District Update 11/16/2023

Dear Parents,
In this holiday focused on thankfulness, I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Friday, Nov. 17th, is the last day for students and teachers before break. I hope you all enjoy the holiday and come back refreshed. As I gather next week with my family and give thanks, I will certainly add the Madison City Schools family as a blessing in my life. Schools will reopen Monday, Nov. 27th, for the final three weeks before Winter Break.

At our Board meeting this week, our Finance Director gave a year-end budget summary. I am pleased to report that Madison City Schools once again ended the fiscal year with a positive fund balance. Through quality fiscal management by our finance team, responsible spending at the school and district level, and strong oversight by our Board, we continue to use our available funds to focus on students. I applaud our team for keeping our system strong financially even with unfunded state-mandates and soaring fuel, utility and food costs. Maintaining a comfortable fund balance despite the uncertain economy that challenges the accuracy of revenue forecasting makes this task even more impressive. I am certainly thankful for the strong support of our city, both past and present, that has made education the top resource of Madison. We would be challenged to maintain our innovative programs and future building capacity needs in our growing city without the support of our community.

I want to commend our schools for the wonderful Veterans Day programs last week. The kids, faculties and volunteers did a wonderful job decorating schools, managing parades and planning luncheons and breakfasts. I am certainly thankful to the citizens of our community that have and are serving our great country.

Madison City Schools is pleased to partner with Madison 1st responders and the National Children's Advocacy Center in the new “Handle With Care” initiative. This program is designed to provide sensitivity-tailored care to students who may have experienced or been exposed to a trauma-inducing event. HWC operates on a simple premise. When 1st responders encounter a child during a potentially traumatic event or crisis, they notify the child’s school with a confidential message that reads Handle With Care. This simple awareness can help school leaders understand if a child skipped homework, seems groggy or edgy or shows other symptoms. The HWC notice does not imply that the child or child’s family was directly involved in the potentially traumatic event, only that the child was present and possibly impacted by it.
As educators, we know that traumatic experiences can impact student learning from lack of sleep, difficulty concentrating, changes in behavior or being unprepared for class. Through HWC, schools are better able to offer extra care to these students to help them succeed.

The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) is seeking public comment on drafts of  the Alabama Course of Study for Career and Technical Education and Science. The link to provide input will be open until 5 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2023. Use this link to review the courses of study and give feedback.

Finally, parents and education employees should have received an email of a survey on broadband availability and use in Alabama. The State Department of Education is asking school districts to send the survey. Participation is voluntary and the information will be used for state strategic planning on broadband access in Alabama.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 11/07/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

Let me begin by recognizing our veterans, retired and active duty. Service to country demands a tremendous commitment by both the individual and their family. I am deeply grateful to those who answered the call to serve this great nation. Being the son of a career military veteran, I know the sacrifices of our soldiers and their families and appreciate their dedication and commitment to our country. Check with your school this week for Veterans Day activities that may be open to you. Schools will be closed this Friday for Veterans Day.

Madison City Schools places a heavy emphasis on mental health. Make plans to attend tonight’s district wide  Mental Health Fair at Journey Middle School (5-7 p.m.) where you can browse community resource tables, speak with mental health experts, participate in family games/activities and more. School-based therapists from the Enrichment Center will lead a session at 6 p.m. entitled “The Mental Health Informed Parent.” Our beloved “Barney” the facility dog from Madison Elementary will be there as well.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Madison City Schools in area competitions.
I want to congratulate the Bob Jones volleyball team for placing runner up in the state 7A AHSAA tournament. They finished the season with an incredible 54-3 record.
Congratulations also go out to James Clemens football for placing 1st in the AHSAA 7A region and Bob Jones football for placing 3rd in 7A region. Good luck to both teams heading into playoff rounds this weekend.

Theater and band programs from both schools are also placing well in competition.
JC's Scenes from Metamorphoses won Best In Show and will advance to the State Trunbauer Festival at UNA in December. JC also won Best Scenic Design and Best Costumes at the Trumbauer District 1 One-Act Play Festival. Simon Tsikalas and Connery Patel won Best Leading Performer Awards (out of 150 actors in 8 shows). Lorelei Mueller and Berkeley Asher Preer were named All-Star Cast members. JC had 61 individual events earning superior ratings, with 51 advancing to state.
Bob Jones Theater’s  “Where Words Once Were” won Best In Show and Best Technical Design, advancing to state competition at UNA the first weekend in December. All Star Cast Members from BJ were Harley Dauma and Drayton Walker. Jaxon McClanathan won Best Supporting Actor. Bob Jones had 99 superior ranking individual events and 85 of those are advancing to State.

