SCHOOL CONNECTION
April 16, 2003
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.
BELL SCHEDULE RECOMMENDATIONS
At its Tuesday (April 15) meeting, Transportation Director
Vern Hatley talked with the Board of Education about modifications
to the 2003-2004 bell schedule. Hatley proposed moving to
a true three-tier schedule that will provide bus drivers adequate
time to deliver students. He told the board it takes 45 minutes
to transport students between home and school. He recommended
changes for 27 elementary schools, seven middle schools and
14 high schools.
New school openings and school relocations require a change in some opening and closing times. Additional local dollars would be required to support 44 buses not currently in the fleet if the current bell schedule is maintained.
A year ago, Hatley talked with the board about needed changes to the bell schedule. Since then, he has talked with school principals and Board Advisory Councils. He told the board that the groups were four to one against later start times for high schools and against rotating school start times every few years. He said all groups supported the three-tier system for its efficiency. Most did not want their schools on the third tier.
The proposed bell schedule moves start times five minutes earlier to 7:25 for ten high schools. It moves seven elementary schools to different tiers. Adams and Holly Springs would start at 8:30 instead of 7:45. Start times for Dillard Drive, Kingswood, Lincoln Heights, Underwood and Wakefield will move to 9:15. Kingswood moves for a year to swing space at Cedar Forks while the Kingswood campus is renovated. Underwood returns to their newly renovated campus after spending time at the old Cardinal Gibbons campus. The other five schools will help reduce traffic congestion in areas with other schools.
 The Board of Education congratulated principals of WCPSS award winning magnet schools including Fran Venezia of Farmington Woods, Muriel Summers of Combs, Allynna Stone of Washington, Vicki Perry of Douglas (L to R, front) Beth Cochrane of Ligon and David Dennis of Daniels. |
WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY NAMED NATION'S BEST MAGNET SCHOOL
Washington Elementary has been named the best magnet school
in the nation by Magnet Schools of America, the national association
of magnet school educators.
Washington Elementary Principal Allynna Stone was presented the award, known as the Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award, April 8 at the International Magnet School of America Conference held in Long Beach, California. Along with the award, the school received a $5,000 honorarium.
The school serves nearly 600 students in kindergarten to fifth grade. Stone has served as the school's principal since 1992.
"I'm happy the Magnet Schools of America validated what students, parents and teachers at Washington Elementary already knew: they have the best school in the nation," said Wake Superintendent Bill McNeal. "Washington is a school where the children know they have caring teachers, supportive parents and administrators who have high expectations for the students' success. It's the expectation we share for all our schools."
BOARD RECOGNIZES MAGNET SCHOOLS
At its Tuesday (April 15) meeting, WCPSS Magnet School Director
Caroline Massengill recognized principals of nationally award
winning magnet schools before the Board of Education. Massengill
said six Wake magnet schools were recognized by the Magnet
Schools of America at its annual conference last week. Of
the 18 schools from across the nation the association recognized
as Magnet Schools of Excellence, WCPSS had five including
Washington Elementary, Combs Elementary, Farmington Woods
Elementary, Daniels Middle and Ligon Middle. Of the eleven
schools recognized as Magnet Schools of Distinction, WCPSS
had one, Douglas Elementary. Board members applauded the schools
for their success and the strength of the magnet school program
in Wake County.
HUNTER ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY
Hunter Elementary is celebrating its 75th anniversary with
a series of events this year. The school recently had a special
visitor, Cynthia Smith of Atlanta. Smith toured the school,
which is named after her great-great-aunt Lucille Hunter who
taught in Raleigh's segregated African-American schools for
40 years.
 Shannon Stancil was presented award by Robert Ford of Prudential as a top volunteer in the state. |
GARNER SENIOR HIGH STUDENT HONORED FOR VOLUNTEERING
At its Tuesday (April 15) meeting, the Board of Education
recognized Garner Senior High junior Shannon Stancil who earned
the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for her volunteer
work. Stancil was honored as one of North Carolina's top two
youth volunteers for 2003. She earned $1,000, an engraved
silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C., in May where
she will compete for national honors. Stancil created "Operation
Jean Teens," a community-wide program that solicits donations
of new and gently used clothing and sports equipment for adolescent
patients at a local mental hospital. She explained the project
to youth groups, recruited volunteers and sought help from
businesses.
