. The in-person meeting will also include informational exhibits. You can choose which meeting works best for your schedule. The input received from these meetings will help shape the future of the corridor.

In-Person Meeting

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Location: Mount Horeb High School, West Commons/Cafeteria, 305 S. 8^th Street, Mount Horeb, WI 53572

Virtual Meeting

Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 5:30 p.m.

Link: https://app.pima.wisconsindot.gov/public/event-registration/search?project_id=14587&pe_guid=2078cbdf-c6b7-4569-93d5-d843dff00a97

The materials WisDOT presents at the meetings will be available on the public involvement page of the US 18/151 Corridor Study website following the meetings. The website can be found at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/by-region/sw/18151study/default.aspx.

The hearing facility is ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may request an interpreter by contacting the Wisconsin Telecommunications Relay System (dial 711) at least seven working days prior to the hearing date. If you require a Spanish- or Hmong-speaking interpreter at the meeting, please contact WisDOT Southwest Region Communications Manager Michael Bie (email michael.bie@dot.wi.gov or call 608-246-7928) at least seven working days prior to the meeting.

If you have any questions, or if you’re unable to attend the meeting and would like to find out more about the study, please feel contact Jeff Berens (email jeff.berens@dot.wi.gov or call 608-245-2656).

Reminder: MMSD “Building for the Future” Survey Closes Friday

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is reminding community members that the survey for its “Building for the Future” boundary and attendance area review will close this Friday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m.

The survey is a key opportunity for families, staff, and community members to share their perspectives and help guide the district’s planning.

“Participation in this survey is vital,” said Cindy Green, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “It will provide us insight into what families value in their child’s educational experience and guide the development of principles that shape our planning priorities. Just as importantly, it will give the community a clear view into how decisions will be made as we move forward.”

The review, conducted in consultation with MGT, aims to assess current attendance areas, plan for growth in developing neighborhoods, and ensure MMSD programs continue to serve a diverse and evolving student population.

Community members can complete the survey and find more information about the boundary review at the following link: https://mgtamer.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0dOVMT2Bf9gFhXw.

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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.

City of Madison Seeking Business Input on Economic Development Strategy

The City of Madison is in the process of creating an Economic Development Strategy to guide the actions and investments of the Economic Development Division for the next five years. This is your invitation and opportunity to join in and share your insight!

We have scheduled four 90-minute Economic Strategy Build Sessions to be held from September 30 through October 16, 2025. You will receive a working paper in advance that describes the focus of the conversation, shares what we have seen and heard, and provides information on existing efforts of the City as well as promising practices from other communities. 

Build Session: Champion Local Capital Circulation & Promote Small Businesses

Date and Time: Sept 30, 2025, from 8-9:30am via Zoom

This session will explore a range of ideas for How Might We…

• Encourage local purchasing and capital circulation
• Invest in neighborhood business district development
• Support entrepreneurship and small businesses

Register HERE

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BACKGROUND

The goal of this project is to promote human-centered economic development in a way that supports both residents and business. Our team is prioritizing economic development thinking and practices that centers community member needs and creates a more inclusive and sustainable vision for shared prosperity. 

To date, we have been engaged in community conversations, assessed qualitative data, and considered what other communities are doing to support similar priorities. We are now at a critical juncture where we are defining the actions that the plan should present – we want your help in doing this

We hope that you will register for at least one Build Session, but please register for all sessions that you are interested in contributing to.  We estimate that between the session and the pre-read you will invest 2 hours in this activity, and we very much appreciate your time spent on this exercise. 

Click the link to register and find more information under the Background section!

1. Build Session: Champion Local Capital Circulation & Promote Small Businesses
2. Build Session: Improve Economic Mobility & Build Generational Wealth
3. Build Session: Invest in Existing & Emerging Industries to Create Good Jobs
4. Build Session: Empower & Support Madison’s Workforce

Phase 2 of MMSD’s Facilities Referendum Projects Now Underway

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has officially launched the planning process for Phase 2 of its facilities referendum projects, which will invest more than $500 million in improvements across 10 schools and seven sites.

