School Connection
January 23, 2007 |
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC INPUT
The Board of Education will hold a final public hearing on the 2007-08 growth management proposal 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Knightdale High School.
The board held two public hearings Jan. 16. At Green Hope High, they heard 33 people and at Middle Creek High 16 speakers. In a Jan. 18 public hearing at Leesville Road High, the board heard 45 speakers. Nearly 800 people have submitted comments online at www.wcpss.net.
The board reviewed the growth management proposal in the committee of the whole meetings Jan. 9 and Jan. 16 and in an eight-hour work session Jan. 22. Another board work session is planned for Friday, Jan. 27.
2007-08 REASSIGNMENT PLAN
A 2007-08 growth management proposal that has 11,079 students, moves more than 6,700 students to schools closer to their homes and allows grandfathering for up to 3,746 students was presented to the Board of Education Jan. 9.
The 11,079 students include 7,595 students who have a change in base assignment, 1,162 students who have a change in year-round transportation area and 2,289 students who will move to their base school because it is changing to a year-round calendar.
Six out of ten elementary school students reassigned in this proposal were moved to a school that is closer to their node. Nearly seven out of ten middle school students reassigned in this proposal were moved to a school closer to their node.
Of the 11,079 students in this proposal, 3,746 could exercise the grandfathering option of staying at their current school and providing their own transportation. If all parents exercised the grandfathering option, the current proposal would mean reassignment for 7,333 students.
The proposal will assign students to five new schools and 22 schools transitioning to the year-round calendar which are adding space as student enrollment growth has exploded. Enrollment increased by 7,500 students for 2006-07 and is expected to increase by 8,000 students for 2007-08.
Estimates show Wake gaining 8,000 to 9,000 students a year for the next few years. This growth requires additional schools where these students can be educated. As additional school capacity is created with the opening of new schools, growth management proposals fill the additional capacity and ease crowding at existing schools.
The five new schools for 2007-08 include three multi-track year-round elementary schools: East Garner Elementary in southeast Wake, North Forest Pines Elementary in north Wake and Sanford Creek Elementary in northeast Wake. The two new middle schools will be East Cary opening as a multi-track year-round middle school with only sixth graders and Wendell Middle opening as a traditional calendar middle school in the temporary modular campus.
With schools already crowded, projections calling for 8,000 additional students for 2007-08 and new schools providing space for about 3,500 students, the school system created additional capacity by transitioning 19 elementary and three middle schools to multi-track year-round. The elementary schools include Ballentine, Baucom, Brassfield, Green Hope, Harris Creek, Highcroft, Hodge Road, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Leesville, Lockhart, Middle Creek, Olive Chapel, Pleasant Union, Rand Road, Salem, Vance, Wakefield and Willow Springs. The middle schools include East Wake, North Garner and Salem.
Community Input was gathered in three community engagement meetings held across the county in November. Input was used to draft a growth management proposal published Dec. 8. Comments from more than 2,000 people received Dec. 8 to Jan. 2 were used in developing the proposal for the Board of Education.
BOARD NAMES PRINCIPALS FOR SCHOOLS OPENING IN 2007-08
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education named principals to lead three new elementary schools.
The board named Jamee Lynch principal of Sanford Creek Elementary, James Overman principal of East Garner Elementary and Chris McCabe principal of North Forest Pines Elementary.
Lynch, the current Wake County Principal of the Year, has served as principal of Hodge Road Elementary since 2001. Prior to that she served as assistant principal at Vance Elementary and a teacher at Garner High. She worked as an assistant principal and teacher in other NC school systems.
Overman, the 2005 Wake County Principal of the Year, has served as principal of Creech Road Elementary since 2002. Prior to that Overman served as an assistant principal at Leesville Road Elementary and an assistant principal intern at Timber Drive Elementary. Overman was the 2001 Wake County Assistant Principal of the Year. He also worked as a teacher in other school systems.
McCabe has served as principal of Smith Elementary since 2002. Prior to that he was an assistant principal at Brentwood Elementary, assistant principal intern at Wakefield Elementary and a teacher at Joyner Elementary and Pleasant Union Elementary.