Here are some highlights from recent band competitions.
Bob Jones Band:
Bands at the Rock: 4th Place Overall Band, Best Overall Percussion, Best Overall Color Guard.
Stones River Classic: Grand Champion, Large Division Highest Scoring Band, Best Overall Percussion, Best Overall Music.
State Championship: 3rd Place in Class 7A.
Bands of America Troy Regional: 2nd Place in Class 3A, 6th Place Overall amongst bands from Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama.

James Clemens Band:
Tennessee Valley Marching Invitational (Muscle Shoals). Superior ratings in all captions; 2nd place overall; Canon Spidle, Outstanding Soloist.
Peach State Marching Festival (Rome, Ga.). Superior ratings in all captions; Outstanding Musical Achievement Award for Highest Music Score; 2nd Place Overall.
Bands of America Regional Championship (Troy, Ala.): Finalist, 9th Place Overall.

I am so proud of our band directors and students for these outstanding awards. These students spend countless hours in the summer and fall preparing for competitions and football games. We are blessed across our district with the best fine arts teachers.

Last week’s annual Tootsie Roll Run benefitting our special education programs was a hit once again. A big thank you to Knights of Columbus, sponsors, contestants and volunteers. The proceeds help us acquire sensory equipment and other learning materials for our special needs classrooms.
Finally, I would like to invite you to listen to the latest “Sittin’ WIth The Supe” podcast with three of our principals talking about their responsibility and role in schools. My guests are Dr. Kerry Donaldson from James Clemens HS, Jamie Hill from Discovery Middle and Dr. Georgina Nelson with Heritage Elementary. 

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 10/25/2023

Tomorrow (Thursday (Oct. 26) will mark an exciting day in Madison City Schools.
That’s when the PreK Center will officially open in the remodeled West Madison school campus on Wall Triana Highway.
PreK staff and district personnel have been busy over the past several days moving everything from the Nance Road facility and preparing for a smooth opening.
I am excited for the district and the greater Madison community to return the historic West Madison campus as a place of learning.
West Madison Elementary School closed when Midtown Elementary opened in fall 2021. The renovated West Madison PreK has been upgraded and modernized, with room for future growth.
Stay tuned for a ribbon cutting and public open house in the coming weeks.

I never stop being amazed by the support of our PTAs. They are a crucial partner in the success of Madison City Schools. Our PTAs played a huge role in the Rock Your School observances in our elementary schools. Other recent examples of their activism at various schools: creating a STEM night, sponsoring a teacher breakfast, setting up and running the coat check and concessions for a homecoming dance, hosting a teacher gift and spirit night, launching a major fund-raiser for teacher grants to spend in their classroom, managing the Reflections competition, partnering in a “Council of Presidents” initiative to coordinate fund-raising and volunteer efforts at a school, initiating a “No Hassle” fundraiser allowing participating students to have a chill zone in the cafeteria, and more.
I want to personally thank our PTAs for giving so selflessly of their time, efforts and financial contributions to keep our schools strong.

This is homecoming week for Bob Jones High School. The HC parade will start tomorrow (Thursday, Oct. 26th) at Portal Lane and proceed north on Hughes Road to Bob Jones High School.
Kickoff for Friday’s game against Albertville is at 7 p.m. at Madison City Stadium.
I am looking forward to the parade, the BJ Hall of Fame program, and the football game with all of the half-time homecoming activities.

I had the pleasure last week of attending the Special Olympics event at Milton Frank Stadium. More than 700 children from area schools, including MCS, participated. This is an event that always makes my day. Hats off to the SPED faculty in our schools and to all of the countless student and parent volunteers who make this such a joyous event.

