What issues might be on voters minds in five months?:

• The District's $418,415,780 2009/2010 budget [1.1MB PDF] ($412,219,577 2008/2009 and $399,835,904 in 2007/2008) and recent property tax increases (the decline in Wisconsin K-12 spending growth - after years of substantial increases is a factor), but dealing with less is a reality for many citizens.
• Governance, in terms of
  • program effectiveness review,
  • Madison School District & Madison Teachers Union Reach Tentative Agreement: 3.93% Increase Year 1, 3.99% Year 2; Base Rate $33,242 Year 1, $33,575 Year 2: Requires 50% MTI 4K Members and will "Review the content and frequency of report cards"
  • the math,
  • fine arts,
  • talented and gifted task forces
  • and the full implementation of "infinite campus", which should reduce costs and improve services
  .
• The term high school redesign appears occasionally along with small learning communities.
• General district and possibly school governance issues may be topical as well.

• National conversations regarding
  • Education school rigor (The UW-Madison School of Education has significant influence on our local District),
  • teacher tenure
  • and Madison's lack of substantial charter school options
  may also be on voter minds.