Incident at BJHS 12/02/2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am writing to inform you about an incident that occurred today at Bob Jones High School around 10:10 am. Thanks to the quick and responsible actions of a student who reported a safety concern, we discovered that a student was in possession of a handgun.
Our resource officers acted immediately, within a few minutes, ensuring the safety of all students and staff. The handgun was secured without incident, and no one was harmed.
Nothing at this point of the investigation shows any attempt to harm any staff or students. School officials and the Madison Police Department will continue to investigate.

Sincerely,

Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 11/22/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

In recent days, multiple state and national rankings have been released that underscore the academic quality of our schools.
Allow me to share a few.

The U.S. News and World Report annual education rankings place Madison schools among the best in the state. The analysis looked at 79,622 public schools and ranked them at the state and district levels. Madison City’s seven elementary schools all ranked in the top 10 percent of the 1,149 Alabama elementary schools evaluated statewide with Heritage at No. 8, Mill Creek at 11, Horizon at 19, Madison Elementary at 48, Columbia at 62, Midtown at 94, and Rainbow at 115. Middle Schools across Madison graded in the top 3 percent in Alabama, with Liberty placing 23rd and Discovery 28th among the 921 Alabama middle schools. Journey is still new and without enough data to be ranked. Our high schools also landed in the top 3 percent statewide, with James Clemens at 6th and Bob Jones 12th among 384 Alabama high schools ranked.

I am also pleased to report that Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools both made the national AP (Advanced Placement) School Honor Roll. This distinction recognizes high schools that meet criteria associated with AP courses offered and college outcomes that include college culture, optimization, and credit. Only 53 Alabama high schools made the list of 5,061 schools nationwide in the 2024 AP School Honor Roll. Bob Jones and James Clemens were among 12 Alabama AP Honor Roll high schools earning “Silver” level status, while 13 attained “Gold,” and the rest in lower tier levels. Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time and will likely be on a faster track to graduation with credits earned.

In yet another performance indicator, the Alabama State Department of Education just released its annual school report cards. Once again, Madison City Schools received an A as a district in the annual assessment of local school systems by the State Department of Education.
All of our schools also scored admirably in the individual school assessments:

The report cards are made up of the following indicators:

It has been a busy fall with all of the activities across our campuses. Earlier this week we celebrated the West Madison PreK Center with a belated ribbon-cutting dedication. The historic significance of that school building and its impact on the community cannot be overstated. Repurposing the school into a stand-alone PreK Center preserves that legacy.

I would like to commend students from DMS, LMS, and JMS who qualified for the all-state choir. Congratulations also to Bob Jones and James Clemens theater for their recent performance in drama competitions. One Act plays from each school are advancing to State Trumbauer. This is an outstanding accomplishment from our District.

I would also like to recognize JC Band for finishing the season with superior ratings at all of its competitions. They finished 3rd at the recent Alabama State Championship in Jacksonville and excelled in District competition Nov. 1-2 at JCHS. Congratulations also to the Bob Jones band for competing in the National Bands of America Grand National Championship this past week in Indianapolis. The Patriots band was one of 113 bands across 20 states and the only one from Alabama competing.

My latest Sittin’ With The Supe podcast is on our superb swimming and cross-country programs. My guests are cross country coaches Bill McIllwain at BJ and Drew Bell at JC: and swim coaches Ryan Rhoades (BJ) and Kelly Davis (JC). You can catch our cross-country teams in action as follows: Dec. 7 Magic City Invitational; Dec. 14 Holiday Invitational; Jan. 4: ICE Breaker Invitational; Jan. 20 MLK Indoor Classic. Jan. 25, Last Chance Meet, February 8 State Championship. The AHSAA State Championship Swim&Dive meet is this weekend at the Huntsville Aquatics Center 2213 Drake Avenue in Huntsville.

Finally, in this season of thankfulness and gratitude, I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy this week off 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. Have a great Thanksgiving break.

#CelebrateMCS

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

Liberty Update 11/08/2024

Dear MCS Parents, 

I want to update you on the incident that occurred at Liberty Middle School yesterday involving a student found on campus with a loaded gun. On Wednesday evening, the Madison Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a gun being displayed at an apartment complex in Madison. While the investigation revealed no credible threat or intent to harm anyone at the school, a breakdown in communication between MPD and the local school administration delayed our response.

While the School Resource Officer (SRO) was informed of the investigation on Wednesday evening and the school-level administration received information of the investigation on Thursday morning, the failure to communicate promptly between the involved parties resulted in several hours of delay before the school administration took action. Unfortunately, established communication protocols were not followed.

Today, we met with Chief Gandy and other MPD leaders to review the events and develop ways to improve our communication and procedures moving forward. Our goal is to prevent delays like this in the future, and we are committed to refining our processes for the safety of our students and staff. I am grateful for the continued support of the Madison Police Department and our SRO team, who play a vital role in keeping our schools safe.

Mr. Golliver, our district's Safety Coordinator, had already planned to convene a safety committee meeting of staff and parents for this month. This committee will review our current safety protocols and explore potential improvements, including new technologies that could enhance school safety.

I appreciate your patience over the past 24 hours as we continued our investigation and collaborated closely with our partners to improve safety measures. As superintendent, I am confident that both the MPD and MCS teams are committed to the safety of our students and staff.

Sincerely,

Ed Nichols

District Update 11/01/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

October ended on a high note with the groundbreaking for our next elementary school. It will be exciting to watch its progress as MCS continues to grow and flourish. Board President Tim Holtcamp nailed it when he told the gathering that the two main cornerstones that mark Madison City Schools are excellence and growth. This new campus - the eighth elementary school and 15th school overall for MCS - will continue the excellence that our students, faculties and community stakeholders deserve.

I would like to remind our James Clemens family that Tuesday, Nov. 5th, will be a virtual day for JCHS students only. Limestone County election officials asked that JCHS be a polling location due to the expected high voter turnout. All other MCS campuses will continue in-school learning that day.

Madison City Schools places a heavy emphasis on mental health wellness. Our next Mental Health Matters health fair focuses on how technology (computers, cell phones, texting, cyberbullying, social media, etc.) impacts youth mental health. The Health Fair will be Nov. 14 at James Clemens High School where you can browse community resource tables, speak with mental health experts, and hear from an expert panel on how technology impacts our kids and dangers to avoid. Resource tables will be available starting at 5 from various community mental health partners. The program begins at 6 in the auditorium. Don’t miss this valuable free resource.

Congratulations to the BJHS volleyball team for finishing 2nd in the state in an exciting five-set match this week in Birmingham against McGill-Toolen. The Lady Patriots rallied from a 2-0 deficit to send the title clash into a 5th set razor-close fight to the finish. Congratulations also to BJ boys and girls cross-country teams who will advance to state competition in Oakville next Saturday.
Both BJHS and JCHS football teams are in state playoffs next week. I also want to commend several JetsPress students for earning multiple awards at the recent New York All-American High School Film Festival.

Don’t miss Sounds of the Stadium band performance Nov. 7 in the JCHS auditorium. This is a showcase of the music and performances of the JCHS marching band and its auxiliaries at football games. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased here:

If you see some emergency helicopters landing at two of our schools next week, it’s nothing to be alarmed about. Weather permitting, MedLife will visit Midtown Elementary Nov. 6 for a learning lesson for 4th graders. A police helicopter will visit Discovery Middle Nov. 8 for Career Day.

Finally, my latest Sittin’ With The Supe Podcast is on school Safety and Security. Join me with my guests, Jamie Golliver (Safety and Security Coordinator for MCS) and Stephanie Allen (MCS Mental Health Services Coordinator), for this insightful program. This is season three of Sittin’ With The Supe. I hope you enjoy them as much as my team and I do hosting them. 

#CelebrateMCS

Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 10/21/2024
Dear MCS Parents,

This past week marked a historic occasion for Madison City Schools when enrollment hit 13,000 students. That’s a huge increase from the 5,638 enrolled when Madison City Schools was created in 1998. As the district continues to grow and with bigger demands on our resources, I am pleased to give you an overview of our enrollment trend, demographics, and funding comparisons with other districts. Check it out in the October newsletter.

Congratulations to Assistant Superintendent Mr. Eric Terrel for earning the Excellence in Education Award Friday by the Partnership For A Drug-Free Community. Safety and Security Coordinator Mr. Jamie Golliver nominated Mr. Terrell for this award. The Partnership cited Mr. Terrell’s strong advocacy for students, including anti-smoking/vaping/drug programs in schools that inspire students to steer clear of those choices. Mr. Terrell is an invaluable asset to me and to the MCS family.

Thursday was the annual  Impact Aid kick-off. Please remember to take a few moments today to complete the Impact Aid survey (see this link for directions). Your participation will help MCS secure significant additional federal funding to support valuable learning programs and initiatives.

Our next Mental Health Fair includes a critical topic for parents and students alike: Technology and Mental Health. Mark your calendar for Nov 14, 5-7 p.m. at the JCHS auditorium. Experts on the Technology and Mental Health panel include an adolescent psychiatrist, counselor, U.S. Attorney, law enforcement, and parent. Use this link to submit questions you would like addressed by the expert panel. Visit the Mental Health Matters section for a link to submit questions for the panel.

Finally, I would like to remind everyone of the 7th annual Tootsie Roll 5K and Fun Run on Nov. 2 benefitting special education programs in Madison City Schools. The run begins at 8 a.m. at Madison City Stadium. I want to thank our local Knights of Columbus for its longstanding support for our special education programs.

#CelebrateMCS

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 9/27/2024
Dear MCS Parents,

Fall break is already upon us. I hope everyone enjoys the time off and that the recent hurricane didn’t damper plans for too many families. I look forward to the wonderful activities ahead as we start the 2nd of four nine-week periods of the school year upon our return October 7.
We have had a lot of exciting things going on in our schools, from STEM nights, to ball games in our gyms and stadiums, to PTA-sponsored activities and more.

