Madison Media Digest: Education, Government, Development

Here’s what we were reading while agreeing that we all benefit when Black Lives Matter :

Education

A 110 position staff reduction to Madison Public Schools will hurt efforts to close the achievement gap, according to the president of the teachers union. The school board may have violated the state’s open meetings law by holding some budget discussions in closed session. Four schools in the Madison Public School District will use a $300,000 grant to become “full-service” schools that provide services like homework help, meals and doctor access. Chris Rickert wonders if we aren’t asking too much of the school district.  A new charter school in south Madison aimed at closing the achievement gap, hopes to open this fall. The city plans to change its recruitment process for new teachers in order to create a more diverse workforce.

Madison College wants to sell its downtown campus and expand its presence in South Madison, although some object to the move. Its president says growth in South Madison will help expand educational offerings in an underserved area of town. The state legislature is seeking clarification from the Department of Public Instruction into when parents can opt out of standardized testing. Brian Benford criticized Mayor Soglin for allowing arrests of students during the April 14 protest on East Washington Avenue. Memorial High School continued its dynasty in forensics.

Government and community

Young, Gifted and Black will host a panel on community policing in May. An ongoing debate with the group over police tactics has been a major test of Madison Police Chief Mike Koval’s first year on the job. The UW-Madison Police Department will buy more body-mounted cameras and hopes to use them regularly. The new city government was sworn in for new four-year terms on Tuesday night, including the city’s first black female alders. The Madison Metro bus system is struggling to keep up with its growing ridership. The City Council will review proposed restrictions on where sex offenders can live after some raised objections to the plan. Sunday’s Youth and Unity Summit at Memorial High School focused on bringing people together.

Sidewalks and development

One Madison alder criticized another for encouraging district residents to express opposition to a plan to replace sidewalks on the East Side. A neighborhood resident says the neighborhood objections focus on the process of putting in the sidewalks and the effect on the neighborhood. Chris Rickert is baffled by the opposition to sidewalks and the State Journal editorial board says that sidewalks are good for the city. A plan the city says could generate $22M per year in economic activity on the East Side calls for a brewery and demonstration kitchen. Madison won more than $23M in federal tax credits to build 200 low-income housing units in three neighborhoods. The State Journal supports turning State Street into a public park, removing car access.