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.May 16, 2005
SALEM MIDDLE TEACHER IS 2005 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Salem Middle School teacher William Ferriter is the 2004-05 Wake County
Teacher of the Year.
Ferriter is a sixth-grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, who
helped to open the new middle school and has been a teacher for 12 years.
Salem Middle principal Matt Wight says Ferriter is passionate about teaching
and learning.
Ferriter has worked hard to develop ways for teachers to share their experiences. He created a digital forum that Wake County candidates for National Board certification can use to seek advice from certified teachers. He actively participated in the Teacher Leaders Network, which uses technology to link beginning teachers with established teachers who offer advice. He worked as a Teacher in Residence for the Southeast Center for Teaching Quality helping to analyze the results of the 2004 Governor's Teacher Working Conditions Survey. Ferriter is a leader at his school who is passionate about using technology to enhance teaching and communication. He earned National Board Certification in 1997.
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 nine finalists receive a $250 cash prize and an array of other gifts. They are Che-Von Stone of East Millbrook Middle; Edward Kelley of Combs Elementary; Elizabeth Henning of Lincoln Heights Elementary; Frank Adamkiewicz of Lockhart Elementary; Jane House of Garner Senior High; Jennifer Piscorik of Leesville Road Elementary; Katherine Kison of Joyner Elementary; Maureen Stockdale of Wakefield High and Torri Jackson of Washington Elementary.
This is the second year that Wachovia Bank has sponsored the Wake County Teacher of the Year Award and banquet.
BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES PLAN FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
The Wake County Board of Education approved the Plan for Student Success
at its May 3 meeting, seeking to meet the growing demands on the school
system with a new three-year financial plan.
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 plan 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 board approved the plan on a 7-1 vote at its meeting May 3. After a public hearing and series of budget work sessions, the board made adjustments for 2005-06 that would be $438,771 less than the superintendent's plan.
The plan seeks $29.3 million in increased local funding. Much of the increase
goes toward growth and inflation. Growth-related issues will require $11.2
million. Legislative changes for salary increases and employer's matching
benefit changes would require the school district to spend an additional
$6 million.
The plan now goes to the Wake Board of County Commissioners. The commissioners
receive the county budget presentation May 16. The commissioners will hold
public hearings on the budget June 6 and are expected to vote on the budget
June 20.
ENLOE ON NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE LIST OF TOP US HIGH SCHOOLS
Enloe High School was rated 52 in the nation by Newsweek magazine in its
annual rating of the nation's high schools. Newsweek published their list
in the May 16 edition of the magazine. Newsweek's Best High Schools List
uses a ratio, the number of Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International
Baccalaureate (IB) tests taken by all students at a school in 2004, divided
by the number of graduating seniors. Two other Wake County high schools
made the Newsweek list. Broughton was at 299 and Green Hope at 399. You
can read the report at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7761678/site/newsweek/
17 WCPSS HIGH SCHOOLS PLAN GRADUATION CEREMONIES
Beginning Thursday, May 25, Wake County high school graduates will be marching
to 'Pomp and Circumstance' at graduation ceremonies that will be held at
the BTI Center and across the street at the Raleigh Civic and Convention
Center. Middle Creek High, which is holding its first graduation ceremony,
marches first at 8 p.m., May 25 in Memorial Auditorium at the BTI Center.
Seven schools will hold graduation May 26; two May 27; four May 28; and
three May 29. East Wake High will have the final ceremony Sunday afternoon
at 5 in the Raleigh Civic and Convention Center. You can find the graduation
schedule at http://www.wcpss.net/graduation-2005.
BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT FOR AVID CENTER
At its May 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved a contract to implement
the AVID program in WCPSS middle schools. The AVID program will seek to
increase student participation and achievement in higher-level courses.
The contract will provide for training an AVID district director, training
for teachers and school staff from 22 middle schools and AVID curriculum
libraries.
GARNER IB SCHOOLS RECEIVE FEDERAL GRANT
Three Wake County schools in Garner have received a $1.3 million, three-year
federal grant to increase student participation and achievement in higher-level
courses. The grant goes to Garner High, East Garner Middle and North Garner
Middle, three schools that partner in offering the International Baccalaureate
programs. The grant, known locally as Project Quest, will help improve the
overall school climate, strengthen student, family and community educational
aspirations, strengthen the professional skills of the teaching force; and
increase the involvement of the business community in mentoring students.
