Fall Athletics Season Kicks Off for MMSD Student-Athletes

MADISON, Wis.—Student-athletes across the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) will take to the fields, courts and courses starting today—Tuesday, Aug. 5—marking the beginning of the 2025 fall high school athletics season. Practices for football, cheer and pom open first, with additional sports launching over the next two weeks. The season ushers in a period of teamwork, community pride and academic growth for hundreds of students.

Key start dates include:

• Aug. 5 – Football, Cheer, Pom
• Aug. 11 – Girls Golf
• Aug. 12 – Girls Swim, Girls Tennis
• Aug. 18 – Boys and Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer

“Our student-athletes continue to impress us not just with their athletic talent, but with their dedication, leadership and impact on our school communities,” said Jeremy Schlitz, MMSD’s athletics director. “Fall sports are more than a tradition in Madison; they’re an essential part of how we build relationships, resilience and a sense of belonging for our students.”

Participation in high school athletics has long been linked to positive academic outcomes. Research from the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Journal of School Health shows that students who participate in school sports tend to have higher GPAs, better attendance and stronger graduation rates than their non-athlete peers. Athletics also foster time management, goal setting and social connection, skills that extend well beyond the season.

“Sports provide an unparalleled opportunity for students to grow in confidence, in character and in connection with their school,” Schlitz added. “Whether they’re suiting up for varsity or trying something new at another level, we want every student to feel like they have a place in our programs.”

To participate, students must have a valid sports physical on file. MMSD is offering free physical clinics at its four comprehensive high schools in August. Students should contact their school’s athletic office to schedule an appointment.

Free Physical Clinics:

• Aug. 6 – East
• Aug. 7 & 8 – La Follette
• Aug. 18 – West
• Aug. 19 – Memorial
• Aug. 20 – East
• Aug. 21 & 22 – La Follette

This year, many MMSD athletes will also compete and train in newly upgraded facilities brought online last year following the district’s 2020 capital referendum. Renovations across all four comprehensive high schools included turf fields, tracks, tennis courts, gymnasiums and enhanced training spaces, part of MMSD’s commitment to safe, equitable and high-quality athletic environments.

“Our goal is to ensure every student has access to modern spaces that support physical activity, teamwork and excellence,” Schlitz said. “The community’s investment in these facilities is an investment in our students, and we’re proud to see it paying off.”

Families and fans can find eligibility information, links to team schedules and updates by visiting the Athletics page 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.

QTI’s 2026 HR Trends Survey Now Open

For over 15 years, QTI has surveyed businesses and organizations across Wisconsin to create a unique, localized picture of Wisconsin’s evolving HR landscape. QTI’s 2026 HR Trends Survey covers topics such as talent attraction, total rewards, the future of work, AI, and more.

The QTI Group invites you to participate in the survey and lend your unique perspective and insights into key HR topics, helping your organization and others make informed decisions as you look towards 2026.

It is anticipated that the survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  All individual participant responses will be kept confidential and participants will receive an aggregate question-by-question summary of survey results.

• Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QTIHRTRENDS2026
• Survey Deadline: August 22, 2025

QTI will share key findings and the top HR challenges for 2026 in an exclusive webinar on October 28, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. You can preregister for the event at this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ci5SEf7IRaaYwygglZ9TTA.

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact QTI’s Senior Marketing Director, Jill Dohnal, at jill.dohnal@qtigroup.com or 608.257.1057.

Online Enrollment for 2025–26 MMSD School Year Opens August 6

MADISON, Wis.—Online enrollment for the Madison Metropolitan School District’s (MMSD) 2025–26 school year opens Wednesday, Aug. 6. Families enrolling for the first time or updating information for returning students may complete the process through MMSD’s online enrollment platform.

The enrollment page of the MMSD site provides families with detailed information about required documentation, language support services and school assignment and transportation. Whether registering a kindergartener for the first time or updating information for a returning student, families will find the tools they need to prepare for the start of the academic year.

