School Connection

November 17, 2006

BOARD APPROVES PROCLAMATION FOR AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
The week of November 12-18, 2006, is American Education Week. The 2006 theme is "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility."

American Education Week

public schools are the backbone of our democracy

The Wake County Board of Education approved a proclamation at its November 7 meeting recognizing the importance of November 12-18 as American Education Week. The Wake proclamation was developed in support of the intent of the original NEA resolution and to recognize educators, support professionals and other staff who will lead the charge of ensuring that every child educated in the Wake County Public School System graduates on time, prepared for the future.

American Education Week was first observed December 4-10, 1921. Since then, American Education Week has been observed the first full week before Thanksgiving. In 1921, the NEA Representative Assembly called for one week each year to spotlight education. In its original resolution, NEA called for: "An education week…observed in all communities annually for the purpose of informing the public of the accomplishments and needs of the public schools and to secure the cooperation and support of the public in meeting those needs."

The Wake proclamation reads:

Whereas, public schools are the backbone of our democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation's precious values of freedom, civility and equality, and

Whereas, by equipping young Americans with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities, schools give them hope for, and access to, a productive future, and

Whereas, education employees, be they substitute educators, custodians, teachers, bus drivers, or librarians, work tirelessly to serve our children and community with care and professionalism, and

Whereas, schools are community linchpins, bringing together adults and children, educators and volunteers, business leaders and elected officials in a common enterprise.

Therefore, jointly with the Wake County Board of Education as Superintendent of the Wake Coun6ty public School System, I do hereby proclaim November 12-18 as the 85th annual observance of American Education Week.

The proclamation is signed by Superintendent Del Burns and Board Chair Patti Head.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS GROWTH MANAGEMENT
The Wake County Public School System today announced a series of community engagement meetings to inform and involve the public in the upcoming student assignment process.

Community Engagement Meetings

listening to suggestions for filling new schools

School enrollment for 2006-07 grew to 128,072, an increase of 7,500 students over the previous year. Projections indicate this is the first of six years with enrollment increases of 7,000 to 9,000 students a year.

"The Community Engagement Meetings will be an opportunity for a variety of school stakeholders, including members of school leadership teams, PTA leaders, neighborhood leaders and parents to learn more about the challenges of accommodating the projected growth in our schools," said Chuck Dulaney, WCPSS Assistant Superintendent for Growth and Planning. "At the meetings, people will be able to ask questions, raise concerns and suggest actions that might help maintain healthy school populations and avoid overcrowding schools."

The community engagement meetings will provide families the opportunity to hear the most current information used in making decisions on school construction and student assignment, as well as an opportunity to provide input into the development of new plans.

The school system will hold three community engagement meetings this month in various areas of the county. Following are the meeting dates and locations:

Nov. 20 Leesville Road High, 8409 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613
Nov. 27 Knightdale High, 100 Bryan Chalk Lane, Knightdale, NC 27545
Nov. 30 Middle Creek High, 123 Middle Creek Park Avenue, Apex, NC 27539

All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and last for approximately two hours.

A draft Growth Management Proposal will be available for review and public comment on the school district website beginning at 5 p.m., Friday December 8. Suggestions regarding the draft will be accepted via the website until 5 pm., Tuesday, January 2.

The WCPSS Growth and Planning Department will use this information to refine the draft and will present a staff recommendation to the Board of Education at the board's meeting on January 9. The Board of Education will then schedule public hearings and work sessions. The board is expected to vote on a Growth Management Plan at its February 6 meeting.

BOARD NAMES PRINCIPAL FOR EAST CARY MIDDLE
At its Nov. 7 meeting, the Board of Education named Dixie Frazier principal o f East Cary Middle School. East Cary will open as a year-round middle school for 2007-08 with a sixth grade class while it continues to serve as a ninth-grade center for Cary High. Then in 2008-09, East Cary will serve students in grades 6-8, as renovation is completed at Cary High and ninth-grade students return to the school's main campus.

Frazier has served as principal of Reedy Creek Elementary since it opened in 1999. Prior to that she was principal of Underwood Elementary. She also worked as an assistant principal at Wiley Elementary and teacher at Underwood Elementary and East Wake Middle.

BOARD VOTES AGAINST FUNDING FOR CONVERSION OF FORESTVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO MAGNET SCHOOL
At its Nov. 7 meeting, the Board of Education voted against providing a budget for the magnet conversion of Forestville Elementary School to a magnet school.

The budget would have included an increase in staff positions with the addition of a magnet coordinator, academic data manager, and a magnet model teaching position for an additional recurring 25 MOE, as well as an initial staff development cost for all staff the first year. WCPSS administrators said the cost for teaching positions each year totals $127,000. The total cost for 2007-2008 for training and materials is $54,000, and the recurring cost for 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 is $8,000.

BOARD HEARS REPORT ON FOREIGN STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM
At its Nov. 7 meeting, the Board of Education received an update on the foreign student exchange program. This school year, 16 WCPSS high schools are hosting 43 foreign exchange students from 24 different countries. The WCPSS high schools have welcomed and been greatly enriched by international students who are sponsored by approved foreign exchange organizations. WCPSS works with 13 different foreign exchange organizations including the International Student Exchange Programs, Rotary Club International and Youth for Understanding.

BOARD GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO REVISION OF POLICY 2570
At its Nov. 7 meeting, the Board of Education gave final approval to revisions of Policy 2570 on the Naming of Schools. Language was added to provide clarification regarding the criteria used in naming of schools.

BOARD GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO NEW POLICY 5536
At its Nov. 7 meeting, the Board of Education gave final approval to revisions of Policy 5536 on Foreign Language Proficiency. The board's new policy is in response to the North Carolina State Board of Education's approval in 2002 of a policy requiring Local Education Agencies to develop a policy, which specifies the process students shall follow to demonstrate foreign language proficiency. The new Wake County policy establishes criteria for how students can demonstrate how they have fulfilled the state's requirement to successfully acquire two units of the same foreign language or its equivalent.

CALENDAR

Nov. 17 1:30 p.m., Audit Committee Meeting, Board Conference Room
Nov. 20 7 p.m., Community Engagement Meeting - regarding upcoming student assignment plan - at Leesville Road High School
Nov. 21 2 p.m., Board of Education Meeting, Board Room
Nov. 23-25 Thanksgiving Holiday

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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