February 6, 2009

Top News

WCPSS Freezes Hiring in Response to Economy

Preparing for a challenging budget environment due to the continuing economic downturn, the Wake County Public School System has extended a hiring freeze until at least June 30, 2009. Positions vacant as of February 6, 2009, will remain unfilled unless they are considered "mission-critical." Exceptions will be made for school-based teacher vacancies, but principals will have to fill those positions on a temporary basis.

"Although Wake County's economy is in a better position than most, our state and county governments are still expecting serious changes in revenue," said Superintendent Del Burns. "We are identifying these additional savings now in order to help preserve our focus on learning and teaching despite limited resources expected in the coming year. These are uncertain times for families, businesses and WCPSS employees alike, but together we can work through them."

Principals will be able to offer contracts terminating on June 30, 2009, to teachers needed to fill classroom vacancies. Filling mission-critical vacancies elsewhere in WCPSS will require the Superintendent's direct approval.

The extended hiring freeze is the latest step in responding to the economic downturn. The Wake County Board of Education previously reduced the school system's budget by $11.2 million on December 2, 2008, due to a directive from the state and a request from county government.

Out-of-state travel has been frozen on a system-wide basis, although school field trips are currently exempted. The purchase of replacement fixed assets and new buses are being deferred as well. School budgets for instructional supplies and classroom materials were reduced by $7.25 per student.

"Past actions by the school board and our leadership team have helped minimize the impact to our classrooms to this point, although we now have less flexibility," said Chief Business Officer David Neter. "We will continue to manage the economic uncertainty in a thoughtful, methodical and deliberate manner with a focus on our students, as well as the WCPSS employees who serve them and our schools."

WCPSS Drop-out Rate Holds Steady

Wake County Public School System high schools reported that 4.17 percent of students dropped out of school during the 2007-08 academic year, according to the state’s 2007-08 Dropout Report released yesterday.

The WCPSS 2007-08 rate is 4.17 percent, slightly lower than the WCPSS 2006-07 rate of 4.21 percent. The WCPSS rate remains below the state’s average of 4.97 percent.

The 2007-08 drop out rate for WCPSS is lower than most urban NC school districts. The rate for Charlotte-Mecklenburg was 5.91 percent. Forsyth County had 5.49 percent and Durham had 4.19 percent. The rate in Cumberland County was 3.61 and Guilford County had 3.31 percent.

The number of students reported as dropouts in 2007-08 totaled 1,689. That’s slightly higher than the 1,647 in 2006-07. The big WCPSS jump in enrollment in 2007-08 led to a decreased rate while the total number of students increased.

ISSUE:  Board Approves 2009-12 Multi-Year Assignment Plan The next step in the assignment process begins Monday as families apply for their children to attend magnet and calendar option schools in 2009-10. The application period continues to Feb. 28. Families can use the School Assignment Finder at http://www.wcpss.net/growth-management/assignment.html to find their magnet and calendar school options. All applications are accepted online - there are no paper applications. It’s important to note that the date you submit your application has no effect on the selection process, as long as you apply between Feb. 9 and Feb. 28. Once students are placed in these schools, the school system will print up and distribute the official student assignments in May for the 2009-10 school year. Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney says long range planning helps people look forward to what’s going to happen in the future, instead of reacting to events. Dulaney says the school system’s first multi-year assignment plan was possible thanks to the actions of the school board and county commissioners in the building assumptions on which they agreed and the school construction program that’s provided a five-year plan for opening new schools. The school board approved a multi-year assignment plan Feb. 3 that fills 10 new schools opening over the next three years. The plan was approved after an eight-month process that included seven public hearings, five community engagement meetings and additional comments that brought numerous changes shaping the final plan. Listen to Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney discuss the plan 14 minute mp3 file “Grandfathering” Of Students Impacted By Reassignment Background Files Growth=New Schools=Assignment Timeline The plan approved by the board includes 24,654 students, 2,117 less than the original Nov. 2008 staff proposal and 832 less than the Dec. 16 recommendations. The board has expanded grandfathering opportunities to include 45 percent of the students in the proposal, providing the option for more than 11,000 students to remain at their current school with families providing their own transportation to school. A number of the students in the proposal are not currently enrolled in WCPSS. More than 1,400 in the proposal are kindergartners who will enter school over the next three years. Approximately 4,000 students in the proposal are not currently enrolled in WCPSS, but will choose to attend public school or move into Wake County during the next three years. The proposal would impact 20,230 students currently registered in WCPSS – if the entire three year plan were implemented next year. Ten New Schools Open In 2009, the proposal includes 9,547 students with the opening of three new year-round elementary schools: Banks Road, Herbert Akins and Lake Myra. In 2010, the proposal includes 10,489 students with the opening of one year-round elementary school, two year-round middle schools and two high schools. The schools are Alston Ridge Elementary, Holly Grove Middle, Mills Park Middle, Heritage High and the unnamed H6 high school. In 2011, the proposal includes 4,618 students with one year-round elementary school and one year round-middle school. The schools include Walnut Creek Elementary and Rolesville Middle. The new schools provide additional space to meet student enrollment growth. Enrollment increased by 3,700 students for 2008-09, 6,400 students for 2007-08 and 7,500 for 2006-07. The new schools provide space for newcomers, alleviate overcrowding and balance enrollment at additional schools. Years two and three of the proposal are dependent on current and future capital improvement funding and student enrollment growth.

More News

Forestville Road Elementary Honored

Forestville Road Elementary has been named the state’s National Title I Distinguished School, an honor recognizing Title I schools that improve student achievement through innovative approaches. Principal Dianne Pridgen will receive an engraved plaque and a $7,500 monetary award and will be recognized in awards ceremonies at the National Title I Conference and North Carolina Association of Compensatory Education fall conference. National Title I Distinguished Schools are recognized for working to improve citizenship, character, enjoyment of the arts and community spirit. They also know the importance of making the school a hospitable hub of the community. Many students served by Title I go on to be the first in their families to graduate from high school and college.

WCPSS willing to Pay Half of Road Work

At its meeting Feb. 3, the Board of Education moved closer to clearing the way for approval by the Town of Cary to use modular classrooms at the Panther Creek High campus. Approval for use of the classrooms has been delayed as the town and school board discuss town requirements that the school system construct an additional northbound lane on NC 55. The board agreed for school administrators to negotiate with the town to pay up to $750,000 for the estimated $1.4 million in roadwork in order to get the classroom space opened to reduce crowding at the school. The school is located on McCrimmon Parkway, just off NC 55.

Faith Communities and Schools Work Together

New connections are being made between faith communities and schools in Wake County this year. Faith communities are a good place to turn for volunteers to work with children. Darryl Fisher, a WCPSS administrator, says the strong connections that already exist in communities between schools and houses of worship provide opportunities to help Wake County children. Click here to listen to Faith Communities and Schools Work Together

News You Can Use

• Families interested in magnet schools should be aware that the application window is Feb. 9 to 28. You can find more information here.  
• Families with children starting kindergarten next year can register now. You can find some helpful information on registration here. 
• The 2008 North Carolina State Report Cards are now online. You can find the report card here.