Madison City Schools

Photos from Liberty Middle School's Fine Arts Night
Posted by John Peck on 4/8/2022

Liberty Middle hosted Fine Arts Night, showcasing programs in band, choir, theater, and art. Here are a few photos from that evening. Lots of talent at LMS:

BJ/JC Earn State 'School of Distinction' Honors
Posted by John Peck on 3/3/2022

Congratulations to Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools for being named CLAS Banner Schools of Distinction. Bob Jones was recognized for its Building Construction Academy programs. James Clemens was recognized for its Jet Student Leadership program.

CLAS is the Council of Leadership for Alabama Schools. The School of Distinction recognizes "school programs that serve as outstanding educational models for other schools in Alabama." These exemplary schools/programs will be honored in an awards luncheon in May.

Bob Jones received the CLAS Banner School of Distinction in 2018 for the implementation of Patriot Path and is now being recognized for the impact the Construction Academy has on the school culture. Led by BJ teacher Steven Lanford, many students now serve as leaders in the Construction Club and becoming known in building circles as "toolbox rockstars," with projects that include many fixtures around the school: tables and swinging benches in the school's courtyard, new ramps, outdoor concrete pads in congregating areas, parking lot striping, community projects like a playhouse for Habitat for Humanity, even a postbox for postcards mailed to space through a program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

Jets Students Leadership Team was established in 2015. Its creation was out of the school's recognition that Empowering Students For Global Success (the vision statement of Madison City Schools) requires teaching students leadership skills and taking an active role in their schools and community while promoting good citizenship and service. The Student Government Association, under the direction of JC teacher Melanie Turner, partners with the Jet Student Leadership Program in this initiative and their works are readily visible throughout the school and community.

“Congratulations to these wonderful Alabama public schools. The CLAS Schools of Distinction provide excellent examples of the significant learning opportunities taking place in public education in Alabama. Further, the stakeholders at every School of Distinction are to be commended for striving for excellence daily,” said Dr. Vic Wilson, executive director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS).

Patriot Pride A Key Outreach To Incoming BJ Students
Posted by John Peck on 2/28/2022

On Thursday, February 24, Bob Jones hosted the rising 9th graders at Patriot Pride. Mrs. Lambert stated, “Patriot Pride was an exciting day for our rising 9th graders to learn more about our Bob Jones culture! Our teachers and students did a fantastic job in sharing a glimpse of ways to get involved at BJ”.

Patriot Pride exists to ignite a sense of Bob Jones pride in our rising 9th grade as they get a brief glimpse of life as a Patriot. We have a rich culture of  tradition, legacy, and family that we hope they will all grab onto and find where they connect at the Bob.

Prior to the day, 8th grade DMS students had a choice of which path they wanted to take for Patriot Pride; the RED or BLUE path. This simulated our weekly Patriot Path because students get to choose what path they take to connect student to student, student to faculty, and student to community. The RED path leaned towards getting insight about our Fine Arts programs. The BLUE path allowed the students to explore Career Tech Academies. But when it comes to choosing classes, all paths at BJ are open to the rising 9th graders to explore!

Current students shared their love and passion for being a Patriot. Senior Jillian Pennell focused on connecting as she welcomed the blue group in the gym. “So my biggest advice to you is to get plugged in somewhere, you don’t have to be a part of everything, but be a part of something. The doors are open, and the possibilities are endless”.

Senior Bryson Tesseneer reassured the 8th graders in the auditorium not to stress about their courses. “What you take your freshman year does not define what you have to take for the rest of your high school career. If you start a course curriculum, such as health science and decide it’s not for you: no big deal. Find something that feels right to you for the next year. The sky's the limit and I’m confident that every one of you will find something that you can be passionate about”.

Students were invited to come back that evening to Curriculum Night with their parents so they could hear from the counselors, ask questions to teachers about courses, and learn more about some of the clubs that are offered.

Rising 9th and new student building tours will take place in the summer.

More information about Course Registration may be found on our Bob Jones website. 

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• Patriot Pride Highlights from Patriot Pages
• Patriot Pride Highlight Video
• Curriculum Night Highlight from Patriot

Madison Walking Tour App Designed By JCHS Student
Posted by John Peck on 11/12/2021 12:00:00 PM

A Madison student has developed an app that guides users on a historic walk through downtown Madison.
Finley Koswoski, a sophomore at James Clemens High School, joined Madison historic leaders and the 4th grade classes of Madison Elementary to formally announce the Walking Tour of Madison Smart Phone App.
The app is available through this link: Walking Tour of Historic Madison | Madison AL

Finley said the app creation was for credit in a Girl Scouts project and she learned a lot from it about her hometown.
James Clemens Principal Dr. Brian Clayton accompanied Finley to the app kickoff today on the steps of Madison Elementary - one of 40 stops on the app in the downtown Madison area.
The app enables users to take a self-guided tour while reading or listening to interesting tales about Madison's past. Some of the narratives came from interviews Finley conducted, including one from a 97 year old resident.
The historic association worked with Madison City School leaders to align content of the app tour with curriculum. Dr. Clayton noted the Finley has attended MCS schools since her beginning at Heritage Elementary, then Liberty Middle, and now JCHS.
Assisting Finley in the app development include the Rotary Club of Madison, (Sunset), Madison Visionary Partners, Madison Station Historical Preservation Society, Madison Chamber of Commerce, and the Girl Scouts of America.
Here are photos from a brief walking tour today with Madison Elementary students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welding Sparks Interest In Madison City Schools
Posted by John Peck on 11/5/2021 12:00:00 PM
A parent-student information meeting was held here Nov. 4 on a plan to bring welding instruction to Madison City Schools.
Turnout on the new dual enrollment Craft Academy Welding course was amazing, with nearly 60 in attendance.

Overflow Crowd at the Welding Meet at BJHS

MCS administrators are excited to offer this addition to our Career Tech programs.
A few weeks ago, we shared that Ed Castile from AIDT plans to partner with MCS to begin offering a dual enrollment welding program starting January 2022.
Through this welding program, students will have the opportunity to pursue several industry welding certifications.
Thank you to Mr. Ernest Collier from AIDT for meeting with our families. Students who are interested should contact their school counselor. 

MCS Partners In Dyslexia Teacher Training
Posted by John Peck on 10/1/2021

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and Madison City Schools is partnering with neighboring school systems and Greengate School at Randoph School in a $50,000 grant for dyslexia teacher training.

The local Women's Philanthropy Society donation will help train teachers at Randolph, Madison City Schools, Madison County Schools and Huntsville City Schools to help the approximately one in five children across the community who are dyslexic or have reading difficulties.

"We are grateful for the Women's Philanthropy Society and their generosity and leadership," said Adam Dube', Randolph's head of school. "This grant establishes a partnership between Greengate School and our area public schools in the service to children. We are excited to work together to train educators in delivering research-based Orton-Gillingham instruction to students with dyslexia so that all students have the opportunity to reach their potential, which has been the mission of Greengate School for nearly 20 years." 

The specialized training will cover approximately 90 teachers split evenly between the three districts. The Orton-Gillingham method is scientifically proven to improve the struggling readers' ability to read, write, spell and comprehend.

Madison City Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said, "A teacher trained in how to recognize dyslexia and provide strategies to students can be the one person who helps a child and his/her family from years of anxiety and frustration. That's why this initiative with Greengate can be such a game changer for dyslexic learners. MCS is pleased to partner with Greengate along with Huntsville and Madison County Schools for training that will help students through this challenge. I want to especially thank the Community Foundation for its support in this effort."

 

COVID Supply Packs, BJ Band, Get River of Hope Grants
Posted by John Peck on 9/29/2020

Madison City Schools is the recipient of two grants from the River of Hope project launched by Madison Visionary Partners.
The funds will go to the Bob Jones Band and also pay for hip packs for teachers that will make masks, sanitizers and other PPE easily accessible.

Dr. Ed Nichols, foreground, at River of Hope Grant Awards

Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols and BJHS Assistant Band Director Kevin Smart accepted the checks on behalf of MCS in a ceremony at Dublin Park.
That is where the River of Hope is located, featuring rocks painted with inspiring messages. Funds came from pledges, donations and sponsorships of the rocks.
"This is about the community coming together in a time of crisis to help each other and meet needs on the ground," said Liz Brinton, executive director of Madison Visionary Partners.

Bob Jones HS Assistant Band Director Kevin Smart
 

Other recipients of River of Hope grants include the AUM Foundation, American Legion, Madison Public Library, Madison CEO and Fantasy Playhouse.

The COVID packs were sorted and stuffed by students at James Clemens High School. If not for COVID-19 restrictions, such skills could be learned in community based instruction at work sites.

James Clemens High School student sorting and packing COVID hip packs for teachers

 

Bob Jones Seniors Cheered In Drive By School Bus Tour; JC Via Billboard Shoutout
Posted by John Peck on 5/4/2020

Seniors at Madison City Schools had their final year cut short in more ways than just time in class.
Senior prom; final athletic, theater and musical performances; memorable goodbyes to favorite teachers and friends, and other special moments.

Administrators and teachers from both high schools are trying hard to give seniors a memorable sendoff.
James Clemens High School leased billboards that rotate the names of every graduating senior with their photo. The displays will be up through the month of May.

Bob Jones High School distributed yard signs to seniors to display in their yard along with a declaration of their future plans, whether that be college, the military or the workforce.

Teachers and adminstrators spent the day on a schoolbus May 1, honking, cheering and waving shakers through the bus windows.

It was an emotional moment for some teachers and students, who were deprived of closure by schools abruptly closing due to COVID-19.

All in all a great day to reminisce their wonderful experience in school and to celebrate the next chapter in their lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Children's Book Author/Illustrator Wows Madison Students
Posted by John Peck on 3/6/2020

Madison City 2nd and 3rd graders heard a talk from best selling author Jarrett Krosoczka, whose works include the Lunch Lady series, Star Wars Jedi Academy, Platypus Police Squad and more.

He informed the kids about the world of writing, illustrating, and publishing. He also offered tips on what makes a good story/illustration. Also, life lessons like never giving up on your passion. He was rejected multiple times by publishers but kept pushing past all the rejections.
Madison City 6th graders attended a later session with Mr. Krosoczka.
The program was sponsored jointly with Madison Public Libary and held in the Bob Jones High School auditorium.
Winners of a bookmark contest were also announced.

The 2nd grade winner (left side in the photo) was Kassidy Kemp in Mrs. Elzagha's class at Rainbow Elementary.
The 1st place winner (right in photo) for 3rd grade was Allison Kim in Mrs. Austin's class at Heritage Elementary

• Jarrett Krosoczka
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

Madison City Construction Students Get Insiders Tour of Stadium Site
Posted by John Peck on 9/25/2019

Stadium job site tour by JC and BJ students

Construction managers with Turner Construction, the general contractor, were gracious with their time leading students on a tour, pointing out various construction features, and offering insights into construction-related jobs.

