Statement from Board President Nichelle Nichols and Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard

Dear Madison Community, 

Over the past two weeks there have been incidents involving MMSD students that have been widely publicized in the media and have required police involvement. We understand that this may cause concern. Our top priority is, and always will be, the safety and emotional well-being of every student and staff. We are committed to providing safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for all of our students. This commitment guides every decision we make. 

We are confident that our district and school leadership, Office of School Safety, the Madison Police Department, and other key staff and stakeholders, are doing everything they can to keep our students and staff safe. Additionally, we rely on established, comprehensive safety plans and security measures that our teams routinely test and update to ensure they are running at the highest level of effectiveness. 

When incidents do occur, regardless of the precautions taken, the impact is felt deeply by all of us. In these instances, our hearts go out to any student or staff member who experienced a situation where they were injured or felt unsafe. No one in our schools should be in these situations or feel that way. 

After every incident, we conduct a thorough, post-incident review to analyze our response and identify immediate areas for improvement. Our building principals, along with their teams, are consistently evaluating procedures and protocols in their school buildings in partnership with district leaders and community partners, including law enforcement. 

Madison is a great example of a community that centers around its children. Our leaders, educators, staff, families, community members, and partners play a vital role in providing the sense of security and belonging that our children need to reach their full potential. After all, we know that students learn, grow, and thrive when they feel physically and emotionally secure. 

When all of us come together to focus on our children, we can truly make a difference.  

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have concerns, questions, or simply want to connect to find out how you can be a part of our important work through “Let’s Talk,” our online communications platform.

Sincerely,

Nichelle Nichols
Board President

Joe Gothard, Ed. D.
Superintendent