The McKenzie Foundation, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County (BGCDC), has withdrawn its Forward Career & College Academy instrumentality charter school proposal to the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) and plans to withdraw its independent charter school proposal from the University of Wisconsin’s Office of Educational Opportunities, according to a press release issued by MMSD Monday morning.
The MMSD Board of Education was expected to consider and potentially vote on the proposal at its regular meeting Monday night.
“This decision follows a thorough review and careful consideration by all organizations,” the press release says.
The McKenzie Foundation, with support from the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, first proposed the charter high school late last year. They intended to enroll 150 ninth-grade students in the first year, and add 150 ninth-graders each year until total enrollment reached 600. While curriculum details would have been determined by leaders and education professionals later, the focus was intended to be on readying students for careers in the skilled trades and college study in fields like engineering, organizers said.
At a public hearing before the MMSD Board of Education in January, more than two dozen community members spoke in favor of the proposal and three spoke in opposition.
“MMSD is committed to working alongside the McKenzie Foundation to deliver high-quality career preparation and work-based learning experiences that empower all students for economic mobility and career success,” MMSD Superintendent Dr. Joe Gothard said in a statement. “Our shared goal remains clear: ensuring all students have access to high-quality career preparation and work-based learning experiences that leads to economic mobility and career success.”
According to the press release, the McKenzie Foundation and Boys & Girls Club have committed to working collaboratively with MMSD to develop innovative programs that align with a shared vision of preparing students for college, career, and community success.
“We look forward to collaborating with MMSD, the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County and other partners to develop programs that combine academic rigor and workforce development,” McKenzie Foundation president John McKenzie said in a statement. “By leveraging each organization’s unique strengths and resources, we can better serve students and provide them with the skills they need to succeed.”
McKenzie bought and financed renovations of the building on Verona Road that is now the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center and headquarters of the BGCDC.
“We are committed to doing what’s in the best interest of all Madison students,” said BGDC CEO Michael Johnson. “It takes a community to help ensure a student’s best outcome for success, and we are dedicated to working alongside MMSD to achieve that.”
The press release notes that the Madison community approved a more than $350 million referendum to “transform MMSD’s high school learning environments and inspire future-focused student opportunities.”
“MMSD will continue to build and enhance career and technical education throughout the district. This includes expanding industry certification opportunities, developing new work-based learning programs, strengthening partnerships with local employers, and creating additional career exploration and preparation pathways,” the press release says.