It is always a highlight at board meetings to recognize students and staff for various accomplishments. Last week, we honored S2S (student-to-student) groups from Liberty Middle and Rainbow Elementary for winning national awards in support services for military students and their families. Madison City Schools has established itself as a leader as a Purple Star School District in support of military families.

The Board last week also recognized the following Bob Jones and James Clemens students for participation in the  Boys State and Girls State held this year at Troy State University:
Max Bell, Nicholas Jensen, Vachan Kurki, Ian McIntosh, Mason Puhalovicm, Jacob Sigler, Thomas Sigler, Kylie Gero, Millie Hoksbergen, Aurora Lang, Xin Lin.

Finally, I am pleased to report that construction is under way on our newest elementary school. A formal groundbreaking will be held soon. Help us name the new school by submitting your ideas here for the name, mascot, and school colors.  

I hope you all have a fantastic fall break.

#CelebrateMCS

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 9/16/2024

Dear MCS Parents,
I am very excited to share that Madison City has 38 National Merit Semifinalists, which is the most in MCS history and in the state. I am very proud of these 38 students and all of the teachers and administrators who have supported them from elementary to middle to high school. Read more about our National Merit Scholars here.

Congratulations to James Clemen's theater teacher, Amy Patel, for receiving a state theater award. The Alabama Conference of Theater selected Amy Patel to receive the prestigious Dorothy Schwartz Outstanding Educator Award recognizing individuals who have made a significant impact on theater education in Alabama including the areas of teaching, directing, and promoting theater arts.
Congratulations also to the Bob Jones Esports team and coach Aubree White (Alabama Esports Coach of the Year) for ranking No. 1 nationally by PlayVS which considers both school championships and runners-up. The top 5 are: @BjhsEsports (Alabama); @lacuevaesports (New Mexico), @ColonialsAD (Massachusettes), @RMHSLOBOS (Colorado), and @BrophyEsports (Arizona).
I also want to commend Discovery Middle Principal Jamie Hill for being named by CLAS (Council of Leaders for Alabama Schools) its District 8 Principal of the Year.

Standardized testing results from the 2023-2024 school year will be sent home soon. The Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) is a system of assessments that measure the knowledge and abilities of students in Alabama’s public schools. Last Spring, students in grades 2-8 took the ACAP Summative Assessment in English/Language Arts and Math, and students in grades 4, 6, and 8 were assessed in science. Our special population students took the ACAP Alternate Assessment in English/Language Arts and Math in grades 2-8, 10, and 11, and science in grades 4,6,8,10, and 11. Student score reports from both of these assessments will come home on Tuesday, September 17, if your student participated. Please review the report with your student, and click here for more information on the alternate assessment score report, and here for the summative.

Flu season is upon us and our District Nursing Supervisor Becky Tucker encourages parents to get their children vaccinated. MCS will not be offering flu vaccines at schools this year because the program MCS partnered with (VAK - Vaccinate Alabama Kids) is no longer receiving reimbursement to provide the vaccines. Please arrange through your doctor, pharmacy or the Madison County Health Department to have your child(ren) vaccinated.

Here are a few Save-the-Date events to make you aware of:
October 17th: Districtwide wear purple day in support of the federal Impact Aid kickoff.
October 29th: Groundbreaking for the new MCS elementary school in Limestone County.
Nov. 14: Districtwide Mental Health Fair for the public at James Clemens High School.   

 
#CelebrateMCS

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

School Safety Message 9/11/2024
In this brief video message, https://youtu.be/zsLcEwe61m0 , Dr. Ed Nichols assures parents that District administrators, school leaders, MCS Safety and Security Coordinator Mr. Jamie Golliver, Madison PD and SROs work continuously to keep schools safe. This message comes in the wake of the recent round of social media threats in nearby school districts and in other parts of the country.

Threats Against Schools 9/11/24

Dear MCS Family,

Madison City Schools officials in collaboration with the Madison Police Department have looked into threats against our schools that have been circulating over the past several hours. While none of these threats are substantiated, we proactively have increased police presence across our school district.  None of our district schools have been put into lockdown today, nor are in lockdown currently.

Madison Police confirmed that the threats against our schools that have been circulating originated with, and were initially sent, by students in districts outside of Madison City Schools. 

We will continue to work alongside the MPD to monitor, investigate, and respond to all concerns and issues. The safety of all of our students, staff, and teachers and the security of all of our schools and campuses are top priorities. We will continue to follow our safety plans and procedures that are in place to help safeguard against any and all threats.

Dr. Ed Nichols,

Superintendent

Local Social Media Threat 9/10/24

Dear MCS Family,

One of our neighboring school districts, Madison County Schools, moved to a Heightened Awareness status today due to a social media post that referenced a threat to Sparkman High School and other schools as well. District administration and Madison PD investigated and determined that none of our district schools in Madison City were associated with that social media threat.

As always, the security of all schools within our district is a top priority. Safety measures, plans, and procedures are in place on all of our campuses. We will continue to work alongside the Madison Police Department to monitor and respond to any issues that may arise.

Dr. Ed Nichols,
Superintendent

Social Media Clarification 9/8/24

Dear MCS Family,

A social media post regarding a threat referring to a school district that includes the name Madison is being circulated online and throughout our community.
This post is related to the Madison County Florida school district and not Madison City Schools.

The City of Madison Police Department and Madison City Schools district officials are all aware of this post and are working in conjunction to address reports related to this post.

We appreciate everyone’s ongoing support of the safety and security of our schools by sharing information with both the MPD and MCS administrators.

Ed Nichols
Superintendent

09/05/2024
Message on Madison City Bowl:

We are blessed in Madison to have two of the best high schools in Alabama.
This Friday night (Sept. 6) will be an exciting evening for MCS and the Madison community when our two teams - Bob Jones and James Clemens - compete in the Mad City Bowl.
While rivalries are fun, I would like to emphasize the importance of kindness, patience, and sportsmanship by those who attend all of our athletic events. These wonderful athletic events are a time to focus on the young people playing, cheering, and performing.

For The Madison Bowl, the parking lot area will open at 4 p.m. and the gates will open at 5 p.m. Any tents or tailgating will be designated to the west side of the parking area next to Garner St. After the game begins, entry into and exit from the stadium will take place via the home gate only.  The home gate will take tickets that are purchased for the entire length of the game.  There will be no free admittance during the game.

For our athletic events to be safe and enjoyable, spectators and students need to be aware of our MCS Stadium guidelines.
*Only small purses, diaper bags, and medical bags are allowed. We currently do not have a clear bag policy. Spectators with oversized bags may be denied entry. All bags are subject to search. No coolers are allowed.

*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 area clear. Private security guards will assist in keeping the elevated walkways and railings clear.
*No running or ball-tossing inside the stadium.
*Spectators will not be allowed field access without appropriate credentials.
*Spectators who leave the stadium will have to repay admission to return to the stadium.
*MCS students attending the games are subject to the MCS Code of Student Conduct.
*We strongly ask parents of elementary and middle school students to attend the game with their children. If not, please ensure that an adult at the game will accompany and serve as an emergency contact.
*Spectators are asked to be respectful and follow stadium guidelines. Those who cause problems will be asked to leave the stadium/property and will not be given a refund or allowed to return.

Ed Nichols

Superintendent


District Update 8/30/2024
Dear MCS Parents,
The new school year is off to a good start.
It is exciting to have all the kids and faculty back on campuses. Athletic events are underway, as are our bands, theater, clubs, and other school activities. It's hard to believe more than a month of school has already passed and that Labor Day weekend is upon us. I want to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend and that the break is a nice refresher.

Our enrollment continues to grow. Today we are just shy of 13,000 students. What is telling about our current growth pace is that we normally start each school year with about 200 students less than we ended with and then grow typically to a net gain of 300 students. This year, we ended 2023-2024 with 12,700 students and are already nearing 13,000 with many months left to go in the school year. The projections of our current growth show that by 2030, we will have around 15,000 students. Expansions of our two high schools will also be needed soon to meet this enrollment growth. In the next few weeks, I will update you on our future facility and programmatic needs to meet this growth.

Construction has begun on our new elementary school in Limestone County. Our construction manager, Shane Bagwell, gave an update at our last board meeting that included a projected July 2026 completion date. Given the growth projections I outlined above, we will need the additional space.

Next week marks an exciting period for MCS and the entire Madison community. On Friday, Sept. 6., Madison City Stadium will host the annual gridiron matchup between Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools. While rivalries are certainly acceptable, I would like to emphasize the importance of kindness, patience, and sportsmanship by those who attend all of our athletic events.

For our athletic events to be safe and enjoyable, spectators and students need to be aware of our MCS Stadium guidelines.
*Only small purses, diaper bags, and medical bags are allowed. We currently do not have a clear bag policy and spectators with oversized bags may be denied entry. All bags 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 area clear. Private security guards will assist in keeping the elevated walkways and railings clear.
*No running or ball-tossing inside the stadium.
*Spectators will not be allowed field access without appropriate credentials.
*Spectators who leave the stadium will have to repay admission to return to the stadium.
*MCS students attending the games are subject to the MCS Code of Student Conduct.
*We strongly ask parents of elementary and middle school students to attend the game with their children. If not, please ensure that an adult at the game will accompany and serve as an emergency contact.
*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.

Finally, I am excited to share the August MCS Newsletter The newsletter includes district information/updates in addition to highlights of our outstanding school system. Enjoy!
#CelebrateMCS

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 7/30/2024
Dear MCS Parents,

I am so excited that our students will return Thursday for a new school year. Our teachers and staff have been preparing for the 2024-2025 school year. As our MCS Family assembled last week on our district-wide Institute Day, we celebrated last year’s countless successes of our students and staff. We are blessed in Madison to have a school district that is a leader at both the state and national level in academics and extracurricular programs.