What a great opportunity for students to learn career opportunities in the skilled trades industry and make the connection between classroom curriculum and tangible careers in the workforce.

Superintendent Robby Parker, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Heather Donaldson and district Career Coach Kaleb Owens joined students on the tour, along with their instructors, Steven Lanford at Bob Jones and Austin Burke at James Clemens.
Several media were in attendance as well.

Turner official explaining construction design
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JC, BJ students on job site tour in Madison

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning about construction design

 

 

 

 

 

Unfinished seating area overlooking ball field

 

 

 

 

 

 

Construction academy instructors Austin Burke (L) of JC; and Steven Lanford, center, of BJ, interviewed by reporter

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L-R) JC instructor Austin Burke, Supt. Robby Parker,
MCS Career Coach Kaleb Owens and a Turner  official.

 

 

 

 

 

BJ construction academy instructor Steven Lanford, left,
with Supt. Robby Parker. 

 

 

 

 

 

BJ and JC students on walk through of the new
Trash Pandas stadium in Madison.
 

 

 

 

 

Supt. Robby Parker greeted by team owner Ralph Nelson
(left) as Turner Construction official looks on.

 

 

 

 

 

Students walking through seating area of stadium

 

 

 

 

 

Students getting a briefing from Turner Construction
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A walk by of some of the concrete features
 

 

 

 

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Blueberries Added to Growning List of Local Produce in Madison Schools
Posted by John Peck on 9/9/2019

Madison City Schools is a leader in the growing Farm-to-School program in Alabama.
Apples, watermelons, oranges, cantaloupe and melons have been among the locally grown produce served in school cafeterias since the initiative began several years ago.

Liberty Middle cantaloupe & blueberries from local farms

Friday, a new staple made its debut at Liberty Middle School - fresh blueberries from a farm in Cullman. Cantaloupe from Chilton County was also served.
The berries were picked this summer by volunteers led by LMS teacher Jane Haithcock from the Bagwell Blueberry Farm in Cullman.

• WZDX Fox 54 story
• WAAY-31 story

Cameron Clark, CNP supervisor for Madison City Schools

But in a twist from other fresh fruit offerings, they were immediately frozen rather than served days from harvest. The freeze-storage is part of a pilot project MCS was tasked to lead testing the practicality of picking, then freeze-storing produce to stretch their season of availability.
“One of the challenges of farm-to-school initiatives is being able to find ways to store the produce to serve beyond the growing season,” said Marty Tatara, coordinator of the Child Nutrition Program in Madison City Schools. “If schools and growers can find a way to manage that, markets can grow to make farm-to-school produce more economical and nutritious to serve over a longer period of time.”
The Farm Food Collaborative is a project of the Food Bank of North Alabama that serves as a local food hub to get locally grown fruits and vegetables into local schools.
The buy-local focus supports local farmers. It can also reduce nutrition depletion from long storage and shipping times.
 

"Base 10" Activities Part of Character Learning at WMES
Posted by John Peck on 8/30/2019

West Madison Elementary held a "boot camp" today with activities centered around behavioral and character learning.
Faculty got in the act dressing in camo and  staging obstacle courses built around lesson plans.

There were no stern orders at this boot camp. Kids delighted in the activity and seemed to soak up the lesson at each station.

The Base 10 Behaviors covered disciplines such as Being the Best You, Learning from your Mistakes, Be Self-Motivated, Respecting Other Opinions, Showing Respect with Actions, Honesty, Manners, Speaking and Active Listening Skills and Taking Pride in Self, Work and Community.

Faculty designed the program after attending the Ron Clark Academy for Educators. The goal of faculty and staff is to have students leave WMES with the basic social skills that are essential throughout their life. That journey to excellence starts with a strong BASE, as in Base 10.
WAFF-48 and WHNT-19 covered today's event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Local Legislators/BOE Members, Visit BJ and DMS Classrooms
Posted by John Peck on 8/27/2019

Madison lawmakers and several MCS Board members got a taste of school life today, visiting classrooms and hearing students explain their coursework and school experience.

BJHS Biomedical Internship class

The visit gave a hands-on perspective of some of the great instruction going on in our schools. 
It also gave students the opportunity to meet and discuss issues with area leaders and offer opinions on ways to improve the school experience. 

The tours at Bob Jones High School and Discovery Middle were coordinated by MCS Secondary Instruction Coordinator Sharon Powell with input from principals and their assistants.

A similar tour is planned next month at James Clemens High School and Liberty Middle.

The entourage of visitors included State Sen. Tom Butler, State Rep. Mike Ball, Triana Mayor Mary Caudle and Board members Travis Cummings and Luis Ferrer.

DMS STEM Class

The DMS visit included a visit to the bandroom and a meeting with school custodial and CNP workers. The group dropped in Laura Collins' Code Space class, Sara Baragona's Digital Publishing class, the Medical Detectives class taught by David Sippel and a STEM class taught by Amanda Haynes.

 

 

Student panel at BJHS

 

 

 

 

 

 

BJHS class

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BJHS Intro to Engineering Design Class 

 

 

 

 

 

Medical Detectives Class at DMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CodeSpace Class at DMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital Publishing Tools class at DMS
 

 

 

 

 

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Random Scenes From The 1st Day of School
Posted by John Peck on 8/7/2019 12:55:00 PM

 

 

 

 

Pledge in Ms.. Baragona's class at Discovery Middle School
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student dropoff at Horizon Elementary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Boo hoo" room at West Madison Elementary for parents
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbia Elementary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students catching up from summer at Bob Jones High School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crowded hallway at Mill Creek Elementary
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting directions at Liberty Middle School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A tranquil James Clemens High School before student arrivals
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student manned help table at James Clemens High School
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SRO with a smiling early learner at the MCS PreK Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PreK Administrator Nichole Phillips directing traffic at dismissal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spirited welcome back greeting at Rainbow Elementary.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning under way at Heritage Elementary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Student at Madison Elementary with "Buzz," the hornet mascot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping students safe in school zones.

America's Best High Schools Report ranks Bob Jones, James Clemens, Near Best in Alabama & Nation
Posted by John Peck on 5/13/2019

Madison City Schools once again placed both high schools on the U.S. News & World Reports list of America's Best High Schools.
Bob Jones and James Clemens were among 17,245 of 23,000 high schools nationwide in the 2019 rankings.
Bob Jones placed 555 nationally and 5th in Alabama.
James Clemens placed a close 7th in Alabama and 674th nationally out of the 23,000 high schools.

The study gave BJHS a composite score of 96.78 out of 100 and JCHS a razor close 96.09 out of 100. Their performance puts BJHS in the top 2.4 percent and JCHS in the top 2.9 percent of all of America's High Schools.
The rankings are a measure of college readiness, math & reading efficiency and performance, underserved student performance, college curriculum breadth and graduation rate, and more. You can read the overall report here: 2024 Best U.S. High Schools

Access the school reports in the following links.

• Bob Jones
• James Clemens

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School Board Members Key to Success of Madison City Schools
Posted by John Peck on 5/10/2019

 Madison City Schools Board members are front and center of all things Madison City Schools.
You see them at board meetings, school plays and band performances. They are at the football stadium and in bleachers at swim and dive competitions.
You might catch one reading to a class, speaking to a PTA meeting or advocating for schools at a City Council meeting.

They attend graduations, school carnivals, EL summer classes and greenpower events. They meet with legislators and city leaders to discuss school issues, undergo board training and attend conferences away from their family.
They are our Board of Education members.
We are most grateful for their leadership and selfless service - all without receiving even a dime of compensation.
See this brief board appreciation video from all of our schools: Board of Education Appreciation 2019
Board President Ranae Bartlett shared the following on how the Madison City BOE does its job:

Madison City’s Board is unique in that its members are appointed by its City Council to represent the residents of Madison at-large.
That means each individual school board member is charged to make decisions in the best interests of all Madison City students, not just those of a particularly geographic zone.
Each board member is appointed to staggered five-year terms. One of five board members is up for appointment or reappointment each year, and the term of office begins on June 1.
Each member of the Board of Education in Madison serves without compensation.[1] Since the formation of the school system in 1998, the Board of Education has elected not to receive compensation so that its work is done in the true nature of public service.
The Board of Education appoints the Superintendent and Chief School Financial Officer and selects Board counsel. The Board also works with the superintendent in setting the strategic plan and vision for the school system, and establishes policies as part of its governance role.
Our Board of Education is highly engaged in our school system, each member having had or currently has children attending school in Madison. Board members actively participate on numerous committees and are present at numerous school and district activities throughout the school year.

Meet our Board:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ranae Bartlett – President
Ms. Bartlett is in her second five-year term and third as President of the Board. She has one son who attended Rainbow Elementary, Discovery Middle, and entering his senior year at Bob Jones High School. Upon graduating from law school, she clerked for Chief Judge Politz on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Prior to moving to Madison, she was employed as Assistant General Counsel of Wal-Mart Stores, and then became the career law clerk to U.S. District Judge C. Lynwood Smith, Jr. in Huntsville. She retired from that position and began service on the School Board in 2011. When she is not at a school-related event, she is usually coaching chess and running chess tournaments in Madison and Huntsville.

 

 

 

Tim Holtcamp, Vice President
Mr. Holtcamp is the Vice-President of the Board, Chair of the Policy Committee, Safety & Security Committee, and member of the Finance Committee. He is in his first term on the Board. Mr. Holtcamp has an engineering degree from Auburn University. He is employed as a Senior Engineer and Intelligence Analyst at Parsons Government Services. His daughter graduated in 2019 from James Clemens and his son is entering his sophomore year. His other son attends Columbia Elementary. When Mr. Holtcamp is not at a school function, you probably will see him running a swim meet in our community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg Hulsey
Mr. Greg Hulsey was appointed to the BOE in 2019 and sworn in June 6. He previously served on the Madison City Schools Capital Planning Committee. He is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Huntsville Focus Program. Mr. Hulsey is Chief Executive Officer of Maynor & Mitchell Eye Center and the Eye Surgery Center of North Alabama in Huntsville. He earned his Bachelors in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama; and both a Master of Science in Health Administration and Master of Business Administration degree from UAB. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and recognized as a Certified Medical Practice Executive by the Medical Group Management Association.
Mr. Hulsey and his wife, Tara, moved to Madison in 2016 along with their daughters Ainsley (James Clemens High School), and Haley (Liberty Middle). They attend Asbury Methodist Church in Madison.

