School Connection

November 21, 2002

2003 Goal: By 2003, 95 percent of students tested will be at or above grade level as measured by NC End-of-Grade testing at grades 3 and 8.

BOARD APPROVES THREE YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS FOR WEST WAKE
At its Monday (Nov. 18) meeting, the Board of Education approved operating three additional schools in the western part of the county on the year-round calendar. The board agreed to name the new Turner Creek Elementary School to open in 2004 as a year-round school. They agreed to name a second elementary and a middle school in western Wake on the year-round calendar. They discussed making that decision as early as their Dec. 3 meeting, after receiving additional information from a November facilities committee meeting.

The school system has continued to grow by 3,000 students annually, but county planners project a change in the mix of those students with more high school aged students and fewer elementary students. The board agreed that the new Carpenter Elementary School would open as a ninth-grade center for Green Hope High School, and endorsed the concept of establishing a ninth-grade center for Cary High. School administrators have considered using East Cary Middle School or Reedy Creek Middle School as Cary High's ninth-grade center. East Cary Middle is scheduled for major renovations, and its students are to move to the Reedy Creek Middle campus while that work is done.

School administrators plan to hold a meeting 7 p.m., Dec. 10 at East Cary Middle to discuss the proposal.

TRIANGLE URBAN LEAGUE ENDORSES WCPSS DIVERSITY POLICIES
Triangle Urban League President Keith Sutton told the Wake County Board of Education at its Monday (Nov. 18) meeting that his organization vigorously supports the Wake County Public School System's policies providing school diversity. And Sutton said the Urban League would keep a watchful eye on school board actions affecting school diversity. He said the current policies provide the opportunity for all children to receive a quality education.

FINANCE REPORT: SCHOOL SYSTEM FINANCES ARE WELL MANAGED
There were high marks for the financial management team of the Wake County Public School System in the latest Comprehensive Annual Financial Report presented to the Board of Education at its Monday (Nov. 18) meeting.

The Greensboro accounting firm of McGradey and Pullen are the school system's independent auditors. Their report on the schedule of federal and state financial assistance, internal control structure, and compliance matters indicates that the schedule of expenditures of federal and state funds is presented fairly and that no material weaknesses exist in the school system's internal control structure or its operation.

"In an audit, the auditors are required to report anything they find," said Mark Winters, WCPSS Finance Officer. "For the second year in a row, they have reported no findings. That's rare. It shows that we have good policies in place and that our employees are working very hard to follow our rules and properly report our finances."

SUPERINTENDENT MCNEAL CHALLENGES PRINCIPALS TO PUSH FOR THE GOAL
Speaking to Wake County Public School System principals Wednesday (Nov. 20), Superintendent Bill McNeal called on the school leaders to do their best in the final months as the Goal 2003 deadline nears. "As we enter this last leg, we're going to sprint to the finish," McNeal said. "When you look at the distance we've traveled, it tells you some things are going extremely well."

In 1998, the Wake County Board of Education set a goal that by 2003, 95 percent of students tested will be at or above grade level as measured by N.C. End-of-Grade testing at grades 3 and 8. McNeal noted that the composite for the EOG increased to 89.7 for 2002 compared with 74 for 1993, and that the End-of-Course composite for high school students increased to 80 percent in 2002 from 70 percent in 1996.

"We're working as hard as we can. When the dust settles, I will tell you, 'well done.'" McNeal said. "We do our jobs well, but we are not finished."

McNeal told the principals that having nearly 90 percent of elementary students at or above grade level still means 10,000 elementary students need to reach grade level.

"Our people have done a superior job. We have moved all students," McNeal said. "We educate all children. We do that exceptionally well."

WAKE COUNTY STUDENTS MEET CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT GOAL
Career and Technical Education teachers in the Wake County Public School System knew that they had come a long way toward meeting the department's ambitious academic achievement goal at their August 7 back-to-school meeting. It turned out that the teachers had performed even better than they knew.

