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Can Madison get this right? Schools, talent and our city’s future

Tuesday, September 22, 2026, 7:30 p.m.

Madison is entering a period of rapid population growth that will significantly affect the Madison Metropolitan School District. This discussion will highlight how MMSD is proactively preparing for this future and why public funding alone will not be enough to meet the challenges. A new level of public-private partnership will be required, with philanthropy playing a major role.

Panelists: Maggie Brickerman, Mo Cheeks, Joe Gothard, Beth Giles-Klinkner

Moderator: Marcelle Haddix

Sponsor: Presented by Madison Public Schools Foundation

Location: Madison College, Goodman Campus, 2429 Perry St.

Tickets: Celebration of Journalism, 5-Day Pass, Tuesday Admission or free in-person with registration required at captimesideafest.com/

Other Sessions

A singular moment: How the world can and should change in the age of artificial intelligence

Monday, Sept. 8th, 1:00 PM
Alta Charo, Alondra Nelson, Dietram Scheufele, Annette Zimmerman
Changes driven by the arrival of powerful artificial intelligence tools are already noticeable, but many commentators say the rise of AI will be among the most profound changes in the history of humanity. An outstanding panel of experts discusses changes we are likely to see on the horizon and how we should respond to them.
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Trump, Gerrymandering and the Rule of Law

Monday, Sept. 8th, 6:00 PM
Jeff Mandell, Kate Shaw
Kate Shaw is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and one of three co-hosts of the podcast “Strict Scrutiny,” which focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court. She, along with Wisconsin attorney Jeff Mandell, will speak with Cap Times associate editor John Nichols about gerrymandering, voting rights and how courts are responding to the Trump administration’s attempts to dramatically expand executive power.
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One-on-One with Maureen Dowd

Monday, Sept. 8th, 7:30 PM
Maureen Dowd
New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has been one of the country’s foremost commentators on presidential politics for three decades, winning the Pulitzer Prize for her work in 1999. She will speak with author David Maraniss, formerly of the Washington Post (and also a Pulitzer winner) about the state of Washington under Donald Trump.
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