 

 

Luis Ferrer
Mr. Ferrer is serving in his third year on the Board. His son attended Pre-K at Rainbow, attended Columbia Elementary in grades K-2, and is now a 5th grader at Heritage Elementary. His daughter has attended Madison and Columbia Elementary, Discovery and Liberty Middle, and now is a junior at James Clemens High School. Mr. Ferrer is a former Triana Town Council member. He earned a Master’s in Business Administration, with a concentration in accounting, and graduated with honors from the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico and also earned a Bachelor’s in Science, with a concentration in Electronic Engineering. He is currently employed at the Missile Defense Agency on Redstone Arsenal. Mr. Ferrer serves on the Board’s Capital Planning, Finance, and Special Education Committees.

 

 

 

 

Travis Cummings
Mr. Cummings is in the second year of his term. He has one son who attended Horizon Elementary, Discovery Middle and now is a sophomore at Bob Jones High School. Mr. Cummings serves on the Capital Planning, Policy, and Special Education Committees. He has a Master's Degree in Community and Regional Planning from Alabama A&M University. He is employed as the Zoning Enforcement Coordinator for the City of Huntsville's Planning Department.

 

• Do you know how much your school board gets paid?

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Registration/Zoning/ Attendance The Front Lines of Any School System
Posted by John Peck on 5/9/2019
Long before students enter the door of a Madison City school, chances are, Dorinda White has had dealings with them.
 Probably not directly, but in ensuring that each is a resident of Madison or Triana and assigned to the correct school zone. 
Mrs. White oversees Student Services. Her official position is Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives, Attendance and Community Relations.
That catch-all title includes registration/re-enrollment, student attendance, school calendar development, and rallying the district-wide fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She also helps create school rezoning models when zone lines are proposed for realignment.

Managing registration and re-enrollment is a huge task. It’s increasingly getting tougher with 11,000-plus students and more people attempting to falsify addresses to get in Madison schools. It’s the part of her job that parents expect the most accountability. As each school year comes to a close, she works with school registrars and the technology department on protocols to make the online process as easy as possible.
Day in and day out mostly in the spring-summer months, Mrs. White and her staff work with registrars at the schools processing and verifying registrations and re-enrollments. Part-time help is enlisted to assist those having trouble and to also help verify proof-of-residency documents.
Required lease, utility and property tax receipts are all verified for authenticity. Follow-ups are needed in many cases to prove residency. That would include instances like a house under construction or a temporary living arrangement with a legal resident.
Accurate student rolls are important in determining how many teachers and other resources are needed at each school.  

Mrs. White’s job also oversees attendance with help from LaTwan Lynch, the school system's attendance officer. Alabama law is very specific for student attendance. They work with schools and parents to limit chronic absenteeism (missing about 2 days a month for any reason) and truancy (absent without an excused reason).
Research shows:

• Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade.
• By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
• By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8thgrade test scores.

Another responsibility is the drafting of a school calendar each year that sets school start and end dates, holidays, weather days and half-days.
Utilizing the criteria set by the Alabama Department of Education and working with a local committee, a calendar draft is presented to the board and then the public for review.  

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Feeding Bodies & Minds; CNP Food Services Serves Up A Big Responsibility to Learning
Posted by John Peck on 5/8/2019
Each day even before many students awake, school cafeteria employees are at work preparing meals for them.
Madison City Schools is the largest food service in town. MCS Cafeteria workers serve approximately 6,000 lunches and 1,000 breakfasts daily. That’s over 1
million meals annually across 11 schools and the Pre-K Center.
That’s a lot of bellies getting filled and minds being nourished.
As Coordinator of the Child Nutrition Program, Marty Tatara has a plateful of responsibilities.

CNP Coordinator Marty Tatara with PreK kitchen manager Shirl Hopgood

She works with food distributors and a staff of nearly 70 school lunchroom
workers to keep kitchens equipped, freezers running and pantries stocked - often
with just-in-time deliveries.
Kitchens must be staffed and trained not only in food preparation but handling,
storage and cleaning as well. Menus have to be well planned for public posting
and to meet nutritional and pricing guidelines.

Students enjoying lunch at the Madison City 1st Class PreK Center

Mrs. Tatara and her bookkeeper, Danielle Orlando, maintain thousands of student accounts from both pre-pay and pay-as-you-go transactions. Food must be bid and fit within budget.
CNP workers are aware of the stereotype that school meals are bland. 
But spend a day in these kitchens and you’ll find workers aren’t just throwing together pizza or chicken nuggets. Many attend workshops led by culinary chefs to learn seasoning and cooking techniques. They take pride in their work and learn students by name. Staffers often post fun food facts near serving lines and display holiday-themed decorations.

Madison City Schools began an initiative in 2014 to acquire more locally grown
produce. The district was already getting periodic shipments. A farm-to-schools
collaborative expanded deliveries of sweet potatoes, melons, oranges, tomatoes, peaches and apples from local growers.
The initiative improves freshness and nutrition while boosting the local economy. Community feedback on the farm-to-schools program has been overwhelmingly positive. Scott's Apple Orchard has visited school lunchrooms to show a fun video and answer questions about apple production.

Madison City Schools CNP worker preparing food in culinary training

The Madison City CNP is self-supporting, generating its own money and
paying essentially the full cost of operating this massive program. Parents are
welcomed anytime to join their kids for lunch and try one.
Meals remain a bargain. Breakfasts are $1.75 for K-12 students.
Lunches are $2.65 for PreK-5 students; $2.90 for grades 6-12; $3.60 for faculty, staff and volunteers; and $4.60 for visitors.
Parents can set up an account through www.paypams.com and make deposits for
their child to make purchases from. There is also free and reduced-price
availability for students at or below the poverty line. Weekly menus and other CNP information can be accessed here: Madison City Schools

 

The lunch serving line at Heritage Elementary
The recently renovated and expanded cafeteria at Liberty Middle
CNP workers prep ccookies, always a hit with students
Food delivery to Bob Jones High School.
Keeping food pantries stocked for menu demands is a big task
Horizon Elementary CNP worker preparing locally grown watermelon 
Samantha Ledington, Discovery Middle, with fresh oranges from Satsuma, Ala.

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School Resource Officers Vital to MCS Success
Posted by John Peck on 5/6/2019
A School Resource Officer holds a job with many roles but with the ultimate responsibility of protecting students.
The various roles may encompass teaching a class about drugs, directing hall or parking lot traffic, helping quarreling students work through their dispute, building a rapport with students, and always keeping an eye out for threats.
For thousands of students across Madison City Schools, the first adult they may see each day at school is not a principal or a teacher.
It is an SRO.

SRO Supervisor Sgt. Clayton Jordan signing an arm cast of a young student, who excitedly ran up to him with a marker

School Resource Officers are as much a part of the school fabric as the teachers, principal, librarians, cafeteria servers and any other employee that students come in daily contact with.
One of the main benefits of having a regular presence in an assigned school is relationship-building with students. The idea is to build a trust so that students/parents feel comfortable to share a personal or external concern.
An SRO is a career law enforcement officer who is deployed in the community-oriented policing. They are assigned by the police department or agency to work in collaboration with the schools.
SROs are sworn law enforcement officers who are selected and properly trained to the school environment.
The SRO program utilizes the “Triad” approach to school–based policing.
What is meant by Triad?
If you could see an image of the SRO, Triad would look like a Triangle. One side would be that of counselor/mentor, another side would be a teacher and the final side would depict a law enforcement officer.

SRO at Liberty Middle walking with students asking about their day and how classes are going. Relationship building is a key to SRO effectiveness in schools.

The SRO program is much more multi-faceted than simply placing a law enforcement officer in school hoping that all programs related to school safety will be solved.
An effective SRO program has officers who become a regular part of the school community and are viewed and treated like another faculty member. The SRO is involved in the school community in a variety of functions:

• A visible active law enforcement figure on campus dealing with any law related issues.
• A classroom resource for instruction in law enforcement and other areas of their expertise.
• A member of the faculty and administrative team working hand-in-hand to solve problems in the school community.
• Someone who builds relationships with students.
• A resource to teachers, parents and students for law related concerns and questions.

SRO greeting kids arriving at Madison Elementary

An SRO is not a disciplinarian of school sanctions. That is the responsibility of administration and should remain as such.
Currently the Madison Police Department has full time SROs in the high schools and middle schools, as well as SRO coverage for all the elementary schools. Sgt. Clayton Jordan is supervisor over the unit.
During the month of June, the unit sponsors a “Kids Camp” for 5th graders who have completed the “Too Good for Drugs” program. The camp give kids the opportunities to mingle with officers of the unit and meet other officers from the department.

Above and Below: Officers at a Too Good For Drugs graduation at Madison Elementary

Police Chief David Jernigan, 2nd from left, joins officers at graduation ceremonies of a Too Good For Drugs class

SRO officers enjoy working with students in all grade levels. It is their way of building that bridge to remind the students that all the officers of the department are here for them if they ever need their assistance.
While not considered part of the SRO unit, school crossing guards are also under the supervision of the police department. SROs often step in to assist with school crossing duties when regular crossing guards are not available.
All in all, Madison City Schools treasures its relationship with SROs and all units of the police department.

Relationship-building with kids at Horizon Elementary

Two SROs are assigned full time to each high school

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall honors SROs

SRO mingling with students at Liberty Middle School

Crosing guards are under supervision of Madison Police but not directly in the SRO program

 

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A Driving Force In Any Good School District: The Transportation Department
Posted by John Peck on 5/5/2019
Ken Clark brakes his school bus to a halt by the cluster of young schoolchildren at a neighborhood bus stop.
A parent tips her mug hello while patting her child toward the open door. "That warm coffee is appreciated on cool mornings," he responds.
Clark greets each child by name as they pivot past him down the aisle of seats.
"Good morning Briana."
"What's up, Caleb?"
"Where's my smile, Janell?"
"James! Glad you're back with us today, buddy.”

Ken Clark's view as he approaches a bus stop.

In the eight years Clark has been a bus driver for Madison City Schools, he's gotten to know most of "his kids" well.
It's that family connection that sets Madison City Schools' transportation department apart from systems that  contract their bus service to private carriers.
Recognizable by their iconic yellow paint, school buses serve a vital - and sometimes underappreciated - role in the mission of educating our youth.

Kids waiting curbside as a school bus approaches. Staggered school starts allow buses to run both elementary and secondary routes.

Each day, throughout the school year in Madison City, more than 5,000 students are delivered to and from school. For some students, this is their only means of transportation. This number goes up if you include the 1,000-plus trips to athletic events, academic competitions, and various other extra-curricular activities. 

Bus drivers are the first, and last, school employee many kids see each day.
 

