The Wake County Public School System is one of two districts nationwide to receive an honorable mention in the annual CUBE awards presented at the annual conference of the Council of Urban Boards of Education, an affiliate of the National School Boards Association
School Board Chairman Kevin L. Hill presented the CUBE recognition to the school board during its meeting today. Hill accepted the award for the school board during the annual conference in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 10.
Wake County was one of five urban school districts to receive an award for demonstrating progress in educating children and acting as role models for excellence in school board governance.
CUBE jointly recognized the Wake County Public School System and the Jefferson County, Kentucky Public Schools with Honorable Mentions for Outstanding Commitment and Service to Diversity, the first time this award has been presented.
“I was very honored in receiving this award for our school board and our community,” said Hill. “Making diversity one of the criteria for providing healthy schools across our county has helped us to attract excellent educators to all of our schools and brought academic opportunity to every corner of our community. This is part of what has drawn thousands of new families to Wake County and helped us to be recognized as such a wonderful place to live, study and be creative.”
In Wake County and Jefferson County, difficult decisions involving race and student assignments were recognized. Both districts have been at the center of the discussion about diversity and school board policy related to student assignment, especially regarding student achievement. In each case, the district created assignment systems to establish successful schools across the entire school district.
Nominees for the award are required to present evidence that demonstrates school district excellence in four core areas: school board governance, closing the gap, academic excellence, and community engagement. The finalists are then selected by a panel of distinguished judges based on materials submitted by the school district, and independent follow-up research.
CUBE was established in 1967 by the National School Boards Association as a national membership organization governed solely by urban school board members and dedicated to the needs and interests of urban school boards. CUBE member districts total more than 100 urban school districts in 35 states and the Virgin Islands. CUBE member districts educate nearly 8 million students, in over 12,000 schools, with a collective budget of approximately 99 billion dollars. CUBE helps urban school boards find solutions to challenges at the local level and seeks to improve their policy making effectiveness.
Wake County Board of Education chair Kevin L. Hill congratulates fellow board members and presents the Urban School Board Excellence award from the National School Boards Association and the Council of Urban Boards of Education.