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The School Connection

Goal 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.

April 29, 2005


2005 SUMMIT FOCUSES ON TEACHERS
Teachers were the center of discussion for more than 400 community, business and parent leaders who met in the 2005 Wake Education Summit today at NC State's McKimmon Center. The summit focused on recommendations to support teacher recruitment and retention as a strategy for achieving Goal 2008. Jay Silver of the Wake Task Force on Teaching Excellence gave the first presentation of their findings at the summit. The task force followed up the 2001 All in All report on the needs of teachers. Silver described the seven 2005 recommendations calling for more planning time, improved working conditions, competitive salaries, supportive principals, supportive community members and opportunities for career enhancement. Superintendent Bill McNeal presented a video where several teachers and administrators described the challenges facing teachers in the classroom and the challenges facing the school system in meeting teachers' needs. Feedback from the summit will be presented to the Board of Education and school administration. The summit was co-chaired by WakeMed president Bill Atkinson and Robin Costello of the NC Child Advocacy Institute.

BOARD MEMBERS DISCUSS YEAR-ROUND AND MAGNET PROGRAMS
In a two-day retreat April 26 and 27, Board of Education members discussed some of the tough issues facing the school system - meeting the demand for classroom space and keeping all schools healthy.

Recent dramatic enrollment growth led the board to create three temporary modular schools that will open next year and to add mobile and modular classrooms at schools across the system. In preparing for 2006-07, the board has asked school administrators to study ways to convert schools in a specific area to the year-round calendar. Students at year-round schools are placed on four tracks with one track on break, allowing the school to serve more students. After every quarter, students have a break. They attend 180 days just like traditional calendar students.

The board talked about ways to keep magnet, year-round and traditional calendar schools healthy, balancing the needs of each to best serve students. The board asked administrators to consider ways of establishing themes and offering electives and strengthening services for academically gifted students at non-magnet schools.

FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2005 WAKE COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The Wake County Teacher of the Year will be named May 12 at the Wake County Teacher of the Year Banquet sponsored by Wachovia Bank to represent Wake County in the North Carolina Teacher of the Year competition.

The finalists include:

Wake County's Teacher of the Year receives a prize package worth thousands of dollars, including use of a Saturn automobile for a year, a $1,000 cash prize, an IBM Thinkpad computer, and gift certificates from various local merchants.

The Teacher of the Year is selected after a comprehensive screening and application process, which includes a written and videotaped portfolio. Candidates are interviewed by the selection committee.

The finalists were chosen from a field of 128 school-based nominees from all over Wake County, which was narrowed to 20 semifinalists.

The nine finalists will receive a $250 cash prize also from corporate sponsors and an array of other gifts.

BOARDS DISCUSS LAND OWNERSHIP
The Wake Board of Education and Board of County Commissioners discussed land ownership at a joint work session Wednesday, April 20. For accounting purposes, the county commissioners proposed that they should own school property and lease it to the school board. Currently, commissioners approve funding for new schools, but the school board owns the property. Commissioners want to list debts and assets on their books.

The school board, who already approved a resolution stating their commitment to finding a long-term, statewide solution to GASB 34 (governmental accounting standards), voiced concerns. It is important for school board members to maintain responsibility of all aspects of educating Wake County students. To ensure this division of roles, both boards agreed to form a committee to further discuss the possibility of a lease-tenant relationship.

School board attorney Rod Malone said one of two things has to happen in the future - either the school board will gain taxing authority or the county will own school property.

BOARD DISCUSSES PLAN FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
In a committee of the whole meeting April 19, the Board of Education continued its discussions on the Plan for Student Success. Board members discussed making adjustments for 2005-06 that would be $438,771 less than the superintendent's plan. The reductions would include $200,000 from the budget for the new Hedingham Middle School, a special school due to open in 2005-06; and $153,823 for local literacy teachers for elementary schools leaving Title I grandfathering status. Other savings would come from the character education and Teacher Enhancement and Leadership System revision.

The Plan for Student Success is different in that for the first time it describes three years, instead of just one year. It also provides a more in-depth and detailed business description of financial needs based on growing student enrollment and Goal 2008 efforts to boost student academic success.

The plan helps to open five new schools, meet the needs of an additional 5,000 students, launch Goal 2008 efforts and retain high quality teachers. It proposes using $7 million from WCPSS fund balance and makes $11.3 million in cuts.

