The School Connection
July 2, 2003 BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTION FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
At its Monday (June 30) meeting, the Board of Education unanimously
approved a resolution seeking $550 million for school construction.
The resolution goes to the Wake County Commissioners who will
determine the date and size of the bond issue to put before
voters this fall.
The resolution was for less than the $867 million in needs
for new schools and renovations of existing schools presented
to the board earlier. Superintendent Bill McNeal told the
board the school system pared down the amount of money requested
for the next bond program and made some changes to the priority
and scope of some projects. Wake County staff and school system
representatives have met several times to discuss school facility
needs and the financing for school construction.
At this point, the board has only agreed on a dollar amount
for school construction, but has not finalized specific projects.
WCPSS facilities staff presented the proposal at the Monday
meeting for building 13 new schools, comprehensive renovations
at 16 existing schools and repairs at 70 schools. The sizes
of proposed new elementary schools vary from school system
standards for the size of elementary schools -- a step taken
following discussions between county and school system administrators
as a way of meeting the dramatic growth the school system
faces within the finances currently available without a tax
increase.
The county commissioners will consider the plan Monday (July
7), including a request for voters to authorize borrowing
$450 million in a bond referendum Oct. 7. The remaining $100
million would be addressed with state facilities revenue,
county cash accounts, savings from the current capital improvement
program, savings from future projects if the work comes in
under projected costs and reconsideration of financing assumptions.
BOARD REVIEWS ISSUES IN WORK SESSION
In a work session Monday (June 30), the Board of Education
discussed a number of issues dealing with managing growth
in student enrollment. During the all-day session, board members
discussed maintaining a healthy eco-system of traditional,
magnet and year-round schools through topics such as:
- the importance of keeping all schools healthy and balanced,
- the need to move beyond the 40% F&R target as the measure in many people's minds of whether or not a school is healthy,
- both the characteristics to be used to determine the health of a school and a process for regular review,
- a proposal to have the community more engaged in discussions on populating new schools, and
- the assistance that could be offered during intersession to students involuntarily assigned to year-round schools.
PLANS UNDERWAY FOR AUGUST CELEBRATION
Superintendent Bill McNeal has called for a celebration August
18 to 22 to mark the success of Goal 2003 in boosting student
achievement in Wake County and to recognize the hard work
of students, educators, parents and their supporters. Planning
is underway to involve the entire community. Businesses, the
faith community, educators and others will be called on to
congratulate students on their success. Wake County school
employees will gather for a rally and each school will hold
its own celebration.
BOARD APPROVES SELF-FUNDED DENTAL PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES
At its Monday (June 30) meeting, the Board of Education approved
a self-funded dental plan for employees. The board contracted
with Acordia National, one of five bidding companies, to administer
the plan.
WCPSS employees participating in family coverage will realize a reduction in monthly premiums from $44.85 to $41.41. Employees participating in employee only coverage will continue their coverage at no cost to the employee. There will be no changes in the benefits provided by the plan. The proposed family coverage premium combined with the WCPSS employee only coverage will cover projected claims, administrative fees, and generate reserve funds for future claims.
BOARD APPROVES UPDATED FIELD TRIP POLICIES
At its Monday (June 30) meeting, the Board of Education gave
final approval to an update of the policy on school field
trips.
A team of school administrators reviewed the policy and provided updated guidelines for taking trips based on the amount of school time lost, issues of students' safety and supervision, and any additional demands placed upon student time to raise funds to finance the trip.
Guidelines generally prohibit overnight stay, trips 125 miles
away and trips for competitions for elementary and middle
school students. Amusement park trips for elementary students
are prohibited. Middle and high school trips to amusement
parks and any trip involving water-related activities must
be approved by an area assistant superintendent. Trips outside
the continental U.S. must be approved by the Board of Education.
The policy clarifies the difference between school sponsored
trips approved by the school policy and non-school sponsored
trips arranged by an agency with a school employee acting
as an independent agent. The update indicates the school system
may have to cancel trips and cannot guarantee reimbursements
when cancellations occur.
The board gave preliminary approval to the policy update earlier
in June.
PRINCIPAL GIVES SPECIAL GIFT
Peggy Beasley Rodgers, principal of Powell Elementary, checked
out of the hospital this week after donating a kidney to the
mother of a student. In a parent-teacher conference, Rodgers
mentioned that her husband Raymond had recently received a
new kidney. The parent told Rodgers she was waiting for a
donor herself. Rodgers underwent testing to see if she would
be a match. Given the go-ahead, the transplant was performed
at Duke University Medical Center last week. Both Rodgers
and the kidney recipient are doing well. About 800 people
locally are waiting for kidney donations.
