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.

September 12, 2005


TENTH DAY ENROLLMENT HITS 120,379
Tenth day of school enrollment surged to 120,379 students this year. This is an increase of 6,425 students over the 10th day of school last year. Official enrollment numbers for the year will be based on the 20th-day enrollment numbers.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS GROWTH MANAGEMENT
The Wake County Public School System today announced this year's series of community engagement meetings to inform and involve the public in the upcoming student assignment process. School enrollment grew by 9,500 students over the last two years and 10th day enrollment for 2005-06 indicates an increase of more than 6,400. The community engagement meetings will provide families the opportunity to hear the most current information used in making decisions on school construction and student assignment, as well as an opportunity to provide input into the development of new plans.

The school system will hold a total of 12 meetings in the next two months at locations throughout the county. Following are the meeting dates and locations:

Round One

Sept. 19 Wake Forest-Rolesville High 420 W. Stadium Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Sept. 21 Green Hope High 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road, Cary, NC 27519
Sept. 22 Knightdale High 100 Bryan Chalk Lane, Knightdale, NC 27545
Sept. 26 Athens Drive High 1420 Athens Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
Sept. 27 Garner High 2101 Spring Drive, Garner, NC 27529
Sept. 28 Leesville Road High 8409 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613

Round Two

Oct. 24 Wake Forest-Rolesville High 420 W. Stadium Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Oct. 25 Green Hope High 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road, Cary, NC 27519
Oct. 26 Knightdale High 100 Bryan Chalk Lane, Knightdale, NC 27545
Oct. 27 Athens Drive High 1420 Athens Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606
Nov. 2 Garner High 2101 Spring Drive, Garner, NC 27529
Nov. 3 Leesville Road High 8409 Leesville Road, Raleigh, NC 27613

All meetings are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and last for approximately two hours. More information is available at http://www.wcpss.net/news/2005_cem/

EVACUEES BECOME SOME OF THE NEWEST WCPSS STUDENTS
School administrators visited Sept. 7 with families who are living at the Wake County Shelter for victims of Hurricane Katrina and enrolled 12 students who will begin attending WCPSS schools. School administrators want to insure that these families after suffering losses from the hurricane are well cared for as they enter school. School officials estimate another 50 students whose families escaped the hurricane and moved in with family or friends in Wake County have also enrolled.

WCPSS AND WAKE PTA COUNCIL LAUNCH WAKE KIDS FOR KATRINA
Wake County families will be able to work through their schools to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. "Wake Kids for Katrina" will take place in Wake County public schools Sept. 12-23 organized by the Wake County Public School System and the Wake County PTA Council.

"Wake Kids for Katrina" encourages WCPSS schools to develop their own fund raising efforts and coordinate with their PTA leaders collections and disbursement to the Red Cross. Persons wanting to donate can make checks payable to the American Red Cross with "Wake Kids for Katrina" in the memo section.

One donation was a check of $5,000 contributed by the Wake County Division of Principals and Assistant Principals, according to Kathy Chontos, the division's president and principal of Athens Drive High.

The listing of school activities and more information is available at http://www.wcpss.net/news/katrina_launched/

A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN DVD HELPS NEWCOMERS
"A Great Place to Live, A Great Place to Learn," a new Digital Video Disc (DVD) produced by the Wake County Public Schools System for families considering a move to Wake County, is now available. The WCPSS Communications Department produced the DVD. Christy Hardee and Jeff Nash of the WCPSS School Connection TV Show host it. They offer a short tour of Wake County and provide information on a number of topics that will be helpful for families making the move to Wake County. "A Great Place to Live, A Great Place to Learn" includes information about the Wake County Public School System as well as groups of business leaders, parents, principals and teachers sharing their views. The DVD directs families to www.wcpss.net/newcomer , which provides the most up to date information in an easy-to-navigate format. Families can obtain single copies and Realtors and corporate relocation offices can purchase copies of the DVD from the WCPSS Customer Service Center at 850-1600.