As we enter the new school year, please talk with your students about their goals for the new year. To provide the best learning environment possible, the district will be implementing some changes that will allow us to continue to make academic success our focus. Here are a few changes to discuss with your student.

Our district’s focus is to have a safe and orderly environment that is focused on the academic success of our students. Class 3 offenses such as fighting, vaping, disorderly conduct, and other areas in the Code of Conduct can result in a student being suspended Out of School and/or placed in the Alternative School setting. More information concerning vaping and fighting will be sent from your school principal. Our high school Alternative School has been relocated from James Clemens to a stand-alone facility on Nance Road in the former Pre-K center. We hope that students will not violate any area of the Code of Conduct that would require a placement in this program. However, if a student is assigned to the Alternative School, it will be the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation to this location.

Also, I want to emphasize that cell phones and earbuds/headphones will not be allowed to be used during classroom instruction time. Phones and earbuds/headphones will be put away in a location designated by the teacher and placed in silent mode. In secondary schools, students will have access to their phones and earbuds/headphones outside of classroom instruction time such as between classes and lunch. Failure to follow these procedures will result in a disciplinary referral to the office.

Each year, our administrators cover these and other areas with students on the first days of the school year in a proactive attempt to limit student disciplinary issues. Please take time to review the Code of Conduct with your student. All students, teachers, and staff deserve an environment safe and free from distractions.

As we begin school, there are several dates for open houses and new student orientation events that principals have been communicating. Also, last week, the MCS School Board approved the 2025-2026 school calendar. I certainly appreciate all of you who gave feedback on the calendar options. This is the link for our school calendars.

For those still completing the enrollment process, our registrars are working diligently to get all students approved and into our system. Counselors will then work to create schedules and/or assign students to homerooms. Please make sure all documents and information are correct when completing the online enrollment application so as not to delay the process.

There have been some changes to the medication provisions. Click here for more information.

Finally, as we start school this Thursday, we all know there will be a great deal of traffic around our schools while parents and students get used to new schools and drop-off areas. Let’s all leave a little early and be patient as we adjust to the first few days of school. Please remember it is against the law to pass a school bus with its stop arm extended. Our buses are equipped with cameras so those who violate this law could have the video shared with the Madison Police Department.

I look forward to an outstanding school year. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to Madison City Schools!

#Celebrate MCS
 
Ed Nichols
Superintendent                                                                                                                      

District Update 7/11/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

It is hard to believe we will begin school in a few weeks. During this summer break, our MCS team has remained busy preparing for the August 1st school start. In the next few weeks, we will continue with everything from facility maintenance and upgrades to staffing, instructional professional development, transportation, and support service readiness. Also, starting next week, we will hear the sounds of band camp and the beginning of our sports teams preparing for the new school year.
As we wrap up the final weeks of summer break, I want to take a brief moment to share some information about the return to school.

If you have not done so already, please re-enroll your student(s) if they plan to return to Madison City Schools. About a fourth of our expected returning students have yet to do so.
Students who have not re-enrolled by July 18th will be withdrawn. This means they must enroll as new students, produce all documents including birth certificates, immunization records, etc., and lose any classes previously scheduled through requests in spring. Instructions for re-enrollment were sent to the custodial parent from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com several times and may have landed in your spam mail. To re-enroll your student into MCS, log into your Parent Portal Parent sign-in, and click the link entitled Returning Student Enrollment 2024-2025 at the bottom of the left sidebar which takes you to the website for PowerSchool Enrollment.

Be prepared to upload a copy of your driver’s license and proof of residency which includes your property tax or lease agreement and also a current utility bill. You must repeat this process for any additional student you have returning to MCS. If you have forgotten your credentials for the parent portal, please contact one of the following: cmcquitty@madisoncity.k12.al.us, mcox@madisoncity.k12.al.us; or dcwhite@madisoncity.k12.al.us.

School open houses are set for 5-7 p.m. on the following dates:
Elementary: July 30.
Middle School: Aug. 6.
High School: Aug. 8.
Check with your school for the scheduled time brackets based on the first letter of your last name.

As we start the new year, I am proud to introduce new members of our school admin teams.
Mr. Jamie Golliver is the district’s Safety and Security Coordinator.
Mr. Karl Fernandez is the Assistant Coordinator of Accountability and Innovative Programs.
Mrs. Wendy Pharo is the new Principal at Madison Elementary.
Mr. Quintin Turner is the new Principal at Rainbow Elementary.
Mr. Caleb Gautney is the new Administrator at RISE Academy.
Mrs. Tammy Brunton is the new Assistant Principal at  Horizon Elementary.
Mrs. Nedjra Russell is the new Administrator at West Madison PreK Center (assisting Principal Sharon Nicole Phillips).
Mr. Nathan Holmes is the new Assistant Principal at Midtown Elementary.
Mrs. Tosha Swearingen is the new Assistant Principal at Rainbow Elementary.
Mr. Clint Woodfin is the new Assistant Principal at Bob Jones High School.
Mr. Ben Smith is the new AP/Athletic Director at Journey Middle.
Mr. Matt Sweatman is the new AP/Athletic Director at Discovery Middle.
Mr. Barry Layne Rinks II is the new Athletic Director at James Clemens High School.
Mr. Kurt Yancey is the new Athletic Director at Bob Jones High School.
I have great confidence in our leadership team and the hundreds of quality teachers and support staff in Madison City Schools.

Our new math coaches and instructional specialists have been hard at work this summer on ways to support and enhance math instruction. Earlier this week, they collaborated on training and new resources that can improve elementary math instruction. Their dedication is representative of educators throughout MCS who put in extra time during the summer on ways to strengthen student learning.

I would like to recognize our students who took part in Boys and Girls State this summer. What a wonderful program that helps teach government understanding, the political process, and the responsibilities of citizenship. Boys State reps from Bob Jones: Simon Adkins, Caleb Jackson, Ian McIntosh, Thomas Sigler, Nick Jensen, Mason Puhalovic.
Boys State reps from James Clemens: Mathew Lipski.
Girls State reps from BJHS:Aurora Lang, Millie Hoksbergen.
Girls State reps. From JCHS: Xin Lin, Kylie Gero.

The Bob Jones High School Science Academy is gearing up once again for a fun-filled offering of challenges and learning opportunities. This student-led program by high school students gives elementary students in grades 4-5 an opportunity to learn higher-level science concepts in a fun atmosphere. Applications are due Aug. 2. Information about the Science Academy can be found in this link. Application info here.

On a final note, I am excited to share that Madison City Schools exceeded state and national pass rate averages on AP (Advance Placement) exams. Over 1,200 of our students - 556 at BJ and 647 at JC - achieved a combined 79 percent pass rate across 2,400 exams taken. The average pass rate for the state was 64% and 72% for the national. Qualifying scores can help college-bound students gain credit hours through course exemption, saving potentially thousands of dollars in tuition and putting them on a pathway to earlier graduation.
The exams also expose AP test takers to rigor which can help them improve their GPA and ACT and SAT scores that usually factor into scholarships.
This level of achievement would not be possible without our great students, teachers, administrators, district staff, and school board who for many years have been committed to providing a high level of academic opportunities in our district at all grade levels.

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 6/06/2024

Dear MCS Parents,
It is hard to believe that the  2023-24 school year is over. From the $72 million of scholarships offered to the Class of 2024 to the many state, regional and national awards received by our students and teachers, MCS continues to be a leader in the education of our children. While the summer is a time for a break, our district is continuing to prepare for the new school year.

As a reminder, we are collecting feedback from parents, students, and community members through our end-of-year surveys. Please take a few minutes to provide feedback through one of our surveys: Parent/Guardian Survey, the Student Survey for Middle and High School Students, or a Stakeholder Survey for community members who do not have a school-age child.

Madison City Schools is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid training to MCS parents and guardians on June 13. This program is for those who want to understand more about mental health challenges among children and adolescents and how to respond effectively. Click here for more information and registration: https://www.madisoncity.k12.al.us/domain/2411.

The school year-end also closes Season 2 of our Sittin With The Supe’ podcasts, which I thoroughly enjoy hosting. Breaking from the traditional format, the end-of-the-year podcast in the link below features brief video interviews with some of our 2024 graduates giving advice to underclassmen. I think students and parents alike will enjoy the wisdom of these grads. You can hear what they have to say in this video link.

I want to thank you all for an amazing school year and wish everyone a wonderful summer break.

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 5/17/2024

Dear MCS Parents,
The 2023-2024 school year is in the final stretch. It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming students and holding new teacher orientations.
Graduation is Monday, May 20, at the Von Braun Center. James Clemens starts at 2 p.m. Bob Jones at 6 p.m. Both ceremonies will be live-streamed by CEVA productions via this link.
Please know that admittance will not begin until one-hour before each program. Videos of each graduation can be ordered in these links: James Clemens High School and Bob Jones High School.

Monday is an E-Learning Day for everyone so students will not report to school. Tuesday (May 21) and Wednesday (May 22) are both half-days for students. That will bring the school year to a close.
The 2024 graduating class we will be celebrating Monday night continues the longstanding tradition of academic excellence by our seniors.
Here is a snapshot:
*1,027 seniors (551 at JC, 476 at BJ)
*63 percent (647 seniors) earned $72.24 million in scholarships, with $30.2 million accepted for an average of $46,751 accepted.
*182 (18 percent) scored a 30 or above on the ACT, and 38 percent had a 4.0 or higher GPA.
*MCS had an impressive 28 National Merit Finalists, a U.S. Presidential Scholar (one of only 3 in Alabama and 161 nationwide) and a Presidential Scholar semifinalist.
I am so proud of all of our graduates and the paths they are about to embark on, whether that be heading straight into the workforce, technical school, military or higher education.

