November 6, 2009

Top News

New Members Elected to Wake County Board of Education

A fourth new member was determined in a Nov. 3 run-off for the Wake County Board of Education. John Todesco was elected in the District 2 run off.

New board members Chris Malone in District 1, Deborah Prickett in District 7 and Debra Goldman in District 9 were elected in October 6 voting.

The new members will take the oath of office at the board meeting on December 1. You can see the election results here.

Exploring Innovative Opportunities at the Magnet School Fair

The Magnet Schools Fair of the Wake County Public School System will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School.

Families interested in educational choice can use the fair to explore the innovative programs offered through the school system’s network of magnet programs.

The magnet fair is open to the public and creates a venue for parents and students to visit interactive display booths and inquire about such magnet programs as Gifted and Talented, International Baccalaureate, Museums, University Connections, Leadership and Technology, and the newest magnet schools, Smith Elementary with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Brentwood Elementary with Engineering and Millbrook High with International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma programmes. Families can also collect information about future recruitment events as well as enjoy performances by students attending magnet schools.

To find out more information about WCPSS magnet schools and other upcoming recruiting events visit us online at www.wcpss.net/magnet, stop by the Magnet Resource Center located on the campus of Millbrook Magnet Elementary or call us at 919.501.7900.

ISSUE:  Board Discusses Career and Technical Education and Academies At its November 3 committee of the whole meeting, the Board of Education heard from WCPSS administrators Ruth Steidinger and David Rockefeller about the work of the Career and Technical Education Task Force. Steidinger reported to the board on the efforts of the task force, created to develop a plan to expand the WCPSS Career Academy model throughout the district following the curriculum management audit recommendations to provide more equitable access to programs. The Career Technical Education team has compiled information based on the trips by board members and staff to the Central Education Center in Newman, Georgia and to WCPSS CTE programs and academies. Rockefeller explained the career academies provide a way to deliver instruction to students in a cohort model. All comprehensive high schools offer CTE classes and some of these schools also have Career Academies. Each Career Academy is built around a theme. There is an integration of CTE and core courses. Internships that relate to the theme are a key and the business community is very involved in this aspect. Students get credit for work-based learning. Students in the academy cohort take courses together and their academic courses are paired with CTE courses. The academy cohort reflects the school population. There are nine academies operating in WCPSS high schools. Apex Information Technology Athens Drive Medical Science Broughton Transportation Enloe Medical Bioscience Knightdale Applied Science Technologies Middle Creek Digital Media Sanderson Finance Southeast Raleigh Engineering Wake Forest Rolesville Construction Technology The academy has an advisory board where members of the business community are involved with the curriculum, work-based learning opportunities and field trips. Schools seeking approval as an academy must submit a self-assessment document to the WCPSS CTE director describing how they meet the criteria. Existing academies also submit this self-assessment each year to maintain quality control. In talking with the board, Rockefeller explained that in looking to expand career academy opportunities, the task force has looked at seven academy themes: Environmental Sciences, Health and Human Services, Transportation Systems, Engineering Systems, Design Technologies, Communication and Information systems and Finance, Marketing and Business Management. Rockefeller has examined CTE course offerings at high schools to determine how they may fit into career academies and provide additional academies to serve students across the school district. The task force will continue to examine this and other information as it looks at the need for additional academies and any recommendations it may bring to the school board.

More News

Board Approves Reduction in Force, Capital Improvement Program

At its Nov 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved a reduction in force of staff working with the Capital Improvement Program. The reduction in force will affect 10 positions, 8 of which are currently filled.

At the June 2, 2009 board meeting, a reduction in force of 22 positions was authorized. The June 2 and Nov. 3 actions have lead to a total reduction of 32 positions from the Capital Improvement Program.

On April 21, 2009, the Board of Education approved changes to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) schedule. These changes were made necessary because of adjustments to available funding approved by the Wake County Board of Commissioners on February 16, 2009. The changes required staff to review program management necessary in light of a reduced workload. Based upon the detailed review, a recommendation for a reduction in force of CIP funded staff is being made per Board Policy 4430.

