District Releases Reopening of Schools Plan for 2020-21 Academic Year
On Friday, July 29th the district administrative team released its proposed "Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen School" .

Any questions related to this comprehensive plan may be directed to your building principal.
Watch the District Presentation
on The Reopening of Schools Plan
During the July 29th Board of Education Workshop/Voting Meeting, the district administrative team presented on the proposed "Restart and Recovery Plan to Reopen School."

Watch the full presentation on this comprehensive plan by following the video link to the right.

Any questions regarding the plan may be directed to your building principal.
MTPS Full-Time Remote Virtual Learning Request Form Now Available for Submission
On Thursday, July 30th the MTPS Full-Time Remote Virtual Learning Request Form was made available for your review.

Parents and Guardians are asked to submit one (1) form by Tuesday, August 4th for each of your students who will be enrolled in an MTPS school during the 2020-21 academic year, and for whom you are requesting full-time remote virtual instruction.

If a form is not submitted by August 4th your student(s) will be scheduled for in-person on campus instruction.

Any questions regarding the form may be directed to your building principal.
MTPS Nurses Help us to Better Understand Proper PPE Protocols & Temperature Checks
On Friday, July 31st the MTPS Nursing Staff released an informational video for students and families regarding proper protocols for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Temperature Checks.

You can watch it by following the video link to the right.
Watch the July 29th BOE Workshop/Voting Meeting
On July 29th the Board of Education hosted its Workshop/Voting Meeting on the district's Zoom platform.

The majority of the meetings was dedicated to a presentation by the district administrative team regarding its proposed plan for the reopening of schools , as well as a public comment session focused heavily on that presentation. To review the meeting video please follow the link to the right.
During the July 14 Board of Education Special Voting Meeting, the district administrative team introduced the "Work Session" MTPS Reopening of Schools Presentation . The presentation included a comprehensive overview of subcommittee work regarding school reentry in September, as well as the guidelines issued by the CDC and state and local departments of health and education that must be followed. Additionally, the presentation included a summary the data collected from the MTPS School Reopening Survey for parents and guardians. You can watch the presentation by reviewing the July 14 Board of Education Special Voting Meeting video.

On Friday, July 17, Superintendent of Schools, William O. George III, Ed. D., published a letter regarding the timeline of next steps, which includes a Friday, July 24 release of a finalized school reentry plan to the community.
Follow Along for District
News & Announcements
MTPS Summer Learning Resources & Programs
Please follow the links below to learn more about the district's summer resources and programs.
High School Classes of 2020 Walk at In-Person Graduation Ceremonies
Our High School Classes of 2020 walked at their in-person graduation ceremonies on July 8th and 9th in front of limited guests and faculty members.

If you were unable to attend the ceremonies, or would like to share the experience with others, the MTPS High School In-Person graduation ceremony videos are now available via the district website and below.
SMART Fund Bill Calls for Additional $5oo Billion in COVID-19 Aid
A new bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate calls for the delivery of federal resources to states to assist in the fight against COVID-19.

This legislation, the State and Municipal Aid for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Fund, would develop a $500 billion reserve to aid the response by state and local municipal governments to this public health and economic crisis, while allowing them to maintain essential services.

The SMART Fund would build upon the existing $150 billion set aside in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Additionally, the bill would expand eligibility for aid to counties and municipalities with populations of 50,000 or greater. Currently that threshold is set at 500,000.
A Vision for Social Justice in our Schools
The Middletown Township Public School District is committed to providing opportunities for our students to openly discuss meaningful and relevant topics and assist them in reaching their full potential as lifelong learners and globally responsible citizens.

Members of our student body, alumni and school community stand together in solidarity for justice and equity.

On Thursday, June 18th, Superintendent of Schools, William O. George III, Ed. D., delivered an address in response to an open letter published by current MTPS students and alumni to he, the Board of Education and our faculty, which called for reflection and action.

"If personalized learning, self-reflection, and the ability to grow ethically and morally are foundational concepts we endorse and use to educate future leaders, then we must ask ourselves if we can do better to inspire the change we wish to see in the world," said Dr. George.


To read his full community letter please follow the link.