I feel incredibly blessed to be part of Madison City Schools and excited to think of the positive future for our district. The successes are a testament to the wonderful teachers, principals, administrators, support workers, students, parents, citizens, and community partners in our school family. The dedication of our employees is reinforced each year in annual visits to schools and district operations to present Teacher of the Year and Staff Member of the Year awards. See our 2023-2024 TOTY SMOTY winners here. The visits also allowed us to thank our retirees with a gift bag and to wish them well.

The closing of a school year means that our team is busy preparing for the opening of the next school year. Part of that includes revising our strategic plan with input from stakeholders. As we wrap up the 2023-2024 school year, I would like to ask you to take a few minutes to provide feedback through one of our surveys: Parent/Guardian Survey, Student Survey for Middle and High School Students, or Stakeholder Survey for community members who do not have a school-age child.

I would like to commend Coach Smith and the Bob Jones baseball team for winning the state championship this week in Jacksonville. The Patriots won the state 7A playoff against Central of Phenix City. I also commend Heritage Elementary for being recertified as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School for continuing growth of innovative learning programs. JC’s innovative JetsPress arts and audio-visual program, under the direction of instructor Clay Combs, recently earned JC a statewide School of Distinction award by CLAS (Council of Leaders of Alabama Schools). 
Congratulations also to James Clemens Principal Dr. Kerry Donaldson for being named state PTA Principal of the Year, and to Bob Jones senior Samantha Si-Wai Chan for being named a U.S. Presidential Scholar finalist. There are only 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars nationwide and three from Alabama so this is a tremendous honor. MCS is also proud of our 28 National Merit Finalists split nearly evenly between BJ and JC.

We had a number of student recognitions at our last Board meeting for outstanding achievements. These include: Mill Creek and Bob Jones greenpower teams for national wins at Talladega; Liberty Middle baseball for back-to-back County Championship wins, PTA Reflections Contest winners and several of our wonderful PTA officers.
I would also like to congratulate James Clemens senior Finley Koswoski and Journey Middle 8th grader Kyla Chandrakasem for winning DAR essay contests in American History, and Bob Jones and James Clemens  track and field athletes, and to Esports teams at both schools for performances in recent state competitions. Special recognition goes to Kristen Brown, Liberty Middle science teacher, for being in the Final Four for Alabama Teacher of the Year. That’s a huge accomplishment with approximately 48,000 schoolteachers in Alabama.

Finally, I would like to commend our Madison City Schools Transportation Department for continuing its unblemished safety record in bus inspections. A state review of inspection proficiency showed no major deficiencies for the 11th year in a row. That’s an important safety record to uphold with a bus fleet of over 100 that covers 1.1 million miles a year transporting more than 6,000 students daily.

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 5/03/2024
Dear MCS Parents,

The school year is winding down fast with commencement just around the corner. Graduations will be Monday, May 20th, at the Von Braun Center, with James Clemens at 2 p.m and Bob Jones at 6 p.m. I look forward to seeing our seniors, families and friends as we celebrate this important milestone. I want to remind you that Monday, May 20, is an e-Learning Day for all students so there will be no on-campus classes that day. Then Tuesday and Wednesday, (May 21-22) are half-days in school for students for teacher collaborative time.

This Saturday, May 4, will mark the first MadFest Day in Madison, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Madison City Stadium. This is a student-initiated, student led community wide event that combines festival fun with community service. I am so proud of our students for initiating and planning this free event that should appeal to the entire family. Learn more at https://www.madfest.info/ You can also listen to my podcast interview on MadFest with student organizers Drew Crocker, Simon Adkins and Sophia Johnson.

I want to give a big shoutout to Bob Jones baseball for winning the area championship. Both BJ and JC baseball advanced to the elite 8 state playoffs this week. James Clemens won last night to advance to the state semifinals. Bob Jones plays this afternoon in their pursuit to advance to the state semifinals. Good luck also to BJ and JC track teams which also advanced to the state track and field championship.

Our World Languages programs are closing out the year on a busy note, with language competitions, tests and other foreign language challenges for students. Here’s a snapshot of recent activities: a National French Contest by JC students, a Spanish Assembly at Discovery Middle School involving BJ, DMS, Journey Middle and Liberty Middle Spanish programs; JC award winners from the National Latin Exam.

Our JetsPress program at JC is working on a full length movie, “Tomatoes and Marigolds,” that they hope to premier later this year in local theaters. I am very proud of the program under the leadership of Mr. Clay Combs. Check out the story that WAFF48 aired. Also, JC’s Career Tech Academy recently won several awards at the Skills USA competition in Mobile, including 1st Place in the Digital Cinema category. Special congratulations to students Diya Patel and Arden Sindel, and to Mr. Combs for leading his students to excellence. Kudos also to the JCHS Technology Student Association for its awards from the recent TSA State conference.

I want to commend Madison City Chess League students for their performance at the recent state chess championship. It was an honor to recognize them at our Board meeting.
I also want to thank The Schools Foundation and Committee of 100 for their continued support for the National Board Certified Teacher program. They gave a sizable contribution at the Board meeting to help more teachers become NBCT certified. Also at the Board meeting, the Tennessee Valley Authority awarded generous STEM grants to Mill Creek, Heritage, Rainbow, Columbia and Horizon elementary schools, and Journey and Discovery middle schools.

Athletic signings are great to celebrate but we also like to celebrate students for their academic pursuits. Bob Jones recently held a signing ceremony for students embarking on an education career: Reagan Burgess, Mississippi State; and the following UNA-bound students: Katerina Fedoseyev, Savannah Gaertner, Annie Gehring, Naomi Madkins, Abigail (Abby) Preus, Congratulations. BJ and JCHS will be holding signings for students embarking on a military path and various academic disciplines.

We had another successful round of Career Expos at both JC and BJ. They each were attended by hundreds of students. I want to thank our Career Tech coaches, Ms. Sara Baragona, Michelle Hyams and Jodi Jones, for the hard work they put into organizing job expos, industry tours, industry speakers in classes, and more, to help students find their career/college/military interests and learn the pathways to get there. Watch for an article on our college and career coaches in the May edition of Madison Living Magazine.

I would like to congratulate Liberty Middle science teacher Kristen Brown for advancing from a Sweet 16 finalist to the Final 4 in the State Teacher of the Year program. The Alabama State Department of Education will soon announce the finalist, and we know she is the most deserving.

On a final note, I am excited to share that we have two new opportunities for rising seniors for the 2024-2025 school year: Madison Hospital Ambassador Program and Dual Enrollment EMT on our campus. The Madison Hospital Ambassador Program will be available for seniors who have completed a minimum of two classes in one Career Tech Academy. Applications are due Friday, May 10. Click here for the application and more information about the Madison Hospital Ambassador Program. The Calhoun Dual Enrollment EMT program will be open to BJ and JC seniors and held on the campus of James Clemens. Click here for more information about the EMT program. More details will be released soon from the high schools. Please send questions to Michelle Hyams at mghyams@madisoncity.k12.al.us for JCHS or Sara Baragona at sjbaragona@madisoncity.k12.al.us for BJHS. 

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 4/17/2024
Dear MCS Parents,
It is an exciting time in our school district as we enter the last few weeks of school. I recently met with our Student Advisory group and had excellent feedback on areas our students feel make our district outstanding. They also shared ideas on improving our district and programmatic and facility needs for the future. Meeting with these students is such a blessing to me. We are so fortunate to have wonderful students who want our district to be the best in the nation.

In the meeting, the students discussed the success of the district in providing many electives and extracurricular programs. These opportunities for our students are a hallmark of the district. However, as the district grows, it will be a challenge to continue all of these programs due to funding issues. Many of these programs have to operate in subpar facilities. In a few weeks, I will present to our Board a 2030 Capital Plan for the future of MCS. This plan will address upgrading aging facilities in our older schools both academically and athletically.
As we know, by the year 2030, the district will be approaching 15,000 students. The plan will address meeting that challenge and being able to continue to provide opportunities for all of our students. I look forward to sharing this plan in the summer and fall in several meetings around our district and gathering input from our community members.

Our next Career Fair for certified position employment in the Madison City School system is tomorrow (Thursday, April 18th) at Journey Middle on 217 Celtic Drive, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the gym. Come meet and talk with elementary and secondary administrators to learn about employment opportunities in this outstanding school district. A Job Fair for non-certified positions like custodian, transportation, CNP, and other paraprofessionals will be April 22, 4-6 p.m. at the Central Office.

The next Mental Health Matters VIRTUAL learning series for parents will be on May 1st, at noon, led by school-based therapists from The Enrichment Center. The session, titled Technology and Mental Health, will provide insight into how technology can impact mental health (in both positive and negative ways), signs to be aware of, and resources and tips to help. Click here for information and Zoom registration.

Over 400 James Clemens High School students participated in the Redstone Federal Credit Union Reality Fair on April 11 to help them understand financial literacy and obligations. This is a large-scale version of the “Game of Life” interactive budgeting simulation. The students started with a random budgeting scenario, an assigned occupation and starting salary, to see how well they could manage their financial decisions while visiting 12 booths that simulated different categories like housing, transportation, meals, entertainment, childcare, and credit. RFCU Employees as well as JCHS student tellers facilitated the 12 stations. We appreciate the partnership with RFCU and their Youth Financial Education program.

Bob Jones High School hosted a Career Expo on campus last Friday with dozens of exhibits for students to visit. The Career Expo provides a platform to expose students to different career paths, along with networking opportunities with professionals in the field. On-the-spot interview opportunities were also available for students planning to enter the workforce immediately after high school. A similar Career Expo will be at James Clemens High School April 24.