Board Approves Real Estate Purchase for E-24 Elementary School Site

At its Nov. 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved the terms and conditions of a Real Estate Purchase and Sale Contract have been reached with The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver of Magnet Bank to acquire a 30.834 acre parcel of land for the E-24 elementary school site. The parcel lies on the northern side of Strickland Road and on the southern side of Baileywick Road in Raleigh. Estimated land cost is $2,543,805.00. Funding would come from the Land Acquisition Component of CIP 2006 Funds. This site replaces a location near Creedmore and Shooting Club roads as a location for an elementary school to be built in the next school construction program.

Board approves Leasing Agency agreement

At its Nov. 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved a professional services agreement with Grubb & Ellis/Thomas Linderman Graham, Inc. The firm was recommended by a selection committee operating in accordance with professional services selection procedures adopted by the school board.

Under this agreement, Grubb & Ellis/Thomas Linderman Graham, Inc. will represent the school system regarding administrative space needs, examining administrative space needs, identification and comparison of multiple suitable properties, negotiation of lease terms, and/or negotiation of an extension and/or modification of existing lease space at the Crossroads Building II in Cary.

This agreement begins immediately, last 12 months and may be extended as necessary to complete the transaction. As is standard in such agreements, the fees will be paid by the Lessor.

Board Approves Amendment to Lease Agreement for Root Modular Campus

At its Nov. 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved an amendment to the lease agreement with North Hills East Master Developer, LLC for the property where the Root Elementary temporary modular campus was located.

The board currently leases 2.7 acres of land from North Hills East Master Developer, that was used for the temporary modular campus for Root Elementary while its main campus underwent renovation. Students and staff from Root moved back into its newly renovated campus last weekend and the temporary modular campus will close effective November 10, 2009. The lease terminates on December 31, 2009. Deconstruction of the modular campus is scheduled to be completed by year’s end. The amendment to the lease agreement will allow certain improvements to remain on the premises (asphalt, concrete, metal canopy, street lights, transformers, sewer and water lines, etc.). This will save the board some demolition and debris removal expenses, and time in completion of site deconstruction.

National PTA Honors Wake County for Family Involvement

The Wake County PTA Council and Wake County Public School System earned an Award of Merit in the National PTA's Phoebe Apperson Hearst Family-School Partnership Awards. The award celebrates PTAs that are working to achieve the National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

Sarah Martin, President of the Wake County PTA Council, and Ann Rollins who leads the WCPSS Parent Liaisons talked with the board at its Nov. 2 meeting about earning the honor.

Click here to listen to National PTA Honors Wake County for family involvement

You can find more information about the award here. You can read the six standards included in the Wake County policy for parent and family involvement here.

Board reviews policy updates

At its meeting November 3, the Board of Education gave final approval to:

Policy 2411: Awards and Scholarships
Policy 2512: School-Sponsored Information Media
Policy 2560: Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages
Policy 2570: Naming Of Schools
Policy 2571: Naming Of Individual School Buildings, Rooms, Structures, Furnishings, Books, and Scholarships
Policy 2530: Relationships with Outside Agencies
Policy 8000: Fiscal Management
Policy 8010: School Finance Officer
Policy 8100: Annual Budget
Policy 7150: Fleet Management
Policy 7160: Contract Transportation

After a review of the board’s Policy Committee, the board gave final approval to deletion of the following policies that have been incorporated into other revised policies:

Policy 2600: Relations With Other Education Agencies – Incorporated Into Policy 2530 – Relationships With Outside Agencies
Policy 8020: Duties Of The School Finance Officer – Incorporated Into Policy 8010 – School Finance Officer
Policy 8110: Program Budgeting System – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8120: Budget Preparation Procedures – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8130: Budget Display – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8140: Budget Hearings – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8150: Budget Submission To County Commissioners – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8160: Commissioners’ Budget Action – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8161: Resolution Of Budget Disputes – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8170: Adoption Of Budget Resolution – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8180: Budget Transfers And Amendments – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget
Policy 8190: Interim Budget – Incorporated Into Policy 8100 Annual Budget

The review of board policies is based on a recommendation from the curriculum management audit.