📱 What’s in MMSD’s new cell phone ban

📱 School Board Answers the Call For Cell Phone Limits

If you call your student at school this fall and they don’t answer, don’t assume they’re ghosting you. The Madison School Board passed a long-awaited ban on cell phone usage by students Monday night – although the restrictions vary between high school and K-8 students. [Cap Times]

Here’s what’s in the new restrictions and what motivated the decision.

🗳️ Following State Law: In October 2025, Wisconsin became the 36th state to pass a law limiting cell phone use in schools. The law required districts to have policies in place by July 1 that adhered to the new state restrictions. [PBS Wisconsin]

💬 Months of Debate: The Madison Metropolitan School District has spent the last few months crafting the proposal. In May, district officials released a proposed policy based on the recommendations of five UW-Madison students who studied the issue. [Cap Times]

🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Parents Weigh In: The idea of restricting or banning cell phone use by students had the ardent support of some in the community, and over 50 people submitted public comments in Monday’s school board meeting supporting a ban.

Several Madison parents started the group Parent Check on Tech, which called for banning cell phone use by all high school students except during lunch. [WKOW, Parent Check on Tech]

🏫 Restrictions For High Schoolers: The original proposed policy for high school students would have allowed them to use phones during lunch and between classes. Otherwise, phones need to be turned off and not accessible.

But the school board went even further and removed the exemption for passing hours, even though supporters admitted it will be difficult to enforce the ban in hallways between classes. [Cap Times]

📵 Full Ban For Young Students: For K-8 students, the policy is clearer: No phone usage at any point during the school day. The state law does allow exceptions for emergencies, student health management, students with disabilities, and educational purposes when authorized by a teacher. [News 3]

🗳️ Missy Hughes Drops Out of Gov’s Race: The former head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Missy Hughes, dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor Monday, leaving six candidates in the race. And Hughes has a favorite, she immediately endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.

• On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks about Hughes leaving the race with Madison comedian (and New Yorker humorist!) Emily Winter. They also talk about the departure of another Wisconsin legend – Giannis Antetokounmpo. (More on that below.)
• Emily also shares her inside tips for thrifting during a Madison summer – check out our guide to vintage clothing shops too! . [WPR, New Yorker, 🎧 City Cast Madison]

🛝These Five Madison Playgrounds Are Getting a Makeover: City officials are replacing the equipment at five aging Madison playgrounds. Kennedy, Ontario, Portland, and Sandburg parks on the far east side and Skyview Park on the west side are all getting a glow-up this summer. [ 🔒 WSJ]

🏀 It’s the End of An Era For Wisconsin Sports: Giannis Antetokounmpo, widely considered to be the greatest Milwaukee basketball player of all time, was traded to the Miami Heat on Monday night. Star player Bobby Portis is also part of the trade. The Bucks are getting a real bang for their Buck, including four players, three first-round draft picks, and more to help rebuild the team. [News 3]

⚽ Futsal Facility The Forge Opens on East Side: Fans of futsal, a version of indoor soccer, will get a kick out of The Forge, a new facility that opened this week on Tradewinds Parkway near Stoughton Road. In addition to futsal courts, The Forge has a pizza restaurant and a cafe. [WKOW]

📚 Raise a Black Walnut Manhattan to Leopold’s: Leopold’s Books Bar Caffè, a combination bookstore, cocktail bar, and coffee shop, was named one of the top 3 independent bookstores in the United States according to a readers’ survey by USA Today. [WMTV]

⚾ The Night Mares Came Back From Being Down 8-1? Incredible game at Warner Park Monday night. [Fox47]

⬆️ Last Week’s Photo

It’s located at Crazylegs Plaza, near Camp Randall where Regent Street, Monroe Street, and South Breese Terrace meet!

🎉 Congratulations to Alexander B., Tommy H., and Tanner T. for being the first three people to guess correctly!

⬇️ This Week’s Photo

Where is this located? A few clues:

• It’s on the near east side
• It’s in a historic building that was repurposed into something new
• (I mean, there’s a big clue right there in the photo.)