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.

July 26, 2006

DR. BURNS TAKES OATH OF OFFICE AS SUPERINTENDENT
Dr. Del Burns took the oath of office during ceremonies July 18 where he was officially sworn into his new job as the seventh superintendent of the Wake County Public School System.

With his wife Vickie holding the Bible, Dr. Burns was administered the oath of office by Retired Chief Judge Sidney Eagles, a 21-year veteran of the N.C. Court of Appeals.

After receiving a standing ovation from more than 100 people at the ceremony, Burns said he was proud to become the superintendent of one of the nation's leading school systems. He said he remained committed to the children of Wake County, just as when he began his career in the Wake County Schools in 1976.

On hand for the ceremony were three people who helped Burns get his start in WCPSS as an LD Resource Teacher at Root Elementary School. Burns thanked Dr. Cathy Crossland of NC State University who was one of the professors that encouraged him as a lateral entry teacher. He also thanked former WCPSS Human Resources Assistant Superintendent Bill Freitag and former Root Elementary School Principal Carolyn Morrison who hired him for his first teaching job.

Burns was congratulated by Wake County Board of Education chair Patti Head who said his leadership will ensure that Wake County teachers will continue to deliver the high quality instruction that has led to the school system's national reputation for academic success.

SUPERINTENDENT BURNS VISITS NEW YEAR ROUND SCHOOLS ON FIRST DAY
On the first day of the new year for Wake County's 20 year-round schools, Superintendent Burns stood in front of Barwell Road Elementary at daybreak talking with news reporters. Burns said it was an important day with the opening of five new elementary schools and the opening of schools that serve more than 17,000 WCPSS students. Burns greeted teachers as they arrived at Barwell Road and then visited the other four new elementary schools: Holly Grove, Carpenter, Brier Creek and River Bend.

WCPSS RELEASES PRELIMINARY AYP RESULTS
The Wake County Public School System released the preliminary results July 21 for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal "No Child Left Behind Law" (NCLB).

The two schools in school improvement last year, Hodge Road and Lynn Road elementary schools, both met their Reading AYP targets for 2006. By meeting its AYP Reading targets for two consecutive years, Lynn Road is no longer identified for school improvement. Hodge Road needs to make AYP again next year to get out of school improvement.

"Our teachers and principals, especially those at our Title I schools who were in school improvement last year, have worked tirelessly to ensure our students were successful according to this 'all or nothing' federal measure," said WCPSS Superintendent Del Burns. "AYP is simply one way of looking at the excellent teaching and learning taking place in our classrooms every day."

No additional WCPSS Title I schools have been identified for school improvement based on Reading results. The six WCPSS Title I schools who did not reach AYP in Reading for the first time last year, raised test scores and were successful in 2006. If a Title I school does not make AYP for two years in a row in the same subject, the school enters school improvement status.

WAKE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE FOCUSED ON TEACHING AND LEARNING
Teaching and learning is what happens in classrooms between teachers and students in the Wake County Public School System every day.

Instructional goals for the year are defined in the State Standard Course of Study, which describes educational objectives for each grade building from kindergarten to the senior year of high school.

In the Wake County Public School System, principals are the instructional leaders of their schools. They hire the teachers and work with their school community in developing a plan for continuous improvement. The principal, school staff and teachers work together to design their school's framework for instruction: scheduling classes, selecting resources and other instructional tools and determining strategies that will help students learn.

The WCPSS Office of Curriculum and Instruction works closely with principals and teachers to provide training and access to instructional resources and best practices to support optimal student learning and teacher effectiveness.

Before the first bell rings on the first day of school, school administrators and teachers have been hard at work to maximize the effectiveness for each day of instruction

In the classroom, these tools and strategies are put to use by teachers as they seek to help each student grow academically. Teachers use on-going assessment throughout the learning process to provide feedback for the learner and to make instructional decisions about what the student needs next. Some students may need additional support to learn a concept or skill while others may need enrichment.

Each school has its own team of teachers using tools they have identified to help the hundreds of different students they are teaching.

FRESHMAN CAMPS PREPARE STUDENTS FOR NEW GRADUATION STANDARDS


Freshmen take part in a team building exercise at Southeast Raleigh High Bulldog Leadership Institute

New state high school exit standards will be one of the issues more than 9,000 Wake County Public School System students entering the ninth grade in 2006-07 will be confronting as they take part in freshman camps this summer.

The camps are different from traditional freshman orientation and are part of the WCPSS effort to personalize the high school experience and prepare students for the challenges ahead. Camps provide an opportunity for schools to help students prepare students for new challenges they face in high school. Ninth-graders learn the layout of their new campus, receive advice from older students, finalize their schedules and take part in team building exercises.

