February 18, 2011

Top News

Board Approves Additional School Assignment Changes for the 2011-12 School Year

In a special-called meeting on Feb. 15, the Board of Education approved three final changes to the 2011-12 Growth and Planning Student Assignment Plan after hearing from three people in a public hearing for families affected by the changes.

The board approved assigning:

• Base elementary students in Node 504.1 from Creech Road Elementary to Aversboro Elementary
• Base elementary students in Node 246.1 from Forest Pines Drive Elementary to Wildwood Forest Elementary
• Base middle school students in Node 380.7 from East Cary Middle to West Cary Middle and traditional calendar application students from Reedy Creek Middle to West Cary Middle

These final steps follow the board’s action at its Feb. 1 meeting, approving the 2011-12 school assignment plan.

Application Period for 2011-12 WCPSS Calendar and Magnet School Program

The application period for the Wake County Public School System calendar and magnet schools will open Feb. 21 and continue through March 7.

Magnet Application Flyer Application Options Flyer (English) (PDF) Application Options Flyer (Spanish) (PDF)

Applications will only be accepted online. Calendar and magnet applications are available Feb. 21 through March 7. There is no benefit to applying early or late within that window of time.

Families may apply for both calendar choice and magnet schools. If an application is submitted for both calendar and magnet schools, the magnet application will be considered first in the selection process.

Every Wake County address has one base school assignment and one calendar application option. If families want a calendar different than the calendar of the base school assignment, families must complete this application. Every effort will be made to honor requests made during this application period. This is the ONLY opportunity to apply for a calendar change for the 2011-12 school year.

Magnet applications may include up to 3 choices. If selected, families will receive only one offer. Magnet schools have scheduled open houses and tours throughout the month of February. Parents can learn more about magnet schools at www.wcpss.net/magnet.
To apply online for Wake Early College of Health and Science or Wake NC State University STEM Early College, you must have submitted a completed written application in January to the WCPSS Magnet Office.

If you need assistance submitting your application, please contact the Office of Growth and Planning (919-850-1921), the Magnet Resource Center (919-501-7900), or the media center at your nearest school.

Families will be able to check online to find their student’s calendar or magnet school assignment on March 24. When families make their online application, they will receive a confirmation screen. You will need to print a copy of your confirmation screen and have it available March 24 to log on to find your application results. Families will have the opportunity to accept or decline this offer.

Board Asks Superintendent Tata to Develop Student Assignment Plan

In its Feb. 15 work session, the Board of Education asked Superintendent Tata to develop a student assignment plan. Tata says a task force of school system personnel will study the various assignment proposals, including a recent proposal from the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Wake Education Partnership. Meanwhile, the board agreed to dissolve its Student Assignment Committee. Board Chair Ron Margiotta offered his thanks to board members John Tedesco, Chris Malone and Carolyn Mourson, as well as community members who served on the committee. Tedesco noted the work of the committee as the board completed work today on the 2011-12 Student Assignment Plan.

More News

Board Receives Proposed Bell Schedule Recommendations for 2011-12

At its Feb. 15 work session, the board heard from WCPSS Chief Facilities and Operations Officer Don Haydon about the proposed bell schedule for 2011-12.

The proposal includes changes at two schools:
Leesville Road Middle* changes to 8:15 a.m. until 3 pm. from 8:05 a.m. until 3 p.m.
West Lake Elementary changes to 8:20 a.m. until 2:50 p.m. from 8:20 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The schedules were set for the two new schools:
Walnut Creek Elementary will be 8:30 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. with an extended day program beginning at 7:15 a.m.
The Wake N.C. State University STEM Early College will be 7:35 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

*Corrected to note proposed schedule change is for Leesville Road Middle, not Leesville Road Elementary

School Board and County Commissioners Meet, Hear about Budget and School Enrollment

In a joint meeting of the Wake County Board of Education and County Commissioners on Feb. 16, County Manager David Cook shared information on the upcoming budget. Cook said the budget is being developed with the goal of maintaining the property tax rate at 53.4 cents and that will provide the school system with the same total local dollars as last year. The county general fund revenues decreased to $927.5 million in FY 2010 compared with $944.1 million in FY 2009, during a time of higher unemployment and a drop in building permit requests. Cook said the county will present a recommended budget to the county commissioners in May, and then hold public hearings and vote on the budget in June.

Nicole Kreiser, Wake County Debt and Capital Director, discussed enrollment projections with the board and commissioners. Kreiser said the capital enrollment projections are 146,657 for 2011, 166,733 for 2015 and 194,766 for 2020. The actual enrollment for 2010 is 143,289.

Board Approves Renaissance Schools Bonus Plan

In its Feb. 15 meeting, the Board of Education approved a three-year bonus pay plan for educators at the four schools in the Renaissance School plan. Using federal Race to the Top funds, the school system is working to boost student achievement at Barwell Road Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Creech Road Elementary, and Wilburn Elementary. All staff members - except CNS, custodians and bus drivers - at the four schools are being asked to reapply for their jobs. The goal will be to hire the most capable staff members in all position types to dramatically improve the academic performance at each school. $950,000 of the federal Race to the Top funds will be used per year for school years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 to implement a signing bonus/performance bonus plan.

The signing bonus would be $7,000 for principals, $5,000 for assistant principals and $2,900 for teachers/certified staff. Variables used to determine teacher performance bonus pay will be: success of the overall school academically, success of their class academically and/or their annual performance review.

Board Approves Signing Bonus for Walnut Creek Elementary Principal Position

n its Feb. 15 meeting, the Board of Education approved a signing bonus for the Walnut Creek Elementary principal position. The school will open for 2011-2012 school year on a traditional calendar. WCPSS will offer a signing bonus of $7,000 as an aid to a nation-wide search to hire the most capable principal to lead Walnut Creek Elementary.

Board Hears from Attorney Shanahan on Redistricting

At its Feb. 15 work session, the Board of Education heard from attorney Kieran Shanahan, who provided an update on redistricting. The board voted during its Feb. 1 meeting to retain Shanahan to help in redrawing school district lines as required every 10 years.

Shanahan reviewed guidelines:
- Making all districts consist of equal populations.
- Not splitting precincts, except when needed to conform with federal law.
- Considering redistricting plans that would increase minority representation on the board
- Conducting a public hearing on any proposed redistricting plan to allow input from all affected communities.

Shanahan reviewed a schedule for the plan to be considered and approved.

Board Reviews Plans for Board Room Planned for Crossroads Offices

At its Feb. 15 work session, board members discussed plans for the board room planned for the new school system Crossroads offices. After discussing different modifications, the board agreed to stay with current proposals.

The school system has agreed to consolidate several buildings with school administration staff into a new office at Crossroads in Cary. The current administration building at 3600 Wake Forest Road would be sold.