The Madison School Board heard more than two hours of public comment on Jan. 27 regarding a workforce development charter high school focused on building career pathways that’s being proposed for Madison.
Local developer and philanthropist John McKenzie is seeking board approval for a 600-student charter school which he hopes will be part of Madison’s school district.
The Forward Career and College Academy would teach kids skilled trades such as construction, plumbing and electricity. McKenzie said it would also help kids learn business management and mental health awareness.
In 2023, McKenzie sponsored the opening of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center in Fitchburg, which runs in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County. The McKenzie Center provides certifications and training using hands-on instruction. Graduates are workforce-ready and are, according to McKenzie, being hired in some cases straight out of the center.
“The trades are an opportunity for all our kids,” said Alan Branch, vice president of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center during Madison’s school board meeting. “Hundreds of kids can find a career path through the trades. Thousands of young people may have an opportunity if we make a commitment to providing one for them.”
Branch said the average trades worker is 55-years-old and the average apprentice is age 34.
Having a scholastic setting preparing kids to become apprentices or even full-time trades workers would give them a path to financial stability, according to several speakers during the board meeting.
“Five of my siblings actually went to a trade school and came out financially a lot better than me even though I have a doctorate degree,” said Corinda Rainey Moore, who sits on the board for the proposed school. “I do value education but I also value giving people options.”
The school would be a traditional, four-year high school molded after McKenzie’s workforce center.
“A lot of these kids that are chronically truant and not succeeding in school are showing up at the workforce center,” McKenize said. “Because we’re showing them an avenue for success.”
Despite the large showing of support during public comment, some questions remain unanswered.
According to Michael Johnson, who is vice president of the proposed school’s board, if approved by MMSD, the charter would most likely operate inside of one of the district’s existing schools. This is a model other charter schools follow.
But 600 students is larger than the population of any other high school charter in the city and it is unknown whether McKenzie will seek to construct a space specifically for FCCA.
Furthermore, this week’s board of education meeting did not include a presentation detailing specifics of the proposed school’s curriculum.
McKenzie has submitted an application with UW’s Office of Educational Opportunity in addition to the application with Madison’s school district.
“This school is going to happen,” Michael Johnson told Madison’s school board. “We hope it happens with you.”