Families with students already enrolled in MMSD should verify or update their information by completing the online enrollment application (without having to create a new account). New-to-MMSD families will be guided through creating an account and uploading key paperwork and should also review the enrollment checklist to ensure they have the necessary verification documents ready before submitting an online application or meeting with school staff. Enrollment staff are available to assist by phone (608-663-4957), in person or through language-specific support as needed.

“Online enrollment helps us better prepare for each student’s arrival, academically, socially and logistically,” said Dr. Carlettra Stanford, MMSD assistant superintendent of schools and learning. “It also allows us to more seamlessly coordinate essential systems such as transportation, staffing and academic programming, clearing the way for a smooth transition to the school year for our families.” 

The 2025–26 school year begins Tuesday, Sept. 2 for four-year-old (4K) and five-year old kindergarten, grade 6, grade 9 and early childhood students; all other students start Wednesday. Sept. 3.

For more information, FAQs, and step-by-step enrollment instructions, families should visit www.madison.k12.wi.us/registration-enrollment.

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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.

Nominations open for In Business Madison’s Health Care Heroes awards program

In Business Madison is accepting nominations for Health Care Heroes, an awards program that will be held in conjunction with this year’s IB Health Care Summit in October.

Health Care Heroes will recognize a variety of health professionals who have provided exemplary services to patients in Wisconsin’s Capital Region. Award nominations are open through Sept. 4.

The summit, returning for its second year, will be held at the Best Western Premier Park Hotel at 22 S. Carroll St. in Madison Oct. 2 from 9 a.m.-noon. Additional event information will be released soon.

New Research Reveals Opportunity for Energy Planning Today to Prevent Energy Cost Increases and Disproportionate Cost Burdens

The study is published in the latest edition of the journal Nature: Scientific Reports. Read the online version of this press release here.

BOSTON – July 29, 2025 – A new study published Sunday in Scientific Reports, a Nature Portfolio journal, analyzes the relationship between increasing building electrification and the energy burden for the remaining gas utility customers over time. Whether building electrification is market-driven or policy-driven, this analysis is intended to support energy regulators and planners in proactively considering and avoiding the worst-case scenarios. The study, “Effects of uncoordinated electrification on energy burdens for natural gas customers,” introduces a novel framework to quantify these affordability risks, with relevance for policymakers and communities nationwide. The paper was authored by Jaime Garibay-Rodriguez, Morgan R. Edwards, and Ann F. Fink from the University of Wisconsin, and Zeyneb Magavi of HEET, a thermal energy innovation institute.

The research highlights that who chooses electrification (and when) significantly impacts the bills of those who remain in the gas system. The affordability impacts are starkly different for (1) an approach with the wealthiest electrifying first, (2) an approach with the lowest-income electrifying first, or (3) an approach that is random. Ongoing investment in natural gas infrastructure through pipeline replacement amplifies this challenge and, coupled with an uncoordinated approach to electrification, significantly increases the financial burden on the progressively fewer remaining gas customers. This analysis demonstrates that state energy regulators have a window of opportunity to mitigate these impacts through policy and proactive planning and that whether building electrification is market-driven or policy-driven, the presence of an existing gas utility indicates a need for policy interventions to ensure a managed or coordinated transition.

Key Findings from the Study:

• Potential for Rising Energy Burdens: Analyzing existing Massachusetts data and policies without further proposed policy interventions, if higher-income households electrify first, the number of energy-burdened households currently in the gas system (spending at least 6% of income on energy) could increase from 411,000 currently to peak at 540,000 households by 2040 due to rising gas system infrastructure costs per customer.
• Potential for Significant Bill Increases: With approximately 45% of households electrified, those with gas utility service that do not electrify could face a similar average increase in energy bills over the next 15 years due to rising gas infrastructure costs per customer, relative to current costs. This figure can escalate to 60% in Massachusetts and 36-105% nationally (for the top 50 utilities with leak-prone infrastructure) when gas system infrastructure investments such as pipeline replacement programs occur simultaneously with increasing building electrification.
• Disproportionate Risk for Vulnerable Communities: The study found that leak-prone natural gas infrastructure and planned pipeline replacements are currently disproportionately located in Massachusetts communities with a higher representation of low-income households and renters. These groups can therefore be seen as at greater risk of being locked into costly natural gas systems and facing increased energy burdens. Alternately, this geographic distribution could also potentially present a greater opportunity for addressing affordability risk through strategic redirection of infrastructure investment.
• National Implications: Across the U.S., for the 37 million households served by the top 50 gas utilities with leak-prone pipelines, the number of energy-burdened households could rise from 7.7 million today to 8.8 million under the combined policy of uncoordinated electrification and pipeline replacement.

“Our findings highlight the importance of coordinating the transition to building electrification, particularly during the period when existing energy systems, such as natural gas, will continue to operate alongside new electric systems like heat pumps,” said Garibay-Rodriguez, lead study author and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Wisconsin’s Climate Action Lab. “Policymakers face a difficult challenge because much of the aging and failing infrastructure, such as gas distribution pipelines, has exceeded its useful life, requiring major investments to keep it operating safely and efficiently. This challenge is particularly relevant given the ongoing energy affordability issues facing energy-burdened households.” 

“Massachusetts offers a compelling case study,” notes Edwards, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin and leader of the Climate Action Lab. “It has a long track record of leadership in energy policy and a wealth of policy-relevant data available to support studies like this. HEET has been an invaluable research partner in this work and a leader in compiling and publishing open data that makes studies like this one possible.”

“Our country has a long tradition of successful energy transitions. No one in my town still thinks we should be using whale oil or coal in our homes. That said, whale oil was not a regulated utility so this paper highlights a pretty novel question. What happens when an energy transition drives customers off of existing utility infrastructure? Can we maintain affordability for customers on both sides of this kind of transition?” said Magavi, the Executive Director of HEET. “The University of Wisconsin team has produced a useful framework to help us think that out ahead of time.”

The paper emphasizes that prioritizing early electrification for lower income households is helpful in mitigating immediate burdens, but does not fully address the long-term risks of a utility death spiral that could render the gas system financially unsustainable. The utility death spiral is a cycle in which declining gas demand leads to higher rates for remaining customers, driving more customers to leave the gas system. The findings suggest that an effective heating energy transition will require coordinated, neighborhood-scale strategies that proactively manage the high fixed costs of legacy infrastructure. This could involve prioritized electrification in areas with aging gas infrastructure and innovative policy solutions that address the interdependencies between gas and electricity systems.

The full paper can be found at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-09543-5 

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About the University of Wisconsin
The Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is a leading academic institution in improving the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policy and the practice of governance. The school began as the Center for the Study of Public Policy and Administration at UW–Madison in 1967 as part of the Department of Political Science. In 1983, the Wisconsin Legislature formally separated the center from the Department of Political Science. The school officially opened in 1984, now named after Robert M. La Follette, the former Wisconsin governor and U.S. senator who is regarded as one of the most celebrated figures in the state’s history. Today, the La Follette School offers domestic and international master’s degrees in public affairs as well as certificates for undergraduate students. La Follette School faculty, alumni, students, and staff extend the practice of the Wisconsin Idea across the state and around the world through research and outreach that inspires evidence-based policymaking, impacts society’s pressing problems, and advances the public good.

About HEET
HEET is a nonprofit focused on thermal energy innovation institute driven systems change. Founded in 2008, HEET works to find practical solutions to the complex problems humanity faces – beginning with our own homes. How we keep our homes comfortable in an affordable, safe, and sustainable way matters. In 2017 HEET proposed the first gas utility thermal energy network, which today has launched a growing new global industry. We believe in an affordable, safe, and ethical energy system that meets the needs of all, from low-income communities to gas utility workers to future generations. For more information, visit https://www.heet.org/.