Congratulations to Bob Jones HS Engineering Academy teacher Jessye Gaines and the BJ Greenpower team for its recent stellar performance in the GreenpowerUSA Inspire Academy SOLV400 competition in Lafayette, Ala. The Patriot Racing Blue Team and White Team had first place finishes against fierce competition. Big Kudos to the Patriot Red Team which persevered through several electrical and mechanical issues but fell short of finishing. The next big race is the Choccolocco Green Prix on Nov. 3 at which Greenpower teams from BJHS, Discovery Middle and Liberty Middle will be competing.

Save the Date (November  7th) for the next MCS annual district wide Mental Health Fair, 5-7 p.m. at the new Journey Middle School. Information at the Mental Health Matters page on our website.

I would like to call your attention to our new “60 Seconds in Madison City” feature which highlights various aspects of our schools each quarter. Like the “Sittin’ With The Supe” podcast, it is designed to give MCS stakeholders a glimpse into some of the outstanding features of Madison City Schools.

I will close with two reminders. One is for parents to complete the federal Impact Aid form by the October 26th deadline. Information about Impact Aid and how to access the form in this link.
I would also like to urge parents struggling with affordable health care to take advantage of the HEALS INC. mobile clinic for students that makes its rounds to several schools. Details in this link.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 10/13/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

It is exciting to have our schools open again after fall break. Monday began the 2nd of four nine-week periods in the school year. I look forward to the wonderful activities ahead as we continue the school year.
Each year, the NICHE company provides updates on school systems throughout the nation. Once again MCS has placed at both the district and school level in the top percentage of performance indicators. In the past 5 years, our district has consistently ranked in the top 2 of Alabama school districts. This would not be possible without a tremendous staff, outstanding students and a wonderful community.

Visitors to our campuses may notice some new safety features in our schools.
One is a new visitor management system in our elementary schools called SchoolPass. This system means visitors, volunteers and vendors must show an official ID for screening against a national sex offender list, with any positive alert flagged to administration and school resource officers. Visitor badges with photos will be printed at visitor check-in. This more robust reporting of who is on school campuses, why and for how long is part of our ongoing efforts to make schools safer for our staff and students.
This past week, staff were trained on our new Crisis Alert response system. This remote activation system will allow administrators, SROs and medical personnel to respond quicker to crisis situations in our district. These and other safety upgrades would not be possible without the increase in ad valorem tax made possible by our community several years ago.

Next week is school bus safety week. In Madison City Schools, school bus safety is a priority every single day. Transportation Administrator Dr. Travis Schrimsher has informed me that MCS buses are now equipped with cameras on the stop arms. These cameras record motorist compliance with laws requiring all traffic to stop when school buses are loading or unloading students. If a motorist travels past a school bus that has its stop arm and flashing reds activated, the cameras capture the vehicle and license plate. Traffic courts accept the footage as evidence when violators are issued citations. Fines can be hefty so hopefully these new cameras will deter drivers from passing school buses as they load or unload our schoolchildren. Our transportation department focuses on safety on all fronts - from strict maintenance of buses, to driver training, to safety-proven rider protocols. We are thankful for their commitment to safety.

Earlier this week I joined Col. Brian Cozine from Redstone Arsenal and superintendents from Huntsville and Madison County Schools for the annual federal Impact Aid launch. Impact Aid is federal tax payments to school systems to offset funding losses from tax exempt workplace locations. Parents help qualify schools for extra federal funding by simply filling out a form about their workplace location. Information and how to access the form in this link. Please fill out the form by the October 26th deadline.

Finally, I would like to call your attention to the Sittin’ With The Supe podcast on our recently expanded art and music programs in elementary school. Join me (podcast link here) with Columbia Elementary music teacher Audra Loftin and Midtown Elementary art teacher Noel Newquist as we discuss the growth of these programs and the new opportunities this brings for teachers and students.

"Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 9/18/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

I know all of us were mindful last week of the anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy. I am certainly thankful for the military families and first responders of our community. These dedicated men and women and their families sacrifice for our community and country every day.

