A Word of Thanks from Superintendent McNeal

WCPSS educators, leaders, and students were responsible for some profound accomplishments during my six years. SAT scores have risen to a record high of 1075, well above the state and national averages. The achievement gap between poor and more affluent students has shrunk by 13.5 percentage points. We moved from a completely closed student assignment process to an unprecedented level of community involvement. Students and PTAs rallied together to support aid organizations following the September 11 attacks, the 2004 tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina. Following the historic gains made following the adoption of Goal 2003, the hardworking Wake County Board of Education took on the most aggressive academic goal in Wake County's history, Goal 2008.

Alongside these highs were some lows. Accidents and illnesses took some of our students from their schools and families much too soon. While an independent forensic audit confirmed that there was no evidence of fraud outside the Transportation Department and Garner High cafeteria incidents, these individuals' violation of trust was a sobering moment for us all. (Since the fraud was discovered almost two years ago, we have continued to strengthen our internal controls and recovered the assets taxpayers intended to support our schools.) And though other school districts would envy having 91 percent of students in grades 3 through 8 at or above grade level, in Wake County that suggests another 10,000 students who are still struggling. Finding the additional resources to help them at a time when our schools face unprecedented growth will be a challenge. I still have faith that WCPSS will meet the academic targets of Goal 2008, but the year that will happen is in question.

When the school board chose Dr. Del Burns to take the helm, they picked an outstanding educator and administrator who will not have to spend months gaining an understanding of our county and schools. Instead he can begin immediately with the task of ensuring that our schools address 21st century challenges while continuing to nurture our students. WCPSS will change under his leadership -- he has already announced a streamlined organizational structure -- but the core focus on providing educational opportunity for every child in the county will not change. And he will benefit from the same outstanding community and human resources that enabled Wake County's children to accomplish so much.

I am about to take a position that calls on me to be an advocate for all of North Carolina's school districts, so this may be my final opportunity to state -- proudly and without equivocation -- that there is none finer than the Wake County Public School System. We have the most impressive teachers, the most engaged parents and community, and the most enterprising students. While we continue to weather the challenges of rapid student growth, we have maintained an enviable record of academic achievement.

It has been my honor to lead this school system for six years, and it will continue to be my honor to support it. As Wake County citizens, parents, business leaders, and members of faith communities, you and I share ownership of our schools' success and responsibility for our children's future, just as previous generations supported us. Let us continue preserving the Wake County Public School System as one of Wake County's economic engines, and as our community's best means of "educating each student to be a responsible and productive citizen who can effectively manage future challenges."

Faye and I thank you for the support you have shown us over the years, and did our best not to let you down. Great communities take care of their children; this is a great community. Thank you for your gift of trust!

-- Bill McNeal