School Connection
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December 8, 2006
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Fiscal Year 2006 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |
BOARD RECEIVES COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT
At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Board of Education received the Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006. The Board's
independent certified public accountants, Cherry, Bekaert & Holland,
LLP, have audited the general purpose financial statements and related combining
and individual fund and account group statements and schedules and have
rendered their unqualified opinion on them. The auditor's reports on the
schedule of federal and state financial assistance, internal control structure,
and compliance matters are included in the single audit section of the Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report. Fiscal Implications: As a result of appropriate
fiscal management, including realistic budgeting practices, effective cost
controls, and sound cash management, the Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report indicates a strong financial position at June 30, 2006.
BOARD HEARS FROM AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
WCPSS recently became one of the first school systems in the nation
to establish an independent Audit Committee, similar to the Sarbanes-Oxley
requirements for publicly held companies, with the purpose of having independent
financial and legal professionals review the annual external audit process,
audit findings, and WCPSS's management response.
The Audit Committee includes Gordon Brown (Chair), Gary Ashworth, Cam Frazier, Ben Goldstein, Gray Hutchison, Tom Oxholm, Phyllis Pearson (Vice Chair), Board of Education member Carol Parker and WCPSS Chief Business Officer David Neter.
At the Dec. 5 meeting of the Board of Education, Gordon Brown told board members the Audit Committee formed in November and got right to work. In their second session, they reviewed the detailed audit report for 2005-06 and questioned representatives of Cherry, Bekaert & Holland, who performed the audit, and WCPSS Administrative Services staff. Brown said the committee approved a resolution accepting the annual financial report and the audit findings. He noted the committee would work to help continue improved understanding of the school system's financial information.
School Connection TV |
Christy Hardee of School Connection TV reports on the school system’s newly formed audit committee, which held its first meeting in November to begin assisting the Board of Education with its review of finances. |
2007 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA PRESENTED TO THE BOARD
At its Dec. 5 meeting, Susan Harrison, WCPSS Senior Administrator, presented
the proposed 2007 Legislative Agenda for information to the Board. The proposed
2007 Legislative Agenda was recommended by the WCPSS Legislative Committee
comprised of a Board member, central office administrators, a principal,
a teacher, and a representative from the PTA.
Some of the agenda issues include: Limited English Proficiency Funding; Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund; Dropout Prevention-Graduation Rate; and Special Program Caps. Retain and Recruit Teachers; Retain and Recruit Support Personnel; Retain and Recruit School Administrators; and Retired Teachers and School Employees, Technology Resources, Testing Coordinator Sales Tax; State Funding of Public Schools; Construction Funding, and Taxing Authority.
Managing Growth
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The Board met on Dec. 12 as part of the Committee of the Whole meeting to further review the draft 2007 Legislative Agenda. At this time they proposed some changes for consideration. The Board will continue to review the document until it is presented on Jan. 9 for final Board approval. The 2007 Legislative Agenda will be available on the WCPSS website once the Board completes its approval in January.
The 2007 General Assembly convenes on Jan. 24.
The 2006 Legislative Agenda can be found at http://www.wcpss.net/Board/legislative-agenda.html
BOARD RECEIVES REPORT ON LITERACY TEACHERS
At its Dec. 5 meeting, WCPSS Director of Literacy Ruth Steidinger talked
with the Board of Education about the changing role of literacy teachers
in schools and the impact it is having.
Steidinger explained that literacy teachers were first used in WCPSS schools 10-11 years ago. The teachers provided reading instruction for students in kindergarten through second grade in pullout sessions with five students for about 45 minutes daily. Five years ago, WCPSS began examining this delivery of service. Steidinger says WCPSS found that students who needed reading instruction assistance needed intervention before age nine and every school had students in needed of targeted reading instruction.
In response, Steidinger says literacy teachers are now supporting classroom teachers, as coaches conducting professional development, assisting teachers in analyzing data and providing literacy expertise for schools. Teachers can then work with the literacy coach to study the data resulting from student assessments and determine ways to meet students' needs. Teachers can then build upon the coach's expertise.
If you want to retain quality teachers, you need to provide teachers support, Literacy coach coordinator Betty Sorenson told the board. Sorenson said literacy coaches can build the capacity of the teaching staff to improve reading and writing.
Steidinger said 43 elementary schools are using literacy coaches this year to support classroom teachers.
WCPSS MAGNET SCHOOLS HOLD INFORMATION SESSIONS AND VISITS
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BOARD APPROVES BELL SCHEDULE EXTENSION FOR ENLOE
At its Dec. 5 meeting, the Board of Education approved a new bell schedule
for Enloe High School. Enloe principal Beth Cochran told the board a faculty
committee began studying the school schedule in 2002 to identify ways to
provide personalization and flexibility to address the needs of students
who required either greater challenge or greater assistance. The committee
sought feedback from parents earlier this year on the school's eight-period
day.
As part of the school's 2006-07 School Improvement Plan, the school pursued an expanded schedule, which incorporates optional zero and ninth periods and allows for an expanded number of double periods throughout the day. Cochran says that periods zero and nine will be optional. Students will be able to take a maximum of eight classes plus lunch each day. The new schedule provides opportunities for individual study, group work, use of the wellness center, tutoring, and community service during the school day. The schedule change will allow for remediation, restart, acceleration, enrichment and possible early graduation.
Cochran said the faculty is continuing to discuss the scheduled and classes that will be offered to best meet the needs of all students and families. The new schedule will be implemented for 2007-08.
CALENDAR
| Dec. 18 | 4 p.m., Citizens Facility Advisory Committee meets at Daniels MS |
| Dec. 22-Jan. 1 | Winter Break |
You can find more information on school events at http://www.wcpss.net/Calendars
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December 8, 2006
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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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