Development of the Plan for Student Success
The Plan for Student Success represents the 2008-09 financial plan for the Wake County Public School System. Work began in the fall and continues up to the adoption of the budget resolution in June by the Wake County Board of Education.
Finalization of the Superintendent’s Plan for Student Success culminates a dynamic process involving input from many groups.
Work on the Plan began with re-purposing existing resources and identifying unmet needs for the projected 140,000 students who are expected next year. Schools and central services departments developed strategic plans and requested budget needs to support the plans.
From there, the superintendent’s strategy team worked with the budget and finance staff to develop the Superintendent’s Plan for Student Success by prioritizing all requests based on the mission, vision, strategic directives, and the delicate balance between instructional and supporting service needs. Originally, the requests resulted in a net increase in local funding of $50 million. The strategy team worked with the schools and department chiefs to reduce that figure to an increase of $35 million.
The Plan identifies additional funding needs that address growth and other changes in our operating environment that impact student learning. The Plan also begins the process of addressing higher standards, moving academic progress upward off its plateau, and eliminating achievement gaps. As presented, the Plan represents our assessment of the financial resources necessary to ensure the strength of school system.
The superintendent presented his Plan for Student Success to the Board of Education on March 4. Following review, a public hearing, and action, the board will approve a Plan for Student Success to be delivered to the Wake County Board of Commissioners by May 15. The budget is adopted following action by the Board of Commissioners.
The commissioners must adopt a budget resolution, which includes the county appropriation for the school system, by June 30. If full funding of the Plan for Student Success is not approved, the budget must be adjusted accordingly.