APPOINTMENTS
At its Monday (June 30) meeting, the Board of Education named
Tony Cates as the new principal for Fuquay-Varina Middle School.
Cates has served as a high school and middle school principal
in eastern North Carolina schools for 22 years, most recently
at Pinecrest High in Moore County. Prior to that he worked
as an instructor at North Carolina State University and served
in the U.S Air Force as a staff sergeant. Cates holds an Ed.S.
degree in education administration from East Carolina University.
WCPSS BEGINS MONTHLY NEWS MAGAZINE TV SHOW
The School Connection is Wake County Public School System's
monthly television program that connects you to news, features
and information about education in Wake County.
The 30-minute news magazine program focuses on WCPSS news,
programs, employees, students, services and issues. Each month,
the show takes a look at interesting programs or activities
in our schools, features employees who make a difference in
the lives of our students, offers insight into an educational
issue, and provides answers to parents' questions. The program
concludes with an artistic performance by a different student
group each month.
The School Connection will air on Time Warner Cable channels
10 and 11 in Raleigh and on channel 11 in Cary. You can view
the show online at http://www.wcpss.net/schooltv
THREE WAKE STUDENTS EARN ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS
Three Wake County Public School System students are among
200 recent high school graduates who have won college-sponsored
Achievement Scholarship awards in this year's National Achievement
Scholarship Program.
Anietie I. Essiet of Millbrook High and Adrienne C. Lewis of Enloe High earned University of Florida Achievement scholarships. Essiet listed a probable career field of engineering and Lewis selected business management. Erin B. Scott of Enloe High earned a Howard University Achievement scholarship and listed a probable career field of corporate law.
The college-sponsored awards, which are renewable, provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study. Universities selected winners from program finalists. The National Achievement program is an academic competition initiated in 1964 to honor promising black American youth and to increase their educational opportunities.
EAST WAKE HIGH STUDENT NAMED PRESIDENTIAL CLASSROOM SCHOLAR
Holly Tillis of East Wake High was named a Presidential Classroom
Scholar. She earned a trip to Washington, DC, to study government.
The program introduces the inner workings of the federal government
and examines how current issues affect public policy. Students
visit lawmakers on Capitol Hill, take part in a seminar on
the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, visit the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and U.S. Department of State
and hold their own mock Presidential Election with student
candidates.
SANDERSON HIGH STUDENT ATTENDS GLOBAL YOUNG LEADERS CONFERENCE
Katherine Rice of Sanderson High has been selected to attend
the Global Young Leaders Conference. The conference is a leadership
development program that brings together outstanding young
people from around the world to build critical leadership
skills. Students have the opportunity to explore global issues
and analyze concepts surrounding communications, diplomacy,
law, human rights, peace, security, economics and the role
of the United Nations. The program features creative decision-making
simulations, where hands-on skill sessions challenge students
to solve problems and lead their peers. Students meet with
top business leaders, policy officials, lobbyists, journalists,
diplomats and academicians. Young leaders are encouraged to
analyze issues, form and advocate positions and influence
sound decision-making. The conference is a program of the
Congressional Youth Leadership Council.
SCIENCE FESTIVAL PLANNED AT NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
The Sally Ride Science Festival will be held at North Carolina
State University on Sept. 6. The festival is for girls in
grades 5-8, their families and educators. The festival seeks
to empower girls to become future engineers and scientists.
The festival draws girls, parents, teachers and business
and community supporters. Each festival features a keynote
speech by Sally Ride, a street fair with exhibit booths from
NASA and local science centers, organizations like Girls Inc.
and SWE, and corporate sponsors like The Weather Channel,
and Discovery workshops led by successful female professionals
ranging from aerospace engineers to veterinarians. The goal
is to create an entertaining event that girls can come to
with their friends, have a good time, and be exposed to a
variety of fascinating topics and engaging role models. Pre-registration
for the event is $18 (on-site $20). The festival web site
is at www.SallyRideFestivals.com.
INSIDE THE NEWS
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
|
July 10 |
Board of Education meets at 6 p.m. |
|
July 24 |
Healthy Schools Task Force meets 5-8 p.m. at the Webster Center |
|
July 28 |
WCPSS Continuous Improvement Conference begins |
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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