School Connection
Sept. 5, 2003
SAT SCORES REMAIN AT RECORD HIGH MARK FOR SECOND YEAR
SAT scores for 2003 Wake County Public School System seniors
remained at the same record high level achieved in 2002, and
the Wake average score was still far above the state and national
average. The average SAT score for Wake seniors was 1067.
The average national score was 1026 and average North Carolina
score was 1001. Participation of the 2003 Wake senior class
remained remarkably high inching up to 80 percent, far above
North Carolina and national participation rates. Our state's
rate was 68 percent, and the national rate was 48 percent.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS GROWTH MANAGEMENT
The Wake County Public School System will hold a series of
public meetings to inform and involve the public in the upcoming
student assignment process. The school system plans to open
seven new schools in the 2004-05 school year. This new approach
in creating the student assignment plan is designed to provide
greater community input in the development of next year's
plan.
The school system will hold a total of 11 meetings over the next three months at locations throughout the county. The first series of three meetings is designed to inform the public about the need and issues surrounding managing growth in the school system. The second set of four meetings will focus on the more specific impact of student growth and crowding on certain areas of the county. The third group of four meetings will be a discussion of how specific schools might be affected by the upcoming plan.
The first series of meetings will be held September 8th at Leesville High School; September 9th at Southeast Raleigh High School and September 10th at Athens Drive High School. All of the meetings will begin at 7:00 p.m.
LARGE TURNOUT FOR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION MEETING
More than 250 Wake County teachers came to a meeting August
27 to get information about pursuing National Board certification.
Superintendent Bill McNeal congratulated the teachers for
pursuing teaching excellence. Assistant Superintendent Toni
Patterson talked about the support teachers would receive
from the school system and state in working for certification.
140 teachers from the Wake County Public School System earned
National Board certification in 2002, the largest number of
WCPSS teachers to earn the honor in the program's eight-year
history.
GARNER EDUCATION LEADERS WORKING TO BOOST SUCCESS
At the Tuesday (Sept. 2) meeting, Board of Education member
Amy White described efforts to boost academic success in Wake
County Schools in Garner. White said town, county and education
leaders were working with the UNC School of Social Work to
develop a profile of schools and students that could be used
to meet the needs of children, families and schools.
KICK OFF EVENT PLANNED BY BOND SUPPORTERS
At the Tuesday (Sept. 2) Board of Education meeting, Superintendent
Bill McNeal told the board that the Friends of Wake County
will hold an event 5:30 p.m., Sept. 9 at the Wake County Commons
Building, 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh. The volunteer group
is dedicated to passage of the $450 million school construction
bond that goes to the voters Oct. 7.
BOARD CONSIDERS PLANS FOR JONES DAIRY CAMPUS
In the Tuesday (Sept. 2) committee of the whole meeting, the
Board of Education heard proposals for the future of Jones
Dairy Elementary. Ramey Beavers, senior director for Growth
Management, discussed the impact of Jones Dairy becoming a
year-round school when it reopens in 2004-2005. Beavers outlined
a proposal where students would be moved among Wilburn, Durant
and Heritage year-round elementary schools to establish a
transportation pattern for Jones Dairy. This would allow base
populations to be established at Durant, Heritage and Jones
Dairy. These steps would help the north Wake County year-round
schools to more nearly reflect the school system's capacity
models and free and reduced price lunch percentages, while
reducing crowding and free and reduced price lunch percentages
at nearby traditional calendar schools. Board members agreed
to continue discussions in a committee of the whole meeting
in October.
APPOINTMENTS
At its Tuesday (Sept. 2) meeting, the Board of Education named
Terri Cobb Senior Director of the Office of Continuous Improvement
and Professional Development and named Diann P. Kearney the
principal of Conn Elementary.
Cobb has served as principal of Lockhart Elementary since 1999. She worked as a principal at elementary schools in Wilson and Greenville. She was a WCPSS Principal of the Year finalist last year. She holds two masters degrees from East Carolina University and is licensed in eight areas.
Kearney has served as assistant principal of Kingswood Elementary this year. She had worked eight years as assistant principal at Sanderson High. She worked as an assistant principal and teacher in other North Carolina districts. She earned her masters at UNC-Wilmington and is licensed in four areas.
