Must Know On The Go
In a time crunch? Check out this page for your January quick hits. Come back to read more when you have time to explore everything happening in our District!
Key Dates
Work Day - No School
Jan 24
2024-2025 Calendar, for reference
Upcoming Professional Development Days
Jan. 27 and Feb. 17
Retirement Notifications Due
Certified Staff - If you are retiring at the end of this school year, you are required to notify the District by February 1, 2025. Learn more here.
Please email Chris Acker with questions. If you have WRS questions, please contact WRS directly.
Support Staff - Please send an email to the Employee Services Mailbox by March 4, 2025 at 10 a m to be included in the District’s annual retirement dinner Each year, the District hosts a dinner to honor and celebrate staff members as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Your timely response will help the District plan appropriately and ensure that we can celebrate each retiree's contributions properly.
Last year’s retirement dinner
Staff Stars
Recognizing Excellence in Education
Asher Torbeck MCPASD Safety & Security Coordinator
Kevin Thompson Middleton High School
Rodger Siver Glacier Creek Middle School
Julie Carbon Kromrey Middle School
Cassidy Ruchti Kromrey Middle School
Thank you for keeping our schools safe!
Sharing our gratitude for our Safety and Security Coordinator and our School Resource Officers! In honor of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Jan. 9, we recognize this dedicated team for their hard work protecting our schools and serving our community. They partner closely with the Middleton and Cross Plains Police Departments. Thank you to Asher, Julie, Cassidy, Rodger, Kevin, and Kim for their commitment to serving the District and our communities!
Give a shoutout!
Complete the shoutout Google form to give a colleague kudos for their great work and passion for our students and staff. The form will remain open all school year, so keep the shoutouts coming!
Articles
Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our District will observe Martin Luther King, Jr., Day on Jan. 20 to celebrate the life, legacy and contributions of the civil rights leader. Teachers and staff ensured that students had several opportunities to reflect on and learn about the values Dr. King is most known for: respect, understanding, and service to others
Athletic Director Jamie Sims said that both the girls' and boys' varsity basketball teams participated in an event at Sun Prairie West on Jan. 15, which included a panel discussion with prominent community leaders and educational activities related to Dr King
The Jan 15 event set the stage for the showcase event: the MLK Big 8 Showcase The Jan 18 tournament was held at Sun Prairie East for boys varsity basketball and Sun Prairie West for girls varsity basketball.
In addition, Middleton High School and students from Kromrey and Glacier Creek were honored at the Urban League of Greater Madison’s ceremony for Outstanding Young Person Awards ceremony on Jan 19
Middleton High School boys and girls varsity basketball players at the Sun Prairie West event on Jan. 15, ahead of the MLK Big 8 Showcase tournament.
Reporters Attended Media Breakfast
The Information & Public Relations team hosted a media breakfast on Jan. 17 to strengthen relationships with the District’s media partners. Several journalists from NBC 15 and the Middleton Times-Tribune attended.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Jerrud Rossing, Director of Information & Public Relations Shannon Valladolid, Multilingual Support Specialist Soly Rodriguez, and Public Relations Specialist Carrie Brooker shared updates on District rebranding efforts, sustainability initiatives, how the District is responding to changing demographics in our student population and additional upcoming news stories from our schools.
Journalists were highly engaged and asked extensive follow-up questions. Watch for MCPASD stories from our media partners in the news!
Introducing our New Public Relations Specialist
Welcome our new Public Relations Specialist, Carrie Brooker, to the Information & Public Relations team! Carrie joins the District after serving as a communications consultant and freelance writer for companies including Thomson Reuters, Madison Magazine, Page 2 Communications, and YouCompli, among others. Join us in welcoming Carrie to the District!
Articles
Branding and Logo Website
Old Logo
New Logo
Did you know it’s been almost 10 years since the District launched its current logo? It was introduced in 2016 under Superintendent Don Johnson.