Congratulations to the 30 Bob Jones and James Clemens students named National Merit Semifinalist. To achieve this honor, a student must score in the top half of 1% of all students that took the PSAT test. Only 16,000 seniors are named each year in the nation.
As I met with the students to offer congratulations, I reminded them that no one achieves this level of achievement without a great support group. Most of these students have attended MCS their entire educational journey. So, congratulations and thanks goes to our parents, administrators, PRE-K, elementary, middle and high school teachers and staff that have nurtured and guided these outstanding students. I also want to thank our current and past School Board members for programs throughout the district that challenge our students. I also appreciate the current and past city leaders that have made sure that our district has the resources to develop and create a school district where facilities and resources meet the expectations of our community for our educational system.|

As always in Madison City, our enrollment continues to grow. Currently, we have over 12,600 students - up about 400 students since the beginning of the school year. While enrollment has  leveled off since the beginning of this school year,  we know that our district has averaged over 300 new students for the past 10 years and we may well reach above that average this year. Currently we have the following enrollment levels:
Elementary: 5,423
Middle: 2,935
High School: 4,067
With the addition of our new elementary school, we will have a capacity to meet the expected growth at our elementary level in the coming years. We will need to address expansion at our high schools in the near future. This expansion must not only address general classroom space, but additional facilities and staff in Career Tech, STEM and Fine Arts and other areas to allow for all students to continue to have access to the great opportunities that have made MCS the best district in Alabama. We will keep you up to date as we continue planning for our future growth.

September is Attendance Awareness month in Alabama. So far this year, our district has maintained a 96% average in our daily attendance. I certainly appreciate our district support staff that assist our students with health care, mental health and other areas that play a role in keeping our attendance well above the state average.

MCS continues to expand our mental health services and awareness efforts. Learn how to proactively support your student’s mental health at this upcoming informative workshop for parents and caregivers titled: The Mental Health Informed Parent. Two repeat sessions will be held next Thursday, Sept. 28: 11:30-1 p.m. at the Madison Public Library and 5:30-7 p.m. at Triana Library.

Madison City Schools is excited to partner with Health Establishments at Local School, Inc. (HEALS Inc.) to offer a mobile clinic for students who do not have private medical and/or dental insurance. The HEALS Inc. mobile clinic will be on the campuses of Midtown, Horizon and Mill Creek elementary schools, as well as Bob Jones High School, beginning Sept. 29, (and every Thursday and Friday) by appointment. Healthcare services include, but not limited to: Medical - wellness exams, immunizations, lab work, acute care for illnesses or injuries, and management of chronic illnesses; and Dental  - routine dental cleanings, fluoride application, X-rays, sealants and referrals to specialists. Student referrals may come from a school nurse, teacher or school staff member. Parents may also request healthcare services for their child by completing the form provided by HEALS, Inc. on our website, calling the clinical coordinator at 256-428-7560 or 256-808-9123, or emailing www.healsinc.org (Students will not be seen without prior permission from a parent/guardian). 

I had the great honor last week along with our Board to attend the jet dedication at James Clemens High School. This fixture embodies the spirit and pride of JCHS while serving as a reminder of the deep military heritage rooted throughout our metro area.

I am pleased to share that Kris Gray, Library Media Specialist at Mill Creek Elementary School, is one of the 2023 Herman Moore Memorial LAMP Awards for Outstanding Service to Alabama Libraries. Kris will be recognized next Thursday Sept. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at Calhoun Community College Aerospace Conference Center.

The deadline to apply for free and reduced meals for this 2023-2024 school year is this Wednesday. Our District CNP Coordinator, Cameron Clark, reminds users of the new online system, LINQConnect, for student meal accounts. Carry-over Free and Reduced eligibility from last school year will expire this week on Sept. 20.

Finally, the latest Sittin’ With The Supe podcast has now been posted. Join me as I sit down with coach Jenny Jarrett of the nationally ranked volleyball team at Bob Jones High School, and seniors Meg Harrett, Eliza Tyrrell and Rachel Mecklenburg, for insights about the program and their gained experiences with the team.

“Empowering ALL Students”
Ed NIchols
Superintendent

Madison Bowl Message 9/7/2023
Dear MCS Parents,

Tomorrow night (Friday, Sept. 8) marks a significant yearly event in Madison. It is the annual Madison Bowl, a gridiron matchup between Bob Jones and James Clemens at Madison City Stadium. The Madison Bowl is an exciting event for the entire community of Madison. I would like to reiterate the importance of kindness, patience, and sportsmanship by those who attend. An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 spectators are expected.

