Clark: Tutoring, enrichment all part of system

By Staff
Dr. Henry Clark
Superintendent of Madison City Schools
As superintendent of the Madison City Schools, I would like to thank our school board, staff, parents, and students for another outstanding year.
As in the past, this school year has proven to be a busy one. With developing and continuing new and exciting educational programs for students and staff development, opening Rainbow Elementary, and starting new construction projects, we have been thrusting full speed ahead.
We are thrilled about our student after-school tutorial program that has proven to be a huge success. This program was designed to address the needs of elementary students who require additional development of math and reading skills. I am happy to say it has done just that. We have certified teachers in place who continue to provide a helping hand in these critical areas. Also this school year, thanks to the city of Madison Police Department, we have opened a student tutorial satellite location on Michael Avenue. The Madison Police Department graciously allows our teachers and students to have a tutorial program in an area of their sub station. Our Chief of Police, Daniel Busken, has been the leading force in making this partnership a success. This achievement is one example of the effect of schools and the community working together.
We anxiously await the results of our upcoming Summer Enrichment and Remediation Academies. These programs were very successful last year, and we look forward to providing the strength and enrichment our students need by offering Madison Summer Academies I and II for four weeks during June and July. Academy I will offer remediation in both reading and math while Academy II stretches the student's imagination through enrichment classes.
Additionally, we will provide summer programs for our elementary, middle and high school students with special needs. The elementary program will emphasize language, communication development, literacy and social skills. The middle and high school special needs students will focus on vocational, social, and living skills. Also art, music, and adaptive physical education will be included in the curriculum.
Our new distance learning labs have been installed in our high school and both middle schools, and we are anxious to get students in to experience new and innovative approaches in education. Through this interactive distance-learning network, student course offerings have been broadened and staff and student development have become endless.
The Mentor/New Teacher Training Program remains a hit with new and non-tenured teachers. The program includes classroom management training seminars and speaks to commonly asked questions concerning discipline, teaching techniques, time management, and other issues facing new teachers.
New this school year, administrators and teachers had a chance to take part in police training provided by the city of Madison Police Department. The training provided eye-opening and thought-provoking material as well as safety techniques for our staff.
This summer all Madison City School System employees and the community have a wonderful opportunity to participate in an exciting summer technology-training program. We have put together a remarkable plan for all to receive educationally stimulating technology enrichment. Individuals will be able to sign up for classes such as Surfing the Internet, Excel for Beginners, and Using Scanners and Digital Cameras.
We began this school year continuing our mission to be an educational leader in our state and nation. Our list of successes is almost endless and includes first place state art winners, regional drama winners, regional technology winners, Lego competition winners and nationally recognized cheerleaders. Our teachers have served on numerous state level committees including curriculum writing and textbook selection. Teachers have attended numerous state and national level seminars and conferences continuing to find new ways to challenge students to demonstrate multiple talents and to engage in critical thinking using technology and research as effective tools.
The number of students in our system has swelled to over 6,300. So this year we opened our newest elementary school, Rainbow Elementary. We started new construction projects that include an addition to Bob Jones High School (which will provide an area for a culinary arts program, a health science program, a R.O.T.C. program, a new band room, and other classrooms); a band room and athletic field lighting project at Liberty Middle School; band room renovations and an outside lighting project at Discovery Middle School; and an outside lighting project at West Madison Elementary.
We have added two new members to our Board. Every Board member remains committed and cognizant of what is in the best interest of our students. We are indeed grateful to them for the countless hours they volunteer serving our community to ensure the vision of the school system is fulfilled.
The Board approved a new calendar for the 2002 – 2003 school year that includes a fall break for students the week of October 7 – 11, 2002. We encourage all to visit us online at www.madisoncity.k12.al.us to view board meeting notes, policies, and our progress. You will find links to all of our schools' web sites from this location.
As always, our goal is to provide educational opportunities that will ensure success for all children. We know that the partnership among parent, school, and community is vital to the success of the school system. Therefore, we solicit the continued involvement, participation, and support in the education of our children to ensure the school system's goals are obtained. The Madison City School System believes a quality education is the core of the future.