Transporting our community’s most precious commodity is a huge responsibility that requires a great deal of behind the scenes planning, coordination, maintenance and training.
Our transportation staff numbers just over 100, including 64 regular bus drivers, 13 mini-bus drivers and 13 mini-bus aids, 4 certified mechanics, a shop assistant, shop foreman, route specialist, office manager, 2 permanent subs (utility workers), a supervisor and a small pool of subs.
It’s a job we take very seriously which is why the board of Madison City Schools chose not to contract out this service but instead hire its own drivers, bus-aides, and mechanics.
As employees of Madison City Schools, these transportation professionals recognize and embrace their role in serving the students of our district.
Their commitment to safe, reliable and courteous transportation is a testament as to why this was a good decision on the part of the BOE.

Madison City Transportation Specialist Roosevelt Carter.  

At the heart of providing school bus service is route planning. It is an ongoing, ever-changing, task that demands routine attention.
Route planning begins with an analysis of data collected from current and past year routes.  As families move in and out of neighborhoods, and new subdivisions pop up all over the city, existing routes are tweaked, new routes are added, and some old ones are removed.
Bus stops that may have been in place for years are sometimes moved to accommodate more riders. Great efforts are made so that no student has to walk no further than the state recommended limit of two-tenths of a mile between home and bus stop.

MCS Transportation employees at a child trafficking awareness training. 
 
In addition to seeing that routes serve our entire community, we make sure we have the best, highly trained, and vetted drivers on our buses.
To begin with, all drivers, aides, mechanics, and office personnel go through the same rigorous background screening that our teachers do. When you see your driver on the bus, you can be assured that he or she is CDL certified and has passed an FBI background check and a pre-employment drug screening.
We routinely send our drivers to have random drug and alcohol screenings throughout the year. Our drivers and aides are also required to attend an annual bus driver recertification class that is taught by a state certified instructor.

Mechanics work hard to keep the Madison City bus fleet in tip-top shape.

And, last but certainly not least, great emphasis is placed on the safety and maintenance of our buses. Drivers are required to report every irregular sound, smell, or gauge reading on their bus to ensure there isn’t a serious underlying problem.
Madison’s buses are subject to rigorous, thorough inspections by a state inspector. These annual probes are designed to identify potential maintenance issues before they become problems.
We are proud to say that for the second year in a row, Madison City Schools received a perfect score on our state bus inspections. This is a rare and highly sought after achievement.
It takes a committed team effort to keep the wheels on a bus rolling, safely and efficiently. That’s why we are proud of the service we provide, and will continue to do our very best for the students and families of Madison City.

SRO Sgt. Clayton Jordan, Police Chief David Jernigan, Supt. Robby Parker,
Transportation Specialist Roosevelt Carter, Assistant Supt. Eric Terrell.
About 5,000 students ride buses daily in the Madison City Schools system.

Driver Ken Clark greets a rider by name while offering a fist bump.
Kids filing out of the bus to begin another day of school.

 

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Making the Grade in Instruction
Posted by John Peck on 5/4/2019
Someone once said, "Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." That is the guiding principle of the Madison City Schools Instruction Department in setting the framework and support for academic programs for all students grades PreK-through 12. Educators must continuously embrace new learning concepts themselves to prepare students for this ever-changing global environment.

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Heather Donaldson (2nd from right) leads instruction team in collaboration on strategic goals.

Instruction encompasses academic programs, curriculum development, professional learning opportunities, instructional technology, federal programs, grants, assessments, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, internships, Career and Technical Education and so many other areas in an effort to provide strong support for all students, teachers and administrators.

The 2018-19 school year is a particularly exciting time for Instruction as it rolls out its instructional goals for the next 3-5 years.
These instructional goals embody academic priorities to include increasing innovative curricular offerings, expanding World Languages, extending STEAM offerings into Pre-K and elementary, providing more collaborative opportunities for teachers, growing professional learning and leadership opportunities, and providing necessary supports to inspire all students to achieve their maximum potential.

Every summer, the instruction team devotes countless hours sending teachers to national professional learning opportunities, preparing for professional growth opportunities with administrators, structuring new teacher orientation, planning with mentors to support new teachers, and launching Institute Day welcoming back all new employees.

2018 NBCT group honored by the Madison City Board of Education

National Board Certification has become a recent focal point in the district’s attempt to support teachers’ professional growth. Madison City currently has 44 NBCTs with 19 candidates hoping to finish the NBCT process in May.

Course offerings are continuously being re-evaluated to ensure curricular offerings that are interesting and challenging. 
A new addition to elementary instruction is an accelerated math class being offered to fifth grade students that goes beyond the fifth grade standards. Mentoring Mathematical Minds (M3) allows students to participate in discussions surrounding conceptual mathematical concepts while requiring them to apply their mathematical knowledge with a deeper level of understanding. The accelerated math class is led by an Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) specially trained in critical thinking strategies. The AART team collaborates regularly to make this new adventure in mathematics as successful as possible for the participating fifth grade students.

Another elementary instruction addition is fourth grade Spanish classes. Now, every student K-4 has Spanish instruction at least once weekly for 30 minutes. The instruction intensifies from grade level to grade level. A Survey of World Languages courses introduced this year for all 6th graders and open to 7th graders is another step in enabling students to become proficient in a second language. 

MCS Elementary Principals with Elementary Instruction Coordinator Melissa Mims (center)

Middle and high school course offerings are updated annually to ensure our students have the most innovative curricular offerings available to them. Over the last five years, MCS has added numerous high-interest course offerings both face-to-face and online..

Instruction team and BOE member visit the Discovery Middle School STEM
lab to observe hands-on learning. DMS Principal Kim Stewart at left. 

Partnerships play a key role in the opportunities for students. Business and industry partners we connect with ensure that academic programs adequately prepare students and give them a greater understanding of the opportunities that lie ahead through post-secondary and career pathways. Industry credentials have become one key focus in public education in recent years to ensure students graduate college and career ready. 
MCS students have seen a significant increase in the number of industry-recognized credentials earned, going from 67 in the 2014-15 school year to 366 in 2016-17. Earning these credentials demonstrates the knowledge, ability level, and skills students have attained that prepare them for their future path.

While MCS proudly offers over 200 high school course offerings, we recognize that students have interests that fall outside of the courses we offer or those we have the finances to provide.
Therefore, MCS partners with Calhoun, Drake, and UAH to provide dual enrollment opportunities for students interested in earning college credit, pursuing academics such as mathematics beyond Calculus, and refining their skills in areas such as welding, advanced manufacturing, aerospace structures, cyber, CNC machining, and emergency medical services.

Not only does the instruction team work with schools to add innovative course offerings, it also strives to support these programs financially whether that be professional development, providing furniture/supplies or other resources.
Local and federal funds allocated for instruction are used to support these needs; however, our team also secures numerous grants each year to help support these programs.

BOE and Superintendent Parker with Redstone Arsenal Leaders
Superintendent Robby Parker and BOE members recognized by Army officials
for strong support for military-dependent students and programs. 

One of the largest groups supported by grants are military-connected students and their families. Based on the Madison City Schools' high percentage of military-connected households, our district is eligible to compete for the DoDEA funding resulting in $8,007,500 grant awards to support math, reading, and science instruction initiatives. This funding offers opportunities for the district to expand innovative work and provide additional training and support to increase student achievement.Instruction also includes Instructional Technology, headed by Coordinator Daniel Whitt.  

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Finance: The Buck $tarts (and $tops) Here In Keeping Madison City Schools Running
Posted by John Peck on 5/3/2019

All things money go on in the business office of Madison City Schools.

As fiscal manager over one of the largest employers in the City of Madison, the Finance Department is busy every month processing payroll for the 1,145 employees in the school system, as well as processing numerous invoices.

Both of those processes alone involve an average of $8 million per month.

Keeping the entire budget in balance is a massive task. There are lots of moving parts and enormous pressure to get the job done right. It takes skill and focus, with an eye to always look for efficiencies. 

Chief Schools Finance Officer Jana Gray presenting the 2018-19
MCS budget to the Madison City Board of Education

Several years ago, the business office began the search for a rebate system to help earn a little revenue for all of the spending.

A purchasing rebate for all virtual pay spending, state classroom instructional supply money for the teachers and department credit cards were implemented, earning more than $50,000 per year.

Other new initiatives have been implemented. A new teacher’s crowdfunding site was launched this year to maximize efforts to gain funds for a particular need or project. Rather than piecemeal approaches that can be cumbersome and largely inefficient, the new LeanStream tool returns far more money without the large administrative fees associated with other crowdfunding competitors.

Cost-cutting measures have also been incorporated into district spending practices.
In an effort to reduce costs and gain efficiency, the business office has begun utilizing paperless techniques in the payroll department including employee online services. These services include updating tax forms, deduction papers and bank account changes without having to make a personal visit to the office.
This will be a continued effort in all areas of the business office until its paperless goal is obtained.

CSFO Jana Gray, right, and some staff (L-R) bookkeeper Crystal Ward,
accounting supervisor Eric Haynes, and bookkeeper Geanell Brenner

Another vital part of the office includes financial compliance with all federal, state and local laws for every dollar received from federal and state allocations as well as local dollars at the school level. The business office must keep close tabs on bid laws and remain vigilant on economic variables that can threaten to put the budget out of balance.

The hard work and dedication of the business office employees is what keeps everything flowing smoothly. It is comprised of 7 central office members with an average of 10 plus years’ experience as well as 14 bookkeepers at the schools.
 

Payroll Manager Pam Runager (right) with assistant Sheryl Roberts

Jana Gray is the Chief School Finance Officer. She and/or Accounting Supervisor Eric Haynes attends all Board of Education meetings to advise the superintendent and board members of system finances and any budget amendments.

They perform the arduous task each year of forecasting revenue and assimilating spending demands so the superintendent can craft an accurate budget for Board consideration. Budget approval starts the recurring challenge of keeping it balanced as the law requires, leaving healthy enough reserves for emergencies and fluctuations in the economy.
A guiding principle for why an accurate spending plan is important: "A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went."

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Technology: When IT Crashes, Everyone Is Wrecked
Posted by John Peck on 5/3/2019

If there was ever a stealth operation of Madison City Schools, Technology Infrastructure would be it.
Like an iceberg, most of what they do is never seen by the public.
The primary goal of the Technology Infrastructure Department is to make the latest 21st-century tools available to every student within the Madison City School System.
While the students’ instruction and experience is the primary focus, the department supports the function of every other department within the school district. Everything from I-Now support to phone systems, security, the districtwide Messenger system, and much more.

Technology Infrastructure Coordinator Thomas Paone and Schools Superintendent Robby Parker.

MCS has, in all probability, the largest and most complex computer network in Madison, and one of the largest in North Alabama.

One unique plus of MCS is giving teachers choice of device whether it be a MAC, PC, Chromebook or IPad, which can maximize their creativity in lesson planning.