In order for the game to be safe and enjoyable, spectators and students need to be aware of our MCS Stadium guidelines. Many have been in place for years, but some changes have been made due to new traffic patterns, changes inside the stadium, and stadium campus reconfigurations with the opening of Journey Middle School.
Principals from both schools communicated these guidelines this week to their constituencies.
I would like to share them here for those who missed it
.
MADISON CITY STADIUM GUIDELINES

• Only small purses, diaper bags, and medical bags are allowed to be brought into the stadium. We currently do not have a clear bag policy, and spectators with oversized bags may be denied entry. 

• All bags on MCS property are subject to search. 

• No knives, guns, or any other weapons are allowed on MCS property. 

• Tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and vaping devices are prohibited on MCS property. 

• Spectators must keep walkways in the stadium seating area clear. Private security guards will assist in keeping the elevated walkways and railings clear. 

• Spectators (including children) are not allowed to run or play with balls inside the stadium.

• Spectators will not be allowed field access without the appropriate credentials. 

• The fenced area around the flagpole (south end zone) will now be closed to spectators. 

• Spectators who leave the stadium will have to repay admission in order to return into the stadium.  

• MCS students attending games are subject to the MCS Code of Student Conduct. 

• We strongly encourage parents of elementary and middle school students to attend the game with their children. If not, please ensure an adult at the game will serve as an emergency contact for your child.

• Spectators are asked to be respectful and follow stadium guidelines. Those who cause problems will be asked to leave the stadium/property and not given a refund or allowed to return. 

PARKING & GATES

• Access to the stadium parking lot on game day will not be allowed until after 4PM, gates open at 5:15PM. 

• Spectators can access the stadium using Celtic Drive, Shorter Street, or the south entrance on Garner Street. 

• Additional parking will be available in the grass area east of the stadium behind the visitor bleachers. 

• At the conclusion of the game, outbound traffic will be given priority and inbound traffic may not easily access the stadium so please plan accordingly.
  

Let’s have a great evening together.
Go Patriots!
Go Jets!

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 8/22/2023

It is hard to believe that we are starting our third full week of the new school year. This week brings the beginning of many of our fall sports activities. It is always exciting when we see the bands, cheerleaders, dance teams, color guards and teams perform. I certainly appreciate our directors, coaches, teachers, sponsors, staff and parents that support our students in these wonderful activities.

You may see new scoreboard additions to our fields and gyms. For many years, Buffalo Rock sponsored our scoreboards. However, they notified us last year that they would no longer provide this service. Since the old boards have been removed, we are in the process of installing the new boards.
Hopefully, this change will be ready for all of our teams. However, if these are not ready, our staff will work with our school principals for alternate options. I would note that the James Clemens scoreboards were not removed because the Limestone County service is provided by Pepsi of Decatur and they did not eliminate their scoreboard support for the district.
 
Recently, we celebrated the 25th Anniversary of our school system with a “Back to School Celebration.”
Like myself, many of us have moved into our wonderful community in these past 25 years. The outstanding school district today is a result of some visionary leaders in this community in the early 1990’s. A recent podcast reflected on the formation of Madison City Schools.
If you would like to know more about this history from a few of those early leaders in the movement, please visit this podcast link to episode 9 from January 2023. (Other podcasts can be found here).

Both of our high schools will soon be hosting College and Career Fairs.
This Thursday, Aug. 24, James Clemens will have theirs from 5-7 p.m. in the cafeteria and along its Main Street  inside.
The following Thursday, Aug. 31, Bob Jones will host its College and Career Fair from 4:30- 6:30 p.m. in the BJHS Commons area.

Finally, I certainly appreciate our district and local school maintenance crews. These past few days have been extremely hot. Our team has been working to make sure that our buildings and equipment have met this increased temperature. Also, I certainly am grateful for our transportation team and that our buses are air conditioned. Even with AC, the buses can get warm in the afternoon, but the AC systems on the buses are much better than the outside temperatures. 

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

It has been an exciting start to the new school year.
Throughout the district, our students are already engaged in academic and extracurricular activities. Enrollment numbers are becoming more settled with a student count now of about 12,600. If growth trends continue, MCS is expected to add 300 new students this year.

