Beginnings: Programming for Madison Middle School 2000

The programs offered at a the new South Madison middle school were to offer opportunities that exceeded the opportunities provided at other middle schools throughout the district. Exceptional programming was deemed necessary to achieve the 60% Cherokee/40% Hamilton attendance area split desired by the district. Students had to complete several forms to be considered for acceptance at the school.

The South Madison Middle School Advisory Committee Programming Subcommittee (SMMSAC) was established February 10, 1992 and was charged with developing the program framework for the middle school. The committee was given the following assumptions and constraints.

1. The middle school would be a school of choice as determined by the Board of Education.
   
   
2. The middle school would initially draw its student population from the Cherokee attendance area.
   
   
3. The school was being developed for the purposes of:
   1. reducing overcrowding at Cherokee Middle School
   2. providing a middle school education in the South Madison area
   3. providing innovative educational programming for all students wishing to attend from the Cherokee attendance area
      
      
4. The school would not serve all middle school-age students from South Madison.
   
   
5. As a school of choice with experimental status, the principal could hire staff based on expertise and experience---not seniority--- as determined by the collective bargaining agreement.
   
   
6. The District was committed to attracting a racially, academically, and ethnically mixed student population.
   
   
7. The middle school structure would be similar to that of Sennett Middle School which was based on the "house system." The committee would determine the viability of this structure for the new middle school. If it was chosen, they would then determine the basic format for each house.
   
   
8. Initially the middle school would have a total population of 150-200 students.
   
   
9. The middle school would have at least two narrowly defined curricula focus, of which one would be math/science, as requested by the majority of parents surveyed.
   
   
10. The middle school would have a program based on a strong community connection. This would include businesses, the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College, MATC, non-profit organizations, the City of Madison, Dane County, and any other group, institution or organization recognized as one which could enhance the curriculum.
    
    
11. A significant number of committed people should remain involved in the development of the school. That included parents and other residents from the Cherokee attendance area, District administrators, learning coordinators, teaching faculty and staff, University of Wisconsin faculty and staff, representatives from the business community, and students. All of these people would be involved in one or more points throughout this process. Not everyone would have seats on the standing committees. However everyone would be included in the process.
    
    
12. The timeline for the Program Subcommittee was:
    1. March 24, 1992-Present framework to the Advisory Committee
    2. March 25-April 5, 1992-Present framework to focus groups
    3. April 6, 1992-Present framework to Board of Education
       
       
13. The building administrator would be hired, according to the Board of Education, no later than August 1, 1992. However, it was hoped the administrator would be hired by June 1992, allowing a full 13-14 months to develop the middle school program and to hire staff.
    
    
14. The Site Selection subcommittee would work with the Program subcommittee to assure the site would suit the program as much as possible. The site was to be chosen no later than August 1. 1992.
    
    
15. The school was to have opened no later than August 1993.

In early 1994 a Charter School Proposal was submitted to the Board of Education detailing the educational programming the new South Madison middle school would have. The mission of Madison Middle School 2000 was to provide opportunities for all students to acquire knowledge, skills and confidence necessary for productive participation in an evolving technological society.