School Connection

Oct. 13, 2003

VOTERS SUPPORT SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION REFERENDUM
Sixty-four percent of Wake County voters gave their support to the $450 million school construction bond referendum on the ballot Oct. 7. This will help build 13 new schools and a pre-Kindergarten center, provide comprehensive renovations at 16 schools, and repair and re-roofing projects at 61 schools.

Superintendent Bill McNeal said Wake County citizens have consistently stepped up to support Wake County's children.

"As we've seen the constant influx of young people into our district -- over 4,000 this year alone-- Wake citizens have provided the support necessary for us to maintain wonderful learning climates for our young people," said McNeal. "For that, I'm deeply grateful."

McNeal said the community owes a great debt to the Wake County Board of Education and the Wake County Board of Commissioners for putting the question to voters, and to the business community leaders, parent groups, and other volunteers who advocated on behalf of better schools. He offered thanks to Ann Goodnight and Horace Johnson, co-chairs of the Friends of Wake County, the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Wake County PTA Council, the Wake NCAE, and the Division of Principals and Assistant Principals.

BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTIONS
After the Oct. 7 elections, three of five incumbents will return to the Board of Education. Chair Susan Parry was re-elected to the District 5 seat. Beverley Clark was re-elected to District 6. Rosa Gill was unopposed in District 4. Newcomer Carol Parker was unopposed for the District 3 seat where Tom Oxholm decided not to seek re-election. In District 8, newcomer Ron Margiotta defeated Jeff York who was named to the board after Wray Stephens stepped down in mid-term.

PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR NAMED
The Wake County Public School System named the 2003 Principal of the Year and Assistant Principal of the Year in ceremonies Thursday (Oct. 9) at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh.

Lloyd Gardner, principal of Enloe High School, was named Principal of the Year. Camille Miller, assistant principal of Willow Springs Elementary was named Assistant Principal of the Year.

Gardner has been principal of Enloe High School since 1997. He also served as the school's assistant principal for six years and was a teacher at Fuquay-Varina High for five years. While Gardner has been principal Enloe High has been recognized as the best magnet school in the nation by the Magnet Schools of America, ranked 42 among the Top 100 High Schools in the Nation by Newsweek magazine and named a Hallmark School of Excellence.

Miller, assistant principal at Willow Springs Elementary, has also worked as assistant principal at Root Elementary and as a teacher at Brooks Elementary.

Finalists for the WCPSS Principal of the Year included LaVaughn Buchanan of Cary Elementary, Stephen Mares of Joyner Elementary, Darryl Fisher of Wilburn Elementary and Beth Cochran of Ligon Middle. Finalists for the WCPSS Assistant Principal of the Year included Earnestine Pittman of Stough Elementary, Bob Umstead of Swift Creek Elementary, Betty Cornell of Holly Ridge Middle and Darrel Prioleau of Garner High.

GROWTH MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS
Four meetings will be held this week to solicit citizens' views on assigning students to schools. The meetings are the second phase of the Wake County Public School System's Community Engagement Meetings to help inform and involve the public in the student assignment process.

The meetings will be held:

Each of the meetings will begin at 7 p.m. and will last two hours.

In this second phase of meetings, participants will hear a 30-minute description of growth management issues related to the planning area of the county and the remaining time will be devoted to opportunities for feedback.

More information on the Community Engagement Meetings can be found at http://www.wcpss.net/growth-management/community-meetings/index.html

MAGNET FAIR 2003 SET FOR NOV. 1
The WCPSS Magnet Program is hosting the annual Magnet Schools Fair on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Southeast Raleigh High School.

The Magnet Fair is open to the public and provides prospective magnet families the opportunity to learn more about the system's 50 magnet schools and the innovative program options. WCPSS magnet schools provide a variety of teaching approaches and curriculum offerings to customize a student's education including creative arts & science, dual language, gifted & talented, international baccalaureate, leadership, Montessori, museums, and year round programs. Representatives from each magnet school, growth management and transportation will be available at the magnet fair to answer questions and discuss magnet school options for the 2004-2005 school year. Visitors to the magnet fair will also receive information about upcoming magnet school open houses and information on the application process. Magnet applications will be available at all schools in January 2004.

For a complete list of all the magnet programs offered by WCPSS, visit the magnet programs website at www.wcpss.net/magnet/ For more information, please call the Magnet Resource Center at 501-7900.

JONES DAIRY WILL RE-OPEN AS YEAR ROUND
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education voted to re-open Jones Dairy Elementary as a year-round school in 2004-2005. The board adopted a proposal where students would be moved among Wilburn, Durant and Heritage year-round elementary schools to establish a transportation pattern for Jones Dairy. This would allow base populations to be established at Durant, Heritage and Jones Dairy. These steps would help the north Wake County year-round schools to more nearly reflect the school system's capacity models and free and reduced price lunch percentages, while reducing crowding and free and reduced price lunch percentages at nearby traditional calendar schools.

Board members discussed whether the proposal offered options for families of students assigned to the base of a year round school that might prefer attending a traditional calendar school. Currently, the families have the option of seeking a transfer. Board members agreed to further discuss options in a committee of the whole meeting.

WALT SHERLIN RETIRES
After 30 years on the job, Associate Superintendent Walt Sherlin retired at the end of September. Sherlin served five years in the central office and was principal of three schools: Athens Drive High, Daniels Middle and Swift Creek Elementary. Friends and co-workers gathered at the NC Bar Association offices September 30 to offer him congratulations and thanks. Sherlin is currently serving as interim director of Wake Education Partnership.

APPOINTMENTS
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education named Martha Lewis Martin principal at Lockhart Elementary. Martin has served as principal of Vinson Bynum Elementary in Wilson County Schools since 1998. She served as assistant principal in Martin County Schools and was a teacher in Lenoir County Schools. Martin has twice been named principal of the year in Wilson county and her schools achieved School of Excellence status from 2001 to 2003. She holds a masters in education from East Carolina University.

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS AWARDS
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education recognized 17 students with the Spotlight on Students Award. The students included David Cevallos of Heritage Elementary, Sam Stone of Joyner Elementary, Chandler O'Connell of Brassfield Road Elementary, Kara Thio of Lufkin Road Middle, Lucas A. Burkey of Aversboro Elementary, Carlton Jeffreys of Conn Elementary, Tony Robert Jones of Dillard Drive Middle, Rahmelle Sequane Holeman of Briarcliff Elementary, Moshe Damkani of Daniels Middle, Spencer Dove of Olds Elementary, James Ayscue of Durant Road Elementary, Morgan Daeke of Creech Road Elementary, Meredith Jones of Durant Road Middle, Jana Lembke of West Millbrook Middle, Dion Anndre Ussery of Cary High, Dashawn Jaynes of Bugg Elementary and Timothy Evans of Washington Elementary.

BOARD APPROVES BIDS FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education approved bids for improvement projects at Daniels Middle School and Fox Road Elementary School. The board awarded a single prime contract to Polovick Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of $2,437,718 for the PLAN 2000 school renovation at Daniels. The board awarded a single prime contract to Baker Roofing Company in the amount of $447,870 as part of PLAN 2000 maintenance project at Fox Road Elementary.

BOARD APPROVES CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education approved construction documents for the renovation of the gym at Wendell Elementary. The documents were designed by MBAJ Architecture for the PLAN 2000 project.

BOARD NAMES DESIGNER
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education named Boney Architects for the design of the elementary school to be built at Brier Creek. The school will reuse the two-story prototype design used in the construction of Cedar Fork and Jeffreys Grove elementary schools.

BOARD NAMES DESIGN CONSULTANTS FOR FOUR PLAN 2004 PROJECTS
At its Wednesday (Oct. 8) meeting, the Board of Education approved design consultants for four PLAN 2004 projects. The board named:

WATCH SCHOOL CONNECTION TV
The School Connection is the Wake County Public School System's monthly television program connecting viewers to news, features and information about education in Wake County. This month's show features segments on the magnet program, growth management, the new elementary report card and more. For more information on The School Connection visit http://www.wcpss.net/schooltv

INSIDE THE NEWS

U.S. Department of Education reports "More Than $1 Million in Grants Awarded to Empower Families with Information about Their Rights under No Child Left Behind" and "SPEECH: Prepared Remarks for Secretary Rod Paige at the High School Leadership Summit"

The Beacon of LEARN NC reports on education

Time Warner News 14 reports School News

CNN reports on education

The National School Board Association reports the School Board News

CALENDAR

Oct 13

7 pm Growth management meeting at Leesville Road High

Oct 14

7 pm Growth management meeting at Southeast Raleigh High

Oct 15

12 pm Board of Education and County Commissioners luncheon

Oct 15

7 pm Growth management meeting at East Wake High

Oct 16

9 am Career Fair at Triangle Town Center

Oct 16

7 pm Growth management meeting at Green Hope High

Oct 21

2 p.m. Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting; 4 p.m. Board of Education meeting at 3600 Wake Forest Road

You can find more information on school events at http://www.wcpss.net/Calendars

School Connection is published electronically every other week for everyone interested in the Wake County Public School System. Is what you read in this edition helpful? What information would you like to see in future editions? Contact me by calling 850-1829 or e-mailing bposton@wcpss.net.

Bill Poston
Wake County Public School System
Communications Department
3600 Wake Forest Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611

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