BOARD DISCUSSES AUDIT COMMITTEE
At the Sept.6 meeting, Board of Education chair Patti Head discussed a meeting she, Carol Parker and attorney Ann Majestic had with Greg Allison, a UNC Institute of Government expert in public finance and government. Head followed up on the August 9 presentation by accountants from McGladrey Pullen about the benefit of the board establishing an audit committee. From Allison, Head found that no other NC school boards have audit committees at this time. Such a committee would include board and public members who would act on the findings of annual audits. WCPSS has contracted with the certified public accountants of McGladrey Pullen to perform the annual audit required of school systems by state law. Allison is looking for additional information on audit committees to share with Head. The topic is one Head wants the board to discuss at its retreat.

GOV. EASELY CALLS FOR FUEL CONSERVATION
After Hurricane Katrina slowed the delivery of fuel through two major pipelines that deliver fuel to the Carolinas, Gov. Mike Easley called all citizens to take fuel conservation measures.

At the Sept. 6 meeting, Superintendent Bill McNeal told board members he was calling on principals to scrutinize field trips and consider teleconferencing and carpooling. McNeal encouraged school administrators to be models and examples for others when it comes to conservation measures.

WCPSS employees interested in carpooling can talk with co-workers or investigate resources such as the Triangle Transit Authority's ride sharing website at http://www.ridetta.org/Ride_Sharing/Carpool/carpool.html

WCPSS Transportation transports 61,600 students on 783 buses traveling 77,000 miles daily. Don Haydon, WCPSS Associate Superintendent, said the school system currently has sufficient diesel fuel for bus operations for the short term and is monitoring the availability of fuel carefully.

Conservation measures include:

WCPSS will continue to monitor fuel supplies and consider measured conservation steps, responding to state and federal action on fuel availability.

BOARD HEARS REVIEW OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION
At its Sept. 6 meeting, WCPSS administrator Susan Harrison reviewed the recently concluded legislative session with board members. Harrison noted the 2005-06 state budget included $17.7 billion in spending, $6.6 billion for education.

Harrison explained lawmakers created a state lottery. The ultimate benefit to Wake County could be as much as $9 million in education funding for school construction based on projected lottery revenues of $1 billion. The lottery education funds are basically set up to be distributed with the first 5% to the Education Lottery Reserve Fund (capped at $50 million) then 50% to early kindergarten programs and class size reduction, 40% school construction, and 10% college and university scholarships.

WCPSS TAKING PART IN KATRINA BLOOD DRIVE
As part of Wake Kids for Katrina Sept. 12-23, WCPSS and the Wake County PTA Council are encouraging donations to the three American Red Cross blood centers in Wake County. When you sign in, be sure to note on the sign in form that you are donating as part of Wake Kids for Katrina.

The Raleigh Blood Center is located at 100 N. Peartree Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610. It is open Monday and Tuesday, 2:30-7 p.m. and Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The North Raleigh Blood Center is located at 7201 Creedmoor Rd., Suite 120, Raleigh, NC 27613. It is open Monday and Thursday, 2:30-7 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Cary Blood Center is located at 305-A Asheville Ave., Cary, NC 27511. It is open Monday and Thursday, 2:30-7 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Mazie Smith, WCPSS Auxiliary Services at 856-8048 or mssmith@wcpss.net

CALENDAR

Sept. 11-17 Custodian Appreciation Week
Sept. 13 Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce annual meeting
Sept. 13 9:30 a.m., Facilities Committee Meeting-Board Conference Room; 12:30 p.m., Policy Committee Meeting-Board Conference Room; 2:30 p.m., Finance Committee Meeting-Board Conference Room
Sept. 14 10:30 a.m., Human Resources Committee Meeting-Board Conference Room; 12:30 p.m., Instructional Program Committee Meeting-Board Conference Room
Sept. 15-16 9 a.m., Board of Education retreat at Crossroads II Bldg, Cary
Sept. 19-23 Legislators Back to School Week
Sept. 20 School to Career Volunteer Celebration at the Renaissance Center
Sept. 20 2 p.m., Board of Education committee of the whole meeting; 4 p.m., Board of Education meeting
Sept. 21 Joint meeting of Wake County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education
Sept. 22 Meeting of Board Advisory Council chairs
Sept. 28 Wake Education Partnership annual meeting
Sept. 29 Wake County PTA Council Great Expectations conference

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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