October 24, 2008

Top News

School Building Program Slows Down

Wake County commissioners and County Manager David Cooke were praised by school board members during the Oct. 21 meeting, offering thanks for the priority given school construction projects during the current economic slowdown. The commissioners are providing $256.5 million through a bond anticipation note and $80 million in cash through Sept. 2009 to keep school construction on pace and to avoid increased costs for suspension of active projects. Don Haydon, WCPSS Chief of Operations, told school board members all new school projects and all major renovation projects can continue for the coming year, though staff will review the progress and fiscal status monthly and make a decision in Dec. 2008 about the planned new elementary school E-21 and make a decision in March 2009 about the planned renovation of Wilburn Elementary. Most life cycle projects and life cycle furniture and equipment replacement will be suspended and mobile and modular classroom relocations will be reduced. There had been concerns that building projects would be put on hold when the county encountered difficulty in selling bonds to provide cash for construction affecting the school system, community college, libraries and other county projects.

Student Assignment Back On

The multi-year student assignment proposal is back on again with the news that school construction is moving ahead. Administrators are noting the second and third years of assignments are directly linked to schools opening in the second and third year as currently proposed. Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney said there will be a two-week delay in getting the staff proposal to the public. For the first time, the school system will provide families a three-year picture of school assignment. After talking with school communities affected by the opening of the planned new schools, WCPSS Growth and Planning will present a proposal online in mid-November and then hold community engagement meetings through December to hear comments on the proposal.

ISSUE:  BOARD COMPLETES 2008 REVIEW OF MAGNET SCHOOLS The WCPSS Magnet Program's objectives are to foster healthy schools throughout the Wake County Public School System by using choice to help: reduce high concentrations of poverty and support diverse populations, maximize use of school facilities, and provide expanded educational opportunities. WCPSS Magnet Program View Chip Sudderth’s report on the WCPSS magnet program Listen to Board discusses magnet schools Over the course of several work sessions and discussions in committee of the whole meetings, the Board of Education reviewed the magnet program, studying the progress schools were making in achieving these objectives. The discussions brought some changes to the magnet program and informed the Magnet Program staff and Growth and Planning staff about steps that could be taken to meet these objectives. At its Oct. 21 meeting, the board heard from WCPSS Magnet Program Director David Ansbacher about launching new magnet programs at Brentwood Elementary and Smith Elementary with the schools accepting applications in February 2009 for their first year of magnet implementation in the 2009-10 school year. Ansbacher said Magnet Programs staff researched possible themes, collaborated with the principals and Growth and Planning, and conducted a survey of potential magnet families. As a result, the Magnet Programs staff will work with the schools to implement an Engineering magnet theme at Brentwood Elementary and an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme theme at Smith Elementary. While the board had asked for the addition of the magnet programs at the two elementary schools, board members agreed Daniels Middle School would be successful without its magnet program. Board members noted the school had a small number of students from magnet applications and already had a diverse enrollment. Ansbacher explained that the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme would be phased out over the next two years allowing currently enrolled students to complete their time at the school in the program. In the Oct. 21 committee of the whole meeting, the board completed its review of high school magnet programs. Ansbacher explained that there are four magnet high schools: Broughton High and Garner High, International Baccalaureate World Schools; Enloe High, a Gifted and Talented, International Baccalaureate Center for Humanities, Sciences and the Arts; and Southeast Raleigh High, Center for Leadership and Technology. The board affirmed its commitment to all four of the magnet high schools. The board discussed the IB Diploma Programme at Broughton and Enloe which provides a two-year course of rigorous college level study for high school juniors and seniors. Both Garner and Southeast Raleigh are part of the current three-year federal magnet grant providing upgrades for both schools, as well as East Garner Middle, an IB Middle Years Programme. The WCPSS Magnet Fair is set for Nov. 1 at Southeast Raleigh High. When families visit the fair they will be greeted with information about the many magnet themes. Ansbacher said each of the magnet pathways flows to one of the four magnet high schools. Families who are discussing a choice for an elementary magnet will see the options that are available for middle and high school. He said families will find exciting choices that help meet the special interests of students. Families will be able to talk with magnet school principals, teachers and students and learn more about upcoming information and visiting sessions.

More News

New Area Superintendents

At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Board of Education gave approval to two new Area Superintendents, Cathy Moore and Andre Smith. Moore will become the new Central Area Superintendent as Jonibel Willis retires. Smith will become the new Northeastern Area Superintendent, a new position providing for a seventh area superintendent so that each will be responsible for 20-24 schools. Moore has served as principal of Sanderson High and was an assistant principal at Enloe High and Apex High. She was a teacher at Enloe High. Smith has served as principal of Wake Forest-Rolesville High. Prior to that, he was a WCPSS Student Assignment administrator, an assistant principal at Millbrook High and a principal, assistant principal and teacher in Buffalo, NY.

More Students Taking College-Level AP Exams

More Wake County Public School System students are taking college-level Advanced Placement exams and the percent of WCPSS students with a passing score remains significantly higher than the average for North Carolina. The Wake County Public School System had 4,605 students take 9,217 Advanced Placement exams for 2007-08. This was the second year in a row that the number of AP tests taken had increased by more than 1,000. The 3.30 exam average of WCPSS students is higher than the 2.79 exam average of NC students. While 74.4 percent of WCPSS students who took AP exams scored 3 or higher, 56.3 percent of NC students scored 3 or higher. WCPSS students have been encouraged to take more challenging courses such as AP classes, International Baccalaureate classes and Honors classes. By taking more rigorous classes, students get a head start on college-level work, improve writing skills and sharpen problem-solving techniques, develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work and stand out in the college admissions process. You can read more here.

Principal Of The Year

Matt Wight was named the Wake County Principal of the Year and Shejuanna Rodgers was named the Wake County Assistant Principal of the Year in a celebration at Marbles Kids Museum this month. Wight is principal of Apex High. He received an award, a $1,000 check and his school was presented a $500 check. Rodgers is assistant principal at Apex Middle School. She received an award and a $500 check. You can read more here.

Progress In Curriculum Management

At the Oct. 21 meeting, the Board of Education gave final approval to two policies that define the roles, relationships and responsibilities of WCPSS leaders from the classroom to boardroom in providing equal access to curriculum across the county. The Curriculum and Assessment Decisions policy makes the school system responsible for designing the curriculum and common assessments as well as selecting primary instructional resources, while making schools responsible for delivering the curriculum and assessments and selecting supplementary resources appropriate to the needs of each school. The Curriculum Management policy ensures that the written, taught and tested curriculum will be in alignment while identifying the roles that the school board, superintendent, chief academic officer, principals and teachers play in establishing consistency. The board also heard from Donna Hargens, WCPSS Chief Academic Officer, with the latest progress update and from a teacher who is using web-based curriculum resources. You can see the Single Source Curriculum Resource website being used by teachers here. You can find more information on the Curriculum Management Audit here.