Phase 2 projects include Orchard Ridge Elementary/Akira R. Toki Middle, Cherokee Heights Middle and Ray F. Sennett Middle schools. Similar to Phase 1, all Phase 2 projects will be entirely new buildings that replace the existing facilities with modern, flexible learning environments designed to both meet the needs of today’s students and support future growth. 

“We are excited to continue this important work, which will benefit our students for years to come,” said Scott Chehak, senior executive director of building services. “As we move forward, we remain committed to completing these projects on time and on budget.

Concept Overview

All concepts and renderings are preliminary and subject to change.

Orchard Ridge’s/Toki’s concept is “Connect to Nature.” The new building will occupy the northwest corner of the site, with classrooms and a common space that back up to the school forest, which is anticipated to be unimpacted by the construction. 

The Cherokee Heights concept, “Nestled into Landscape,” nods to the layout of the school’s proposed setting in the site’s hillside and amongst its mature oak trees, with a new common space situated between the primary and ancillary education wings and the gymnasium. 

The Sennett concept is called “HS Axis,” referencing the new building being located on a vertical axis with its site partner, Robert M. La Follette High School. This concept features library mall green space between the buildings, designed as an area where students and staff can collaborate.

Community, student and staff feedback is essential to the design process; a staff input session at Cherokee Heights Middle School kicked off the Phase 2 work. Additional sessions for staff and the community will take place throughout the fall for the other Phase 2 projects.

Phase 1 work—which includes Sherman Middle School/Malcolm Shabazz City High School and Samuel Gompers Elementary School/Black Hawk Middle School—continues to move forward and remains on track to break ground in the late winter/early spring of 2026. Phase 2 projects will follow no later than early 2027.

Additional information can be found on the MMSD website, which is updated regularly.

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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.

MMSD and Wisconsin Athletics Continue Reading Partnership with Role Model Reading Day at Sandburg Elementary School

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and Wisconsin Athletics are launching the second year of their literacy-focused partnership, beginning with a Role Model Reading Day at Carl Sandburg Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 22.

With a shared goal of inspiring a love of reading and closing the literacy gap, MMSD and Wisconsin Athletics are teaming up with the 2nd & 7 Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by head football coach Luke Fickell and his former Ohio State teammates Ryan Miller and Mike Vrabel.

Through the collaboration, UW student-athletes from a variety of sports will visit MMSD schools weekly to celebrate the joy of reading. Each session will see Badger student-athletes distributing free books and spending 30–40 minutes reading with MMSD students, helping foster a love of reading and supporting literacy development.

This year’s program will reach MMSD’s eight full-service Community Schools: Hawthorne, John F. Kennedy, Lake View, Aldo Leopold, Mendota, Orchard Ridge, Carl Sandburg and Lori Mann Carey.

“I’m honored and proud to once again partner our 2nd & 7 Role Model Reading Program with the Madison School District,” said Fickell. “Our goal is to inspire children and foster a love of reading, but it’s also a great way for our student-athletes to connect with the community here in Madison. I’ve heard from countless athletes over the years of the joy they get from visiting classrooms and hopefully the impact we’re having can be felt all over the Madison Metropolitan School District as well.”

The partnership aligns with the district’s Mad for Reading initiative and underscores its commitment to literacy as the foundation of student success.

“When young learners see people they admire taking time to read with them, it sends a powerful message about the importance of literacy,” said Cindy Green, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of strategy and innovation. “Just as athletics and other co-curricular activities build belonging and connection for older students, leading to stronger attendance and academic performance, these early experiences help our youngest learners see themselves as part of a community that values their growth.”

The partnership is coordinated through MMSD’s Office of Strategy and Innovation and its Community Schools, ensuring that it supports school improvement plans and strengthens family-school-community connections.

The 2025–26 Role Model Reading Program runs from Sept. 3 through May 10, with student-athletes scheduled to visit participating schools on Mondays. The program is part of Badgers Give Back, UW Athletics’ community engagement platform.

For more information about the district’s approach to literacy, as well as ways for families and community members to support young readers, please visit 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.