I am proud of the many ways our teachers go above and beyond their classroom duties to improve their instructional skills. Four of our teachers recently earned grants from the national “Fund for Teachers” organization that awards money for professional development: Rebecca McDaniel, Rainbow Elementary; Kristin Stundtner, Heritage Elementary, Beth Woodard, Madison Elementary; and Liz Vaughn, James Clemens High School. You can learn more about the national Fund for Teachers program and the focus of these teachers’ grants in this link.

I had the pleasure of attending a Make-A-Wish reveal celebration last week at James Clemens High School where students raised over $10,000 to make the dream of a Mill Creek 5th grader a reality. I am so proud of our students for making a dream trip to Los Angeles and Hollywood possible for our student amidst a major health issue she is dealing with. Giving to others is an important life skill that is modeled in all of our schools. WHNT story here: https://tinyurl.com/2usttmrs
Journey Middle School has joined all of Madison City Schools as a Purple Star School. This is a state credential that schools and school districts can earn with support systems in support for military families. All MCS schools have qualified as Purple Star Schools since the state program was launched in 2021. We are pleased to add our new Journey Middle School as a state-sanctioned Purple Star School.

Congratulations to Discovery Middle student Nikita Prabhakar for recognition at the National Stem Festival in Washington, D.C. for her development of a non-invasive sensor for monitoring blood loss in menorrhagia - an innovation of which she’s been directed to pursue a patent for. Her science teacher at DMS is Scott Smith. Congratulations also to Lydia Hosmer, 7th grader at Liberty Middle, for placing 3rd in the State Archery Tournament. Her PE teacher/coach, Martha Prichard, said Lydia is reported to be the first MCS student to place individually in the Alabama State Archery Tournament.

Finally, I would like to invite you to check out my latest Sittin’ WIth The Supe podcast on our wonderful Outdoor Classroom programs. My guests are Beth Woodard, gifted specialist and Outdoor Classroom Manager at Madison Elementary; and community partner April Waltz of the Alabama Wildlife Federation.

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 4/05/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

It has been an exciting few weeks since we enjoyed spring break. Each day brings more and more activities that highlight our wonderful students. With only seven weeks left until summer, all our schools are in high gear with field trips, field days, sports and extracurricular activities, and final preparations for graduation. The 2023-2024 school year has brought highlights at the state, regional, and national levels from our students and staff. I cannot thank our MCS family for your support and dedication to Empowering ALL of our Students! 

April is the Month of The Military Child and our schools will hold activities to honor our military children. While military members serve around the world, we often forget the challenges faced by their children. Military families move on average every two to three years, impacting military children through changing schools and support networks. Madison City Schools has S2S (student-to-student) peer groups in every school to help military children and all new students build peer friendships and adjust to their new schools. This year our annual “Purple Up” day will be celebrated on Friday, April 19 and everyone is encouraged to wear purple that day in support of our military students and their families. 

I am always in awe of the many students who take on leadership roles serving our district. Two students deserve mention this week: Erik Wu and Neyan Sezhian. These two juniors from James Clemens High School developed, organized, and ran a district math tournament last week for middle schoolers. JC Math teacher Kristin Hartland said the students were motivated by the lack of local math competitions and events and decided to do something about it. From question development to fund-raising from sponsorship, logistics, and outreach, their dedication was instrumental in shaping this initiative.

Our high school drama/theater programs continue to show their talents in performances. Mark your calendars for the musical, Mean Girls, at Bob Jones HS on April 11-13th, and 18-20 at 7 p.m. each night; with 2 p.m. shows on April 13 and 20th. James Clemens Theater will put on Cyrano de Bergerac on April 18/19th at 7 p.m., and April 20th at 2 & 7 p.m.

Congratulations to the following:
*MCS recipients of Madison Visionary Partners awards including BOE member Alice Lessmann (Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year), BJ senior Drew Crocker (Youth Volunteer of the Year), and nominees MCS educator Michelle Hyams, BJ senior Savannah Gaertner, and JC senior Finley Koswoski.
*Congratulations to LMS Science Teacher, Mrs. Kristen Brown, on being announced today as an Alabama Sweet 16 Finalist for State Teacher of the Year! Congratulations, Mrs. Brown!!!
*Liberty Math team for its 1st place finish at the State MathCounts competition. Eighth-grader Jeffrey Duan won 1st in individual scores and will compete at Nationals.
*Bob Jones Chess Team for winning the State Chess Championship. Players include Xavier Bruni, Andrew Yang, Steven Pan, Nirvana Rajbhandari, Aadi Saxena, and Jacob New.
*BJ Patriot Racing green power team for excellent finishes in the GreenpowerUSA Diverse Power Grand Prix in LaGrange, GA. The BJ Red team placed 1st in the F24 Advanced modified division while Blue teams in the Advanced modified and Advanced custom divisions placed 2nd. The wins secured BJ a spot in the Greenpower USA National Championship in Talladega in May
*Elaine Weng at JCHS for her self-portrait winning best in show in the statewide Visual Arts Achievement program contest.
*Optimist Club Essay Contest winners: Justin Roh (1st), Andrew Crocker (2nd), and Millie Hoksbergen (3rd), all from BJHS. Winning teacher Nichole Murray. I also want to thank the Optimist Club for its faithful support of our schools. At last night’s BOE meeting, Optimist leaders awarded several thousand dollars in grants to 17 MCS programs across various schools for STEM, ESL, Library, Greenpower, math and robotics teams, and more.

I would like to thank Redstone Federal Credit Union for committing a team of about 30 employees to lead a Financial Literacy Reality Fair for career prep students at BJ and JC.
This is a “Game of Life interactive budgeting simulation where students start with a random budgeting scenario and salary. The challenge is seeing how well they manage their financial decisions while visiting a dozen booths that simulate different expense categories like housing, transportation, meals, entertainment, childcare, credit, and unplanned expenses like health and major auto expenses. The BJ Fair was gratifying seeing so many students actively engaged and surprised by their money at the end of the month. JC’s Reality Fair will be next week.
 
On April 8, a solar eclipse will cross North America. While north Alabama is not in the path of totality, a partial eclipse will be visible. Schools sent permission forms home for students to view the eclipse the afternoon of April 8 with certified, solar eclipse glasses that will be provided. Students must have a signed permission form in order to view the eclipse. Please remind your student that the eclipse will still be occurring during some dismissal times and students should refrain from looking at the sun without protective solar eclipse glasses.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 3/25/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun few days during the recent spring break. We have now started the final 9 weeks of the school year. It seems like yesterday that this new year kicked off in August. Of course, these final few weeks will be filled with state-mandated testing, awards ceremonies, and graduation. Before we know it, the Class of 2024 will toss their mortar boards into the air and head out on the next journey of life.

Our band and choir programs continuously demonstrate excellence at all their performances. Their latest scores from this year’s festivals highlight the talent that we have in our student performers and their instructors. Choirs from Discovery, Liberty, and James Clemens received straight superior ratings this year. Our middle school bands from Discovery and Liberty received Superior ratings for their Symphonic Band and their Concert Band. Journey Middle School Band received an Excellent rating in stage and a Superior rating in site reading. At the high school level, Wind Ensembles at Bob Jones and James Clemens scored all Superior ratings. In addition, the James Clemens Symphonic Band 1 and Symphonic Band 2 scored straight Superior ratings in stage and site reading, while Bob Jones High School Concert Band and Symphonic Band received Superior ratings. Although I would expect nothing less from these talented young musicians, often if a group is so consistent, they may be overlooked. I want to use this opportunity to shine a light on all our performers this week and thank our tremendous fine arts teachers.

I would like to congratulate the following MCS students and educators for outstanding achievements:

*JC senior Bhavya Chalasani for numerous academic awards/recognitions including Early Acceptance into the College of Medicine at USA and a coveted spot in its Mitchell Scholars program which includes the largest business scholarship in Alabama.
*Katy Scott, Midtown 3rd grade teacher, for being featured as Fox-54’s Top Teacher.
*Recipients of the Madison Visionary Partners awards which celebrate people who make a positive difference in MCS and the greater Madison community. Recipients include BOE member Alice Lessmann and several of our students and faculty members.
*Shemeaka King, 2nd grade teacher at Mill Creek Elementary for her leadership in the use of technology in the classroom to amplify and transform learning in our schools. Shemeaka was recently featured on GoGuardians Teacher Page for incorporating this technique.
*James Clemens HOSA students for winning numerous awards at the state HOSA conference. Also, JC SGA students for awards from the recent Student Council Association’s State Conference.
*Members of the Lady Patriots Basketball Team at BJ for signing athletic scholarships last week: Janiyah Bone and Alana Obianozie (Shelton State), and Jordan Fields (Bishop State).
*JCHS athletes signing scholarships last week: Cade McCombs, Auburn University (swimming); Austin Abney, University of Montevallo, (track and field).
*Each year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars selects elementary, middle, and high school teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program. Brooke Sigler was selected as the 2023-2024 elementary teacher for this award at the local post level and Sara Baragona was selected as the 2023-2024 middle school teacher for this award at the local post level. Sara Baragona was also selected as the District winner and will advance to the state competition. Congratulations, Mrs. Sigler and Mrs. Baragona!

The Bob Jones Science Academy will be hosting the science challenge for 3-5th grade students in Madison City Schools. A fun day for all with a short test followed by science labs and activities (including kits from Hudson/Alpha, stethoscope/blood pressure, trophies, poster/cartoon contests and more). BJ science students will lead this free event. Click here for more information.

On April 8, a solar eclipse will cross North America. While north Alabama is not in the path of totality, a partial eclipse will be visible. Schools will be sending out permission forms for students to view the eclipse the afternoon of April 8 with certified, solar eclipse glasses that will be provided.