Continual enrollment gains are all the more reason to always keep capital planning at the forefront. We are pleased to add Journey Middle this year to our lineup of excellent schools. Work is expected to begin soon on our 8th elementary school, which we hope to open in two years.

We have had many facility projects in the past year. I am excited that on September 5, the new Eastview Wing at Bob Jones will welcome students. We will have an Open House for parents on August 31 and a ribbon-cutting on September 1. This new facility will be a great addition to the Bob Jones campus.

The new Pre-K Center has been a little behind schedule, but we are looking forward to moving into the facility after fall break. Our team is currently working on a timeline for an open house for parents and community and a ribbon cutting on this state-of-the-art facility.

I know that the new school year always brings challenges as we adapt to new schedules, car lines and other issues related to the start of school. I certainly appreciate your patience as we settle in to our school routine these first few weeks. With this unusually hot weather, we have had several issues with some of our HVAC units. Our operations team is currently working on these issues. In a few cases, a part has malfunctioned and a replacement is ordered that will correct the problem as quickly as possible. Our team has utilized portable units in areas such as this awaiting maintenance.

Last  week I had the honor to address the 25th year Legacy Celebration of Madison City Schools. What a wonderful reminder of the vision, the work, dedication and teamwork that went into the formation of our school system by so many. Their vision for better schools for Madison and Triana continues to live out today. It is now up to us and future generations to continue that legacy.

This year we are excited to transition to year-long art, music, and STEM specials for all elementary students. In the past, elementary art and music were one semester and STEM was year long for fourth grade students only. Now all elementary students will have art, music, Spanish, and STEM weekly all year.

I want to share with you that the state passed HB109 which says that starting with the graduating Class of 2026, students must earn College and Career Ready (CCR) status in order to graduate. Please note that starting with current 10th graders, if students are not College and Career Ready, then they will not graduate. Here is a link to additional information about College and Career Readiness. More information will be shared in the future.

60 Seconds in Madison City Schools is our new video series that will highlight some of the great things happening in our district - in 60 seconds! This quarter’s episode includes information about the growth of the district, exciting new programs, and recent academic accolades. Click here to watch this video and be sure to share it with your friends, family, and coworkers.

Our district CNP Coordinator, Cameron Clark, reminds everyone that the deadline to apply for free and reduced meals for this 2023-2024 school year is fast approaching. Be sure to use the new online system, LINQConnect,  for student meal accounts. Carry-over Free and Reduced eligibility from last school year will expire Sept. 20.

Finally, I hope you enjoy our  Sittin’ With The Supe Podcast segment. Our next session will feature Journey Middle School. Here is a link to previous sessions. 

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 6/12/2023
Dear Parents,

Dear MCS Parents,

I hope you all enjoyed a fabulous Winter Break, and that 2023 is off to a great start.
It’s exciting to have our students back and school events ramping up again.
I would like to begin by calling your attention to January being School Board Member Appreciation Month. While we are blessed with great faculty, staff and administrators, our School Board is front and center of all things Madison City Schools. I invite you to take time to reach out to these selfless school board leaders to thank them for their service. They and BOE members before them deserve much of the credit for the total school experience in Madison City Schools and MCS placing at or near the top of many state and national school system rankings.

While we are beginning 2023 in a positive direction with Journey Middle opening in fall, the planning for an 8th elementary school is under way. We are excited that we will soon have the  opening of a special education wing at Bob Jones High School and conversion of the West Madison Elementary building into a PreK Center. I want to take a moment to reflect on some of the tremendous accomplishments from 2022.The accolades are many, but here are a few: #1 in Niche, most National Merit Scholars, Mental Health Fairs, all A’s on the State Report Card, 12 new National Board Certified Teachers bringing us to 100 NBCTs in Madison City Schools, continued growth in Career Tech with the addition of Welding, playground renovations at all elementary schools, securing a $2 million DODEA grant geared toward elementary STEM.

My latest Sittin’ With The Supe podcast can be accessed here: https://rss.com/podcasts/sittinwiththesupe/. Hear Sally Warden, Marc Jacobson and Greg Curtis talk about their role in the formation of the Madison City School District as MCS celebrates its 25th anniversary. These podcast guests, along with many others in the community, were crucial in our transition from Madison County Schools to what we now know as Madison City Schools.

