Good day. Last week Madison Park High School, the city’s only vocational school, was placed into Turnaround Status by the state. Just a few short years ago the staff voted to become an Innovation School after the School Department and the BTU embarked on a joint intervention process. Many observers feel that the state gave the school insufficient time to move forward, both in failing to give the innovation process time to take hold and by not following the recommendations of the intervention process. Regardless, the state has the one and only say in this matter. See the commissioner’s press release on this and other changes in school status throughout the commonwealth. See the BTU website to see how your school stands in the most recent state report.
MathRocks, our citywide math competition for students in grades 4-5 and 6-8, will take place again this year. All elementary and K-8s will be invited, as will any school that has either or both grade structures. Details are forthcoming, but in the meantime, we are looking for volunteers to meet after school. Please email us to volunteer. Last year more than 300 students from 50 teams participated.
UPDATE: The Sick Leave Bank Application deadline has been extended to Friday, January 8. You can see the circular and find more information in the section below. Something to note about the sick leave bank: The one-day contribution is “payment,” in effect, of what amounts to an insurance premium for participation in the bank. Once this contribution is made, you will not have to make another contribution to the bank until the bank of days runs out. Last time the bank asked for a day’s contribution, the bank of days lasted close to 15 years. The bank, co-sponsored by the BTU and BPS, is now exhausted, hence the need for another day’s contribution.