In December of 2014, the technology department proposed an ambitious network upgrade plan that included key requirements for every classroom and cafeteria, bandwidth upgrades, and “pie in the sky” desires such as completely re-cabling six schools and high-speed WiFi for the sports teams at Madison City Stadium.
The key requirements of the plan were expected to cost almost $2 million and take at least two years to complete.
Through the hard work and diligence of the technology infrastructure team, the key requirements of the project were completed under budget and in approximately 18 months.

The MCS tech team review plans for technology & security infrastructure upgrades at a school

Some portions of the plan are still underway such as the re-cabling of the last three schools, and we are researching options for the stadium.

Here are a few statistics of the network systems:

• 9,000 devices online at any time during the school day.
• 5Tb of data downloaded from the internet each day.
• 51TB of onsite storage in use by 140 Servers.
• Primary backups to 2 separate Disaster Recovery Sites.
• Scores of telephone calls handled by our phone system each day.
• 450 surveillance cameras recording to 5 DVR servers with 140TB of storage.
• Students and faculty have the option to use Windows and Mac computers, Chromebooks, iPads, Virtual Desktops, and more.

The key to the performance of the network systems rests with the quaility employees in the Technology Department.

That workforce under Technology Coordinator Thomas Paone (formerly Aaron New) includes a technology resource manager, two network managers, two data managers, two network technicians, two 240-day school technicians, eight 190-day school technicians, and one high school student intern.
These dedicated, passionate professionals truly love the work they do and strive to give the students, faculty, and staff the best possible technical experience and to do their part to help every student achieve their potential.
The most difficult challenge for Technology Infrastructure is the continuous improvement required to keep Madison City Schools on the cutting edge of instruction and striving for the mission of "Empowering Students for Global Success."
Even before the current projects are completed, the department has already started work on the next phase of network infrastructure.

Here are some highlights of their accomplishments within the last year:

• Closed over 5,330 helpdesk tickets.
• Updated VoIP telephone systems and service to save the district $18,000 per year.
• Currently re-cabling three schools.
• Currently preparing to replace over 700 teacher devices.
• Currently adding 125 surveillance cameras across the district.
• Rolled out hundreds of new devices.

The primary goal of the Technology Infrastructure Department is making the latest tools available to every student throughout MCS in both elementary (above) and high school (below).
 

Before & after pics of a recabeling job during a technology upgrade

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School Nurses: Keeping Kids Healthy A Prescription For School Success
Posted by John Peck on 5/2/2019
School health services is much more than just taking care of boo boos and stomach aches.
The school nurse’s tasks each day are as varied as the children and families they serve.
Yes, the clinic nurses see students daily for bumps and bruises, stomach aches, headaches, lice checks and the general “I don’t feel good” complaints.
But they do so much more.

Columbia Elementary nurse Laura Dickinson checking temperature.

Each year brings an increase of students with serious and sometimes complex health issues in the schools – conditions such as diabetes, life-threatening allergies, asthma, seizures, catheters, feeding tubes, colostomies.
School nurses administer daily and as-needed medication.
They ensure that students on doctor-ordered meds have their daily and emergency medication when on field trips. School nurses also help coordinate the administration of flu vaccines each year. With currently 11,300 students and growing, the demands on the school nursing staff can add up quickly.

Flu shots are voluntary and given annually in all schools

They continually educate students, staff, and family members on various health issues, making wise health choices such as nutritious eating, getting enough rest, drinking ample water, encouraging exercise and following a healthy diet.
Madison City Schools is fortunate to have Registered Nurses (RN) in each school and a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in its PreK Center.
Several of the schools have LPNs to provide care and perform procedures such as gastric tube feedings for students in our developmental delayed programs.
The school district also has a unique position called the Nurse Health Educator.
She is a registered nurse who teaches kindergarten students about germs and illness prevention, all 5th graders hygiene and maturation, and HIV/Aids education to middle and high school students.

School nursing staff of all Madison City Schools at a department meeting.

The beginning of the school year is particularly hectic for clinic nurses. That’s when they must review immunization records and health assessments records, write health care plans for students with health conditions to ensure that teachers and staff “who have a need to know” are aware of the health conditions, and logging in medications to be kept and administered at school.
Clinic nurses at each school also lead staff training in how to respond during a medical emergency and general medical conditions typically seen in the school setting.
Health services are not limited to just the normal school hours. School nurse substitutes are used to provide care and monitoring for students who may require help with his/her diabetic or seizure needs. Additionally, for students who participate in sports, clubs, extended day programs, and bus rides to and from school. Basically any sponsored events that a student directly participates in who has specific health need may require a nurse if a parent cannot attend. School nurses even cover proms, dances, and field trips.

Systemwide School Nurse Bonnie Davis assisting in flu administration at Horizon Elementary.

Bonnie Davis is the lead nurse system-wide who provides guidance for the clinic nurses. The State Department of Education and the Alabama Board of Nursing have strict policies which public school systems like Madison City must follow in addition to Alabama State Law.
She writes local policy and procedures in accordance with the state policies including the communicable disease, AED, Anaphylaxis (severe allergy), and emergency preparedness in regards to health issues.
Nurse Bonnie provides CPR training and review of skills, medication and diabetic training to staff.
She coordinates with the clinic nurses to provide nurses for the extra-curricular activities as needed.
School nurses find their profession a rewarding one knowing that they impact so many lives.
A student’s health is directly related to the quality of their learning. Children with unmet health needs often have a difficult time. The school nurse supports student success by providing health care through assessment, intervention and follow-up. All of these tasks make for a healthy prescription for success.

School System Lead Nurse Bonnie Davis leads medication training

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Instructional Technology Propels Student Learning to Higher Levels
Posted by John Peck on 5/2/2019

These days it is hard to separate technology from instruction.
In any given school and grade level in Madison City Schools, you’ll see technology being integrated seamlessly throughout the learning activities.
An organization as large as ours requires a Technology Department robust enough to support that high-level technology integration in all our classes. Technology and Instruction are two separate entities, but they must work very closely to achieve one unifying outcome: to empower students for global success. However, because the two worlds of instruction and technology are so different, they often require a bridge, someone who speaks both “languages.”

Enter Daniel Whitt, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, shown above with Elementary Instruction Coordinator Melissa Mims, left; and Secondary Instruction Coordinator Sharon Powell, right.
Mr. Whitt has taught grades 7-12 in a wide range of content areas.
He began his career at Liberty as an English and broadcasting teacher, then moved to James Clemens High School when the school opened. There, Mr. Whitt taught video production, graphic design, and photography, while also serving as a media specialist and the school’s primary point of contact for all technology-related pursuits.
Prior to his education efforts, Mr. Whitt produced commercials and independent films while also producing records in the music industry. His blend of teaching and technology know-how uniquely positions him to translate that breadth of experience into helping push our whole district into the future.

Daniel Whitt with Assistant Supt. Eric Terrell
(middle) & and other MCS administrators in district staff meeting

One way instructional technology progress trickles into all classrooms is through our ever-evolving library media specialists. Mr. Whitt leads the library media specialists, K-12, in all pursuits. Most recently, the group has been focused on expanding their efforts around digital portfolios, something very few districts offer. 

Digital portfolios are an amazing way to help our students discover who they are, where they fit in their world, and what they might have to offer as active participants in a global economy.
It helps them understand the importance of a positive digital footprint, and it’s arguably the best way to introduce their skills, passions, and talents to acquire scholarships and to gain acceptance into highly competitive colleges. Many students have even used them to acquire internships and paying jobs. With the help of the students and teachers of Madison City Schools, Mr. Whitt has created a documentary and accompanying resources to help accelerate the adoption of digital portfolios worldwide.

Daniel Whitt works with student at Horizon Elementary

Another way instructional technology supports teachers and students is through the use of the district’s instructional YouTube channel, Steal Mine, and through the new instructional blog.
Mr. Whitt also works closely with high school interns in the district’s central office. Each year, he partners with a variety of students from both high schools to accomplish innovative district efforts.
Student interns help produce district video content, create and iterate on the district’s mobile app, generate graphic design, as well as generally support the instructional department. We’ve been blown away by the accomplishments and capabilities of our interns, and we’ve embraced them at every level to help us achieve our goals.
Ultimately, our instructional technology department is in charge of supporting all innovative initiatives throughout the district. If you see that something in the district has changed, it’s likely that Mr. Whitt and his team have had a hand in changing it.

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Auxiliary Services: Textbooks, Testing & Mandates, Oh My!
Posted by John Peck on 5/1/2019

Auxiliary Services is a textbook example of a school department no one thinks about.
The department is over textbooks, testing, accountability, teacher resource support, and Section 504 placement and monitoring.
As Coordinator Bob Lipinski puts it, it is a compilation of functions that no one knows where else to put them.

Bob Lipinski sorts and attaches bar codes to a new shipment of books.

Textbook management in itself is a huge task in a system with more than 11,000 students spread across 11 schools.
Think bar-coding and inventorying every book for every student in every classroom .  Then sorting and delivering them to the schools.

That’s after the involved task of working with a textbook selection committee that recommends books, which must then be put out for bid. When textbooks finally are delivered, he checks shipping records against purchase orders to make sure all are accounted for. Lipinski works with schools to ensure that every student and teacher has equal access to all textbook resources.
Handling boxload after boxload of textbooks gets so demanding at times he sometimes draws sympathy help from co-workers. Assistant principals and school plant managers occassionally lend a hand. 

Membership on local textbook committees include equal representation by grade level, ELL and parent representation, with input from Central Office instructional administrators and separate elementary and secondary chairs. All textbook committee members must take an oath. Adoption samples are made available for public view at each school. 

Mr. Lipinski with Discovery Middle counselor Kelly Moody to review 504 records

Auxiliary Services also entails a component of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Mr. Lipinksi is the Section 504 coordinator. That requires him to make sure that all schools are in compliance with mandates of the federal law section 504. He leads 504 training and legal updates for all schools, attends initial referral and eligibility meetings at all local schools, and monitors established student 504 plans.

As the district’s State Testing Coordinator, he has to ensure that all schools effectively administer all required state student assessments. He leads training at all schools on test administration, verifies that all security and confidentiality procedures are followed, orders and distributes all test materials, receives and distributes test results, and develops district security plans for testing integrity and standardization.

The Accountability Coordinator part of his job deals with district compliance with all state and federal accountability mandates for public school systems.
 He does that through training of personnel at all levels and filing all required reports. It also requires continual accountability updates to the superintendent and local school and district administrators.