Earlier, the board named Dixie Frazier as principal of the new East Cary Middle School and Mary Castleberry as principal of the new Wendell Middle School. Frazier has served as principal of Reedy Creek Elementary. Castleberry has worked as principal of Carver Elementary.
At the January 9 meeting, the Board of Education named Hilton Trent Evans principal at Reedy Creek Elementary, David Kershner principal at Moore Square Middle and Sherry Schliesser principal at Kingswood Elementary. The board named Judy Dudley interim principal at Brentwood Elementary and Ann Deegan interim principal at Dillard Drive Elementary.
MAGNET AND CALENDAR APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY
Wake County Public School System’s magnet schools will host tours from Jan. 23 to Feb. 8. The public is invited to explore program offerings at all 36 magnet schools.
Elementary school programs will be on exhibit Jan. 23 and Jan. 31. Magnet middle schools will open their doors on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1. Magnet high schools will showcase their programs Jan. 29 – Feb. 8. Please visit www.wcpss.net/magnet for tour details.
The magnet application will only be available online this year. Parents may submit an application ANYTIME during the application period, Feb. 12 – 28. Applications will be available at www.wcpss.net during the application period.
Interested families may also submit a calendar option application during this time. Families with students assigned to traditional calendar schools may apply for the year-round calendar. Families with students assigned to year-round calendar schools may apply for the traditional calendar.
For over 25 years, WCPSS’s award-winning magnet schools have enhanced the North Carolina Standard Course of Study with innovative approaches to learning that empower students. Magnets open doors of opportunity and spark the imagination of students, preparing them to become responsible citizens in a global society.
To find more information about WCPSS magnet schools and other magnet school events, visit www.wcpss.net/magnet, stop by the Magnet Resource Center located on the campus of Millbrook Elementary or call 919.501.7900.
School Connection TV |
Christy Hardee of School Connection TV talks with Principal Pat Andrews and Davis Drive Elementary staff about earning the US Department of Education's Blue Ribbon School Award. |
BOARD HEARS ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PERSONAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education received an update from WCPSS Chief Academic Officer Donna Hargens and WCPSS IB Coordinator Kirsten Justice on the International Baccalaureate (IB) personal project, an in-depth project completed over an extended period of time. The tenth-grade personal project presentations took place on Dec. 7 at Broughton High School with over 500 students presenting their 10-minute oral presentations. IB partnership faculties from Broughton High School, Daniels Middle School, and East Millbrook Middle School came together at Broughton to form 80 assessment teams. These faculty committees assessed the projects using the internationally recognized and published IB criterion referenced assessment. This assessment is an important component presented at the conclusion of the IB Middle Years Programme which starts in 6th grade and ends in 10th grade. Project topics are student selected and include ideas such as building a prosthetic leg, staging a benefit concert to raise money for the Miracle League of the Triangle ($22,000 raised), or building a self-contained glider swing.
BOARD HEARS UPDATE ON HEALTHFUL LIVING EDUCATION
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education heard from WCPSS Chief Academic Officer Donna Hargens, WCPSS Healthful Living Coordinator Ann Hulslander and two teachers.
The North Carolina Association for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NCAAHPERD) recently recognized Fernando Ortega and Rebecca Clark as being our state’s best physical educators. Ortega of Lufkin Road Middle School and Clark of Enloe High School demonstrated the “New PE” comprised of researched-based, technology-inspired activities that boast minimal “down” time, increased heart rates and everyone moving simultaneously. The teachers are leading their students in the use of this cutting edge fitness experience that helps students to embark on a lifelong commitment to wellness.
BOARD ADOPTS 2007 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education adopted the 2007 Legislative Agenda. The recommendations were made by the WCPSS Legislative Committee comprised of a Board member, central service administrators, a principal, a teacher, and a representative from the PTA.
Some of the agenda issues include: Limited English Proficiency Funding; Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund; Dropout Prevention-Graduation Rate; and Special Program Caps; Retain and Recruit Teachers; Retain and Recruit Support Personnel; Retain and Recruit School Administrators; and Retired Teachers and School Employees, Technology Resources, Testing Coordinator; Sales Tax; State Funding of Public Schools; Construction Funding, and Taxing Authority.