A record 60.7 percent of students earned high marks in their Career and Technical Education classes in the 2001-2002 school year, breaking the department's goal of 59.4 percent passing by 2003. Wake County students outscored their peers in North Carolina's other large school districts: Durham, Forsyth, Guilford and Mecklenburg counties.

Superintendent Bill McNeal praised WCPSS Career and Technical Education teachers for their accomplishment. "These teachers are really on the cutting edge of innovation. Their use of data, their use of pacing guides for course content and their efforts to connect their curriculum to the world of business and industry are all examples that we want to see implemented in all of our classrooms."

BOARD APPROVES FUNDS FOR SCHOOL RENOVATIONS
At its Monday (Nov. 18) meeting, the Board of Education approved a resolution providing PLAN 2000 funds for renovation of East Cary Middle School and Ligon Middle School. A total of $29.4 million was provided for improvements at the two schools and for broad areas such as curriculum and instruction, deferred maintenance, environmental compliance, modernization, project management, and technology.

BOARD APPROVES CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
At its Monday (Nov. 18) meeting, the Board of Education approved construction documents for Carpenter Elementary School. Small Kane Architects, PA designed Carpenter Elementary.

UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY HOLDS INTERNATIONAL DAY
Underwood Elementary School will celebrate International Day on Friday, Nov. 22, from 8:45 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. A cultural program is planned for the morning session.

CENTENNIAL CAMPUS MIDDLE EDUCATORS PRESENT AT NATIONAL MEETING
Centennial Campus Middle School Principal Ken Branch, the school's Outreach Coordinator Cindy Privette, and N.C. State University Director of Teacher Education Debbie Andrews made a presentation at the National Middle School Conference on "University Connections: Creating a Meaningful Partnership." The Wake educators shared information on the background and mission of their school and its partnership with N.C. State University. Andrews provided an example of collaboration and partnership between the school and university.

WORLD CHAMPION JUMP ROPER VISITS BAILEYWICK
Baileywick Elementary School students were awed by seven-time World Champion Jump Roper Peter Nestler at a motivational assembly Nov. 6. RopeMaster Nestler elicited shrills of delight and amazement as he demonstrated his astounding jump roping techniques. His performance included acrobatic free style maneuvers, jump roping with a unicycle, and a futuristic glow-in-the-dark routine. He also included students in his performance. Nestler told students that every champion is made through the power of good decision-making and that only you can decide to be a champion. He emphasized that to make good decisions, we have to get smart ( know the rules), do what you know (once you know the rules, follow them), and stay a winner (keep doing it).

INSIDE THE NEWS

U.S. Department of Education reports "Bush Administration to Celebrate International Education Week"; and "Report on Scientifically Based Research Supported by U.S. Department of Education"

NC Department of Public Instruction reports "North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael E. Ward Elected President of the Council of Chief State School"

Education Week reports "Education Scholars Finding New 'Value' In Student Test Data"; "Summit Connects Parents
And Teacher Ed"; and "No Racial Gap Seen In Students' School Outlook"

The National Association of Secondary School Principals reports "Getting Ahead of No Child Left Behind"

The Beacon of LEARN NC reports on education

CNN reports on education

The National School Board Association reports the School Board News

CALENDAR

Nov. 27-29

Thanksgiving break for students

Dec. 3 3 p.m.

Board Meeting, Board Room

Dec. 4 8 a.m.

Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, Board Conference Room

Dec. 7 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WCPSS Fall Teacher Job Fair at Wakefield High School

Dec. 10

2 p.m. Community Relations Committee Meeting; 3:30 p.m., Finance Committee Meeting

Dec. 17

2 p.m., Board Committee of the Whole; 4 p.m., Board Meeting, Board Room

Dec. 18

12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m., Joint Luncheon, Wake County Office Building, 3360 Fayetteville Street Mall; 2 p.m., Facilities Committee Meeting

Dec. 23- Jan. 1

Winter break for students

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 Schools. 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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