Direct Line
This is a column written by Bill McNeal, Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System. Your feedback is important; please feel free to respond to his thoughts in the e-mail form provided at the bottom of each page.
Heroic Efforts to Support Our Students
January 20, 2005 -- On Wednesday, what all of the weather services predicted to be flurries turned out to be an accumulation of snow that froze on the roads and created havoc across Wake County. It was an exhausting day for students and their parents. It was also a day when many in our community made heroic efforts to provide for the safety and comfort of our students.
Building for the Future
October 8, 2003 -- Last night, the citizens of Wake County overwhelmingly supported a bond referendum that will help build 13 new schools and a pre-Kindergarten center, comprehensive renovations at 16 schools, and repair and re-roofing projects at 61 schools. On behalf of the students who will have better learning environments, I would like to thank you.
A Word of Thanks
June 18, 2003 - On behalf of the students and staff of Wake County's public schools, I want to thank the Wake County Board of Commissioners for showing the leadership and courage to provide the resources that will keep the Wake County Public School System moving forward. Wake County is fortunate to have such diligent, committed representatives guiding the county during a time of economic challenge and increased academic momentum.
We Must Keep Moving Forward
June 12, 2003 - On Monday, June 16, the Wake County Board of Commissioners will decide whether to advance or retreat in the struggle to leave no child behind. The county commissioners are debating the level of support to provide the Wake County Public School System. The challenge facing the commissioners -- and all of us as Wake County citizens -- is that our economy has slowed at the same time as school systems across the country are being obligated to do more.
Meeting the President's Challenge: What the No Child Left Behind Act Means for Wake County
May 30, 2002 - The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is the largest federal overhaul of public education since the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed in 1965. After President George W. Bush signed it into law on January 8, 2002, we began poring over policy language trying to discover its impact on the schools and students entrusted to our care. I can now tell you that No Child Left Behind confirms principles that we have followed in Wake County for years: help every child excel, close the achievement gap, provide challenges and opportunities for everyone. At the same time, the federal act will prompt some meaningful changes to the Wake County Public School System. Although there are still many unanswered questions and there may be more modifications to come, here are some early thoughts about what the act means for your child and your public schools.
The Economy, the Budget, and Looking Ahead
February 12, 2002 -- ...The 2002-2003 school year is also likely to begin with a great challenge, though I'm confident that together as a county we will be able to face it in a spirit of cooperation and unity. The challenge is this: although sustaining our progress toward having 95 percent of our students at grade level requires additional resources, the current economy leaves those resources in short supply.
Openness, Unity, and Community
October 29, 2001 -- When I think of the way our community has pulled together in times of crisis, I see us modeling behavior that we should be demonstrating all the time. We should build from this experience, and continue the efforts begun in recent years to further bring the public into the Wake County public education. Just as we gave every child a chance to participate in "Pennies for Patriotism and Pride," so should we give every citizen a chance to participate in their public school system.
Help Us Narrow the Achievement Gap
August 31, 2001 -- Former IBM global marketing chief Francis "Buck" Rodgers once said, "There are countless ways of achieving greatness, but any road to achieving one's maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for the individual, a commitment to excellence, and a rejection of mediocrity." That is the task before us.
Learning from the Courage of the Past
July 9, 2001 -- Twenty-five years ago, in 1976, the walls fell. Two separate school systems -- Raleigh and Wake County -- came together in a recognition that we achieve far more when united rather than divided. The merger was controversial and sometimes painful, but bold leadership prevailed and built the strongest large urban school district in the state. The leaders of 1976 had a vision, and since then we have worked hard to fulfill it. As we celebrate the beginning of a new school year (our calendar runs from July 1 to June 30), we will be keeping our Silver Anniversary in mind. It is time to take inspiration from the past, and to look ahead.