EDUCATOR MEETS WITH TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
Nationally known educator and author Marva Collins visited with WCPSS teachers and administrators January 17 sharing her ideas on instruction. Collins demonstrated instruction and classroom management techniques at River Oaks Middle School and earlier met with teachers and administrators at the WCPSS Crossroads II Building. Collins is known for founding the Westside Preparatory School in 1975 in the Chicago inner-city area. Her students made remarkable progress that earned her recognition on CBS News’ 60 Minutes and eventually a movie and books that told her life story. She has authored books describing her teaching style and educational success. Her daughter now directs the school in Chicago while Collins meets with educators to discuss her style of teaching.
BOARD GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO POLICY UPDATES
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education gave first reading approval to update three board policies.
-Policy 1323 was revised in order to provide guidelines and parameters regarding absentee voting by Board Members. The policy was revised with the guidance of legal counsel. It was approved by the Policy Committee in December.
-Policy 3222 was revised in alignment with recent changes in legislation. As revised, the policy specifies that School Improvement Plans must include a plan to provide duty-free instructional planning for teachers. The policy was revised with the guidance of legal counsel. It was approved by the Policy Committee in December.
-Policy 3224 was revised in alignment with recent changes in legislation. As revised, the policy specifies that School Improvement Plans must include a plan to provide all full-time assigned classroom teachers a duty free lunch period on a daily basis or as otherwise approved by the school improvement plan. The policy was revised with the guidance of legal counsel. It was approved by the Policy Committee in December.
BOARD APPROVES DRIVER EDUCATION CONTRACT FOR 2007-2008
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved the drivers education contract for 2007-08 with Jordan Driving School, Inc. The board is authorized by state law to contract for Driver Education Program Services. The school system offered a request for proposal to solicit contractors that must meet the specifications and conditions of the RFP and received proposals from Bryant Driving School and Jordan Driving School. The total projected contract cost is $2,140,000.00 based on 10,000 students. The N.C. Department of Transportation Allocation will fund all costs of the program for Driver Education. No local funds will be used to support this program.
BOARD APPROVES DANIELS MIDDLE SCHOOL TRIP TO JAPAN
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved a June 2007 trip by eight students and two chaperones from Daniels Middle School to Toyko and Shiwa Town, Japan. The students will compare and contrast school and country cultures. This is the third year of a three year exchange program with the Shiwa Town School District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The cost per student will be approximately $2,800.00. The total cost will be approximately $22,400.00. The PTA will contribute $2000.00 for financial assistance and parents will organize a fundraiser to defray the cost of the trip.
BOARD APPROVES PARKING LEASE RENEWAL FOR WAKE FOREST-ROLESVILLE HIGH
At its Jan. 9 meeting, the Board of Education approved a renewal of the park lease for Wake Forest-Rolesville High. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary agreed to again lease to the Board of Education 80 parking spaces on seminary property near Wake Forest-Rolesville High School. The renewal lease duration is from July 1, 2006 until June 30, 2008. The lease is for the continued use of parking spaces located at the corner of Rock Springs Road and West Stadium Avenue. An annual lease payment of $10,000 will be due for each year of the term. Funding is available from the 2006-2007 Annual Operating Budget.
CALENDAR
| Jan. 23 | 12 p.m., Board of Education meets as committee of the whole in board conference room; 2 p.m., Board of Education meeting in board room, 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh |
| Jan. 23 | Superintendent Burns presents first Mid-Year Report Card on WCPSS at Board of Education meeting |
| Jan. 24 | 6:30 p.m., Board of Education holds public hearings on 2007-08 growth management proposal at Knightdale High |
| Jan. 26 | 8:30 a.m., Board of Education meets in work session at Crossroads II, 110 Corning Road, Cary |
-wcpss-
|
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
Tell a friend about the School Connection and encourage them to sign up at
http://www.wcpss.net/online_newsletters/the_school_connection/