Madison Commons (https://madisoncommons.org/category/education/)
In a press conference Friday, School Board President Gloria Reyes detailed the thoughtful and tedious nature of the decision, sharing that hiring a superintendent “is the most important decision a school board makes.” Noting the importance of community feedback and dialogue, Reyes emphasized that throughout the process board members maintained a confidence in Jenkins’ leadership and experience.
“At times a system might feel like you have a knee on your neck, and you can’t breathe. Working collaboratively with the community it will not be an easy journey to have an anti-racism agenda, but I would say sign me up,” said Dr. Carol Kelley, a finalist for the MMSD superintendent position, at a community listening session this week.
Dr. Kelley has worked as the Superintendent of Oak Park Elementary School District 97 in Oak Park, Illinois for the past five years. Kelley received her doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and hopes to bring her philosophies on equity advocacy to the Madison School District.
Dr. Carlton Jenkins, a finalist for the Madison Metropolitan School District superintendent position, said it is time to move the district forward.
“A courageous conversation with no action is a waste of time for everyone,” he said during a community listening session Tuesday.
The session, streamed on Facebook Live, was meant to get community feedback so MMSD school board members can choose the next leader of the 27,000-student district, who could start as early as August.
Tech nonprofit Maydm and Public Health Madison & Dane County are partnering to lead an initiative to encourage students to safely social distance. Through July 12, Creative During COVID will host biweekly social media challenges for students to engage and win prizes.
Through her work at Toki Middle school and with Intentional Mentoring Inc., Katie Mae Imhoff-Smith is making sure students can manage the unique issues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
From our news partner Madison365:
When Jimena Maier offered to host a mini-food pantry in her garage less than two months ago, she never thought it would grow to serve more than 100 families. The first week the pantry was open it served 12 families. By week six it served 102. “We had a line of vehicles all the way down Tomscot (Trail). You couldn’t see the end of the line of vehicles,” Maier said.
As COVID-19 continues to change the lives of those across Madison, the importance of local school systems has risen through the ways they have strived to support local families.
“It has completely changed the lives of every person I know.” Michele Ritt, a Special Needs teacher with the Madison Metropolitan School District who was recently re-elected as County Supervisor for Dane County’s 18th District, said.
Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education President Gloria Reyes announced Tuesday that the board will reopen the Madison schools superintendent search next month. The decision was made in a closed board meeting Monday night.
“Our intent is to see if there are any candidates we feel will be a good fit for us,” Reyes said in an online media briefing.
When it comes to one hot-button issue in the Madison School Board race, Christina Gomez Schmidt is in favor of maintaining the status quo.
“I support the SRO’s in our schools,” Gomez Schmidt said, referring to school resource officers, the Madison police officers whose contract has been controversial over the past several years. “I see their role as to build relationships with students and staff so that they can de-escalate conflict.”
For Maia Pearson, the link between strong schools and healthy communities is clear.
“The safest neighborhoods are not the neighborhoods with the most police. The safest neighborhoods are those with the best schools,” Maia Pearson said.