Board decisions and education issues affecting Wake County Schools. |
TOP NEWS: Students receive 2010 assignments on May 14 / Superintendent Search Begins / Board Receives Update on Proposed State Budget
More News: Board Gives Preliminary Approval to New Policy on Public Participation in Board Meetings / Board Gives Preliminary Approval to Revised Policy on Student Assignment / Board Approves Title I No Child Left Behind Schools of Choice / Board Receives Update on EOG/EOC Review, the Success Series, DPI Samples / Board Approves Moving Central Services to Cary
May 7, 2010
Top News
Students receive 2010 assignments on May 14
The official school assignments for the 2010-11 school year will be given to students on May 14 to take home.
The WCPSS Growth and Planning Department has been working to finalize the student assignment forms and deliver them to schools. Laura Evans of WCPSS Growth and Planning reviewed details with the school board in the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 4.
Evans explained that state law requires the official notification of student assignment and provides for a transfer process where parents may request a transfer within 10 days of receiving their student’s school assignment. Board Policy 6203 explains the transfer process. A written request for transfer of a student to another school may be submitted by the parent within ten days of receipt of the official school assignment on a form provided by the school system available at any school, central office, or the WCPSS website (www.wcpss.net). If the transfer request is denied, parents have a right to appeal to the Board of Education.
Evans explained that transfer request would be received May 14 to June 1.
Staff reviews all transfer requests submitted and the supporting documentation provided by parents. Staff considers information provided by parents, sending and receiving school capacities, and additional guidelines provided by the Board of Education to approve or deny submitted requests.
Evans said the WCPSS Growth and Planning Department will make every effort to place families new to Wake County, as well as those with new domiciles, into schools with calendars of their choice.
If staff denies a family’s transfer request, the family can appeal the denial. The Board of Education agreed to designate a hearing officer to hear appeals for fact-finding and to recommend a decision that will be submitted to the Board of Education for final determination.
Year-round schools will begin on July 9. Modified calendar schools will begin July 26. Traditional calendar schools will begin August 25.
Superintendent Search Begins
The Superintendent Search Committee will hold its first meeting on Friday, May 7, in the board conference room. Chairman Ron Margiotta has named Debra Goldman to chair the search committee. Completing the committee are board members Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and Carolyn Morrison. There was brief discussion of the topic during the May 4 Committee of the Whole. Goldman says she’s studying the issue and one of the decisions facing the board will be whether to hire a search firm.
Board Receives Update on Proposed State Budget
In the May 4 Committee of the Whole meeting, WCPSS Chief Business Officer David Neter talked with the board about the impact of the Governor’s Proposed State Budget on the school system. The board adopted its proposed 2010-11 budget at its April 20 meeting.
Neter explained that the Governor’s proposed budget included $14,962,839 in budget reductions that are included in the school system budget approved by the board, plus an additional $19,349,316 in reductions. The $19.3 million would include $13.25 million in discretionary cuts that could be made by the school system and additional specified changes. These changes include a step increase for teachers, a one-time .5 percent bonus to all state funded employees to hold them harmless for the salary reduction taken to balance the budget in 2008-09, as well as reductions in the budget for Central Services staff, Assistant Principals and Instructional Support staff.
State lawmakers return for the short session on May 12 and will consider the Governor’s budget proposal as they begin work on the state budget. School administrators will continue to monitor work on the state budget and the impact it will have on the school system.
More News
Board Gives Preliminary Approval to New Policy on Public Participation in Board Meetings
At its May 4 meeting, the Board of Education gave preliminary approval to Policy 1326: A Policy on Public Participation in Board Meetings.
On Wednesday, April 14, 2010, the Policy Committee began the work on the development of a new policy related to public participation at board meetings. The committee requested for staff to make several changes and the policy was, again, reviewed by the Policy Committee on Wednesday, April 28. On April 28, the Committee approved the policy and requested for this new policy to be brought before the Board of Education for discussion and as a first reading.
The policy includes a list of guidelines that incorporate board practices such as public comment sign up and length of time speakers are allotted to address the board and a prohibition on signs that obstruct the view of others.
The guidelines state: Speakers are welcome to offer comments or criticism directed at substantive ideas, actions or procedures of the board, individual board members or staff. In the interest of maintaining civility and decorum, however, speakers should refrain from personal attacks and insults directed at the board, individual board members, staff or members of the general public.
The board will consider the policy for final approval at its meeting on May 18.
Board Gives Preliminary Approval to Revised Policy on Student Assignment
At its May 4 meeting, the Board of Education gave preliminary approval to revisions to Policy 6200: Student Assignment.
On Wednesday, April 28, 2010, the Policy Committee recommended changes for Policy 6200, Student Assignment. The Committee requested that these changes be brought before the Board of Education for discussion and as a first reading. The proposal promotes the establishment of community-based schools with consideration of proximity to home, student safety and stability of family and providing parents with clear choices in calendar and programs among the goals for the student assignment process.
Student assignment plans will be based on distance, choice, stability of assignment, facility utilization, grade structure, alignment with the magnet schools program and students with higher needs.
The board will consider the policy for final approval at its meeting on May 18.
Board Approves Title I No Child Left Behind Schools of Choice
At its May 4 meeting, the Board of Education approved the Title I No Child Left Behind Schools of choice for 2010-11. As required under the federal guidelines for Title I schools, the board identified two options to meet the needs of regular and special education students for 19 WCPSS elementary schools required to provide choice options. Under “No Child Left Behind” legislation, a Title I school that has not met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals in the same subject for two consecutive years, must offer parents the option to transfer their child to another school. The receiving schools must not be identified for Title I School Improvement or persistently dangerous.
Board Receives Update on EOG/EOC Review, the Success Series, DPI Samples
At the May 4 meeting, the Board of Education heard from WCPSS Instructional Services administrators about on-line resources available to students to use as they prepare for End of Grade or End of Course tests. Elementary Schools Administrator James Overman explained that one resource, EOG/EOC Review, targets 3-8 reading and math. High Schools Administrator Ruth Steidinger showed the Success Series, a collection of multi-media lessons, taught by master Wake County Public School (WCPSS) teachers, in high school mathematics, Biology, social studies, English, and Spanish. Middle Schools Administrator Ken Branch described DPI sample items and released tests, which provides realistic test situations for student practice.
Board Approves Moving Central Services to Cary
At the May 4 meeting, the Board of Education approved a proposal to move WCPSS Central Services Administrative offices from Raleigh to Cary, a decision that administrators estimate could save $29 million over a 20 year period.
The board approved a lease agreement to expand into a second building at in the Crossroads Office Park in Cary. The school system will move from its offices at 3600 Wake Forest Road, 2302 Noble Road, 4700 New Bern Avenue and the Magnet Resource Center behind Millbrook Elementary. This will consolidate most WCPSS administrative services at one location.
The school system will continue to use the offices at 1551 Rock Quarry Road that holds Transportation, Child Nutrition Services, and Facilities Services.
The plan must still be approved by the county commissioners.