Air Force One departed Madison at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday after President Barack Obama delivered a major education policy speech at Wright Middle School.

He had boarded the plane 10 minutes earlier, and Gov. Jim Doyle followed.

In the speech, Obama called for education to become "America's national mission."

Obama's motorcade arrived at Wright Middle School at 1 p.m. today.

The motorcade made its way from Dane County Regional Airport to the school via the interstate and the Beltline.

At 1:14, the crowd at Wright Middle School was asked to shut off their cell phones and other mobile devices or turn them to vibrate.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the subject of speculation on whether he will run for governor in 2010, conspicuously entered the gym to scattered applause.

Ari Davis, a sixth grader at Wright Middle School, just led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance while Miko Jobst, eighth grade, and Laura Smith, seventh grade, joined orchestra teacher Erika Meyer in performing the National Anthem.

Earlier, Wright principal Nancy Evans told students: "The president of the United States of America is here in the same place where you walk the halls," she tells students, urging them to "take this moment in history as nourishment to prepare yourselves for your future life's work."

Air Force One touched down at 12:22 p.m., and Obama walked down the stairway with Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Obama greeted Gov. Jim Doyle and visited with local dignitaries for about five minutes. He pecked Doyle's wife, Jessica Doyle, on the cheek and patted Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz on the back.

Then he entered a presidential limousine surrounded by Secret Service agents and departed. Doyle and the others left with the motorcade, which is made up of about 26 vehicles, including press vans and Secret Service vehicles.

The plane came into view about 12:20 p.m.

Earlier, preparations at the airport were near frantic late this morning as officials prepared for the arrival of Air Force One.

Security at the airport was overwhelming, with all cars undergoing thorough searches, bomb-sniffing dogs circling television trucks, Secret Service agents everywhere and snipers taking positions on rooftops.

The list of dignitaries that greeted Obama included the Doyles, Cieslewicz, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.

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