May 6, 2011 r

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In his weekly news conference today, Superintendent Tony Tata discussed the school system budget, work of the student assignment task force and his first 90 days on the job.

Board of Education approves school system budget

At Tuesday’s board meeting, the Wake County Board of Education voted approval of the $1.2 billion budget for the 2011-12 school year.

Listen to Superintendent Tata's May 6 news conference 21.5 minute mp3 file

The board action followed a public hearing and two work sessions considering the superintendent’s budget recommendations.

“I am pleased that the budget was approved unchanged,” said Tata. “I don’t believe any of us are happy with the total level of funding, but we recognize that we have to be prudent in our expectations and careful in our planning.”

The Board of Education is required by law to submit a funding request to the county commissioners by May 15. The board’s action Tuesday ensures meeting that deadline.

The school system budget recommendations are based on a 5 percent state funding reduction as recommended by the Governor and the Department of Public Instruction. The NC House this week passed a budget recommendation that cuts education by roughly 8.8 percent, $1.3 billion statewide.

This week the superintendent met with members of the Wake County legislative delegation to share with them how proposed budget cuts at the state level will affect schools.

“The decisions state lawmakers make will have an impact on our students,” said Tata.  “I will continue to meet with state officials as we work to minimize the impact on the classroom from these recommended budget cuts, but the fact is that 89 percent of our funding goes directly to schools or to school support services. The greater the cuts, the greater the impact on our classrooms.”

The NC Senate will develop its own budget recommendations, and then the House and Senate will negotiate a budget bill that will be sent to the Governor for approval.

Task Force continues work on student assignment

A WCPSS task force continues to work on developing a student assignment plan for the school system.

“I anticipate the task force will be reporting out two proposals for our community to consider,” said Tata. “In the next couple of weeks, we will launch a website that explains the processes and assumptions we used to evaluate nine different student assignment models including these two proposals.”

On the website, the community will be able to provide feedback to help shape the final recommendation, which Superintendent Tata plans to present to the board by mid June. Once the board receives the plan, there will be work sessions, public hearings and ample opportunity for continued community input.

Superintendent Tata reports on his 90-day plan of entry

May 1 marked the end of Superintendent Tata’s first 90 days on the job.

“After I was hired, a parent was quoted (in a local newspaper) as saying, ‘You’ve been handed a gift, Mr. Tata. You have been given one of the nation’s most respected school systems to manage.’ I agreed then and I agree now,” said Tata. “I intend to continue to lead this school district with the dignity and respect that it deserves.”

In the first 90 days, Superintendent Tata has visited 91 schools, traveled 8,000 miles around the county and has taken part in about 330 listening events around the county.

In his 90-day plan, the superintendent had five goals:

• Develop a unified governance team that inspires confidence with all stakeholders
• Focus districts resources and staff efforts on teaching and learning
• Recruit, retain and train high quality employees, on board them properly and hold them accountable
• Insure fiscal and organizational accountability that enhances development and implementation of system and structures that support schools
• Establish a supportive, positive and effective district climate and culture singularly focused on the improvement of student achievement using a continuous improvement model meaning that we learn in everything that we do.

The superintendent implemented the plan in phases: Prior to arrival, he focused on doing the due diligence necessary to come into the role informed, focused and prepared on day one to lead the school system; then he established milestones to insure personal accountability and transparency to the board and the community. Tata said virtually all of the plan’s objectives were accomplished or begun.

Some of the highlights of the 90-day plan include:

• The superintendent and board developed a new mission, vision and set of core beliefs that will serve as a framework for long term strategic planning
• The superintendent spent a half day in each board members’ districts learning about what makes the district unique as well as the challenges facing children in their districts
• As part of the superintendent’s listening tour, he met with 52 local organizations, spoke at 58 different events, participated in 52 civic, parent or board advisory events. He has visited 52 elementary schools, 19 middle schools and 20 high schools.

In describing the travels with board members in their districts, Tata said:

“I gave board members very broad guidance saying pick me up at noon and drop me off when you are done with me and from about 12 to six or seven in the evening, I was in each of these board members districts, sometimes later going to town hall types of events. It gave me a good feel for each of the districts. As a tactile leader, I got good hands on experience in each of the districts with the board members and I appreciate the board members taking the time out of their busy schedules to do that.”

In describing his listening tour, Tata said:

“In each of the schools, I visited at least 12 classrooms. Between that, the teacher transfer fair, and all these listening events, I have met over 1,000 of our teachers and have had the opportunity to thank them for their great work that they do for our children every day.”

In the first 90 days, the superintendent tackled some significant and ongoing challenges:

• The school system budget
• The development of a strategic plan for the school system
• The development of a student assignment plan
• The renewal  of efforts to recruit and retain the best and brightest teachers and principals
• Operational management audits were conducted
• Key performance indicators were established to assure accountability in Central Service departments

Superintendent Tata said two of the three operational management audits have been conducted.

“The first audit of our communication processes was delivered in March. And we have a very strict timeline for taking corrective action and working toward the completion of those recommended actions. An audit of our organizational structure will be shared with the board soon. Our final audit, which examines our academic performance and achievement gaps, will also be presented later this month.”

Tata arrived knowing that the Wake County Public School System was a well-regarded school district.

“I’ve walked the halls, I’ve spoken with thousands of students and teachers,” said Tata. “There is a lot of pride in this school district and rightly so.  We intend to increase that every day, and we intend to increase student achievement every year. Outstanding positive things are happening in Wake County public schools every day. I believe it’s the crown jewel of this community. It must be protected and nurtured, and I intend to lead that effort.”

More News

Superintendent Tata Holds Virtual Town Hall

Superintendent Tata held his second Virtual Town Hall meeting this morning, answering 18 questions while chatting directly with an online audience. The virtual town hall meetings are held on the first Friday of the month. You can view the archived conversation here.

President Obama Honors King as One of the Nation’s Best Math and Science Teachers

President Obama named WCPSS Teacher Zebetta King as one of 85 recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. 

King is the new WCPSS Senior Administrator for Elementary Science. Prior to that, she taught fourth- and fifth-grade academically gifted students at Swift Creek Elementary.

Listen to President Obama Honors King as One of the Nation’s Best Math and Science Teachers