Teresa Pierrie, administrator for WCPSS's Small Learning Communities federal grant, helped schools organize the freshman camps. Pierrie says the camps provide opportunities to help students better adapt to high school. Each school has created a unique way to help students and families feel more comfortable and confident about their transition.

The Bulldog Leadership Institute at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High is one of the 18 WCPSS high school freshman camps this year. Rising freshmen will have opportunities to improve their capability to plan, manage, and implement strategies that will result in academic and personal success. These abilities will be important as the Class of 2010 becomes the first required to meet new state graduation standards.
The State Board of Education approved a framework for graduation standards in October 2004 and agreed in May 2005 that these standards would include demonstrating proficiency on five state-required high school End of Course tests and successful completion of a graduation project.

The five required End of Course tests are Algebra I, Biology, English I, Civics & Economics, and U.S. History. The State Board of Education also approved the retesting, remediation and a review process for students who require End of Course retesting. The second retesting opportunity must be preceded by instruction focused in areas where the student needs assistance.

The graduation project requires students to complete in-depth research that will result in a paper, product, portfolio and presentation. The project will be developed, monitored, and scored locally using state guidelines.

The graduation project will include:

The new standards affect students entering high school in the 9th grade in 2006-2007.

SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS
The Wake County Board of Education has changed its regular meeting times for the next couple of months. Through Sept. 19, the school board is scheduled to begin its meetings at 2:00 p.m. rather than 4:00 p.m. Before that, the board will meet as a Committee of the Whole from noon until 2:00 p.m.

BOARD APPROVES PLAN TO RETAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
At its July 18 meeting, the Board of Education approved plans for the Wake County Sheriff's Department and the Wake County Public Schools to continue the partnership begun in January 2001 for placement of school resource officers in middle schools. As part of a COPS in Schools Grant, the Sheriff's Department placed deputies in seventeen (17) middle schools. The grant expired in April 2005. The Sheriff's Department and WCPSS have agreed to continue providing deputies as SROs in middle schools. WCPSS will pay a portion of the funding for salaries with $188,000 available through the Security Department.

BOARD AWARDS CONTRACT FOR SECURITY SERVICES FOR 2006-2007
At its July 18 meeting, the Board of Education awarded the contract for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years to AlliedBarton Security Services for contracted security services for the Alarm Monitoring Center, night patrol, administration buildings, bicycle patrol officers, and security officers on elementary school campuses. The annual value of this contract is approximately $1,303,400.00 ($1,291,500.00 after 1% discount option). The rates will remain the same for the next two years. Funds are available through budgeted security contract services in the amount of $1,118,900.00. Additional funds from savings identified and potential changes to the local budget will be required to support the contract.

BOARD APPROVES RENEWAL OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE
At its July 18 meeting, the Board of Education approved continuation of the school system's self-insured workers' compensation program and approved Key Risk Management Services as the program administrator.

The estimated cost to operate the program for 2006-07 is $1,439,488. The estimated standard premium for commercial insurance for 2006-07 would be $2,430,258. The difference provides a substantial incentive for WCPSS to self-insure.

The board agreed to continue coverage with Key Risk Management Services based on claim handling fees remaining unchanged for the fifth consecutive year. The company has established a strong reputation as administrator of the State Board of Education Self-Insured Workers' Compensation. These services provide efficient coordination of claims activities for workers paid from multiple funding sources.

Funds are available in 2006-07 in the amount of $1,226,715. Funds will be appropriated from reserved fund balance as required to pay claims incurred in excess of the 2006-07 budgeted amounts.

FIRST-YEAR TEACHER AWARD NAMED AFTER COLLEAGUE
In honor and recognition of Diane Kent-Parker, former senior director for recruitment and retention, the WCPSS First-Year Teacher Award has been renamed in her honor. The award is given to a first-year teacher who has accomplished significant professional success, and is supported by donations. (Such charitable donations are kept in accounts separate from the regular operating budget.)

CALENDAR

July 26 Southeast Raleigh High and other modified calendar schools have first day of school
July 26
1:30 p.m., First meeting of Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee at Room 100C, Wake County Commons Building
August 4-6
 NC Sales Tax Holiday for back-to-school
August 8 12 p.m., Board Committee of the Whole - Board Conference Room; 2 p.m. Board Meeting - Board Room
August 10 Wake Early College of Health and Science has first day of school
August 20 4 p.m., ribbon cutting ceremony at Holly Springs High School
August 22 12 p.m., Board Committee of the Whole - Board Conference Room; 2 p.m., Board Meeting - Board Room
August 24

Joint meeting of Wake County Commissioners and Board of Education

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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