School Connection
January 30, 2004Goal 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.
WINTER WEATHER ICES ROADS AND CLOSES SCHOOLS
A winter storm dumped snow and ice on the Triangle and much
of central North Carolina leading Gov. Easley to declare a
state of emergency and urge motorists to stay off the roads
until conditions improved. The poor road conditions led WCPSS
to close school Monday through Thursday (Jan. 26-29), and
delay the opening of school by one hour Friday (Jan. 30).
The administration will review make up days with board members
at their next meeting. The traditional calendar inclement
weather days are Friday, Feb. 13, Monday, Feb. 16, Monday,
March 15 and Tuesday, March 16.
Make-up days for year-round schools are Saturday, Jan. 31, Saturday, Feb. 7, Saturday, March 6, and Saturday March 27. Make up days for modified calendar schools are Monday, Feb. 16, Monday, March 8, Thursday, April 8 and Friday, May 28.
STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PROPOSAL
Hundreds of parents have called the WCPSS Customer Service
Center and Growth Management Department with questions about
the 2004-2005 student assignment proposal made public Jan.
21. Based on the conversations they've been having, Jeff Nash
of the WCPSS Customer Service Center said parents are more
informed about the proposal and the process. Nash said the
11 community engagement meetings in the fall and a newsletter
prepared for parents this month have helped them better understand
the process for filling new schools.
The WCPSS Growth Management Department has received more than 500 suggestions by -mail, letter and phone. Growth Management has extended the deadline to Monday, Feb. 9 for parents to provide suggestions. They can leave comments on the Growth Management hotline at 501-7998, e-mail information to studentassignment@wcpss.net or write Growth management, Wake County Public School System, 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609.
The input will be used in refining the proposal for presentation to the Board of Education in March. The board will hold public hearings and work sessions on the proposal before they vote on a plan in late March/early April.
In the current proposal, 76 percent of students reassigned will move to fill seven new schools - alleviating crowding. 77 percent of students reassigned will actually move to a school closer to home.
BOARD COMMITTEE CONTINUES BELL SCHEDULE DISCUSSION
At its Wednesday (Jan. 21) meeting the Board of Education
Program Committee continued an ongoing look at the bell schedule,
the start and end times for the school day.
After discussions of transportation, academic and parent concerns, the committee agreed to meet Feb 18 and focus on several issues. They want to develop a consensus on the driving issue to help determine start times, such as student safety, academics, or costs. They expect to receive updates from the board advisory councils and WCPSS administrators. The Transportation Department will talk about the costs of boosting the efficiency of operations, such as the number of buses and drivers it would take to more efficiently provide consistent, on-time delivery of third tier students home in the afternoon. And WCPSS Research staff will seek to compare the academic performance of WCPSS students whose high schools open at 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m.
The Board of Education annually adopts a bell schedule in late April or early May for the next school year. WCPSS Transportation adjusts the schedule to fit in new schools and meet school needs.
BOARD APPROVES JOINT USE AGREEMENT
At its Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting, the Board of Education gave
final approval to a joint use agreement with Knightdale and
Wake County on a site in Knightdale where two schools will
open next year.
The school system purchased the 169-acre property at Horton, Forestville and Old Knight roads in Knightdale with contributions from the county and Knightdale. The three developed a master plan for the property for Knightdale High School, Forestville Road Elementary and a community park. In finalizing the joint use agreement, the board deeded ownership of 59 acres of the property to Knightdale.
The town agreed to pay design and construction costs for two lighted little league fields, concession/restroom building, tot lot playground, and parking at the high school baseball field area; and, to upgrade the Forestville Road Elementary multi-purpose room to a full-size gym and recreation center with additional parking. The recreation center will be on school system property but it will be principally used for Knightdale's purposes during school and non-school hours. Wake County will assist with maintenance of the high school track to allow for community use. The initial term of this agreement is for 50 years.
RAISING ACHIEVEMENT AND CLOSING GAPS TASK FORCE REPORT
At the Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting of the Board of Education,
Wake County PTA Council leaders and school administrators
presented the Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps Task Force
Report. Assistant Superintendent Cindi Jolly and PTA Council
leaders Liza Weidle and Mia Greene described efforts begun
last spring to boost student achievement. The task force developed
95 action steps to address key issues they grouped under four
frameworks: academic equity and access, parent/community involvement,
teaching diverse populations, and literacy and mathematics.
The task force offered three recommendations 1) address one or more key issues within the school improvement planning process; 2) create a permanent entity to equip parents and community members with specific knowledge and skills to better collaborate with schools to address key issues; and 3) create an oversight committee representative of parent leadership, community stakeholders and WCPSS staff to chart district progress related to work session issues, objectives and action steps.