Making a careful count of books to make sure a recent shipment is complete
Unloading and stacking a new book shipment to begin processing
Every single textbook gets a bar code to keep an account of it
2018 Textbook adoptions included new foreign language books 

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A Day In The Life of a 1st Grade Schoolteacher
Posted by John Peck on 5/1/2019

Pamela Weaver, Madison City Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2018, offers a glimpse into her daily life as a schoolteacher at Horizon Elementary. She is one of hundreds of MCS teachers devoted to educating our kids to be model workers and citizens. Next week will feature a column by the MCS Secondary Teacher Of The Year..............................

I wake up at 4:15 each morning. Usually I am wide-awake and getting the day started with a shower. After dressing, I've got about 30 minutes to myself for my devotional time. That is the part of my day that sends me peacefully into the organized chaos of first grade.

Horizon Elementary 1st Grade Teacher Pamela Weaver in her classroom.

I spend the next 45 minutes on lunches and breakfast, getting my special needs daughter up and dressed, and eating a quick breakfast. Then it is off to school by 6:15.
Once at school, I sign-in and check email. There is always a lot of email. I spend the remaining time making sure any papers and materials are ready for the day, grading papers if there are any, and looking for any books I might need for the day in the library.
If my group table is a mess, I will clean that up. If it is the first of the month, I will change the birthday calendar in the cafeteria. Then I'll chat with my colleagues for a few minutes.
I am so fortunate to work with these hard-working teachers each day. Day-in, day-out, we are helping each other do the best we can for kids. They have great ideas, which they readily share. We give wise counsel to one another as we offer solutions to problems. 
The new teachers have a fresh perspective and the experienced teachers have tried and true alternatives. Old and new is a great mix. Each morning before kids arrive, I meet with a group of teachers in the library to pray for our school and all of the people in it. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I'm on duty in the car line by 7:10. It may be raining, cold, hot, or windy. It matters not. I am there with two other teachers and one of our Watch Dog Grandads.

Ms. Weaver leading students in early morning lesson

After car-line duty, it is time for the kids to come to class. As my 17 first graders file in, we are talking and greeting each other. They know what to do with their daily folders, reading logs, and book bags because we took the time to learn these procedures in August.
This is the time I usually hear about the things that happened at home last night (I don’t believe everything I hear about home, so you don’t believe everything you hear about school). Kids are the greatest storytellers.
We start our day with morning work. As students finish, they will get their writing folders or begin some other activity. The announcements come on and the Patriotic Leader takes over and leads the Pledge of Allegiance and our school and class missions. We say our Leader in Me chants.
While the kids did their morning work, I went through the reading logs and daily folders. I have checked who can go to the library and made a list with our magnetic cards on the board. I have looked in the daily folders for notes and lunch money. I have completed attendance on the computer. A trip to the restroom may follow and kids start going to the library three at a time.

Ms. Weaver pictured with her students at school start

By 8:15, we try to be ready for morning meeting. All kids come to the carpet and sit on their crates. We sing a good morning song and greet each other with a personal handshake or a pat on the back. We are working on making eye contact and smiling when we greet one another. We take a moment to share, usually on Mondays. When I ask the kids about their weekend activities, they know that they can not tell me about playing video games. We review a few skills, work on our Habit of the month for Leader in Me, then return to our desks and take out our math journals. It is time for calendar. Calendar is on our Smartboard. We go through the date and many other math skills during calendar time. We are especially interested in how many days we have been in school and when the 100th day will come.
We glue a word problem into our journal on most days and one of the classmates will come and model how to work the problem on the document camera so that the whole class can see. We must take turns to be the model teacher; this is a very coveted job. After math calendar, we begin our phonics work with our word books. We will hear, blend, and spell words and sentences with our phonics skill for the week. Small groups will meet and more whole group reading will occur.

PE can give teachers time for classroom prep.

Before you know it, it is time for recess and lunch. Lunch is my least favorite time of the school day. The lunchroom is a noisy, messy, stressful place to be with 6 year olds. Lots of kids need something opened, lots of kids spill stuff on the table and floor, and lots of kids need to tell me things while I try to scarf down a sandwich. I am always glad to return to the classroom.
After lunch, we do more math work. The more hands-on the math activities are, the better the kids like math. At noon, we will go to PE. During that time, I have a chance to go to the restroom, and then it is back to the classroom to get the books written into reading logs and passed out before I pick the kids up from PE. I have a little time to make sure things are ready for the final push of the day.

Teacher in the EL Summer program at Madison Elementary

Kids return from PE, we completely finish math, then we take time for the best time of the day, a read-aloud story or two. The kids hang in there for a little more work, usually related to reading, social studies, and/or science. We take a break for snack time, then finish our day with chores. We get our daily folders ready; clean our desks and floor, put the chairs up on our desks, and meet on the carpet for the final time. Usually we have time for a few seasonal songs and poems. We listen for the dismissal announcements. The important job now is to make sure everyone goes home correctly. By this time of year, things are running smoothly. In August, this is a scary part of a teacher’s day. It is a terrible feeling when someone from the office calls the classroom phone asking you how a child went home because they did not end up where they were supposed to be at the end of the day.
That is the bare bones of a routine day with the kids. However, the day was also full of the challenges of behavior management and discipline.
There were tears to dry, shoes to tie, feelings to sooth, noses to wipe, pants to zip, words of encouragement and redirection to be spoken, standards to cover, and without fail, there were hugs to give. Once the kids are gone, another part of the day begins. This is the meeting part of the day. On Tuesdays we have a faculty meeting, a grade level meeting, an action team meeting, or a "sharpen the saw" meeting. Other days there may be parent conferences.

Kids giving thumbs up to persimmons served at Mill Creek Elementary lunch

Some days, I am scurrying around getting things ready for the upcoming week’s activities or just planning with my team. For example, when the 100th day of school comes, I will be blowing up 100 balloons and planning with my first grade team for our big grade-level parade.
When I go home, there are the family things to do: dinner, clothes to wash, baths, bedtime rituals. By the time I am finished and sit down on the couch to grade papers or check emails, I usually last 10 minutes before my eyes close and a red mark goes across the paper. It has been a long day. Time for bed, then I am blessed to get to do it all again tomorrow. 
This job called teaching is not easy; it wears you out physically and emotionally. It is never boring, sometimes messy, but always rewarding. Teaching is about forming and growing relationships. The bonds between me and my kids and their parents; and the bonds between me and my colleagues and administrators, make the day and the calling of teaching worthwhile.
I would not trade it for anything.

 

 

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Secondary Teacher Role A Rewarding One But Demanding
Posted by John Peck on 5/1/2019

Leah McRae, Madison City Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year for 2018, reflects on her career and what it takes to teach students and prepare them for life and their careers.
Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” Jonas Salk (Physician who developed the polio vaccine)

Imagine:

• Learning where thinking and sharing are encouraged.
• Developing ideas into designs that promote progress and also present solutions to real problems.
• Facilitating learning in such an environment: one that has few limits or boundaries, but fosters the creativity of an individual.

If one can imagine such a situation, then one can begin to imagine a dream that is not too far-fetched in an educational setting such as Madison City Schools.

As a high school science teacher, I have the privilege to guide individuals as they seek answers, collaborate with others, test ideas, communicate their findings, and evaluate themselves. This role has been my true joy and delight for 27 years.
To be quite honest, I do not understand why everyone does not want to do my job. After all, these individuals represent the brightest and best of our society. These are our future and our hope. These individuals are our most important and treasured resources.
They are our students!

How could one possibly prepare to facilitate innovative and progressive learning for our most important individuals?
The answer lies in becoming a learner, oneself.
I must pay attention. My administrators, counselors, teaching coach, and fellow teachers all have great input into what should be done in the classroom. However, I need to pay attention to those individuals who are in my classroom as I lead them on their own journey of learning.
This is when the true gift of teaching is revealed. I should know my students well enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses. I must know when to challenge them and when to let them lead.
I also have to know the direction they need to go whether it is in becoming more skilled in working with others or in managing their time or in communicating a difficult concept in an understandable form.
All of these skills will be necessary as I prepare our most treasured resources for their future roles in our society.

JCHS Science Teacher Leah McRae

How could one possibly prepare to facilitate innovative and progressive learning for our most important individuals?
The answer lies in becoming a learner, oneself.
I must pay attention. My administrators, counselors, teaching coach, and fellow teachers all have great input into what should be done in the classroom. However, I need to pay attention to those individuals who are in my classroom as I lead them on their own journey of learning.
This is when the true gift of teaching is revealed. I should know my students well enough to understand their strengths and weaknesses. I must know when to challenge them and when to let them lead.
I also have to know the direction they need to go whether it is in becoming more skilled in working with others or in managing their time or in communicating a difficult concept in an understandable form.
All of these skills will be necessary as I prepare our most treasured resources for their future roles in our society.

Engineering teacher with students at Bob Jones HS.

As a learner, I have discovered that my classes should no longer just provide factual information, but should also provide relevant experiences.
Our students find much value in real issues that plague our world. I get it, too.
What is the importance in studying a vaccine if one does not understand the reason for a vaccine, the role disease and pathogens play in vaccine development, and the way in which vaccines are developed today?
To take this a step further, the procedures involved in developing a vaccine would be most interesting if students actually followed these procedures while using current genetic technologies with a similar product.
Now that is relevance!

Patricia Collins & JCHS medical academy students

When Jonas Salk developed the first polio vaccination from the killed virus, he had taken information from many scientists who were able to offer different pieces to the puzzle of solving the polio crisis.
He was given much credit at the time for his breakthrough by the March of Dimes. Many of his colleagues, however, criticized Salk because they grumbled that he had not found anything new, but had just taken what was already there.
What a lesson for teachers!
At the secondary level, we meet regularly in departments and in common interest groups to learn from each other about successful strategies and methodologies. There is no shame in using those ideas with our own students because we recognize that we can always improve. I find that I am surrounded by the teaching experts every day when I walk into school.

James Clemens students working on a lab project

While most high school teachers have very different and unique backgrounds in our fields of study, we still benefit from cross curricular collaborations.
More importantly: so do our students.
What is it like to be a secondary teacher in Madison City Schools? We recognize the tenacity of our profession quite early in our careers. This profession is not for the weak of heart, soul, or mind.
It is often similar to parenting. We cannot quit, but must persevere. We should bring excitement and innovation into our classrooms every day.
The Madison community demands that we provide the very best education possible. When we serve this community as a teacher, we know that expectations are very high.

The true testament of our effectiveness, though, boils down to our students. Our students are clever and know when we aren’t sincere. Consequently, we have to be genuine, both in personal character and in content presentations. We should also be prepared and patient.
So many demands, and yet completely worth it. I cannot imagine anything quite as worthwhile!