Check out the latest “60 seconds” in Madison City Schools showcasing highlights from across the district.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 3/06/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

Friday marks the last day of school before Spring Break and concludes the third nine weeks of the school year. It is hard to believe that we only have nine weeks remaining of the 2023-2024 school year. This year has brought many wonderful moments and accolades for our schools and students. We continue to see student growth, and are currently planning not only our new elementary school but how we will address increased student enrollment at our high schools. I look forward this spring to sharing future plans for our ever-growing district. I hope everyone has an enjoyable spring break and look forward to seeing everyone when school returns March 18.

Madison City Schools welcomes the newest member of the MCS family - Daryl, the facility dog at Midtown Elementary. Daryl joins Madison Elementary’s, Barnie, as the District’s 2nd facility dog assigned to one of our schools. They are a great addition to our team in the mental health and wellness in our schools. Applications are pending for two more facility dogs for our elementary schools.

Speaking of mental health, MCS is hosting a virtual Mental Health Matters session later this month that we invite you to be a part of. The virtual Mental Health Informed Parent session will be Wednesday, March 20, at noon, led by school-based therapists from The Enrichment Center. The program will help supportive adults learn how to identify signs of a mental health struggle as well as ways to proactively support youth mental health. Registration and more info can be found in this link.

The CDC updated its Respiratory Virus Guidance to align Covid-19 with other respiratory illnesses. The specific guidelines can be found on our district website.  

I would like to congratulate Bob Jones baseball for its huge win last weekend at The Perfect Game tournament in Hoover. The Patriots beat Florida’s private IMG Academy which was the nation’s top ranked team entering the tourney at Hoover Met Stadium. The Pats’ 11-6 victory snapped IMG’s 36-game winning streak since April 2022. Great performance over an elite private school with a high number of D1 commits.

I had the pleasure again of taking part in the annual State of Schools event hosted by The Schools Foundation. It was an honor to join fellow superintendents Dr. Clarence Sutton of Huntsville City Schools and Mr. Ken Kubik of Madison County Schools to discuss issues, highlights and challenges in our respective districts. We also shared concerns about the governor’s proposed school choice act, which would redirect millions of state education dollars from public schools for parent tax credits to use for private schools, without holding private schools to the same accountability standards. Bob Jones senior Jonah Moro took part in a student panel discussion on ways internship opportunities help prepare students (his was at STI Electronics). Third grade teachers Lindsey Mullin (Midtown) and Melissa Miller (Mill Creek) attended as my special guests to recognize during the superintendents’ discussion.

Congratulations to Ebba Dutelleo of BJ for being awarded a women’s soccer team scholarship with Union University, and to BJ basketball players Alana Obianozie and Janiyah Bone for being selected to the state’s 12-player roster in the Alabama vs Mississippi girls All-Star basketball game this month.

I also want to commend Heritage Elementary for earning a spot on the Lighthouse Academic Honor Roll, the highest honor the national Leader In Me initiative can award a school. Congratulations to Heritage also for being in the top 25 percent of schools in Alabama in Academic excellence. James Clemens High School also earned high honors recently by being named a CLAS School of Distinction for its award winning JetsPress Arts A/V program. CLAS is Council For Leaders in Alabama Schools.

If you are not aware of the mobile HEALS Clinic which makes its rounds to several of our schools, a James Clemens senior has produced some wonderful PSA spots that explain what HEALS does. For her Girl Scouts Gold Award, Lexi Regensburger produced some short videos and graphics with QR Codes that are posted in health services on our website.  Great work Alexia. While on the subject of student wellness, I would like to congratulate Columbia Elementary school nurse Laura Dickinson for attaining National Board Certified School Nurse accreditation. She joins MCS Supervising Nurse Becky Turner and JCHS clinic nurse June Lawniczak in earning this professional school nurse credential.

March 3-9 is School Social Workers week. Join me in thanking our district social workers Briana Hawkins, Heather Meyers and Deanna Haataja for all that they do for our MCS students and families.

Finally, our latest “Sittin’ With The Supe” Podcast features STEM teachers Julie Vandiver from CES, Kawanna Gardner (PreK), Megan Gowan (Horizon) and Chrissy Stegherr (MES). Join us in this enlightening discussion about our growing STEM programs in elementary schools and their benefit to student learning. 

Have a great Spring break!

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 3/06/2024

Dear MCS Parents,

I would like to begin by recognizing our National Merit finalists from Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools. I am so proud of these students for their hard work, and for their teachers not only at their high schools but from the feeder schools that helped prepare them. The vast majority of these scholars attended middle and elementary schools in Madison City as well.
Madison City Schools has traditionally excelled in the number of National Merit finalists and U.S. Presidential Scholar students, leading the state in most years regardless of the size of the school district.
Here are the 28 National Merit finalists from MCS for 2024:

Bob Jones: Abram Carlson, Samantha Chan, Andrew Crocker, Rachel Ehrman, Luck Garrison, Elizabeth Haddock, Lucy Halter, Piper Larkin, Francois Le Roux, Madeline McInvale, Elizabeth Newsom, Lauren Sheehy,  Pranav Satheesh, Taylor Turpin, Zoe Widman.

James Clemens: Angela J. Ai, Shivani Alapati, Carlin Clettas Chacko, Bhavya V. Chalasni, Abhishek V. Emani, Connie A. Guo, Grace Y. Hur, Lilliann Doe Markowitz, Aasim M. Musani, Brock J. Senel, Neil Sethi, Saahil Shaik, Samuel E. Townsend.

One factor in the continual success of our schools is the partnerships we enjoy with our PTAs, businesses, industry and others who support us in so many ways. One such example last week was the panel of SAIC technology specialists who met with Bob Jones computer and cybertechnology students to talk about the growing field of cybersecurity and pathways to those careers. The SAIC team addressed JCHS cybersecurity students the week before (see whnt 19 story here.) A Q&A with the students afterward provided helpful insights.

Congratulations to cadets in the Air Force Junior ROTC at BJHS for earning Competition Grand Champions at the recent drill competition in Hoover.
Congratulations also for BJ’s impressive wins by its Model U.N. team in state competition.
Please join me in congratulating students of Ms. Peggy Boynton at JC for passing the 2024 National German exam. These students performed above the national average to varying degrees of the more than 12,000 students nationwide who took the exam: Nate Maehlmann, Lillian Haberlach, Leandro Cogles-Guerrero (Gold medal-90th percentile).
Fiona Paine, Sabina Kurucz (silver medal); Luke Pawlus (bronze medal).
Caleb Wells, Emily Nolan, Aidan Wells, Everett Ragus and James Zesinger (achievement award).

I want to commend Mr. Clay Combs and Mrs. Hannah Stockman at JC for leading students of JetsPress and On The Radar to top finishes in the regional SkillsUSA competition. The wins propel them to state competition. I’d also like to commend Horizon’s Emilia Ng for winning 2nd place in the Madison County Spelling Bee, competing against both private and public schools throughout Madison County.
Liberty Middle will hold its 2nd annual Bryce Anthony Eason Memorial Scholarship Art Auction on Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the LMS cafeteria.

Finally, I want to remind our middle and high school stakeholders that course registration for the 2024-2025 school year is in full swing. Schools at both levels have been holding events for parents and students to showcase the various course options and academic pathways available. As students identify preferred courses for the upcoming school year, the opportunity arises for parents to learn more about the subjects offered, ask questions of their child’s counselor and administration, and to make informed decisions on their course selections for 2024-2025. Rising 6th through 12th grade students are receiving registration information, including registration packets. All of the registration packets and the complete curriculum catalogs can be found on the MCS website.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 2/13/2024
Dear MCS Parents,

If you have ever entered the lobby of our Central Office, you may have noticed a wall full of silver stars. Those stars represent National Board Certified Teachers in our district. Eleven more stars will soon be added, bringing to 105 the total number of NBCTs in Madison City Schools.
This prestigious national certification is considered the gold standard for teaching excellency. I am proud to report that we now have among the highest number of NBCTs of any Alabama school district, regardless of size.
I would like to commend these MCS educators for recently completing the rigorous requirements to become a National Board Certified Teacher: Amy Harbison, Bethany Kachelman, Hanna Napier, Jennifer Chandler, Jeremiah Brand, Laura Phillips, Lauren Hillis, Leslie Tignor-Hughes, Nancy M. Hartfield, Sarah Prevallet, Shemeaka King. It was an honor to recognize them at our February 8th BOE meeting.
This level of excellence is possible because of the countless hours spent by these dedicated teachers in addition to a phenomenal support network. I want to thank the Schools Foundation, Committee of 100 and others who have secured monetary assistance for our NBCT support network. I also want to thank Mrs. Cindy Davis and all of the mentors who provide a support network for our teachers. At the Feb. 8 BOE meeting, I was also pleased to recognize the 16 teachers who renewed their National Board Certification, which must be completed every five years.

Congratulations also to our winners in the 2024 State Superintendent’s Visual Art Exhibit: Connor McDougal, junior at JCHS; and Emilia Flagg, 8th grader at Liberty Middle. Winners will be recognized March 13 at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery.

MCS had another busy week of athletic signings. The following students made their commitments official to play football at the college that is listed. From Bob Jones: Christian Abrams (Tuskegee), Hezron Kency (Kentucky Wesleyan), and Frankie Hill (Bellarmine University).
From James Clemens: Devon Cooper (Tuskegee), Jaylen Brown (Mizzou), Logan Eggart (Southeast Missouri). D.J. Williams (Andrew College); Hunter Headley (Campbellsville University), Jaylon Ruffin (Miles College), Brody Stinson (Birmingham Southern).

Also on the athletics front, I would like to welcome Megan Aldridge to the MCS and James Clemens Jets family. She was approved by the Board as the new volleyball coach for JCHS. Coach Aldridge comes to us from Danville High School where she racked up an impressive record as a volleyball coach and is also a skilled English teacher and speech pathologist.