Board members thanked the task force for their quick action in addressing issues that fit well with Goal 2008. Superintendent McNeal congratulated the task force for their work helping to build strong connections between homes and schools in a comprehensive plan to help children.
The full report is on the Wake County PTA Council website at http://www.wakeptacouncil.org/Report.doc
APPOINTMENTS
At its Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting, the Board of Education named
principals for two schools opening next year. The board named
Jan Hargrove principal of Turner Creek Elementary and Jane
Ann Hughes principal of Highcroft Elementary.
-Hargrove has served as principal of Olive Chapel Elementary
since 1997. Before that she served as principal of Combs Elementary
for five years and assistant principal of Apex High for two
years.
-Hughes has served as principal of Briarcliff Elementary since
1997. Before that, she was principal of Creech Road Elementary
for five years. She also worked as a principal and assistant
principal at elementary schools in Arizona.
EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
At its Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting, the Board of Education recognized
10 employees with the Employee Excellence awards. Employees
honored included Cheryl Brown, NCWise Data Manager, Apex High;
Marvin Duval, Teacher Assistant, Cary Elementary; Sandi Gorham,
Teacher, Millbrook Elementary; Barbara Gray, Head Custodian,
Salem Elementary; Crystal Kozel, Teacher, Knightdale Elementary;
Sharon Loeffler, Lead Secretary, Rand Road Elementary; Elton
McPherson, Head Custodian, Aversboro Elementary; Brenda "Kaye"
Myhrum, Teacher, Oak Grove Elementary; Jeremy Thomas, Instructional
Support Technician, Technology Services; and Laverne Thornton,
Teacher, Leesville Road Middle.
BOARD APPROVES HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATIONS
At its Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting, the Board of Education approved
design documents for additions and renovations at Enloe High
and East Wake High.
-The board approved the schematic design documents prepared
by Brown Jurkowski Architectural Collaborative for the construction
of Enloe High addition and renovations that will be funded
through PLAN 2000 and PLAN 2004.
-The board approved the schematic design documents prepared
by Pearce Brinkley Cease + Lee PA for the construction of
East Wake High addition and renovations that will be funded
through PLAN 2004.
BOARD RECOGNIZES TEACHERS AND HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
At its Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting, the Board of Education thanked
The Home Builders Association of Raleigh and Wake County and
teachers whose students took part in the association's "If
I could Build a Dream Home" contest. Scott Gottfried
and Judy Richardson of the Home Builders Association presented
checks for $500 to Peggy Sligh of Aversboro Elementary, Phyllis
Leach of Baileywick Elementary, Scott Chapman of Baucom Elementary,
Martha Bassett of Combs Elementary, Valerie Everett and Mary
Louise Talley of Olive Chapel Elementary, and Terry McManus
and Helen Miles of Wakefield Elementary. The awards will be
used for supplemental materials for the visual arts program
in each school.
BOARD RECOGNIZES TODD FULLER MATH COMPETITION WINNERS
At its Tuesday (Jan. 20) meeting, the Board of Education recognized
the winners of the 2003-2004 Todd Fuller Math Competition
at N.C State University. Jeff Scroggs of the NC State math
department commended students who participated in the competition
including first-place Enloe High and second-place Leesville
Road High. Individual student winners were recognized. Jason
Bosko of Enloe High finished first, Qinxain (Chelsea) He of
Enloe High finished second, Leigh Phillips of Enloe High was
third and Rhyn Chung of Leesville Road High was fourth.
CALENDAR
|
Feb. 2 |
7 p.m. Southeast Raleigh High magnet school visit |
|
Feb 3 |
Magnet school information session at the Magnet Resource Center, 1600 E. Millbrook Road. Call 501-7900 |
|
Feb. 3 |
Magnet middle school visits |
|
Feb. 3 |
2 p.m. Board of Education Committee of the whole meeting-Board Conference Room; 4 p.m. Board meeting |
|
Feb. 3 |
7 p.m. Enloe High magnet school visit |
|
Feb 4 |
Magnet elementary school visits |
|
Feb. 4 |
7 p.m. Broughton High magnet school visit |
|
Feb. 5 |
9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Year-round elementary school open house* |
|
Feb. 5 |
7 p.m. Year round middle school open house* |
|
Feb. 5 |
7 p.m. Garner High magnet school visit |
|
Feb. 7-18 |
Magnet application acceptance period |
|
Feb. 10 |
2 p.m. Board of Education Community Relations Committee-Board Conference Room |
|
Feb. 10 |
10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Elementary magnet school open house* |
|
Feb. 11 |
9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Middle magnet school open house* |
*These events were re-scheduled to these dates due to this week's inclement weather.
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
Tell a friend about the School Connection and encourage them
to sign up at
http://www.wcpss.net/online_newsletters/the_school_connection