MMSD Determines to Maintain GPA System Following Comprehensive Review

MADISON, Wis.—Following an extensive review process during the 2024–25 school year, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has determined that it will maintain its current unweighted grade point average (GPA) system for high school students. 

Doing so allows MMSD to focus on two key objectives: strengthening advising systems that help students choose coursework aligned with their post-secondary goals, and enhancing support structures so that all students have the opportunity to excel.

“MMSD is committed to providing all students with challenging learning opportunities, while ensuring our systems remain fair and equitable,” said Mary Jankovich, MMSD’s executive director of college, career & community readiness. “Our decision to keep what’s currently in place reflects our belief in the importance of a system that supports equity, maintains transparency and reflects our community’s values.”

The district arrived at its decision after:

• Analyzing results from the 2025 Weighted Grades Survey, completed by students in grades 8–12, their families and staff.
• Reviewing policies and practices from more than 50 surrounding districts.
• Using current MMSD student data to explore the potential impact of different weighted GPA models.
• Examining how colleges, especially those most frequently attended by MMSD graduates, evaluate student transcripts.
• Consulting with the MMSD Advanced Learning Department and representatives from each of the district’s high schools.

Weighted GPAs, which assign higher point values to advanced courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) dual-credit and honors classes, are used in some districts to recognize the rigor of those courses. MMSD’s decision to retain its unweighted system reflects a balance between acknowledging course rigor and maintaining equitable opportunities for all students, regardless of the courses available to them.

For questions or additional information, families and community members can reach out through 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 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.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison Seeking Donor Engagement Manager

Organization: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison (RMHC-Madison)
Position Title: Donor Engagement Manager
Reports To: Director of Development
Classification: Salaried, full-time (40 hours per week)
Work Location: Primarily In Person
Salary Range: $50,000-$60,000

Job Purpose
Since 1993, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison (RMHC-Madison) has been dedicated to keeping families close when it matters most—while their child receives medical care at area hospitals. Through our core programs—the Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Madison—we provide thousands of families each year with access to quality healthcare and the support they need to remain actively involved in their child’s care.

RMHC-Madison offers a true home-away-from-home with cozy rooms, nourishing meals, and compassionate assistance for families who may have traveled hours—or even flown across the country—for their child’s treatment. Guided by our core values, every member of our team is committed to delivering compassionate care and unwavering support to the families we serve, our partners, and one another.

The Donor Engagement Manager advances RMHC-Madison’s mission by curating impactful donor experiences and touchpoints. This includes developing and implementing a comprehensive stewardship plan to foster loyalty, deepen mission understanding, inspire further engagement, and increase revenue. Additionally, the Donor Engagement Manager will collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams to enhance donor communications, highlight program impact, and drive organizational growth.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement donor cultivation and stewardship strategies for major, mid-level recurring and new donors. This includes giving societies and processes that ensure timely, consistent, and meaningful engagement through personalized outreach and conversations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development and CEO to support the stewardship of their key donor portfolios, assisting with meeting preparation, follow-up, and personalized correspondence when necessary.
• Manage individual portfolio of donors with a focus on creating lasting relationships and making strategic asks for general operating support, campaigns or special initiatives, aligning donor interests with organizational priorities.
• Develop donor impact reports and custom stewardship deliverables to represent donor impact visually and narratively.
• Plan and execute small-scale donor engagement events to deepen relationships and highlight donor impact.
• Oversee and support gratitude volunteer(s) to ensure timely and meaningful acknowledgment of lower-level gifts, reinforcing a culture of appreciation and making all donors feel valued and connected to the mission.
• Maintain detailed records in donor CRM (Raiser’s Edge), ensuring all interactions, follow-ups and moves management steps are documented to support overall fundraising success.
• Partner with the Development Department to plan and shape fundraising campaigns, appeals, and donor communications, contributing to strategic messaging that aligns with organizational priorities and resonates with key audiences.
• Collect and curate family stories to support donor engagement efforts.
• Collaborate with Director of Administration on the development, review and implementation of donor lists used for communication and mailings.
• Lead the growth and retention of GEMs program, RMHC-Madison’s monthly giving program.
• Research grant opportunities that align with RMHC-Madison’s mission and assist with drafting, editing, and preparing grant proposals and supporting materials.
• Track grant deadlines, deliverables, and funder requirements in collaboration with the CEO and Director of Development.
• Represent RMHC-M at community engagement and networking events.
• Attend RMHC-M events, including signature events, applicable donor events and House events.

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work expected in this role. It is not a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills that may be required.

