The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is finalizing its staffing allocations for the 2025-26 academic year, a process conducted annually to ensure resources align with student enrollment and district priorities.
The district says staffing decisions are primarily driven by:
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Projected enrollment;
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Board of Education class size policy; and
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Financial stewardship.
The total staffing allocations distributed to MMSD schools will be nearly a match to the total number of allocations last year, when these were not adjusted last year based on enrollment.
Compared to MMSD’s current allocation levels, the district anticipates an increase of 8.670 full-time equivalents (FTEs) in 2025-26. In addition, approximately 56 FTEs have been restored since the allocation process began on Feb. 14.
MMSD’s elementary and middle schools are up more than 200 students, and its high schools are projected to have 233 fewer students. One middle school alone is projected to have 131 more students next year, showing the need to adjust staffing levels in the building.
The district is also experiencing significant shifts in projected enrollment and distribution of students across individual schools.
Meanwhile, however, according to a Wisconsin Public Radio article published Wednesday, MMSD parents and teachers are voicing concerns over the staffing allocations based on projected enrollment. Dozens of parents reportedly spoke out or wrote letters opposing the districts annual staff allocation process at a school board meeting Monday.
Many of the concerns came from Lapham Elementary School, which is set to lose a second grade teacher. Its remaining two second grade classes will reach a maximum capacity of 27 students each. The school is also losing two special education assistant teachers.
The news comes less than six months after Madison voters passed two school referendums — a $507 million one to replace aging facilities, and a $100 million operations referendum.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the perspectives of MMSD parents and teachers, in addition to that of the district.