Culinary class at Bob Jones High School

Graduation always bittersweet for high school teachers

 

World Languages French class at Liberty Middle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Math teacher at Discovery Middle
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEM class at Liberty Middle School
 

Special Education for Special Students
Posted by John Peck on 4/30/2019

The Special Education Department at Madison City Schools provides services for more than 1,250 students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

Students as young as 2- 1/2 may be referred to determine need. These special education services can be implemented by age 3 and students with IEPs may attend school until age 21, or when a regular education diploma is earned.

SPED leaders work hard to keep students in appropriate programs, offering a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE), as well as following federal and state guidelines for Child Find, Referral Evaluation, and Eligibility, and Placement.  

Working with Interim Director Brenda Albritton is a coordinator, resource specialist, and four school psychologist psychometrist personnel who evaluate over 650 students annually with initial, transfer, and re-evaluation testing.

(L-R) Shanna Edgar SPED specialist; Michelle Hyams, Homebound/Job Coach; Jackie Wilson-Bradley, former SPED Coordinator, Dr. Maria Kilgore.  

A behavioral specialist sees the 350-plus students with social/behavioral needs. A job coach works with over 200 students with job exploration implementation and employment. 

The MCS SPED currently has 6 pre-school classes at Mill Creek Elementary, with non-disabled learning side-by-side with disabled students.

All 11 Madison City Schools have special education resource/inclusion programs. Such programs support students with IEPs who spend the majority of the school day in general education classes with pull-out or push in services from SPED teachers assisting with reading, language arts, math, written language, speech, occupational or physical therapy services for visually and/or hearing Impaired students.

Transition developmental delay (DD) classes are available for students needing more SPED services in small groups with special education personnel teaching academic as well as functional skills along with language and motor if needed. These are at Columbia and Rainbow elementary for grades K-5; and Liberty and Discovery middle for grades 6-8. The high school program is at James Clemens High School for grades 9-12 or up to age 21.  The students in transition classes have a lower pupil-teacher ratio, dividing time between a special education and a general education setting per their IEP.

The system employs 12.5 speech and language pathologists who work with students with articulation and language needs and stuttering.  Approximately 400 of the 1,250 students in special education receive speech services.  

Young PreK SPED student engaged in learning activity at Mill Creek  

Superintendent Robby Parker with high school SPED student
SPED student on a life skills field trip to a local store

Madison City Schools contracts with 5 occupational therapists, 2 physical therapists, 1 teacher of the visually impaired and 1 orientation and mobility specialist. These contract personnel focus on fine and gross motor skills, vision/braille, and mobility for students with visual impairments. Of the three system teachers working with over 25 hearing impaired students, two are in school settings and one is itinerant.

One evolving change in our SPED is the completion of an east-west feeder pattern for K-12 DD students. Previously, programs were housed at (in ascending grade levels) Mill Creek, Columbia and Rainbow elementary, Liberty Middle and James Clemens HS. That meant special education students transferred more often, with some winding up outside their feeder patterns.
Now, special ed students can attend the pre-K program at Mill Creek, then either Rainbow Elementary and Discovery Middle for students in the Bob Jones High School feeder pattern; or Columbia Elementary-Liberty Middle for students in the James Clemens feeder pattern. The planned addition of DD classrooms at Bob Jones HS will complete the split so that both JC and BJ serve DD students.

Discovery Principal Kim Stewart (middle) touring renovation of DD classrooms
at DMS with SPED administrators. 

Madison City’s SPED serves homeschooled and private school students in the MCS district.  Currently speech services are available to approximately 30 eligible private and homeschooled students.

SPED is also responsible for transportation for students in special education who require it, it they are attending their home-zoned school, or need a smaller bus with help from a bus aide. Nurse services are also provided if needed. Individual Health Care Plans are written with medical input from nurses, parents, and medical information. SPED nurses are in addition to regular school nurses at each campus.

Special education staff from several schools in collaborative meeting

Professional development is provided by SPED in areas such as Crisis Prevention and Intervention- CPI, which trains personnel to de-escalate situations as well as restraint training if needed. Another important professional development area is Applied Behavioral Analysis- ABA. ABA teaches personnel to work with students by breaking down tasks into parts and teaching those skills systematically. This is annual training for all special education teachers and para- professionals.

Parent Connections Meetings occur 2-3 times per semester on topics such as the special education process, speech, OT and PT as well as transition services after high school, transfer of rights at age 19, and guardianship.  Watch the website for meeting dates. Times offered are noon-2PM and 6-8PM.

Best Buddies (above and below) at the Bob Jones vs. James Clemens football game

The new Best Buddies program has been a huge success with help of Mrs. Jenny Evers, and Mrs. Michelle Hyams.  Over 200 students at all secondary schools and around the district are taking part. This program has shown the willingness for all personnel to be a “Buddy” to a special education student.  Great friendships are growing!

Madison City’s SPED also oversees the Federal Impact Aid program. In the past 20 years, Impact Aid has brought in over $3 million for MCS and tens of thousands of dollars extra in related Department of Defense special education grants. Tens of thousands of additional money is from Department of Defense Special Education grants.

The SPED of Madison City Schools is grateful to the parents, students, education administration and others for making it one of the top three programs in the state.
 

Redstone Garrison Commander Col. Kelsey Smith with reporters
at the Impact Aid kickoff this year at Discovery Middle School

Madison CIty Schools Supt.  Robby Parker at the Impact Aid kickoff with Huntsville
Supt. Christie Finley and Madison County Supt. Matt Massey and Redstone Col. Kelsey Smith

Students at the Special Olympics event held annually at Milton Frank Stadium.

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Operations Keeps Facilities / Systems Running Smoothly
Posted by John Peck on 4/10/2019

Madison City Schools Operations is a multi-faceted department responsible for day-to-day operations.
Through careful planning, coordination and control of resources, the department strives to keep systems running efficiently and buildings & grounds in good physical health.

 

 

Ensuring efficient heating and air conditioning is vital

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drainage work during Madison Elementary renovations

 

 

 

Maintenance: MCS Maintenance is responsible for maintaining approximately 1.6 million square feet of building space. HVAC systems must remain tuned up and running. Plumbling and electrical functions need attention. Buildings and grounds require maintenance.
The 12 schools, Central Office and Annex, Transportation Department, and the stadium are located on about 451 acres of land.
About 85% of the 1.6 million square feet of building space requires conditioned air. Due to the various ages of Madison City buildings, several different mechanical systems are used. Workers must be versed in all of them to adequately monitor and maintain them.
There are capital plans to upgrade the older systems.

 

Operations Coordinator Michael Gunner overseeing field striping at Madison City Stadium.

 

 

 

Each campus houses a plant manager who handles most repairs and upkeep. Water leaks, burned out bulbs, faulty fan motors, and broken locks are a few of the local issues plant managers address. Others include doors, elevators, desks, fences, chairs, gutters, playground equipment, pesky wasps, varmits like squirrels and chipmunks, and the list goes on.
Plant managers are the experts in their buildings - maintaining the boilers, chillers, generators, sprinkler systems, and every aspect of the school’s operations. In addition, there are three system-wide maintenance specialists to assist on larger electrical, mechanical, or plumbing issues.
The maintenance department also maintains the kitchen equipment in the cafeterias on each campus.
All facets of the construction and maintenance field come through the maintenance supervisor’s office in Operations.
The 451 acres of land ranges from protected wetlands and streams to athletic fields and lawns. Each school has lawns and playgrounds to be cut, mulched, fertilized and weeded. Plants and trees need trimming.Wetlands and streams are protected to allow natural aging and weathering. Maintenance and Operations bids the work and oversees the outside agencies that provide these services. A web-based work order system assists with accountability and communication measures.

 

Floor cleaning in the James Clemens High cafeteria
Custodial:
There are about 44 custodians in MCS. Each school has several on site that keep the classrooms, cafeterias, grounds, and offices cleaned daily.
Secondary school custodians also maintain the athletic venues and events. A floor crew assists with weekly floor cleanings and the annual stripping and waxing of schools.
Operations also works with the school system’s Nursing Supervisor to provide additional cleanings that are sometimes necessary during flu epidemics. Operations manages the custodial supplies, inventories, and equipment for each school.

 

 

Renovations to Discovery Middle (above) and Liberty Middle (below)

 

 

 

 

Construction/Renovations:
The Madison City Schools student population is rapidly growing. Construction, renovations, and additions continue on a regular basis. Discovery Middle School, Liberty Middle School, West Madison, Rainbow Elementary, and Columbia Elementary have undergone renovations and/or additions in the last calendar year to accommodate student population growth and growth of programs.
The Operations department collaborates with school administrators, construction professionals, architects, and engineers in the design phase and monitors construction on all projects. Smaller projects performed on campuses are overseen by operations (adding small storage buildings, additional fencing, etc.)
Operations maintains regular communication and consults with The Alabama Building Commission on all projects. Operations houses records and drawings of all buildings and construction processes since MCS became a district in 1998.

Transporting and Storage of Inventory:
Operations works with school principals to relocate furniture and transport instructional materials. Operations delivers and returns about 400 tubs of AMSTI teacher materials 4 times per year. Last year, operations was instrumental in the physical move of the furniture and materials of teachers in the transfer of about 750 sixth-grade students from elementary schools to the middle schools. Transitional inventories are the responsibility of the Operations Department. Currently, MCS is completing a storage solution for temporary and transitional items.

 

Operations Coordinator Michael Gunner with crates of science kits at a school

Desks in hallway make room for expansion and classroom cleaning.

Utilities/Energy:
Operations works with local public works and maintenance to monitor and lower energy and water usage. MCS maintains an Energy Star Portfolio to compare bills and usage monthly. The district has been aggressive in securing grants from the Energy Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to switch to energy-saving LED lighting at multiple school sites.

 

 

 

Replacing all interior and exterior bulbs with LED a huge money-saver and earned MCS a major Energy Star award
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety: Maintenance and operations work with the plant managers and administrators to keep buildings and campuses secured and equipment safe for a student-centered learning environment. This includes locks and doors, playground equipment, adequate lighting, fencing, furniture, cleanliness, clean, conditioned air, trip hazards, etc.
Insurance and Risk Management: Operations maintains records of land holdings, building values, inventories, and equipment with the Risk Management Division of the Alabama State Department of Finance.
Training: Operations coordinates training opportunities for custodians and maintenance department to follow current best practices.
Capital Planning: The Operations & Safety Department works in the Capital Planning process with the superintendent, assistant superintendent, board members, coordinators and other staff to meet current and future projected growth needs.
The Coordinator of Operations & Safety for Madison City Schools is Michael Gunner. Other staff includes a maintenance supervisor, operations secretary, 3 maintenance specialists, and 3 floor crew members.

Panorama view of the Liberty Middle gym expansion

Discovery Middle lunchroom expansion/renovation completed.