Ideal Characteristics

• A friendly, positive, and professional demeanor, combined with strong attention to detail.
• A proactive willingness to assist in areas beyond the core responsibilities of the role.
• Authentic commitment to RMHC’s Core Competencies: Mission-Driven, Collaboration, Integrity, Inclusion, and Adaptability.
• Forward-thinking, innovative and energetic professional with proven success in donor stewardship, capable of developing and orchestrating the implementation of a multi-year plan.
• Willingness to help in areas that do not fall directly within position’s responsibilities

Knowledge, Experience, Skills, and Abilities Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in event or non-profit management, public relations or related field and/or 5+ years of experience in successful event management, donor database management, or non-profit development.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Must be able to present oneself professionally at public events.
• Ability to work well as part of a small, dynamic team, as well as independently.
• Demonstrates strong judgement skills and attention to detail while meeting deadlines.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products, database, and event management software.
• Ability to identify and maintain confidential information.
• Ability to travel locally or regionally occasionally. Valid driver’s license required.
• Knowledge and skills working with a diverse clientele from different cultures, languages, and religious beliefs.

Preferred

• Experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, GiveSmart, and Mailchimp, or compatible software preferred
• Previous experience working in a donor-focused or nonprofit organization.

We encourage all interested candidates to apply—even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. While the following qualifications are helpful, we value diverse backgrounds and experiences that strengthen our team and our work.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential job responsibilities.
• Position is full-time with primary hours falling during stated business hours. However occasional evenings and weekend hours will be required.
• Work is primarily performed in an office environment with minimal exposure to injury.
  • This position is primarily on-site, with the majority of responsibilities requiring a regular presence in our administrative offices inside the Ronald McDonald House. However, there is some flexibility for remote work, depending on business needs and in coordination with your supervisor.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 30 pounds.
• Ongoing daily use of computers and telephone.
• Walk, sit, stand, bend, climb, and use hands to, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk, hear, read, count, and write.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.
• Must be able to work with frequent interruption.
• Low to moderate noise level.

Benefits

• To support our team members and their families beyond the workplace, RMHC-M offers a supportive work environment along with a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, a generous retirement contribution, and paid time off to promote work-life balance.

How to Apply

• If interested in this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three references by Wednesday, September 10 via email to: jobs@theemployergroup.com.

Big Joe Donates Custom Walkie Stacker to University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering

Madison, WI (August 19, 2025) – When a 1960s-era Big Joe walkie stacker was discovered still in use at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Engineering, the team at Big Joe Forklifts knew they had to do something special. In honor of the decades-old workhorse still serving the university’s engineering department, Big Joe donated a brand new IBH stacker, branded with the University of Wisconsin’s signature red and white, to support and empower the next generation of engineers.

Big Joe’s New Product Development Engineer and former intern and alumni at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Zach Skelton noted, “I was walking through the basement of the engineering building and did a double take. I thought, ‘Wait a minute…that’s a Big Joe!’ At that moment, I knew there was an opportunity not just to celebrate this equipment standing the test of time, but to help the university modernize its processes. I’m glad to be a part of making this a reality and providing new resources to students and faculty alike.”

The new Big Joe stacker will be used in instructional and operational settings within the College of Engineering, giving students hands-on experience with modern material handling equipment.

“We are truly excited to not only help the University of Wisconsin at Madison continue on its mission to train future engineers, but to see the full life cycle of Big Joe products in action,” said Big Joe’s VP of Engineering, Mat McEachern. “We look forward to working with our dealer partner Wolter as well as university staff and students as a part of the Madison community.”

“As a Big Joe dealer, this opportunity to support UW Madison is a huge priority as Wolter is focused on supporting the future of Wisconsin industry and the community at large,” said Ross Jeremiah, president of Wolter Midwest. “We are happy to continue to support UW Madison as this new stacker provides support and dependability to the engineering department for years to come.”

Wisconsin-born and built, the Big Joe IBH is proudly manufactured about an hour northwest of the university, in the Wisconsin Dells. Staying true to its Wisconsin roots, the original forklift will be moved from the university to a new home at Big Joe’s Madison headquarters, where it will serve as a testament to the longevity of Big Joe equipment, the spirit of innovation, and partnership that powers progress.

About Big Joe

Established in 1951, Big Joe is a customer-centric, North American material handling solutions company, offering a variety of purpose-built integrated lithium-ion forklifts designed to replace internal combustion, innovative material handling equipment for warehouse and distribution centers, and market-leading autonomous solutions. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, we provide world-class market-driven solutions with a reputation for exceptional customer service through our nationwide dealership network.

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MMSD Expands Full-Day 4K and Launches Pilot of Five-Day Programming for 2025–26 School Year

MADISON, Wis.—In time for the start of the 2025–26 school year, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is expanding its tuition-free four-year-old kindergarten (4K) offerings to include new full-day options at Ray W. Huegel, Lapham, Midvale and John Muir elementary schools. The district is also introducing a pilot of five-day programming at Paul J. Olson Elementary School.