Wake County is one of 13 school districts across the country to receive
this grant.
BOARD GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO POLICIES ON BEHAVIOR
At its May 3 meeting, the Board of Education gave final 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.
BOARD DISCUSSES WORK PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR
In a work session May 10 to discuss their work plan for the coming year,
Board of Education members agreed to create a task force that will look
at the explosive growth in the county and alternative methods for school
construction funding. Projections indicate that by 2020 the number of students
will grow to 187,000 from 114,000 this year. That could mean up to 96 schools
may be needed in the next 15 years. In recent years, voters have approved
school construction bonds that are funding the PLAN 2000 and PLAN 2004 School
Construction programs. The board will finalize their work plan at a future
meeting.
BOARD APPROVES DISTRICT COMPUTER STANDARD
At its May 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved contracts for new
district standard computer desktop and laptop brands with IBM and Dell.
The contracts are for a year and can be renewed for up to two years. At
its April 19 meeting, the board had named Dell and IBM the standard for
school district laptops and desktop computers.
APPOINTMENTS
At its May 3 meeting, the Board of Education named principals for Broughton
High and two middle schools. The board named Roy Teel principal of Broughton
High; Cindy Hall principal of West Millbrook Middle and Dalphine Perry principal
at Zebulon Middle School.
-Teel is a retiree and former employee who has served as an interim principal
at seven WCPSS schools since 1999. Prior to that, he served as principal
of Millbrook High, Garner High, and Daniels Middle. He was an assistant
principal at Broughton in the 1980s.
-Hall has served as principal of Spanish Fort School in Spanish Fort, Alabama
since 1997. Prior to that she was a central office administrator supervising
curriculum, an assistant principal and teacher in Bay Minette, Alabama.
She earned a doctorate in education from the University of South Alabama.
-Perry has served as principal of Toisnot Middle in Wilson County, NC since
1995. Prior to that she served as a principal, assistant principal and teacher
at elementary schools in Wilson County. She was the Wilson County Principal
of the Year in 1993 and 2001.
The board named Paula Godfrey assistant principal at Harris Creek Elementary. Godfrey has served as assistant principal of Fuller elementary since 1996. Prior to that, she was a WCPSS teacher for nine years.
BOARD APPROVES JOINT USE AGREEMENTS FOR TWO SCHOOLS
At its May 3 meeting, the Board of Education approved joint use agreements
with the city of Raleigh for Barwell Road Elementary and with the town of
Fuquay Varina for Ballentine Elementary. At Barwell Road, the school system
and city will jointly use gym space. At Ballentine, the school system and
town will jointly use athletic fields.
BROUGHTON FOUNDATION RECEIVES $100,000 FROM ALUMNUS
The Needham B. Broughton Capital Foundation has been given a jumpstart,
a $100,000 gift from Broughton alumnus Richard H. Jenrette, retired chairman
and CEO of The Equitable Companies, Inc. Jenrette, a 1947 graduate of the
Wake County high school, is a long-time benefactor of his alma mater. In
recent years, Jenrette's gifts have helped establish the Jenrette Teaching
Excellence Award and provided enrichment opportunities for teachers. The
gift, announced May 7 at Broughton's 75th anniversary celebration by Blount
Williams, president of the Foundation, is the largest of its kind given
to Broughton High School. The Foundation, a non-profit corporation founded
in the fall of 2004 by supporters of Broughton High School, was formed with
a mission to provide funding for proposals, which will enrich and enhance
the lives of faculty and students today and in the future. In addition to
providing funding for a wide-range of programs and initiatives, the Foundation
will act as a clearinghouse for any member of the community who wants to
direct donations to specific programs or implement a new initiative.
CHAMBER FORUM ADDRESSES SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION STRATEGIES
More than 100 business, community and education leaders took part in the
2005 Community Success Forum hosted by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
May 10 in Cary. They heard from community leaders from the fast growing
communities of Clark County, Nevada, and Greenville County, South Carolina
about meeting the needs for school facilities Clark County is opening 12
new schools a year and is paying for construction with property taxes as
well as hotel and room taxes generated in its major city, Las Vegas. In
Greenville County, school construction is funded through a non-profit corporation
the school system created to borrow money that will be paid off over 25
years. The forum provided Wake County leaders an opportunity to discuss
ways school facility needs can keep pace with the needs of a fast growing
population.
CALENDAR
| 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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