Many times in my updates you’ll see shoutouts for observances such as School Principals Week, Bus Driver Appreciation Day, School Board Member Recognition Month, and others. Last week was National School Counseling Week. This Thursday, Feb. 15, will be national School Resource Officer Appreciation Day.
Counselors and SROs are two more examples of valued servant leaders in Madison City Schools. Please join me in thanking them for all that they do for MCS and the community.

On a more serious note, we have had a few instances lately of students making inappropriate  comments, including threats, on social media that have promoted investigations. Madison City Schools, our SROs and MPD take such threats seriously and will take action if necessary in accordance with school policy and Alabama Law. Please talk with your student(s) about appropriate behavior both in person and social media.

Finally, our latest Sittin’ With the Supe podcast is on the KTech program. Tune in to learn more about this fantastic program with our engineering programs and KTech partners.
And remember, Wednesday, Feb. 14, is a half-day for students for teacher collaborative time. Dismissals are: Prek, 11; Elementary, 11:30; Middle and High schools, 12:15. Schools are closed Monday, Feb. 19t for Presidents Day.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

District Update 1/31/2024
Dear MCS Parents,
I am glad to say that we are back in school and hopefully will dodge future weather events that could disrupt our days. I certainly appreciate our team that checked and managed our facilities to get us back on track after the weather delay. While those days will not be added back to the calendar due to the Governor's State of Emergency, our team is working to catch up on the curriculum areas that were missed. I appreciate your understanding during the delay. While most of the roads were clear by Monday, there were still some dangerous areas of travel around our building and on secondary roads. I think we all would agree that the last thing we want to experience is a bus accident or a student or staff injured driving to or from school.

January marks School Board Recognition month, designated by the Alabama Association of School Boards. I would like to personally thank our Board for the tremendous amount of time and effort they put into serving this community. It was honorable for our principals and admins to publicly recognize their leadership at this week’s board meeting, capped by a special Thank You Board performance by the JMS basketball cheer squad. Our Boards, past and present, are largely responsible for the outstanding success of Madison City Schools. Please take the time to reach out to them to thank them for their service. A brief promo on some of our latest successes can be found in this  60 Seconds MCS feature on our website.

I had the pleasure of joining our Board in a breakfast meeting last week with several members of the Madison County legislative delegation. We had some productive discussions on concerns in the areas of funding, growth challenges, regulations, unfunded mandates and more. I conveyed to the delegation that it would be great if several areas such as transportation, English Language Learners and Special Education could be fully funded by the state. Currently, Madison City Schools expends over 5 million local dollars in just these three areas. Furthermore, I expressed my concern over a possible School Choice/Voucher bill. I explained that the name, School Choice, is not really a true description since private schools will not and cannot take all students. Therefore, I am afraid that our special education, EL and other students will be denied this opportunity even if they had the desire to change schools.

However, my main focus was accountability and fairness. As you know, the Legislature passed the Alabama Literacy Act. This Act requires all public schools to retain any 3rd grader that does not meet proficiency on the Reading portion of the ACAP test. While I am certainly proud that our district had one of the highest proficiency scores for third grade reading with 90.4%, I know the level of paperwork that this Act mandates of our K-3 teachers. I expressed that if the Legislature wants to allow public money to be given outside of the public school system, then all schools receiving these funds should meet the same standard of performance and mandates. This is only fair to our teachers and our students. I hope that when this bill is introduced that you will read it and share your thoughts with your local legislative delegation member. I believe that the leaders of this state should fully fund their public school system before they consider taking away funding. I also believe that creating a voucher system that does not make all schools accountable on the same state requirements is truly setting up a dual system of education.

James Clemens High School is hosting its annual Science Fair on Feb. 10. Registration information for elementary and middle school students can be found in this link.  Anybody from grades K-8 can participate to win awards and learn about science.

Our World Languages programs continue to excel. A recent newsletter of the state chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German cited JC’s German program for several highlights including a dual degree program visit from AU, participation at UNA’s “Germany at Work and On Campus” event, and a guest speaker highlight. Congrats to JC German teacher Peggy Boynton and all of our World Language teachers for leading our students toward successful futures.

Congratulations to the Bob Jones and James Clemens bands for their outstanding performances at recent competitions. It was a pleasure to recognize BJ’s band director Leigh Thomas and JC’s band director Keith Anderson, along with several student band members at our previous board meeting.

I would also like to congratulate the following students for their recent approvals to enter U.S. military service academies. Congressman Dale Strong’s list of nominees included several from Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools.
For the U.S. Military Academy: Kricket Johnson and Nicholas Lozano (BJ); Brian Morse and Kathryn Viola (JC).
U.S. Air Force Academy: Logan Jackson, Hunter Johnson, Manfred Rosero and Lauren Sheehy (BJ); Dou Kim and Ava Wynn (JC.
U.S. Naval Academy: Landen Waider and Ashlyn Newberry, JC. Here’s a brief video of JC’s Landen Waider getting word of his acceptance from Congressman Strong.

I would like to thank the local Knights of Columbus councils #10232 and #17519 along with their ladies auxiliaries for generous support of our Special Education program. The KOC delegations toured the SPED department at Journey Middle where a Nook Pod - bought with proceeds from the KOC annual Tootsie Roll Run 5K, is in use. The Nook Pod is a specially designed portable sensory booth used for calming anxieties and sensory overloads in students.

Finally, I’d like to call your attention to our Madison City Schools Job Fair this Monday, Feb. 5, at the Central Office, from 4-6 p.m. Come learn about employment opportunities for custodians, transportation workers, CNP staff and other paraprofessionals. We would love for you to join our team.

“Empowering All Students”
Ed Nichols
Superintendent

Schools Reopen Tuesday, Jan. 23

Parents,

Madison City Schools will reopen tomorrow Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

I want to thank you for your patience during this past week.

We are looking forward to having our students return to school.

Ed Nichols
 

Schools Closed Monday, Jan. 22

Parents,

While all of us are ready to reopen schools, Madison City Schools will remain closed tomorrow (Monday, Jan. 22). Although most main roads in the city are clear, several secondary roads, neighborhood roads and school entrances remain icy and present problems for bus transportation. Teachers and staff will report to their assigned school on Monday at a designated time. 

With forecasted temperatures and road conditions expected to improve on Monday, we plan to have a regular school day on Tuesday, January 23rd.

Please stay safe. 

Ed Nichols

Schools Closed Friday, Jan. 19

Parents,

Madison City Schools will remain closed tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 19). Road conditions continue to be treacherous, with many streets and thoroughfares still icy and not expected to improve much with another hard freeze and precipitation tonight.
Although temperatures will get above freezing today, forecasters in the NWS briefing said any thawing will refreeze again overnight.
Hopefully, we are nearing the end of this unusual weather event and can return to school next week.
Please stay safe and weather aware.

Ed Nichols

Schools Closed Thursday, Jan. 18
Parents,

Madison City Schools will remain closed tomorrow (Thursday, Jan. 18). Road conditions remain treacherous, with many neighborhood streets and arteries still frozen with sheets of ice and not expected to improve with another hard freeze tonight.
We will assess conditions tomorrow to make a decision about Friday.
Please stay safe and weather aware.

Ed Nichols

Schools Closed Wednesday, Jan. 17
Parents,

Madison City Schools will remain closed on Wednesday, Jan. 17, due to extreme harsh temperatures and travel impacts from continued freezing temperatures on roads.
We will continue to monitor the weather and road conditions to determine if schools will be closed any additional day(s).

Ed Nichols

Schools Closed Tuesday, Jan. 16
Parents,

Madison City Schools will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
Based on the latest information from the National Weather Service, local weather reports, and other government information, our area will continue to experience winter weather in the form of snow, ice and subfreezing temperatures today through Thursday.
MCS has not made a decision about school on Wednesday but will do so tomorrow based on weather conditions.
Please stay safe and weather aware.

Ed Nichols

School Weather Update 1/14/2023
Parents,

The National Weather Service briefing this afternoon (Sunday, Jan. 14) called for a winter storm that could have a major impact on our area starting as early as tonight and lingering into the week.
This weather system could bring snow upwards of 2 inches or more, freezing rain, and wind chills as low as -10. These conditions are likely to impact school on Tuesday and beyond. The freezing temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until Thursday.
We plan to make a decision about school closures once we receive the latest update from the NWS on Monday. Please stay safe and weather aware.

Ed Nichols

School Weather Update 1/13024
Parents,

As most of you are aware, there is a high potential for snow and near-zero temperatures for North Alabama next week. These conditions could impact school days. With snow forecasted for Monday and Tuesday and subfreezing temperatures spanning Sunday night through Thursday, campuses may have to remain closed beyond Monday’s holiday.

The district administration team is in discussions with principals, who will work with teachers on the possibility of virtual learning days if weather conditions warrant closing schools. We will participate in the National Weather Service briefing on Sunday and update you on plans after the briefing for school next week.

Ed Nichols

1/11/2024 Schools Closed Friday
Dear MCS Family,

At the National Weather Service briefing late this afternoon, the NWS upgraded our area from their morning briefing on the high potential of severe storms with damaging winds throughout the school day. The updated briefing now predicts the potential for damaging wind ranges of up to 75 mph. With this change in the forecast, Madison City Schools will be closed tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 12).

Be safe and weather alert.
Ed Nichols

A holiday message from Dr. Nichols 12/20/2023
https://youtu.be/DZfqgovxPYo

District Update 12/14/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

I will begin with some outstanding news.

The Alabama State Department of Education released its school and district report cards today for 2022-2023. I am pleased to report that Madison City Schools yet again earned an “A” with a grade of 94. Not only did we get an “A” for the District as a whole, every single one of our schools earned an A.