“We are committed to offering highly desired opportunities for families with school-aged children in MMSD,” said Dr. Joe Gothard, superintendent. “We’re seeing annual increases in our 4K enrollment, which speaks to the reputation we’ve built for high-quality, accessible early learning options. Expanding options for families and reducing transitions for our youngest learners helps strengthen our school communities from the very beginning.”

The pilot at Olson will be the district’s first full-day, five-days-a-week 4K section. It will operate alongside three existing half-day sections, giving families more flexibility while allowing MMSD to evaluate the feasibility of extending five-day programming to more sites in the future.

Enrollment in the Olson pilot will be determined by lottery. To be eligible, families must live in the Olson attendance area and be enrolled in MMSD by Tuesday, August 19. All eligible families will be automatically entered, and those selected will receive a phone call from the district’s Enrollment Department.

Prior to the announced expansion, Muir, Midvale and Olson did not offer a full-day option; both Muir and Midvale will continue to offer morning, half-day programming, in addition to the full-day option. For Huegel and Lapham, the move adds another full-day section, as well as morning programming, to both schools.

The district is also introducing full-day options at the following early care and education sites: Big Oak Child Care Center, Bernie’s Place, Goodman Community Center, Red Caboose Childcare and The Playing Field. For each of these locations, the MMSD 4K portion of the day is provided at no cost; families are responsible for any additional wraparound care that extends beyond the school day. Additional full-day spaces will also be provided at local Head Start sites.

In recent years, and across the 2020 and 2024 operations referendums, MMSD has prioritized the continued growth of its 4K program, which provides free, high-quality early learning experiences to prepare students for success in kindergarten and beyond. This increased capacity reflects the district’s commitment to meeting the needs of working families, strengthening connections between young learners and their neighborhood schools, and increasing equitable access to early education.

This expansion also deepens the district’s commitment to ensuring children with the greatest needs have access to a well-rounded, developmentally appropriate early learning experience. By increasing the number of full-day and extended-week seats — both in neighborhood schools and through community partners — MMSD is working to remove barriers and open more pathways for all families to participate.

The changes are part of a broader, long-term strategy to embed 4K in every MMSD elementary school, while also expanding partnerships with early childhood education providers in areas where access to child care is limited. By offering more full-day and extended-week options, the district aims to give families greater choice and stability during a pivotal stage of child development.

“We’re doing more than adding classrooms,” said Culleen Witthuhn, director of early learning. “We’re reimagining how we serve our youngest learners. When children have more time to explore, create and build relationships in a consistent setting, it deepens their learning and sets the stage for long-term success.”

Spots in the new sections are open. Families can learn more about MMSD’s 4K program and enrollment process by visiting the district’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.

MMSD Advances Phase 1 Facilities Referendum Projects

MADISON, Wis.—The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has entered the next phase of planning and design for its first major capital projects funded by the 2024 facilities referendum, Samuel Gompers Elementary School/Black Hawk Middle School and Sherman Middle School/Malcolm Shabazz City High School.

The schematic design phase for both campuses wrapped this summer, defining building layout and programmatic elements based on deep engagement with school staff and district leadership. The projects have since moved into design development, which is expected to run through the fall and is where details related to materials, systems and finishes will be further refined.

“These schools represent not just bricks and mortar, but a deeper investment in the future of Madison’s students, families and communities,” said Scott Chehak, MMSD’s senior executive director of building services. “We are proud to be moving forward in close partnership with our educators, community members and design teams to deliver learning environments in line with our values and our vision.”

The developing designs include secure, flexible learning spaces equipped with mobile technology, outdoor learning areas, and layout improvements that promote collaboration, accessibility and community use. Both projects are on track to break ground in March 2026.

Following are updated renderings for each of the schools: 

• Samuel Gompers Elementary School
• Black Hawk Middle School
• Sherman Middle School
• Malcolm Shabazz City High School

Extensive staff, student and community engagement was critically important in helping to shape the designs. Over the past six months, the project team has held 149 meetings totaling more than 300 hours with students, families and school staff. This comprised 38 core team meetings, 46 design team sessions, 42 programming discussions, and 23 targeted user input gatherings.

“We would not be at this point in the process without the thoughtful and consistent feedback we’ve received from those who know these schools best: the people who learn and work in them every day,” Chehak said. “Their voices have been instrumental in helping us to define the form that these projects will ultimately take.”

Further community engagement opportunities are scheduled to take place in September at both Phase 1 sites. Phase 2 work is set to start in September, with staff input sessions for Cherokee Heights marking the official kickoff of this next step in the process.

For more information and project updates, please visit the 2024 Facilities Referendum page of 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.