THIS WEEK the Globe told the story of those who are asking us to do even more to transform Madison Park Technical Vocational High School into a place of excellence — and we would certainly agree with these voices (“Overhaul urged at Madison Park,” Metro, June 17).
But let us also note the progress we have already made together: Today, Madison Park students learn on 1,000 iPads, laptops, and computers that we purchased in the last three years. Last spring we invested $370,000 to turn the building into the most technologically advanced school in the city. This year we provided more than $1.1 million to expand learning time and strengthen the industry partnerships that will connect classrooms to careers.
There is more on the way this fall, when Madison Park teachers will have $350,000 worth of new textbooks and $340,000 in new technical/vocational materials and supplies to help students become experts in the careers of tomorrow. Next week the school community will conduct final interviews for a permanent headmaster.
We are so proud of Madison Park students. In just the last year, the graduation rate jumped 5 percentage points. The percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on MCAS surged 16 points in English Language Arts and 6 points in mathematics. As we discuss the future of this school and the opportunities next door at Roxbury Community College, let us build on this forward momentum.