Our Mental Health Matters programs, sponsored by the MCS counseling program, continue into the new year. The next one is Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 4-5 p.m. at the Madison Public Library on the topic, “Building Self-Confidence in Youth.”

Columbia Elementary Drama will present Alladin Jr next week. Performances will be at Bob Jones High School on Friday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.; and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21. Tickets can only be purchased online through https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/69914.

Congratulations to these Bob Jones volleyball players for being named to the Al.com Huntsville All Regional Volleyball team: Kennedy Vaughn, Rachel Mecklenburg, Riley Lovell, Meg Jarrett from Bob Jones. They are among the many talented athletes we have throughout MCS. 
Finally, Monday, Jan. 16, is a school holiday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Enjoy the extended weekend.

 “Glad To Be Here!”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 12/13/2022

Dear MCS Parents,

The semester is winding down fast. I would like to wish everyone a safe, joyous, and restful holiday. I remind you that this Thursday and Friday will be half-days for all students. Dismissals both days are as follows: PreK, 11 a.m.; elementary, 11:30 a.m.; middle and high schools, 12:15 p.m. Schools resume for students on January 4th. I can’t wait to see all the great things our teachers and students will be doing next semester.
I’ll begin the district update with a progress report on construction projects around the district. The construction manager reported at our Board meeting last week that Journey Middle School’s final inspection is expected in February. I look forward to adding Journey to the lineup of outstanding schools in Madison City. Our Special Education wing at Bob Jones is moving along and we anticipate it being completed in February. 

Another project of interest has been the long-awaited jet display at James Clemens High School. Board approval of the pedestal contract moves the jet display closer to reality. This project has been greatly enhanced by the generosity of Northrop Grumman, our local legislative delegation and many individuals who have made donations. 

The construction of new playgrounds has begun at our elementary schools. By spring break, we anticipate that all of our elementary schools will have a state-of-the-art area to utilize for outdoor activities. These areas will also have specialized equipment for students with special needs. I am certainly grateful to our School Board for their support of this project. 

Both James Clemens and Bob Jones theater programs placed well in the recent state competition at Troy University. BJ’s 1-Act play won Best in Show, Best Costumes and was selected to represent Alabama at the Southeastern Theater Conference in March. More on BJ’s individual awards in this link. Students in James Clemens theater won 12 individual awards and its play Shuddersome won Best in Show which is in the top 5 of the state as well as Best Ensemble. More on JC theater’s performance at State in this link. Also,  JC’s Amy Patel won Alabama Theater Teacher of the Year. Bravo to Ms. Patel and everyone in the BJ and JC theater programs.

Congratulations to BJ’s Girls Swim and Dive team for winning 1st place at the state meet in Auburn. JC’s cheer team won 1st place in state competition in traditional and 2nd in game day, while BJ cheer placed second in traditional. Congratulations to both cheer teams!

Speaking of James Clemens, I want to wish Dr. Brian Clayton well in his next role as Superintendent of Hartselle City Schools. Dr. Clayton did an outstanding job as JCHS principal leading it into becoming a powerhouse school. He leaves behind a legacy of excellence. Our plan for filling the vacancy is to name an interim principal later this week while we continue to take applications and review data from the surveys. Interviews for the full time position will start after spring break.

We had a very successful Computer Science Education Week. It was exciting to see students flexing their computational thinking skills and using technology in creative ways. I want to congratulate Ms. Shemeaka King’s 2nd grade class at Mill Creek and 4th grader Estaban Jerez in Ms. Hulvey’s class at Horizon for winning our districtwide tech challenge. The contest tasked participants to explain what this year’s theme, #CSEverywhere, means to them. Special thanks to VEX Robotics for donating robotic kits as prizes. Click here to view their winning projects.

Madison City Schools is blessed with excellent counselors. Last week, the Board recognized four of our counselors for winning statewide and regional honors: Stephanie Allen, Sadie Sturdivant, Carissa Davis and Carol Torello. They play a vital role in the success of our school system. 

