Madison Parish School Board Superintendent of Education Dr. Charlie Butler Jr. has announced plans to move forward with the construction of a new career technical center, as well as the building of a new baseball and softball complex.
Butler said it is improving facilities in the Madison Parish School District is important for a variety of reasons.
“By improving our facilities, you can start to change the image of the district,” Butler said. “Maintaining facilities means you care. It helps to bring pride back. I’m routinely approached by people saying how beautiful the schools look. Out-of-towners have said the schools make you feel like you are in a vibrant community.”
Over the last three years, the district, under Butler’s leadership, has made improvements across its five schools, including painting, paving parking lots, and upgrading the Madison High School football field and track complex.
“We are now about to embark on a well-overdue baseball and softball complex and a career and technical center,” Butler said. “The baseball field will allow us to start our youth little league play, which as been missing for years. It will also allow us the opportunity to host baseball and softball games for home fans. The CTE building will house several classrooms and workshops to prepare our scholars for career pathways.”
Butler said the improvements are ultimately about making the district a well-rounded experience for scholars.
“Making Madison your district of choice is my mission,” he said. “By choosing Madison Parish Schools, you will afford your child and our students several advantages for the future. Dual credit courses will allow you to get a head start on college graduation requirements, which will also save thousands of dollars in tuition. The CTE courses that are provided enable students to get certificates that grant them the ability to enter the workforce immediately after graduating high school. This is a new Madison Parish School District. We have embarked upon a new Madison, where we are educating our scholars at a high level and exposing our scholars to every possible opportunity there is to offer in the area.”
Butler, having spent time in administrations in major metropolitan areas like Houston, said where a child grows up should not determine the quality of education he or she receives.
“The quality of education shouldn’t be determined by zip code,” he said. “I continue to be motivated by the potential and opportunities here in Madison Parish schools. People will frequently hear me say it: My kids will have and experience the best education possible. We are Madison.”