The board is expected to approve the plan May 3 for presentation to the county commissioners. More information is available at http://www.wcpss.net/budget/2005-06-spss/

BOARD APPROVES POLICY ON GANG ACTIVITY
At its April 19 meeting, the Board of Education gave final approval to a new policy to address gang and gang-related activities. This policy will assist in maintaining order, safety and discipline, and protecting students and staff in the school. Board members and school administrators discussed the policy with a coalition of concerned parents and outlined ways the policy would be publicized and parents would be kept up to date. Administrators said they would work closely with local law enforcement to provide the most current information to school staff in training for this policy. The draft policy must receive a second vote of approval from the school board to be adopted. The draft policy is at http://www.wcpss.net/draft-policy/ The policy goes into effect July 1, 2005.

BOARD GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO POLICIES ON BEHAVIOR
At its April 19 meeting, the Board of Education gave first reading approval to an update of Policy 6410.4-Inappropriate Student Behavior, Intimidation/Disrespect and to the new Policy 6414 - Harassment. The revision of Policy 6410.4 aligns the Wake policy with the language of the State Board of Education policy on harassment and bullying. The new Policy 6414 specifically prohibits bullying and harassment under any circumstances in order to provide students with a safe, orderly, and caring learning environment. This policy is in addition to the Board's Sexual Harassment policy. A second vote of approval by the board would be required to finalize these changes and make them policy.

BOARD APPROVES 2005-06 MEAL PRICES
At its April 19 meeting, the Board of Education approved the 2005-06 meal prices for breakfast and lunch keeping prices the same as 2004-05. Elementary students will pay 80 cents for breakfast and $1.75 for lunch. Middle and high school students will pay $1 for breakfast and $2 for lunch.

BOARD GRANTS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT WAIVERS
At its April 19 meeting, the Board of Education approved some requests for waivers from School Improvement Plans, including requests from 16 high schools to consider giving juniors an option to leave campus for lunch. Schools cite a lack of space in their cafeterias. Twelve of the high schools offer three lunch periods in an attempt to accommodate students. All schools that allow juniors to leave campus for lunch require parental permission. Some schools offer off campus lunch to juniors as a privilege that must be earned with criteria such as good grades, behavior or attendance.

APPOINTMENTS
At its April 19 meeting, the Board of Education named Lloyd Gardner Area Assistant Superintendent, Beth Cochran Principal of Enloe High and Henk DeRee principal of Douglas Elementary.
-Gardner will serve as Area Assistant Superintendent for Southern Wake County in an area that serves Garner High, Fuquay-Varina High, Middle Creek High, five middle schools and 15 elementary schools. Gardner has served as principal of Enloe High since 1997 and was the school's assistant principal for six years. Prior to that he was a facility-use coordinator and teacher at Fuquay Varina High. Gardner was the 2003 WCPSS Principal of the Year.
-Cochran has served as principal of Ligon Middle since 2000. She was assistant principal at Broughton High for six years and was a teacher at the school for two years. She was also a teacher in NC and Canada. She was a 2003 WCPSS Principal of the Year finalist.
-DeRee has served as principal of Roxbury Elementary School in Solon City, Ohio since 1991. Prior to that DeRee worked as an elementary school principal, special education director, assistant principal and university teacher. DeRee earned a doctorate in Educational Administration and Supervision from Bowling Green State University.

The board named Edna Fay Jones assistant principal at Forest Pines Drive Elementary. Jones has worked as assistant principal at Green Hope High and was a teacher at Farmington Woods and West Lake elementary schools.

BOARD APPROVES DISTRICT COMPUTER STANDARD
At its April 19 meeting, the Board of Education named Dell and IBM the standard for school district laptops and desktop computers. This updates school system action taken in 1997, when the district standardized on two brands for computer purchases. To assure that the district receives the best products to meet current district needs at the most beneficial pricing, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was released in December 2004 following district-wide participation in focus groups conducted to gather PC requirements for inclusion in the RFP. Each vendor provided a sample desktop unit and a sample laptop unit, which all district employees were invited to evaluate from the user perspective. Technical evaluations were performed by Technology Services Division staff. References from large school districts were checked. As a result, the board will approve contracts to be executed with Dell and IBM to provide desktops and laptops for the district for a period of one year renewable annually for up to two additional years.

CALENDAR

May 2-6 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 11 a.m., Facilities Committee Meeting-Board Conference Room
May 3 1 p.m., Committee of the Whole-Board Conference Room; 4 p.m., Board Meeting-Board Conference Room
May 5 6 p.m., Wake County PTA Council Awards Banquet
May 10 8 a.m., Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce host the 2005 Community Success Forum
May 12 6 p.m., Teacher of the Year Banquet at Embassy Suites, Cary
May 17 2 p.m., Committee of the Whole-Board Conference Room; 4 p.m., Board Meeting-Board Conference Room
May 18 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., County Commissioners and the Board of Education - tour of schools
May 25 Last day of traditional calendar school

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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