In another nod to excellence, MCS continues to add National Board Certified Teachers to its ranks. The latest additions raise the school district’s total of NBCTs to 99. I congratulate the following new NBCTs and hope to formally recognize them at an upcoming board meeting: Stacy Branson, Kristen Brown, Amy Carter, Neil Clement, Heather Courtney, Megan Gowan, Sarah Peppers, Jamie Ratcliffe, Jeanne Simpson, Kristen Steele, Marissa Weir, and Molly Wright. Also, congratulations to our NBCTs who successfully renewed this year: Sara Baragona, Nicole Coker, Kylie Dunkerley, Rachel Gibbs, Sharon Harris, Lisa Kiss, Amber McMillin, Amber Merrill, Alicia Mulloy, Noel Newquist, Patrice O'Donnell, Amy Patel, Jessica Pinegar, Jackie Smith (Robinson), Natalie Smoak, Lisa Snyder, Tosha Swearingen, Teresa Tarter, Liz Vaughn, Rebecca Wilson, and Megan Kunzli. More about NBCTs in this link.
Finally, the latest Sittin’ With The Supe podcast is on our E-sports programs in Madison City Schools. My guests are E-sports coaches Aubrey White at Bob Jones and Pam Paquette at James Clemens.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone.

“Glad To Be Here!”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Updates 12/05/2022

Dear Parents,

Let me begin by sharing some exciting news about PreK. Last week our Board met in a special session to approve a construction project that will renovate the closed West Madison Elementary School building into a district wide PreK Center. I can think of no better use for the WMES property than turning it into a learning center for our rising PreK population. We know from long waiting lists at annual PreK registrations that demand far exceeds capacity. The West Madison renovations will create 21-23 total PreK classrooms - nearly doubling capacity now.
This project would not have been possible without passage of the 12 mill property tax by Madison and Triana residents in 2019. Money from that levy built Midtown Elementary and is paying for the new Journey Middle Schools, the special education wing at Bob Jones High School and the PreK expansion into the WMES campus.

Midtown Elementary had a very successful International Festival last week. What a wonderful way to showcase the different cultures we have in MCS.
I want to commend the following students for qualifying last week as Coca-Cola Scholarship semifinalists. They are just a small example of students whose academic achievements earn financial assistance to further their education after high school. 

Congratulations also to BJ Swim and Dive for its performance in the state meet in Auburn. Girls placed 1st and boys 5th. The girls’ team top finish put Principal Sylvia Lambert and Coach Wade Thaxton in the pool for the traditional dip from winning state.
This week is Computer Science Education Week. It is exciting to see the hands-on assignments our teachers are leading to strengthen student learning in coding and other technical skills. View some of the CSE activities here on the MCS Facebook page.

I had a productive meeting today with my Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. While I always appreciate feedback from parents, employees and community members, I always value input from students on things MCS is doing right and ways we could do better.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that the free Mental Health workshop on Depression in Youth will be Wednesday, Dec. 14 in the Central Office Board room, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. The program had previously been canceled due to inclement weather.

“Glad To Be Here!”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

Dear MCS Parents,

I want to welcome everyone back from the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope you all enjoyed some good family time and relaxation.

Just three weeks remain before schools dismiss for the winter holiday. Please encourage your student(s) to make sure all assignments are up to date to close out the fall semester.
The last day for students before Winter Break is Friday, Dec. 16, and they will not report back to school until Wednesday, Jan. 4. I’d like to remind everyone that Thursday, Dec. 15 and Friday, Dec. 16 will be a half-day for all students. Half-day dismissal times have been changed to the following times: PreK, 11; Elementary, 11:30; Middle and High Schools, 12:15.

I’d like to recognize the following students and teams for spectacular performances in recent competitions: Liberty Middle Scholars Bowl.; Bob Jones and James Clemens bowling teams; Bob Jones Swim and Dive, with girls winning 1st as a team and boys 2nd as a team; Bob Jones Esports for ending the season 1st in state in Rocket League and 2nd in state in League of Legends.

The James Clemens Science National Honor Society is hosting its second annual science fair for K-8 students in Madison City Schools. If your child would like to participate, they must register by Dec. 14. More about the JCHS Science Fair here.

For those who missed it, the latest “Sittin’ With the Supe" podcast is on our theater programs. You can access it here . The next Podcast is scheduled to be on our E-sports programs. 

“Glad To Be Here!”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent