School Connection

October 23, 2003

WCPSS HOLDS SECOND ROUND OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT MEETINGS
At the Tuesday (Oct. 21) meeting of the Board of Education, Chair Susan Parry thanked the more than 400 people who attended four community engagement meetings held last week by WCPSS Office of Growth management. Parry said those who attended heard about regional issues of growth and schools in their community and had a chance to meet in groups to discuss ways to fill new schools and reassign students. Parry encouraged more people to take advantage of the opportunity to provide feedback on the plans for opening seven new schools next school year.

The Office of Growth Management held a first series of three meetings in September and a second series of four meetings in October. Another series of four meetings are planned for November.

The next series of meetings will be held at Leesville Road High Nov. 5, Southeast Raleigh High Nov. 6, East Wake High Nov. 12 and Green Hope High Nov. 13. At these meetings there will be opportunities for feedback and discussion of how different schools in the area might be affected by the growth management plan for the upcoming year and for the future.

DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE ABOUT GOAL 2008
In the Tuesday (Oct. 21) meeting of the committee of the whole, Associate Superintendent Jo Baker updated the Board of Education on the latest efforts in writing Goal 2008.

In the latest draft, the new goal reads "WCPSS is committed to academic excellence. By 2008, 95 percent of students in grades 3 through 12 will be at or above grade level as measured by the State of North Carolina End-of-Grade or Course tests, and all students groups will demonstrate high growth.

In pursuit of this goal, we will:

Baker said the board members and staff who helped to refine this draft of the goal. They defined 'at or above grade level' as 'Level III or IV on the NC EOG or EOC.' '95 percent in grades 3-8' was defined as 'composite percentage of NC EOG reading and mathematics scores. The science scores will be added when implemented.' '95 percent in grades 9-12' means 'composite scores on the NC EOC tests. This includes all courses in which the state administers an EOC test.' Demonstrate high growth' means 'meet ABC high growth standards for disaggregated groups: total, Caucasian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native American, multi-racial, students with disabilities, students with no disability, English speaking students and non-English speaking students and students in levels I, ii, iii and iv.

Baker said the goal remains in draft. It will be presented to the Nov. 3 meeting of the Wake County commissioners.

CELEBRATION OF SUCCESS
A "Celebration Of Success" is planned for 4,30 - 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the RBC Center to honor the Wake County Public School System's 49 2003 Schools of Excellence State Superintendent of Education Mike Ward will take part in congratulating the schools for achieving expected or high growth and 90 percent of students achieving at or above grade level on the state End-of-Grade testing.

BOARD DISCUSSES ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES
In a Tuesday (Oct. 21) meeting of the committee of the whole, the Board of Education discussed a recommendation from the board's finance committee on alternative revenue sources. Finance committee chair Tom Oxholm said he would make a proposal to the board at next months meeting on the proposals.

Deputy Superintendent Del Burns said principals and school administrators who reviewed the alternative revenue sources recommended working to implement:

The group partially recommended the selling of advertising and corporate sponsorships on school property and school publications by recommending the proposal apply to system wide situations, not school specific sources of revenue.

Other finance committee recommendations included:

2003 MAGNET SCHOOLS FAIR
WCPSS Magnet Programs is hosting the annual Magnet Schools Fair on Saturday, November 1, 2003 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm 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 more information, please contact the Magnet Resource Center.

EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE AWARD
AT the Oct. 21 meeting of the Board of Education, nine WCPSS employees were recognized with Employee Excellence Awards for the month of October. They included:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHERS
At its Tuesday (Oct. 21) meeting, the Board of Education heard about Tech Fest 2003 and the Summer Teacher Technology Institute. Teachers participated in these professional development programs in June to advance their skills in integrating technology into their instructional program. The events drew representatives from 77 schools and provided 334 teachers the opportunity to take up to 56 hours of instruction. At Tech Fest teachers worked in small group settings. At the technology institute, school learning teams participated. WCPSS and Wake Education Partnership offered the events funded through grants from CISCO and EDS.

BOARD APPROVES BIDS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
At its Tuesday (Oct. 21) meeting, the Board of Education approved bids for the gym renovation at Rolesville Elementary. The board awarded a single prime contract to D.S. Simmons, Inc in the amount of $1,462,750.

BOARD APPROVES SCHEMATIC DESIGNS
At its Tuesday (Oct 21) meeting, the Board of Education approved schematic designs prepared by Schenkel and Shultz Architects, PA for the PLAN 2004 renovation and addition project at Douglas Elementary.

WAKE STUDENT ART PROJECTS WIN AWARDS AT STATE FAIR
Art students from Wake County Public School System schools earned top honors in the student art and photography competition at the 150th North Carolina State Fair.

Jennifer Petitte of Southeast Raleigh High won first place in the senior cash scholarships. Petite earned a $500 scholarship. Masa Tanaka of Broughton High won second place, earning a $300 scholarship.

In the schools competition, six of the top eight schools in the high school competition, three of the six top schools in the middle school competition and all eight top schools in the elementary competition were from Wake County. Each school submitted six student art projects for the judging.

In the high school competition, Athens Drive finished first and Broughton High was second. Apex High was fourth, Enloe High fifth, Cary High seventh, Millbrook High eighth and Southeast Raleigh High received an honorable mention.

In the middle school competition, Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle was second, Dillard Drive Middle third, and Apex Middle fourth.

In the elementary competition, Underwood Elementary was first, Timber Drive was second, and Ballentine was third. Farmington Woods finished fourth, Fuquay-Varina Elementary fifth, Fuller Elementary sixth, Hunter Elementary seventh, Stough Elementary eighth and West Lake Elementary received an honorable mention.

CARY BAND DAY
Saturday, November 1st will mark the 45th year for Cary Band Day. Presented by The Cary High School Band Day Committee, it is the longest running marching band competition in the southeastern United States and is unique as it is the only one with a parade. The parade steps off at 10 a.m., proceeding through downtown Cary and showcasing bands and "local favorites," such as Mr. Ted Rogers from CBS' Survivor: Thailand. The field show, featuring dozens of top-ranked bands from across several states, begins at 12 noon in the Cary High stadium. The award-winning and world-traveling Cary High School Marching Band will perform twice in exhibition. Details may be found at www.caryband.org.

INSIDE THE NEWS

U.S. Department of Education reports "Character Education Crucial to Education System, Paige Says", "Paige Cites Progress in Black Education But Notes Achievement Gap Has Widened Over Past Two Decades" and "Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige on Hispanic Education"

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. 23

5 p.m. Healthy Schools Task Force meets at the Webster Center

Nov. 1

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 2003 Magnet School Fair at Southeast Raleigh High

Nov. 1

10 a.m. Cary Band Day

Nov. 5

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

Nov. 5

7 pm Growth management meeting at Leesville Road High

Nov. 6

7 pm Growth management meeting at Southeast Raleigh High

Nov. 12

7 pm Growth management meeting at East Wake High

Nov. 13

7 pm Growth management meeting at Green Hope High

Nov. 19

11:30 am Board of Education and County Commissioners luncheon, followed immediately by the Board of Education committee to the whole meeting.

Nov. 19

4:30 p.m. Celebration of Success at RBC Center for WCPSS Schools of Excellence

Nov. 19

7 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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