Among the priorities in the District’s Strategy Map is rebranding/refreshing District communication materials with an emphasis on enrollment marketing and talent attraction. With growing competition and declining enrollment trends affecting districts nationwide, including MCPASD, how a district presents itself has become increasingly important
Check out the new Branding and Logos website, a resource for downloading stand alone District logos as well as templates for letterhead, PowerPoint slides, and more. The website is easy to use and a helpful way for the District to build a cohesive brand identity that reflects district values, builds trust, and enhances community recognition
Updating all of the District’s elementary school mascots is one of the next phases of our branding refresh. Watch for more details – and revamped mascot logos – later this year!
Articles
Celebrating Our Incredible CAPS Team and Their Impact on Student Success!
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Central to this success is our dedicated CAPS team, whose hard work and guidance have been instrumental in supporting our students. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of:
Program Coordinator and Instructor Shane Leadholm
Communications Instructor Elisabeth Slotten
Molecular Research Instructor Melissa Burgos
Business Solutions Instructor Brian Zimdars
Our associates delivered impressive presentations, sharing their project outcomes, CAPS journeys, and the lessons they've learned. Students from CAPS Biology Research and Design, Business Solutions, and Career Launch showcased industry partner projects and individual research work, reflecting the excellent mentorship they received.
Our collaborations with Marketini Media, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, Fetch Rewards, Multicultural Student Achievement Network (MSAN), and UW Credit Union provided students with valuable real-world experiences. These partnerships emphasize the supportive network that makes the CAPS program possible.
We look forward to sharing more updates from the CAPS program soon!
Celebrations
MCPASD Recognized for 42 Years of Membership by Middleton Chamber of Commerce
Superintendent Dr Dana Monogue and Career & Technical Education Coordinator Dave Thomas accepted the certificate on behalf of the District.
On Jan 25 at the Middleton Chamber of Commerce meeting, the District was honored with a certificate recognizing its 42 years of membership This milestone highlighted the District's commitment to fostering strong partnerships in the local business community.
Dr. Dana Monogue, an ex-officio board member of the chamber, and Career & Technical Education Coordinator Dave Thomas accepted the certificate. The District's dedication to education and community engagement plays a vital role in enhancing Middleton's reputation as a city with a high quality of life The Middleton Chamber of Commerce acknowledges the critical contributions of institutions like MCPASD in promoting economic development and community well-being.
Celebrations
Emily Huttenburg Selected as a Council Member for Wisconsin State Superintendent’s Reading Advisory Council
Middleton High School Reading Specialist Emily Huttenburg has been selected as a 2024-2026 council member for the Wisconsin State Superintendent’s Reading Advisory Council
Established in 2022, the Reading Advisory Council represents diverse Wisconsin community members committed to strengthening literacy learning in Wisconsin’s schools.
Council members have the opportunity to strengthen students' use of literacy – reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and representing – to deepen their understanding of themselves and others, gain knowledge, and meaningfully participate in a democratic society.
Emily formally joined the Reading Advisory Council at the group’s Dec 9, 2024, meeting We're proud to highlight Emily for her leadership and service on the council. Join us in congratulating Emily on this recognition and wishing her the best as she begins her new term!
Check out the Reading Advisory Council’s website for more information and a list of all council members: https://dpi.wi.gov/wi-reads/rac
Celebrations
Brad Crandell Recognized as a Certified Athletic Administrator
Assistant Athletic Director Brad Crandell has been recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) as a Certified Athletic Administrator.
To earn this distinction, Brad demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in the field of interscholastic athletic administration. The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of his educational background, experience, and professional contributions, as well as a rigorous, comprehensive written examination.
“The work we get to do each day as a department here at MHS has helped immensely in my journey to becoming a CAA, and I cannot thank our Athletics Team at MHS enough for the opportunity to learn and grow each day we work together,” Brad said.
A shoutout to Brad for all of his hard work and congratulations on earning the certification!
Reminders
Key Dates: January and February
Work Day - No School
Jan. 24
2024-2025 Calendar, for reference
Upcoming Professional Development Days
Jan. 27 and Feb. 17
Retirement Notifications Due
Certified Staff - If you are retiring at the end of this school year, you are required to notify the District by Feb. 1. Learn more here.