RELATED COMMUNITY LETTERS

MTPS Arts Academy
Hosts Virtual Showcase
B The Second Annual MTPS Arts Academy Showcase went virtual in 2020. To watch our district's rising stars place their talents on full display please click the image below. Be sure to review the showcase program by following the link.
Opinion: Racial Insensitivity Exists Everywhere, We Are Not Immune
By Luke Ferrell, High School North Senior
NOTE: This article was previously published in another publication

Middletown, it’s time that we have a conversation about race. Merriam-Webster defines a conversation as “an oral exchange of sentiments, observations, opinions, or ideas”. Let’s “exchange” ways to make our community a better place without “exchanging” hate or negativity. I’d like to explain why even the “fifth safest city in America to raise a child” (SafeWise, 2016) cannot be excluded from hearing stories of overcoming racial adversity.

As a proud Middletown High School North senior and a Middletown resident, I would have never in a million years imagined that the community I love and cherish would ever be subjected to any sort of racial prejudice. Up until the past few days, I have confused what I now consider hurtful and insensitive comments and slurs with humor. We’ve always been taught to treat everyone equally, but have also often been taught that it’s better to “stay out of it” or “not get involved” when it doesn’t concern us. Standing up for what is right and speaking out, even when it is unpopular, has been demonized for too long. A statement made by my classmate and good friend will change the way I see the world for the rest of my life.

On Monday, June 1, Middletown High School North’s 2020 valedictorian, Jada Tulloch posted a video on Instagram, now with over 28,000 views, 7,754 likes, and 1,453 comments. Her video is in response to students organizing a protest outside of the Middletown Township Board of Education office to push for an in-person graduation. While we all desperately want a way to celebrate our accomplishments as a class, I think our greatest accomplishment can be uniting against an issue we’ve let persist for too long. Jada states, “For me graduation represents the fact that I’ve survived years of racial discrimination, oppression, and disgusting comments from the close-minded people that I surround myself with in this god-forsaken town”. This powerful statement has opened my eyes to realize that I have been quiet for too long. Whether I was walking down the sidewalk or the hallways of my high school, I have heard racially insensitive comments and made excuses for it– usually I brushed it off as humor. Meanwhile, a person of color could’ve overheard the same comment and felt threatened and worthless. Today, I realize that not only is it ignorant to allow these comments to reach my ears without hesitation or action but that my beloved hometown isn’t in a bubble secluded from the issues of the rest of the world. Every community displays instances of racial insensitivity, and worse; however not recognizing that this is a problem in a particular area just because of its location or socioeconomic class often normalizes racially inconsiderate sentiments. This ultimately allows a snowball effect of acceptance of more and more “jokes” and slurs that target minorities.

Jada has shared an important and disheartening message in an attempt to make our town a better place. It is simply impossible to dismiss her message without understanding her experience. Few of us have walked in the shoes of a person of color.

To continue reading this article please follow the link.
Interested in Learning More About the Virtual Advanced Placement Experience?
Middletown Township Public Schools advanced placement students and teachers recently engaged in a round table discussion regarding their virtual experience with Advanced Placement course work and assessments. The group came together to help prepare future advanced placement students.
District Presents Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives Draft; BOE Seeks Community Input
During the May 27th Board of Education Workshop/Voting Meeting, a presentation was delivered to inform our school community about the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Goals & Objectives, which were developed with public input expressed in a district survey and during seven public forums.

Watch the presentation by following the link to the right, and review the slideshow.

The Strategic Planning Committee is seeking community input on the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives Draft through Wednesday, June 10. Community members should email their comments to  strategicplanning@middletownk12.org .
MTPS Recognized for Developing Equitable Virtual Learning Plan
The District was recently recognized by the Alliance for Excellent Education for the development and implementation of its virtual learning plan.

An excerpt from the article reads...

"Like many districts across the nation, Middletown Township transitioned its nearly 9,500 students to full-time remote learning in mid-March when it closed schools to slow the spread of the  novel coronavirus (COVID-19) . In many ways, the suburban school district already had most of the necessary elements in place to support a successful transition, thanks in part to the  five-step planning process  district leaders undertook in working through the  seven gears  of the  Future Ready Framework . The district had an existing one-to-one initiative that provides each student in third through twelfth grade with a personal device. Additionally, to implement that program successfully, the district enhanced its  infrastructure , particularly the bandwidth available at its schools, and provided teachers and other school staff members with  personalized professional learning  to support student-centered instruction."

Continue reading about the district's Future Learning Journey .
On Jan. 22nd the District's 2020-2021 School Calendar was adopted. To view the calendar please visit  www.middletownk12.org/Calendar.
Interested In Employment
Opportunities with the District?

Throughout the year new employment opportunities arise for educators, paraprofessionals, and more.

Learn more about new openings by visiting www.middletownk12.org/JobPostings