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Counselors Provide Emotional /Social /Instructional Support
Posted by John Peck on 4/9/2019
School counselors are a vital member of the educational team at every school in the Madison City Schools system.
Their core focus in working with students is on academic achievement, career, and social/emotional development.
With the proper counseling approach and the ability by students to apply the guidance that is given, students can experience:

• Enhanced academic performance.
• Better social relationships.
• Improved decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• A broader understanding of careers and post-secondary options.

The responsibilities of school counselors are many.
One is using structured lessons designed to help students maximize learning based on his or her developmental level. By collaborating with other educators at the school, counselors can infuse the school counseling core curriculum into the school’s overall curriculum in both classroom and group activities. 

Examples of possible content topics of school counseling curriculum include academic support, study skill, career awareness, career exploration, character education, conflict resolution, goal setting, relational skills, etc.
School counselors coordinate activities that are designed to help students in establishing personal goals and developing future plans.
Responsive services are used for immediate needs and concerns.
This could be an emotional event like grade anxiety, loss of a loved one, or feelings of self-worth. The responsive service is tailored to individual needs and could include counseling in individual or small-group settings or crisis response.

There are also indirect services given on behalf of students as a result of the school counselors’ interactions with others. Examples: additional assistance referrals, consultation and collaboration with parents, teachers, other educators and community organizations.

With explosive growth in enrollment and funding tight from so many demands, Madison City Schools contracts for additional outside help. The district uses the Enrichment Center for mental health counseling.
These mental health counselors provide top-quality counseling and support to students who are struggling due to a tragedy or need extra support. The mental health of students is one of the most important issues of today.
The struggles that children and adolescents today face are more challenging and complex than ever before. These counselors provide help to students when they need it most.

Counselor's Names:

• Stephanie Allen – West Madison
• Ashley Claborn - Mill Creek
• Katherine Mitchell- Mill Creek
• Stefanie Cook- Madison
• Cindy Perry - Columbia
• Candice Taylor - Columbia
• Macy Smith- Heritage
• Becky Thompson-Rainbow
• Jennifer Walker-Horizon
• Karen Clayton- Liberty
• Shatiyyah Lateef-Liberty
• Kelle Moody-Discovery
• Tim Van Dorn-Discovery
• Johnny Fowler-Bob Jones
• Sonja Griffith- Bob Jones
• Damarius Anderson –Bob Jones
• Stephanie Bostick –Bob Jones
• Carol Torrello –The Academy at JCHS
• Heather Porter- James Clemens
• Rosalyn Smith-James Clemens
• Lana Meskunas-James Clemens
• (open) - James Clemens

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Federal Programs Help Highlight Diversity of Madison City Schools
Posted by John Peck on 4/8/2019
Did you know that more than 70 languages are spoken in the homes of Madison City students?

Or that one in five MCS students live at or below the poverty line?
How about this? Students from military-connected families comprise nearly 25 percent of the school district's total enrollment.
And this: The District is increasingly pushing to expand high-quality education to pre-schoolers, growing PreK as fast as space will allow.  
Diversity in Madison City Schools comes in many forms, making the district a melting pot of students representing a variety of backgrounds.
Student capabilities in Madison City Schools range from presidential scholar-ready to struggling students from at-risk populations.
With such diversity and array of backgrounds comes the need to offer a wide variety of differentiated and unique approaches to meet every student’s needs.

Cindy Davis, left, and Dr. Natalia Dooley work with grants and federal programs.

Dr. Natalia Dooley, Madison City Schools’ Federal Programs Coordinator, heads the district federal programs department that seeks funding and offers targeted support to educate the school system’s diverse student population.
Much of Dr. Dooley’s work is with federal-assisted services focused on many of the student categories mentioned above. The programs fund or help supplement and enhance instruction.
Natalia Dooley started her teaching career in her native country of Russia in 1999, teaching English as a 5th and 6th grade teacher. She continued her career as a teacher of English as a Second Language in Florida and Alabama. That makes her uniquely qualified to identify, for example, the challenges that the English Learners (ELs) and their families could face in a new environment.
It’s therefore fitting that she administers the EL program in Madison City Schools. This program serves over 600 English Learners providing individualized instruction to each student. The district employs 7 EL teachers who provide supplemental language acquisition services to students and offer instructional support for classroom teachers.

 

MCS District EL teacher Tamra Johnson in small group activity 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EL kids singing in closing ceremony of EL summer program.
 

 

 

Dr. Dooley also works closely with the program that serves Title I students. This program serves students who are most at-risk of academic failure helping them meet challenging state academic standards. The main focus of the Title I efforts is devoted to supplementing instruction in reading and math. Another big part of Title I is parent and family engagement. Kacy McKay is the district Title I parent and family engagement liaison. Mrs. McKay works with Title I families to offer support in working with their children at home.
Coordinating the district homeless program is another one of Dr. Dooley’s responsibilities. Tracy Walker, homeless liaison, collaborates with her in support of the needs of the homeless program. In the past 5 years, district’s homeless populations ranged from 74 to 133 students with unique and complex needs.
Securing and administering federal funding and grants  is a big part of what makes the federal programs department one of the vital departments in the district.  The district typically secures over $1 million in federal funding through various state-administered grants and allocations. These funds help supplement instruction and services for such student populations as Title I, EL, homeless, and neglected and delinquent students in Madson City Schools.
Another source of funding pursued by the federal programs department is competitive military-connected grants awarded by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA).

Since 2010, DoDEA grants brought over $8 million to support instruction and military-connected students. Some examples of the activities supported by the DoDEA grants included the secondary and elementary mathematics grants (Strategies of Success, SOS), elementary reading grant (Supporting Opportunities for Achievement and Relationships, SOAR), secondary reading grant (Connection Opportunities and Reading Development for Students, CORDS), and district science grant (Science Achievement and Investigative Learning, SAIL).
Currently, more than 2,500 students with military-connected families attend Madison City Schools. Led by efforts of the District Grant Administrators Cindy Davis and Carol Bohatch, SPARC counselors, Student to Student (S2S) teams, administrators, teachers and school counselors, our district works diligently to support military families and address their transitional challenges. 
 

 

 

Redstone Arsenal Garrison Commander speaking at 2018 Impact Aid application kickoff at Discovery Middle School

 

 

 

 

 

Teachers in military grant training session in Madison
 

 

 

Additionally, the Madison City school district applies and receives close to $1 million in competitive First Class Pre-K grants on an annual basis. Currently, there are 11 pre-K classrooms serving almost 200 pre-K students in Madison City Schools. These students attend the Madison City Pre-K Center and receive high-quality preschool education that prepares them for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Photos above and below) PreK is one of the benefactors of federal funding. 

Like in any big organization, there’s some overlap in what Natalia Dooley helps manage. She works closely with Summer Williams in the HIPPY program. HIPPY (or Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) works with families in the home to support parents as their child's first and most important teacher. This is one of the preschool programs that helps district efforts to offer preschool to as many of Madison City children as possible.
Dr. Dooley also works collaboratively with the district Social Worker Briana Hawkins in dealing with homeless students, students in poverty, and English Learners who may be in need of social services. Together, they collaborate with various community partners, build relationships with neighbor districts, conduct quarterly reviews of the homeless students’ progress, and ensure efficient and timely support for the most vulnerable students in Madison City Schools.

Social worker Briana Hawkins and Instructional Aid Misty Schikner sort through a delivery of donated coats for needy students.

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Personnel: The Front Lines of Hiring Good People
Posted by John Peck on 4/7/2019

Employees are the most valuable asset of almost every operation.
That makes the role of the Personnel Department a very important one for Madison City Schools.
One of its major responsibilities is in the recruitment of job applicants. Personnel employees visit and partner with many local colleges and universities in search of top teacher candidates.
Colleges include Alabama A&M University, Alabama State, Athens State, Auburn University, Birmingham Southern, Jacksonville State, Montevallo, UAB, UAH, UNA, Austin Peay, Cumberland, Lipscomb, Tennessee State, Vanderbilt and more.

Great employees are what make Madison City Schools so successful. (Institute Day 2018-19.)
 
In late April to early May each year, the department hosts the Madison City Schools Employment Fair, where it typically meets and greets approximately 300 prospective applicants from a minimum of five different states.

Attracting and hiring good employees is only part of the equation on the workforce front. Another part is managing current ones.
The Personnel department serves all current employees (approximately 1,200) with matters related to their jobs, whether that is needing information on how to take a leave of absence, questions regarding pay, a policy issue or something else. Personnel employees provide the guidelines and policies used in processing these requests.

Madison City Schools hosting employment fair at Bob Jones High School
John Jones with JCHS Principal Dr. Brian Clayton recruiting at Jacksonville State University

One very important step of school district operations is in the assessment and management of staff.
The Personnel Department coordinates an annual staffing meeting. This is where department coordinators and school principals, along with the Superintendent and Chief School Finance Officer, meet to discuss workforce needs for the upcoming year. Balancing employment needs against available financial resources is becoming more critical as the school system grows and demands additional staff. One part of that management effort is the Madison City Schools Salary Schedule that the department reviews and Board approves annually for salary amounts and guidelines. 
Mr. John Jones is the Coordinator of the Personnel Department. In addition to leading his team in their various job functions, he is also the system Title IX Coordinator. Jones also serves on the Madison City Schools Policy Committee, playing a key role in the inception and review of policies.

Madison City Schools Personnel Coordinator John Jones before a MCS Board of Education meeting.

The personnel department also manages the following:

• Certification and personnel action items are the primary focus of Mrs. Terri Gray, Personnel Manager. Action items include: new hires, leave of absences, retirements, etc. Mrs. Gray works closely with the Alabama State Department of Education to ensure that our approximate 750 certified and 400 classified employees have and maintain proper certification and clearances.
• Maintaining and processing contracts for extracurricular activities. This effort is led by Mrs. Shannon Mitchell, Personnel Clerk. The MCS Personnel Department currently oversees 1,800 – 2,000 contracts per year. These range from coaching duties to after school workers and everything in between.
• The substitute teacher applicant pool and training is handled by Mrs. Cheryl Davies, Personnel Secretary.

Madison City Schools presently has an applicant pool of approximately 275 subs. The open enrollment periods for new subs are November 1–30, and May 15th to July 15th each year. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable teaching experience and to showcase one's abilities for potential full-time employment.

The department is always looking for efficiencies. One new change is Employment Onboarding. That is the implementation of a paperless new hire system called “Records” that is replacing the traditional paper personnel file. Previous and current employee files will be converted to the new “Records”  system in the near future.

Personnel Department team of four in front of the Board of Education meeting
The Personnel Department team of Madison City Schools:
(L-R) Shannon Mitchell, Cheryl Davies, Terri Gray, John Jones

Policy Committee seated around a conference room table
Policy Committee seated around a conference room table.