Please email Chris Acker with questions If you have WRS questions, please contact WRS directly.
Support Staff - please send an email to to the Employee Services Mailbox by March 4 at 10 a.m. to be included in the District’s annual retirement dinner. Each year the District hosts a dinner to honor and celebrate staff members as they embark on the next chapter of their lives
Your timely response will help the District plan appropriately and ensure that we can celebrate each retiree's contributions properly.
Last year’s retirement dinner
Free Virtual Fitness Program with Coaches
Through our new Employee Assistance Program, we have access to LIFT fitness sessions. They are available on your mobile device, so you can stay active anytime, anywhere Chat live online with fitness coaches who can help with fitness, nutrition, and recovery questions you have Each session lasts 30 minutes, and the typical journey is three sessions per week for a total duration of six weeks. No equipment required. Click here to learn more and sign up.
Earn up to $150 from Dean Living Healthy Rewards
Earn up to $150 in gift cards per calendar year just for participating in healthier lifestyle activities The rewards are available to all Dean Health Plan members. For those on a family plan, spouses and adult dependents can also earn rewards each year. Simply log in and complete the health risk assessment to receive $50 and unlock the rest of the rewards. Here’s a handout to help guide you and a video to walk you through the process.
Discounted Organic Food Delivered to Your Building
Brewer’s Organic has many organic food options (some local, especially during the Wisconsin growing season) They are extending an offer of 10% off if three or more people from your building order each week If you’re interested, please complete this short form so we can connect you with others in your building who are interested in participating. To learn more, view the flyer.
2025 Health Risk Assessment Information
MCPASD employees who carry our health insurance are eligible to receive a 3% savings on their health insurance premiums.
Research shows that connecting with a health care provider annually and being up to date on age/gender appropriate screenings contributes to a happier, healthier life. To help support the well-being of MCPASD employees and their spouses, we offer a 3% rate differential on health insurance premiums if the HRA process is completed. If you qualify, you would have received an email on 12/12/24 from MCPASD Wellness with the subject “IMPORTANT: Action is needed for your Health Risk Assessment (HRA)” with all of the specific details.
When/Who?
Last year, we began offering the rate differential when MCPASD employees, only, completed the process. To receive a rate differential for the 2026 health insurance plan year, spouses, only, must complete the process. Our intention is to move forward with biannual HRAs for employees and spouses (alternating years).
Special cases for employees:
1
If you are on an individual plan and completed the HRA process in 2024, there is no action needed You will automatically receive the discount for 2026 premiums.
2.
If you are on an individual plan and were not required to complete the HRA process in 2024 because you were new to the District, you have the opportunity to complete the HRA process (due Nov. 15, 2025) to receive the 3% savings for 2026 premiums.
3 (continues on next page)
If you are on an individual plan and did not complete the HRA process in 2024 but would like to receive the 3% savings on your 2026 premiums, you can complete the process this year (due Nov 15, 2025)
What is the savings?
As an incentive, we offer a 3% rate differential on health insurance premiums for the following plan year if the HRA process is completed
The 3% rate differential is a difference of:
$19.94 per month for a single plan or $51.37 per month for a family plan on the HMO and Point of Service Health Plans ($239.28/$616.44 annual savings)
$14 07 per month for a single plan or $36 04 for a family plan on the High Deductive Health Plan ($168 84/$432 48 annual savings)
Notes: Figures are based on full time employment and based on 2024 health insurance rates. Base rates will change slightly for 2025.
Employee Benefits
Employee Benefits Webpage
Thinking about retirement?
Our benefits team held a virtual meeting to discuss Teacher Retirement information on Dec. 17, 2024. The recording is available here: Video: Teacher Retirement Information Meeting or you can find more information on our webpage: MCPASD Employee Benefits - Retirement Information. You can also review our presentations:
MCPASD Retirement Information for Teachers
MCPASD Retirement Information for Support Staff
Teachers: Please email Dr. Barb Buffington by Feb. 1, 2025, if you are retiring at the end of the 2024-25 school year.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our benefits team!
Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) learning opportunities: January and February Webinars
In person Group Retirement Appointments
ETF: Member Education
Save Money on Your Prescriptions
You have two options when it comes to paying for prescription drugs: Have the prescription run through your insurance. This will count towards your deductible (HDHP/HMO) and will include a copay (HMO: $6/$20/$30) Prescription drug prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy To find the location with the lowest price, follow these instructions To have maintenance medication sent right to you and save money, explore the Dean Health Plan Mail Order Pharmacy Program. Additionally, there are a number of prescription drugs that qualify for Dean’s cost-saving, tablet splitting program. Utilizing the least expensive pharmacy will help HDHP members save money, keep more money in their Health Savings Account (HDHP) and will help everyone (HDHP & HMO) by contributing to a lower Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) and help us negotiate lower insurance hikes in the future
Pay for the prescription (for much less) out-of-pocket. You may choose to use this option if the price you find is substantially less than if you went through insurance. HDHP users might choose to use this option if you are not a frequent health insurance user and would prefer to keep money in your HSA.
Note that using this option does NOT get run through insurance, meaning it will not count towards your deductible The instructions for this can be found here
Employee Personnel
New Skyward Login Option
The District has a new option for signing in to Skyward - Single Sign On (SSO) through Google You can now use the Skyward SSO link to sign in to Skyward. This link is also in your Google Chrome browser folder labeled MCPASD.
This link will only work while using the web version of Skyward. You will still need to sign in traditionally if you use the Skyward App
The previous method of signing in to Skyward is still functional.
Please write an Incident IQ ticket if you have any questions or have problems signing in to Skyward.
Stopping Annualized Pay for Hourly Employees
On Monday, January 13, 2025, an email notice was sent to MCPASD Support Staff to state a change in payroll. Starting July 1, 2025, all hourly employees will be paid for the actual hours worked during each pay period. This change from annualized pay will put all hourly employees on the same pay schedule and is consistent with the best practices in other Districts. This affects Para Educators (Reg Ed, Spec Ed, Health Assistants, LMC, Bilingual, Bus/Lunch Duty, Music), Custodians & Maintenance, Transportation Center Mechanics, and PSSP staff
Important topics from the email are shown below:
TIMING AND PAY PERIODS
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
ACTION NEEDED EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025
PAYROLL CALENDARS EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025
QUESTIONS AND INFO SESSIONS
Please read carefully to be sure you understand this information. Because of this change we are offering the opportunity for you to meet individually with a member of our team to ask questions, gain understanding, and provide guidance.
Touching Base With Teaching and Learning
Student Services
Celebrating our Commitment to Student Well-Being
A heartfelt thank you to our entire Student Services Department for their dedication in completing two important student screeners. The first, our annual trauma screener, was administered to students in grades 3, 6, and 9 (CSCS) The second, the Social Skills Improvement System Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health screener (SSIS SELb+MH), was completed by students in grades 4, 7, and 9. These tools play a vital role in identifying and addressing the social, emotional, and mental health needs of our students, enabling us to foster a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Our student services team continues to provide individualized follow-up with hundreds of students, offering and facilitating interventions and ensuring that every child receives the support they need
Teaching and Learning
We also want to extend our gratitude to all MCPASD staff for cultivating classroom and school environments that prioritize socialemotional learning. Your use of Developmental Designs (9-12) and Responsive Classroom (K-8) strategies has made a measurable impact. Insights from our MCPASD Student Engagement Survey, SSIS SELb+MH data, and Dane County Youth Assessment affirm the positive influence you have on our students' well-being and engagement.
Check out the linked flyers if you are interested in learning more about our paid summer training opportunities in Developmental Designs (high school) and Responsive Classroom (elementary only; Middle Level training information coming soon!)
Here's to a remarkable 2025 filled with continued growth and success!
Multilingual Services
As we wind down ACCESS testing on Jan. 31, 2025, we want to extend a huge thank you to everyone for your support of our students during this testing window!
