School Connection

Nov. 10, 2003

Goal 2008: 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 student groups will demonstrate high growth.


BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES GOAL 2008
After an 18-month community effort, the Wake County Board of Education approved a challenging new academic goal at its meeting yesterday (Nov. 5).

Goal 2008 states, "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 student groups will demonstrate high growth."

"In pursuit of this goal, we will:
· Increase challenging educational opportunities for all students.
· Increase student participation and success in advanced classes at the high school level.
· Increase the percent of 9th grade students graduating from high school within four years.
· Recruit, develop, support and retain a highly qualified workforce to ensure student success.
· Identify and seek resources necessary to support student success.
· Build a consensus of support through community collaboration."

"This sends a message to our communities and to our schools," said Superintendent Bill McNeal. "With this goal, we will see teachers rallying around and supporting our young people. This is where we need to be, making it happen for every student."

"This will improve the lives of more children," said board member Kathryn Watson Quigg. "I'm proud we are doing this."

"This ups the ante in an admirable way," said board member Bill Fletcher. "I'm very excited to see Wake County step out in faith to say we can do this."

The new goal is ambitious and challenging, seeking to boost student achievement in elementary, middle and high schools. The previous five-year goal focused on elementary and middle schools. The new goal seeks to have 95 percent of students at grade level and achieving high growth.

BOARD CONGRATULATES SUPERINTENDENT MCNEAL
At its Wednesday (Nov. 5) meeting, the Board of Education congratulated Superintendent Bill McNeal for being named the North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. Board members recognized McNeal with a bouquet of balloons and he was greeted with applause from the board and persons attending the meeting.

Harvey Schmitt, President of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, and Charlotte Turpin, President of the Wake chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators, praised Superintendent McNeal for his leadership of the school system. Schmitt offered the chamber's help as McNeal now competes for National Superintendent of the Year.

HUNDREDS ATTEND GROWTH MANAGEMENT MEETINGS
Hundreds of parents and concerned citizens attended the community engagement meetings Nov. 5 at Leesville Road High and Nov. 6 at Southeast Raleigh High to discuss the WCPSS Growth Management Department's preparations for opening seven new schools next year. This is the third series of meetings held to talk with parents and concerned citizens about plans for opening new schools.

Meetings will be held Nov. 12 at East Wake High and Nov. 13 at Green Hope High. In this third phase of meetings, participants will hear a 30-minute description of issues related to creating student assignment plans. The remaining time will be devoted to small group discussions on growth management recommendations for area schools. Different meetings will focus on different schools. More details are available at http://www.wcpss.net/news/2003_nov_growth_meetings/index.html

BOARD GETS FIRST VIEW OF PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDARS
In the Wednesday (Nov. 5) committee of the whole meeting, the Board of Education previewed proposals from the school calendar committee. A committee of community representatives, teachers and school administrators recommended the calendar seeking to balance state rules, school system policies and the needs of schools and the community.

In the proposed 2004-2005 traditional calendar, school begins August 10 and ends May 25. Winter holidays are from Dec. 23 through Jan. 4. Spring break is March 28 through April 1.

In the proposed 2005-2006 traditional calendar, school begins August 10 and ends May 25. Winter holidays are from Dec. 22 through Jan. 2. Spring break is April 10-14.

The board will consider the proposed calendars for approval at their Nov. 19 meeting.

BOARD APPROVES INVESTIGATION OF ALTERNATIVE REVENUES
After some discussion, the Board of Education approved Wednesday (Nov. 5) a Board Finance Committee recommendation to investigate a series of alternative revenue suggestions. Finance chair Tom Oxholm asked the board to consider eight issues the committee had discussed that could be explored by school system staff. Oxholm asked that staff report back to the board in 90 days if any of the committee proposals were feasible.

The recommendations included opportunities for system-wide athletic clothing and equipment contracts that would permit the vendor exclusive rights to offer incentives through WCPSS, rebates from retailers as a source of additional income, creating a method of responding to naming rights for buildings, classrooms or fields, corporate sponsorships on school property or advertising in system wide school publications, leases with telecom companies for antennae grids, consolidation of purchasing to leverage purchasing power in negotiation with vendors, providing access to WCPSS professional expertise, systems knowledge and professional development, and a development officer to coordinate these activities and seek additional funds for WCPSS.

WAKE COUNTY SCHOOL TO CAREER
WCPSS Career-Technical Education Director David Rockefeller led off a discussion on the connections between Wake County businesses and schools at the Wednesday (Nov. 5) meeting of the Board of Education. There are 34 business alliances involving more than 350 area businesses. The alliances provide career and business expertise to Wake County schools. They offer a wide variety of opportunities including internships, job shadowing, career expos, classroom speakers, tutoring and staff development. In 2002-2003, alliances trained 815 teachers, spoke to 3,101 classes, provided 5,368 job shadowing opportunities, and talked with 28,950 students in career fairs. The Business Education Leadership Council supports the school-based alliances. The school system provides teachers who work as career development coordinators at high schools and curriculum integration coordinators at middle schools.

Career Pathway Employer Teams work with the school system to integrate academics with work, support school improvement efforts, develop and improve career technical education curriculum and collaborate with employers, schools and colleges.

SPOTLIGHT ON STUDENTS AWARDS
At its Wednesday (Nov. 5) meeting, the Board of Education recognized 15 students with Spotlight on Students awards. The honored students included Jessica Williams of Knightdale Elementary, Ashley McLean of Joyner Elementary, William A. Privette, III of Zebulon Middle, Tiffany Stick of Holly Springs Elementary, Rosibel Miguel of Wiley Elementary, Kelly Howell of Athens Drive High, Vania Moreno of West Lake Elementary, Matt Atkins of East Wake High, Khadijah Brown of Millbrook Elementary, Anna Ellison of Lynn Road Elementary, Demonta McEachin of West Lake Middle, Larry Ruffin, Jr. of Wildwood Forest Elementary, Karin Eriksson of Farmington Woods Elementary, Dally Cisneros of Lincoln Heights Elementary and Darian Robert of Reedy Creek Elementary.

BOARD APPROVES DESIGN AGREEMENTS
At its Wednesday (Nov. 5) meeting, the Board of Education approved selection of two designers for two projects. The board named Cline Design Associates, PA to design the PLAN 2004 renovations at Daniels Middle School. The board named Small Kane Architects, PA to design the "E11" PLAN 2004 elementary school. The architect will re-use the Cedar Fork Elementary prototype for this school shortening design time, reducing cost and helping to expedite the project.

INSIDE THE NEWS

U.S. Department of Education reports "Internet Access Soars in Schools, But "Digital Divide" Still Exists at Home for Minority and Poor Students"

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

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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