Superintendent Tata Kicks Off Series of Weekly News Briefings
April 1, 2010 – Superintendent Tony Tata kicked off his first weekly briefing with the news media this morning as he met with reporters and photographers from local media outlets. Tata plans to meet with the news media each Friday morning to share vital information related to the Wake County Public School System and to provide reporters access to ask him any questions they may have.
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| Superintendent Tony Tata talks with the media during his weekly news briefing. |
"Today is the first of a series of weekly discussions that I want to have, so we can begin to be more open and transparent as we go forward throughout my superintendency and the daily operation of the Wake County Public School System," Tata told members of the media during the briefing.
Tata began the briefing by sharing with reporters his initial impressions of the school district. Having already visited 63 schools within his first 61 days on the job, along with meeting with members of the community in town hall meetings and in their living rooms, Tata said he is impressed with what he has seen so far.
"First and foremost, everywhere I see highly professional teachers, teacher assistants and school staff, cafeteria managers, custodians, and I see principals and assistant principals who are instructional leaders in their schools, and, most importantly, I see fully engaged students learning every day," he said. "The one searing impression in my mind is that this is an excellent school system."
Tata reviewed the highlights of his 90-day plan that he is using to hold himself accountable as he works to move the school system forward. He spent phase one getting to know the community. During phase two, which took place in February, he focused on listening and learning and developing a budget for the district. During this time, he also worked with the board to develop a new mission, vision and set of core beliefs for the school system and conducted a communications audit that will be used to enhance the sharing of information with the community. In phase three, which took place in March, Tata continued his listening tour, began a series of statistical reviews with Central Services departments to improve accountability and took over responsibility for the development of the student assignment plan.
Phase four will focus on student assignment.
"I created a student assignment task force made up of a cross-functional, very diverse group whose single purpose is to create a long-term, strategic student assignment plan for this county," he said. "They are looking at six courses of action along with 15 evaluative criteria. The courses of action cover a broad spectrum of possibilities. They are in the midst of evaluating those courses of action to winnow them down to one, or two or three options that we will bring forward to the board and the community for input."
Tata said he intends to deliver a completed student assignment plan to the board for approval by June 20. "I met with the task force yesterday, and we are making good progress," he said. "We are in a good spot."
In addition to the items included in his 90-day plan, Tata also discussed several additional initiatives that he is implementing to move the district forward.
In light of the increase in bus accidents this year, Tata is working with the Transportation Department to determine the cause of the accidents and find ways of preventing them. "Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students, and I am convinced that we can do better," he said.
Tata announced today that he is asking the public to help the school system hold itself accountable by launching a system empowering citizens to directly share any concern they may have regarding our bus transportation service.
"They can call, or they can e-mail, but either way, we need to hear from them," he said.
Along with his plans for improving bus transportation, Tata shared details of the STEM and Global Schools Networks that were included in the budget he presented last month. He said that applications for schools to join either the STEM Schools Collaborative Network or the Global Schools Network are now available. Tata will announce the 10 schools selected to join the networks in mid-April.
"I set aside roughly $1 million to help schools that are struggling with dwindling enrollments and to also expand our network of schools with global and technological capabilities," he said.
The STEM Schools Collaborative Network is of a group of schools with dedicated programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math. These schools partner with the NC STEM Collaborative. WCPSS currently has 11 schools with a STEM theme, but needs five more to complete the network.
The Global Schools Network consists of schools dedicated to programs promoting global awareness, language learning and international exchange. These schools have a partnership with World View as well as other districts that are part of the NC Global Schools Network. WCPSS currently has 12 schools with a global theme and has availability for five additional schools.
Tata concluded his first media briefing with a preview of the April 5 board meeting and an explanation of the new monthly online town hall meetings that will take place on the first Friday of each month before taking questions from the reporters in attendance.
"Like these weekly news briefings, the monthly online town hall meetings are just one more opportunity for me to reach out into as many homes and venues as possible, to be as transparent as possible and to answer as many questions as possible," he said.