BOARD OF EDUCATION HONORS HIGH SCHOOL VALEDICTORIANS
Wake high school valedictorians were honored by the Board
of Education, Superintendent Bill McNeal and school administrators
with a luncheon at the NC State Faculty Club April 15. The
valedictorians include Anita Unnithan of Apex High, Jessica
Oliver of Athens Drive High, Zachary Scott Clayton of Broughton
High, Peter Kim of Cary High, Kristina Toups of East Wake
High, Edward J. Su of Enloe High, Andrew Loeffler of Fuquay-Varina
High, Stephanie Nelson and Allison R Finger of Garner High,
Sapana Vora of Green Hope High, Kelsey Elizabeth Lam of Leesville
High, Matthew Emery and Samantha Close of Millbrook High,
Brian Roberts of Sanderson High, Connie Wang of Southeast
High, Anna Marie Mitchell of Wake-Forest-Rolesville High and
Patrick Gerald Mauro, II of Wakefield High.
 The Board of Education congratulated math competition winners including Aaron Shojinaga, Larua Malone, Matt Lux and Kelse Chen. |
BOARD RECOGNIZES TODD FULLER MATHEMATICS COMPETITION WINNERS
At its Tuesday (April 15) board meeting, the Board of Education
recognized winners of the 2002 Todd Fuller Math Competition
Award, a NC State University sponsored math competition for
Wake County students. In the team competition, Leesville Road
High was first. Enloe High was second and Athens Drive High
third. Schools enter teams of up to six students who have
two hours to complete multiple choice and short answer math
questions. The competition was begun in 1983 to reward excellence
in math. NBA basketball player Todd Fuller, a NC State ballplayer
and math graduate, began sponsoring the event in 2002. Cash
awards are made to the top three finalists. Matt Lux of Leesville
Road High earned first place. Michael Hsu of Enloe High was
second and Laura Malone of Cary High and Aaron Shojinaga of
Leesville Road High tied for third. Kelse Chen of Leesville
Road High was fourth.
GARNER SENIOR HIGH HOSTS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Garner Senior High hosted the Tuesday (April 15) meeting of
the Board of Education. The student chorus provided the national
anthem and other music. Several times a year, the board meets
at schools outside Raleigh to provide the opportunity for
the public to attend board meetings. Garner Mayor Sam Bridges
attended the meeting.
BOARD APPROVES BIDS FOR SCHOOL RENOVATIONS
At its Tuesday (April 15) meeting, the Board of Education
awarded bids for PLAN 2000 renovation projects at four schools.
The board awarded:
· a single-prime contract to J.W. Grand, Inc. in the
amount of $11,718,200 for additions and renovations at Apex
Middle.
· a single-prime contract to Owens Roofing Inc. in
the amount of $479,624 for a roof replacement project at Daniels
Middle.
· a single-prime contract to Jacobsen Construction,
Inc. in the amount of $491,458 for additions and renovations
at Powell Elementary.
· a single-prime contract to Bordeaux Construction
Co. Inc., in the amount of $7,129,300 for additions and renovations
at Ligon Middle.
WAKE EDUCATION SUMMIT SET FOR MAY 1
With just weeks to go before the 2003 Wake Education Summit,
the event is shaping up to be well attended by business, community
and school groups. To date, 30 businesses and 70 community
organizations will host the event, and 75 schools will be
sending delegations. The sixth annual Summit will be held
on May 1 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the McKimmon Center. Under
the theme "Many Voices, Smart Choices: Charting the Future
of the Public's Schools," the Summit is a community effort
to discuss the shaping of new goals beyond 2003 and to identify
priorities for the future of public education in Wake County.
You can find more information at http://www.WakeEducationSummit.org
INSIDE THE NEWS
U.S. Department of Education reports "New International Study Compares Fourth-Grade Reading Literacy in U.S. and Thirty-Four Other Countries"; "Education Department, State Educational Technology Directors Unveil No Child Left Behind Toolkit"; and "President's Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for Hispanic Americans Releases Final Report"
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports "State Board of Education Highlights
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
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April 17, 18 |
Good Friday, all school offices closed |
|
April 22 |
Earth Day |
|
April 23 |
Secretaries Day |
|
April 23 |
8:30 a.m., Principals meeting at Webster Center |
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April 23-24 |
Board of Education retreat to discuss student assignment |
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April 24 |
5 p.m., Healthy Schools Task Force meeting at Webster Center |
|
May 1 |
Wake Education Summit at McKimmon Center |
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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