By Northside News
We asked the four candidates for the Madison Metropolitan School District Board to answer several questions. Two of the seven seats on the school board are up for election.
Blair Mosner Feltham is the Seat 6 incumbent. Daniella Molle is running against her. Nicki Vander Meulen is the Seat 7 incumbent. Dana Colussi-Lynde is running against her.
Why are you seeking to serve on the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) school board?
Mosner Feltham (Seat 6): After a successful first term on the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education, I’m running for reelection because I’m just getting started. I am the best candidate for Seat 6 because I am a classroom teacher running on a record of success, and because stability and continuity matter for making change that sticks. I am the first person to run for reelection to Seat 6 in more than 10 years and have been laying groundwork for needed change around professional development, sustainability, digital devices, budget transparency, and transportation in my second term.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in my first term. I helped hire a strong, permanent superintendent with a long-term vision for MMSD. I secured cost-of-living adjustments in every budget, addressed salary compression in Student Services, fought to keep health care affordable, won incentive pay for substitute teachers, and supported the passage of a $507 million facilities referendum to build modern, functional schools across the district.
Molle (Seat 6): I have lived in Madison for 21 years, been a parent of MMSD students for 12 years, supported MMSD teachers in improving their practice for a decade, volunteered in MMSD classrooms for four years, and served as a parent representative on the Advanced Learning Advisory Committee for two years. I am part of the district personally and professionally, and I want to do what I can to improve the conditions of teaching and learning for students and staff.
Vander Meulen (Seat 7): I am running for re-election on April 7. I am committed to public schools and the children they serve. Strong schools require students to be supported, families to be respected partners, and staff to be valued, heard and empowered to do their best work. There must be transparent decision-making and leadership that listens, advocates, and follows through.
Colussi-Lynde (Seat 7): I am running for the School Board because I want every student in our district to receive a strong public education that prepares them for the future. As a Madison West graduate and the child of two teachers, I understand the role public schools play in our community and how a good education can shape a student’s future. I want to ensure that our students are given a chance to thrive.
What are your top priorities?
Mosner Feltham (Seat 6): My priorities for a second term are clear: continuously improving working and learning conditions for staff and students, supporting full collective bargaining, and continuing to build the political leadership of MMSD so that we can win the state funding that our students need. Public schools are one of our strongest democratic institutions, and the learning experiences we provide today will determine what kind of city and state we become tomorrow.
Molle (Seat 6): Short-term, my top priority is to ensure that all staff in the district, and especially veteran staff, are fairly compensated for their years of service. I am committed to revising the current compensation system while maintaining a balanced budget. Long-term, my priority is to support the district in addressing the persistent opportunity disparities in our district. We need to get better at serving our students of color, and in particular our Black and Latinx students (many of whom are also multilingual learners). We have the talent we need in our teachers, administrators, and district leaders — but we need to change how we go about providing the supports that every child deserves to flourish.
Vander Meulen (Seat 7): My priorities are increased transparency, smaller class sizes, and ending salary compression. In this political climate, all public agencies must be more transparent, including MMSD. We need to increase transparency by providing frequent updates to the community, gathering input, and sharing information. We need to have public comment periods at all board workshops and meetings, as well as videotaping of all Board retreats.
2. Class size. Class sizes in MMSD continue to grow, and many are just too large. Smaller class sizes mean more individualized instruction for all students. In grades K-3, students are learning to read and need the additional attention to meet their needs and raise our literacy scores. There must be a cap of 23 students per PK-3 class.
3. Salary compression. Salary compression needs to be fixed immediately. We have information from consultant studies conducted in previous years to help us develop a fair plan to rectify this problem. The question is not whether salary compression exists — it does. The question is whether we have the will to act.
Colussi-Lynde (Seat 7): My top priority is closing the literacy gap for students of color and students with disabilities. Reading is the foundation for all learning, and too many students are being left behind. I support using proven, science-based reading programs that meet students where they are.
I also believe it is important to recruit and keep more teachers of color, add staff to support behavioral challenges and restorative justice, and continue listening to families so we can reduce bias and build trust. To keep great teachers in our schools, I will fight for teacher pay that is fair and competitive.
Additionally, I will advocate for our district at the state level to bring more funding to our schools. I believe families deserve honesty and transparency about how school funds are spent, especially after recent referendums. I plan to hold listening sessions, so families understand board decisions and how those investments help students.
I also support a responsible AI policy, less screen time, and a bell-to-bell cell phone ban so students can stay focused and engaged. These steps will help students stay focused, safe, and engaged in learning while building strong critical-thinking skills.
Why are you the best candidate?
Mosner Feltham (Seat 6): For the past 15 years, I’ve worked as a classroom teacher and instructional coach. I’ve always been a union member, and was a shop steward at Madison West High School. I’m still teaching today, and staying connected to classrooms shapes how I approach Board work. It keeps my focus on what students and educators actually need to succeed.
Molle (Seat 6): I bring expertise in district improvement and language development. The board makes decisions about budget, policy and accountability based on data about the learning and wellbeing of students and staff. As a board member, I can encourage the district to understand not only if initiatives are working but who they are working for and under what conditions. These important questions can guide the district in making decisions about how to spend resources to address the unacceptable gaps in learning opportunities that currently exist in our district. These improvement-focused questions can also support the district in making evidence-informed decisions about what to stop doing and what to change.
Vander Meulen (Seat 7): I am the best person for MMSD Seat 7. I bring lived experience and my professional expertise as an attorney. I am a true advocate. I have consistently fought for increasing inclusivity, particularly for students with disabilities, paying all staff fairly, advocating for all MMSD Staff, and pushing to make the District more transparent to the public, which is critical to the success of the MMSD School Board.
Colussi-Lynde (Seat 7): I will bring technology skills, strong analytical thinking, and a commitment to listening and collaboration to this role. I am ready to work with our community to support students, teachers and families as your next school board member.