Students’ scores will be sent to us at the end of April. We use them to measure individual student growth as well as how we are supporting students in their English learning across the system. Scores are also important for determining who is eligible to exit services, who will remain in programming for 2025-26, and what types of programming/support they will receive. Thank you again for your flexibility and for all the work you do every day in service of our multilingual learners!
Chris Mand Director of Student Services
Sersch-Morstad Director of Multilingual Services
Mandi
Special Education
Thank you to all our special educators and paraeducators for continuing to provide daily support and services to our students with disabilities
The Adaptive Sports League is starting their winter season of floor hockey. Feb. 5 is a home event against Sun Prairie East at 5:30 p.m. Come join the fun and cheer on our high school students!
Cardinal Academy in the Early Learning Center continues to make coffee, tea, and hot chocolate Friday mornings 8:30-9:15ish Stop by the ELC for a cup to go and say hello! The students love having customers! Cash donations accepted.
Professional learning for special educators continues into January. The focus continues to be on alignment of disability related needs, goals, specially designed instruction and progress monitoring. Approximately 25 special education staff members are attending an after school book club during the month of January The book is Navigating PDA in America: A Framework to Support Anxious, Demand-Avoidant Autistic Children, Teens and Young Adults.
Data & Assessment Coordinator | Andrew Close
I sincerely appreciate your dedication and hard work in your recent and ongoing administration of the STAR and aimsWebPlus assessments
I wanted to share some important information about STAR SGP (Student Growth Percentile) to help you understand and utilize this valuable data. STAR SGP measures student growth compared to their peers nationwide. It's scored on a scale of 1 to 99, where a higher SGP indicates greater growth For example, an SGP of 70 means the student has grown more than 70% of their academic peers nationwide
You can find STAR SGP data in NextPath
- Go to View Data
- Select the STAR Reading/STAR Math premade chart icon
- Adjust filters as needed
Andrew Close Data & Assessment Coordinator
This quadrant chart will show you students' Risk Levels (At/Above Benchmark, On Watch, Intervention) in relation to their STAR Growth. This helps identify students who need extra support or those ready for more challenging learning opportunities. Select one of the quadrants to further drilldown to student names and scores You can also find a score and at-target correlation on the right side of the page to help you analyze trends in the data
Upon completion of the winter assessments, NextPath is a valuable resource for locating and analyzing your student data. The assessment hub provides numerous resources to guide you through navigating programs like NextPath. If you require further assistance, please submit a ticket through Incident IQ.
Elementary & Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Dr. Jan Chynoweth
Director
of Secondary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Dr. MaryBeth Paulisse
Director
of Elementary Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Welcome back! We hope everyone had a wonderful break filled with just what you needed!
As we enter into 2025, we continue to focus on the implementation of our new Savvas literacy curriculum K-8. Thank you, as well, for the dedication and lift of our K-8 ELA teachers, and the support given from our instructional coaches and administrators, as we embrace our new literacy curriculum We love seeing the amazing things happening in our schools! We look forward to seeing more of your classrooms, as we will continue walkthroughs in K-8 classrooms with a focus on literacy implementation this year.
Another current focus is the new Act 20 literacy screenings at the 4K-3 levels. For those of you at other levels, Act 20 was passed by the Wisconsin legislature and requires a “scientific-based approach to literacy” across classrooms in Wisconsin. Our new literacy curriculum K-8 meets those requirements. Another component of Act 20 is a state-required literacy screener for all students in 4K-3 grades. K-3 teachers began this assessment this month 4K staff will administer the assessment in the spring Any student who scores below the 25th percentile in grades K-3 will require a personal reading plan We know this is new learning for all of us, and we appreciate all you are doing to complete the screening process and write reading plans.
Lastly, we appreciate all of our staff who are participating in Curriculum Renewal teams this year. We are currently working with the Career and Technical Education Team, Performing Arts (Music and Theater), 9-12 English Language Arts, World Language, and K-12 Reading Intervention Teams Many of these team members agree to take time away from their demanding teaching responsibilities to deeply consider our priority standards, the spiraling of standards and skills, as well as the resources and approach we need to increase outcomes for all students.
We wish you nothing but the best in the new year!