Madison City Schools has earned an A consistently - both as a District and by individual schools since ALSDE launched the A-F report cards for the 2016-2017 school year. (Report cards were suspended in the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years during COVID.) MCS is also one of only nine school districts out of 140 statewide that has never earned less than an A over the ALSDE grading years.
Compared to our straight-A peers, MCS has nearly twice the enrollment and number of schools. This achievement speaks to the dedication and support of teachers, staff, administrators, Board members, students, parents, community members, and the way our team utilizes our resources.

The report cards are an evaluation of academic achievement and growth, chronic absenteeism and progress in EL proficiency for our elementary and middle schools. At the high school level, the state report cards are also a measure of graduation rate and college and career readiness.
Here are the school by school grades: Bob Jones HS, 91; James Clemens HS, 91; Discovery Middle, 91; Liberty Middle, 93; Columbia Elem, 97; Heritage Elem, 99; Horizon Elem, 97; Madison Elem, 94; Midtown Elem, 94; Mill Creek, 96 Elem; Rainbow Elem, 96. 

While we are proud of our report cards, we recognize the need to strive to continually improve. One specific change will be with our middle school math program starting in January. We have been working on this change prior to the release of the state report card scores. We recognized the need for change in middle school math after receiving the 2023 ACAP math scores. Our middle schools have been implementing a Math Mastery Program, founded upon the 2016 Math Course of Study. Moving forward, our middle school mathematics assessments will include longer unit assessments supplemented by formative quizzes throughout each unit. In place of retakes, students can receive partial credit on an assessment through error analysis. More detailed information will be provided specifically to middle school parents and students before the end of the semester.

Congrats to BJ Esports Team Fusion which won the State Championship in Rocket League for the 8th time. Congrats also to JC Esports State Championship winners in the state Esports tournament.

We had a very successful Computer Science Education Week. It was exciting to see our students flexing their computational thinking skills and using technology in creative ways. I want to thank the following individuals for making Computer Science week an amazing learning experience for our students: Elementary Instructional Technology Specialist Rachel Gibbs, Secondary Instructional Technology Specialist Russel Johnson, STEM teachers and staff, industry partners, and the JCHS students who helped tutor.

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 12/05/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

In this season of giving, I would like to recognize the many ways our schools are working to help others. Students, teachers, PTAs and other school organizations have been promoting things like gift drives, fund-raisers, and angel trees to help brighten the holiday of others. One districtwide cause I would like to call to your attention is the MCS Support Our Students fund.

Since the program was launched in 2020, SOS has helped hundreds of MCS students with assistance in groceries, hygiene needs, clothing, athletic fees, field trips, space camp experiences, band fees, AP exams, ACT prep, graduation cap and gowns, yearbooks and more.
Your gifts made lasting impressions on these students by giving them joyful opportunities and experiences that may have been a financial burden or not attainable if not for your generosity.

Madison City Schools is pleased to partner with HEALS Inc. for its mobile health van that rotates among several schools. HEALS stands for Health Establishments At Local School. This mobile clinic serves students who do not have private medical and/or dental insurance. Although scheduled stops are only at a few MCS schools, arrangements can be made for students from other MCS schools to visit the HEALS van. Check with your school nurse. Healthcare services include things like wellness exams, immunizations, lab work, acute care for illnesses or injuries, dental cleanings, x-rays, referrals to specialists, and others.

Congratulations to the BJ girls Swim and Dive team for winning its second consecutive state title at the State Swim Meet in Auburn. The win included a new state record in the 200 Medley Relay by team members Abby Chan, Finnley Koehler, Samantha Chan and Meli Mbuko. Boys finished 4th in tough competition. Congrats also to these BJ student athletes for athletic scholarship signings: Gresham Baker (baseball) for Bevill State; volleyball players Eliza Tyrell (Montevallo), Rachel Mecklenburg (Wallace State), Meg Jarrett (UAB). There will be several athletic signings Friday at James Clemens. James Clemens Theater and Bob Jones Theater are to be commended for their performance at the state Trumbauer Festival last weekend at UNA. See this week’s JC newsletter  and BJ newsletter for other school happenings.

This is International Computer Science Education Week and MCS is observing it with a variety of learning activities. Kudos to our District instructional technology specialists Rachel Gibbs and Russel Johnson, along with teachers, media specialists and others for leading creative learning lessons for our students especially at the elementary level with help from James Clemens computer science students. Our Computer Science Ed Week celebration includes coding partnerships, exciting activities in STEM classrooms and media centers, and live chats with local CS experts including a local meteorologist and the director of NASA’s Payload Operations Center. Computer Science happens to be the subject of my latest Sittin’ WIth The Supe podcast. Guests are MCS computer science teachers Bill McIlwain from BJHS and Kim Straub with JCHS.

I had another productive session this week with my Student Advisory Council. In our discussions today, my challenge to them was to share the top two strengths of their high school and two areas of improvement. The responses were submitted on sticky notes to be shared with school leadership. I tasked them to be leaders in their schools and to encourage more students to get involved.

Finally, we have one more full week before exam days leading into the winter holiday. As a reminder, students will have a half day of school on December 18 and 19. 

Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

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 Trumbauer 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

9/1802023

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 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 9/1/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

I would like to wish everyone an enjoyable Labor Day weekend. It is hard to believe a month of school has already passed. The week ended on a wonderful note with today’s ribbon-cutting opening of the new wing at Bob Jones High School. School and district staff, local and state representatives, and chamber and community members came together to celebrate the opening of the new 'E-Wing' off of Eastview Road, which will house special and general education classrooms, a tornado shelter, offices and an E-Sports room. The addition of the new special education classrooms will complete the feeder pattern for students with disabilities to attend their home high school, whether it be at BJHS or JCHS.  I look forward to ribbon cuttings coming up soon for our new Pre-K Center in the former West Madison Elementary School building, and the jet dedication at JCHS.

We have had two successful College and Career fairs at our high schools in the past two weeks, with heavy attendance by our students. It is exciting to watch them milling around the different booths to pick up literature and speak with reps from various colleges and employers as they map out their futures.

Congratulations to Bob Jones and James Clemens students who participated in the American Legion Boys and Girls State at Troy University, and also our Liberty Middle S2S group for its national award for advocacy to military families and other newcomers to the school. It was an honor to recognize these outstanding students at the Aug. 24 Board meeting.

U.S. News and World Report released its 2023 Best High Schools rankings and once again, James Clemens and Bob Jones are near the top of its list among Alabama schools. James Clemens placed 8th and Bob Jones 11th among 365 high schools statewide. The NICHE national education study group ranked Madison City Schools the best of more than 140 school systems statewide, with every single elementary, middle and high school ranking in the top 10 of all schools statewide. Being in the top tier in numerous studies is a true community effort that everyone can be proud of for achieving. Certainly, administrators, teachers and support staff in our schools deserve much of the credit. They are where the learning happens every day. It is also a reflection of the great parents and kids we have in the district and an administrative team and board that continuously looks for ways to improve.

As Madison City Schools continues its 26th year as a school district, a reflection to our beginning reminds us just how much we have grown. Did you know that total enrollment was 5,638 when MCS was established in fall 1998 with only these schools: Bob Jones High School, Discovery and Liberty middle schools; Horizon, Madison and West Madison elementary schools? Enrollment now is 12,610 students spread across 12 schools and a PreK center.

My “Sittin’ with the Supe” broadcast this week is on our new Journey Middle School. Click here to hear Principal Treva Stewart and assistant principals Tabitha Odom and Gerald Franks discuss the opening and behind-the-scenes planning leading up to it.

“Empowering All Students”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent

District Update 8/22/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

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 linkgo 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

District Update 8/15/2023

Dear MCS Parents,

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 6-12-23

Dear MCS Parents,

Many people ask what goes on during the summer in Madison City Schools. The answer is a lot. Last week many of our summer programs kicked off to include Extended School Year (ESY), EL Summer Camp, and Elementary and Secondary Summer Learning Programs as well as numerous camps and practices. HVAC renovations are taking place at Columbia, Rainbow, and Liberty. We are finishing construction projects at Bob Jones, PreK, and Journey. 

Recently, the Board of Education approved several safety enhancements for our schools. Next year, all of our staff will have the Crisis Alert System. This rapid alert system will allow teachers and staff to send a clear and concise message to administrators and support personnel in case of medical emergencies or other areas of rapid response. While we do not have an SRO at every school, we are expanding our use of security personnel at all of our elementary schools for next year. These security guards will not be armed but will have radio communication with our administrators and SRO team and help to keep our buildings secure and monitored. 

As we continue our professional development and planning this summer, I am excited for the work being done to utilize our new STEM and Fine Arts teachers for next year. When the new school year begins this fall, every elementary school will be staffed with an art, music and STEM teacher. This has been part of our strategic goal for several years. Now, thanks to support from the Board, and assistance from a DoDEA STEM grant, it will become a reality. This will mean all elementary students will have art, music and STEM instruction year round. The expansions of these elementary special offerings will bring the district to four year-long elementary opportunities for all students: Art, Music, Spanish, and STEM. Our secondary art/music/theater teachers have often mentioned a desire to increase those teachings in our elementary schools. Certainly, early exposure will help identify interest early and create better performers later. But the benefits go beyond that. Besides freeing up their classroom teacher for collaborative planning time, arts/music programs also help children tap into their creative side and hone skills that might not be the focus of other content areas, including communication, fine motor skills and emotional intelligence. Also, studies have shown that students from districts with strong arts programs scored higher overall on statewide tests in math, science and citizenship than students from districts without. 

Finally, I am happy to report that our Playground renovations are complete at all our elementary schools. I want to thank our Chief Operations Officer, John Jones, for helping to oversee this major project. It was exciting to see our kids enjoy these new facilities before the end of the school year. 

I hope all of you are having a great summer!!

“Glad To Be Here!”

Ed Nichols

Superintendent