March 6, 2009

Top News

WCPSS Has Two 2009 Morehead-Cain Scholars

Two WCPSS high school seniors - Julia Victoria Ramos of Fuquay-Varina High School and Patrick Joseph Short of Sanderson High School - are among the 70 Morehead-Cain Scholars selected to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Morehead-Cain Scholarship pays all expenses for four years of undergraduate study, including the cost of a laptop computer and four summer enrichment experiences. Additional funding is provided for educational and experiential opportunities during the academic years. The value of the scholarship is about $80,000 for each in-state student.

Teacher of the Year Semi-finalists Selected

Twenty four teachers have been named semi finalists for the 2009 Wake County Teacher of the Year. The teachers are selected from the Teacher of the Year named by each school. The next step in the process for the semi-finalists is a classroom observation by committee members to determine the finalists. A reception will be held in April to honor the semi-finalists and name the twelve finalists. The Wake County Teacher of the Year banquet is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, when the Teacher of the Year will be honored. You can see the list of teachers honored here.

Issue: Superintendent Recommends Austere Budget While the troubled national economy had already led the school system to take some cost-saving steps, the impact of the economic downturn moved to center stage with the presentation of a proposed operating budget for next year. Superintendent Del Burns likened it to an economic hurricane.  “It is large, difficult to predict a path and will certainly take some time to pass through,” said Burns. “Our budget is a strategy to navigate and stay on course in this storm.” WCPSS Budget Download Proposed Budget Superintendent's Speech to the Board of Education (PDF) State BOE Budget Memo to Superintendents (PDF) Board Budget Timeline March 11 - next budget work session April 21 - board expected to vote on budget Burns says the school system budget will provide for projected increases required by the state legislature and part of the increase the school system is facing for higher utility costs. “No growth, no inflation, no improvements, nothing,” said Burns. “We will limit spending by repurposing existing funds, changing allotment formulas and outright budget reductions.” Burns presented a one-year budget, instead of the three-year spending plan with business cases provided to explain budgetary needs that’s known as the Plan for Student Success. The board took a first look at the budget in a work session Thursday. They agreed to reject a pay increase for board members, saving $3,200 and heard more detailed discussion on the impact of the budget.   The Superintendent’s budget proposal asks for the same level of funding this year as last, while the school district opens three new schools and adds an anticipated 2,300 students. Burns says steps taken this year to reduce school system spending will help, but more drastic steps such as filling only 95 percent of the school-based positions for the start of the school year and not rehiring some staff on terminating contracts may be required.  Following this action, schools will be prepared for the beginning of the school year, while the system will have the financial flexibility to absorb funding cuts and reduce the possibility of staff layoffs once the school year begins. If WCPSS did not take this proactive approach and allowed schools to hire 100 percent of their staff and state and federal budgets experienced shortfalls, lay offs could result. WCPSS has 1,496 part- and full-time employees on contracts that expire at the end of the school year or the fiscal year. Dr. Burns indicated that the shortfall from state or county budgets could result in the school system not rehiring some staff on these terminating contracts. The school board will continue its review of the budget Wednesday in another work session. The board will adopt a budget next month and submit its spending plan to the Wake County Board of Commissioners. You can read more about the budget here.

More News

Crime, Suspension, Dropout Rates Reported

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released a report Thursday covering dropout, suspension, and expulsion data for the 2007-08 school year. WCPSS was lower than the state average in all three categories. In the crime and violence report, WCPSS had an average of 14.55 acts per 1,000 students compared with 15.57 for the state and was lower than other urban NC districts. In suspensions and expulsions, WCPSS had a high school short-term suspension rate of 30.4 percent per 100 students, lower than the state average of 34.56 and lower than other urban NC districts. In the drop out rate, WCPSS had a dropout rate for grades 9-12 of 4.17 percent, lower than the state rate of 4.97 percent and lower than other urban NC districts. You can find the state’s report here.

More Wake Families Seek School Options

In WCPSS, families have many options from which to select a school. A total of 13,081 applications were filed by families seeking magnet and calendar options during the window that was open from Feb. 9 to 28. There were 9,758 applications for magnet seats, 3,848 for year-round seats and 2,860 for traditional calendar seats. Last year, there were 8,722 applications for magnet seats, 3,483 for year-round seats and 2,603 for traditional calendar seats. Families can request more than one option for their child in an application. This year, 6,978 asked only for a magnet seat, 897 for magnet and year-round, 847 for magnet and traditional calendar seat, 2,586 for year-round only and 1,756 for traditional calendar only. Families prioritize their multiple requests, so that if they don’t get their first priority, they have a second opportunity for consideration.

Board Approves Panther Creek Agreement

At its March 3 meeting, the Board of Education gave approval to an agreement with the Town of Cary that requires that Wake County Public School System to comply with its Adequate Public Facilities ordinance by constructing off-site improvements to highway NC-55, as a condition of approval of the site plan for installation of modular classroom units at Panther Creek High School. Attorney Kenneth Haywood has negotiated with Town of Cary counsel an agreement whereby Wake County Public School System agrees to construct required road improvements to NC-55 within four years and Town of Cary agrees to grant approval of the site plan, enabling issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the modular units. The road improvements are estimated to cost $1.4 million. At its meeting on February 17, 2009, the Board approved a request for reallocation of funds for this purpose.

Centennial Middle School Plans Summer Camp

At its March 3 meeting, the Board of Education gave approval to plans by Centennial Campus Middle School to offer for a second year the “Linking Leadership to Learning Summer Camp” from June 22-26, 2009 on the school’s campus to strengthen the Center for Leadership and Technology pathway of Combs Elementary, Centennial Middle and Southeast Raleigh High School. The goal is to help current and rising 6th grade students gain the necessary tools to become effective leaders in the school, community and world. Activities will include: team building activities, technology instruction, keynote and small session leadership speakers and daily physical activity through leadership games. The cost for student participants would be $175.00 for the week. Scholarships will be available through parent scholarship donations. Lunch will be provided daily and transportation will not be provided. The program will be staffed by CCMMS teachers who will be funded through the camp fees.