BOARD APPROVES DESIGN CONSULTANT AGREEMENT
At its Tuesday (Sept. 2) meeting, the Board of Education approved
Brown Jurkowski Architectural Collaborative as design consultant
for the renovation of existing and new construction at Enloe
High. The work is included in the proposed PLAN 2004 school
building program.
BOARD APPROVES SCHEMATIC DESIGN
At its Tuesday (Sept. 2) meeting, the Board of Education approved
the schematic design documents prepared by Cherry Huffman
Architects, P.A. for the PLAN 2004 renovations to the Holliday
Gym and auxiliary gym at Broughton High. The school will use
the auxiliary gym until work is completed on the Holliday
Gym and then renovation work should begin on the auxiliary
gym.
2002-03 ABCs RESULTS TO BE RELEASED AT WAKEFIELD HIGH
SCHOOL
State Board Chairman Howard Lee and State Superintendent Mike
Ward will hold a news conference Sept. 10 at Wakefield High
School to discuss school performance on the 2002-03 ABCs accountability
report. The ABCs of Public Education is North Carolina's primary
school improvement program. Its goals are to provide strong
local school accountability, an emphasis on mastery of basic
subjects and as much local decision making as possible. The
state's accountability model was modified in 2002-03 to include
Adequate Yearly Progress as required by the federal education
law, No Child Left Behind.
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 http://www.SallyRideFestivals.com.
WAKE COUNTY PTA HOLDS GREAT EXPECTATIONS CONFERENCE
Great Expectations 2003 is the annual leadership training
conference of the Wake County PTA. This year's event is scheduled
for Thursday, Sept. 18 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Southeast
Raleigh High. The conference provides training in a variety
of leadership skills and offers best practice sharing workshops.
You can register at the Wake County PTA website at www.wakeptacouncil.org
or contact Virginia Parker at 846-1928 or parkerervg@earthlink.net
EDUCATION ROUND TABLE TO REVIEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND
A wake Regional Education Roundtable sponsored by Wake Education
partnership and the chambers of commerce will be held at the
Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Sept. 16 from 12 to 1:30
p.m. The round table will focus on the upcoming school bond
vote and issues of facilities for the Wake County Public School
System. Lunch will be served at the meeting. RSVP to Cyndi
Soter O'Neil at 821-7609, ext. 31 or coneil@wakeedpartnership.org
by Sept. 12.
KIDS VOTING NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
Kids Voting of Wake County needs volunteers to adopt precincts
for this fall's local elections. Volunteers will man precincts
at many of the same locations that adult voters will use on
election day. Wake County students can go to Kids Voting precincts
to vote for the same candidates as on the adult ballot. For
more information visit http://www.kidsvotingwake.org/ or call
Katherine Messenger at 833-1282.
PROGRAM RECOGNIZES STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
Prudential Financial and the National Association of Second
School Principals are accepting applications for the Prudential
Spirit of Community Awards. The awards recognize young people
in grades five through twelve for outstanding community service.
Applications are available through www.prudential.com/spirit
or by calling 888-450-9961.
INSIDE THE NEWS
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports 'North Carolina's SAT Score Increases Three Points; Breaks Thousand-Point Threshold' and "Davis Named Deputy Superintendent'
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
|
Sept. 8 |
7 p.m. Leesville Road High School, Growth Management meeting provides a description of WCPSS policies, practices, and processes related to Growth Management with opportunities for community feedback |
|
Sept. 9 |
7 p.m. Southeast Raleigh High School, Growth Management meeting provides a description of WCPSS policies, practices, and processes related to Growth Management with opportunities for community feedback |
|
Sept. 10 |
7 p.m. East Wake High School, Growth Management meeting provides a description of WCPSS policies, practices, and processes related to Growth Management with opportunities for community feedback |
|
Sept. 16 |
2 p.m. Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting; 4 p.m. Board of Education meeting at 3600 Wake Forest Road |
|
Sept. 17 |
12 p.m. lunch - Wake County Commissioners and Board of Education at 3600 Wake Forest Road |
|
Sept. 17 |
Dine out for kids to support Communities in Schools |
|
Sept. 18 |
Wake County PTA Council's Great Expectations leadership workshop |
|
Sept. 24 |
principals meeting |
|
Sept. 25 |
5 p.m. Healthy Schools Task Force meets at the Webster Center |
|
Oct. 7 |
Election Day |
|
Oct. 8 |
2 p.m. Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting; 4 p.m. Board of Education meeting at 3600 Wake Forest Road |
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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