School Connection
June 5, 2007 |
WCPSS GRADUATES MORE THAN 7,200 STUDENTS FOR 2007
The Wake County Public School System will award diplomas to 7,267 students in 19 ceremonies through Sunday, June 10.
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More information on 2007 Graduation can be found here. |
Most of the students will continue their education in college, while others will enlist in the military or join the workforce.
The class of 2007 earned more than $39.96 million in scholarships, had more than 980 qualifying for the North Carolina Scholars program and more than 1,200 Honor Society graduates.
Three high schools have senior classes with around 500 students. Cary High has 529. Green Hope has 523. Apex has 519. The 7,267 graduates this year compares with 6,774 last year.
Southeast Raleigh High held the first graduation ceremony on June 1. Twin brothers Wayneho Kam and Waynekid Kam gave the valedictorian address. The Southeast Raleigh High class of 2007 had 28 Presidential Scholars, two National Merit finalists, and one National Merit Achievement Finalist.
This is the first graduation ceremony for Knightdale High School, which opened two years ago with ninth and tenth grades.
There will be a total of 19 WCPSS schools holding graduation ceremonies at five different sites with most of the ceremonies being held at Reynolds Coliseum and the Progress Energy Center.
With most schools having 300 to 500 graduates, there will be additional traffic and parking demands in the area during the ceremonies.
The WCPSS Security Department, Raleigh Police Department and Wake County Sheriff's Department will attend graduation ceremonies. Only persons with an admission ticket will be admitted to a graduation ceremony. In addition, no laptop computers, packages, artificial noisemakers, balloons, or other disruptive devices will be permitted.
WCPSS HONORED FOR ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
The Wake County Board of Education was awarded the 2005-2006 State Treasurer's Award for Excellence in Accounting and Financial Management for the establishment of a Fraud Prevention Program, internal control improvement, and implementation of a budget manager certification program.
Vance Holloman, deputy state treasurer, presented the award at the May 22 school board meeting to chief business officer David Neter on behalf of state treasurer Richard Moore. Holloman said, "You are very fortunate to have dedicated employees such as Dr. Burns, David Neter and [finance officer] Mark Winters in the system, and the citizens of our county are also fortunate to have such good employees."
The State Treasurer's Award for Excellence is a joint effort of the North Carolina Department of the State Treasurer and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Its purpose is to encourage all units of local government in North Carolina to upgrade their accounting and financial management programs, systems, methods and procedures. WCPSS's entry in the award program was evaluated by the Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee of the CPA association.
Holloman said that WCPSS's successful entry was evaluated on the nature of the changes made and whether the programs could be replicated in other units.
In a letter announcing the award, Moore wrote, "These improvements will safeguard the school system's assets and save money, as well as promote effectiveness and efficiency."
"The improved and new business processes that are the basis for receiving this award exemplify our focus on ongoing improvement," said Neter. "We must continue to bring best business practices into the school system."
"It is a team effort," said superintendent Del Burns. "And it gives me great comfort knowing we have great business folks working with the business side of the Wake County Public School System."
WCPSS INTERNAL AUDITOR NAMED A CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINER
Doug B. Kinney, WCPSS senior director of internal audit, has earned his professional designation as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). Kinney was notified of his achievement May 22 by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Kinney said that the rigorous study and examinations leading to his achievement would strengthen the school system's accountability to the community. "The test was a big deal. There were between 275 and 600 questions in the study program that had to be answered correctly and the actual exam had 125 questions per section. I learned a lot about fraud and the investigation of fraud. I also learned about the criminal theories that relate to fraud examination."
The CFE examination tests for proficiency in criminology and ethics, financial transactions, legal elements of fraud, and fraud investigation. To maintain his CFE designation, Kinney will complete 20 hours of continuing professional education each year, at least half of which is fraud related.
Kinney has served as WCPSS's internal auditor since 1985. He now leads a staff of four administrators and one support person. He said that the recent staffing increase was sorely needed: "We have been able to do a broader range of more detailed audits. We are implementing all of the Summerford fraud vulnerability assessment recommendations, including the use of data mining software to analyze our financial data." Some members of his staff are studying to earn their Certified Internal Auditor designation from the Institute of Internal Auditors, and Kinney expects that they will pursue CFE training afterward.
The internal audit department reports directly to the superintendent's office rather than the school system's administrative services division, which includes the finance and budgeting departments. "That allows the audit department to be independent of who and what we're reporting," said Kinney. The department's findings and recommendations are presented to the board chair and finance chair of the Wake County Board of Education, the superintendent and the chief business officer.
"Large organizations, whether they're Fortune 500 companies or school systems, have to be constantly vigilant in protecting against fraud," said WCPSS superintendent Del Burns. "I'm proud that Doug has become a Certified Fraud Examiner. He and his staff are instrumental in expanding our fiscal accountability. They are truly safeguarding Wake County citizens' investments in teaching and learning."
BOARD DISCUSSES CONSENT FORMS AND SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS
For more than four hours on May 30, the Board of Education worked on the assignment of traditional calendar options for 2,583 students whose parents returned consent forms asking to attend a traditional calendar school.
The consent forms were distributed May 11 to 30,500 students who did not apply and were assigned to one of the 52 year-round or modified calendar schools for 2007-08.
The consent forms were required by Wake Superior Court Judge Howard Manning’s order in response to a group who filed suit over the 2007-08 school assignment plan. The consent forms ask families to tell school officials that they agree to attend the year-round or modified calendar school they were assigned to attend for 2007-08, or to request to attend a traditional calendar school.
At the May 30 board work session, Assistant Superintendent Chuck Dulaney reviewed the locations of students who had asked for traditional calendar seats and the traditional calendar schools being considered. In the original student assignment plan, the school system had provided traditional calendar options for families who had students assigned to year-round schools. With the data from the returned consent forms showing the number and location of students, the board changed the traditional calendar options for 19 of the 40 elementary schools and two of the eleven secondary schools.
WCPSS COMPLETES REVIEW OF CONTROVERSIAL GUEST SPEAKER
The Wake County Public School System today completed its investigation into the controversial guest speaker who spoke to Enloe High School classes at the invitation of an Enloe history teacher earlier this semester. As part of this process the district interviewed students and staff and reviewed materials related to the speaker’s presentation. The investigation also included a comprehensive review of the teacher’s performance and of the district’s policies and procedures relating to the use of guest speakers.
The investigation showed that, while the speaker described his own personal experience of religious persecution in Egypt, this was not his primary message. He spent most of his presentation conveying his anti-Muslim and pro-Christian views and distributed flyers that denigrated Muslims and the Islam religion, while promoting Christianity.
As a result of the investigation, Superintendent Del Burns has strengthened existing procedures to emphasize the district’s expectations for the use of guest speakers. The new procedures remind teachers and speakers that: “Materials and presentations must not denigrate any culture, race, gender, national origin, or religion. Also, while factual information on politics, religion, culture, or ethnicity may be presented, proselytizing is not permitted.”
According to Superintendent Del Burns, “Absolutely under no circumstances will we allow proselytizing or the denigration of any culture or religion in our schools. All students in the Wake County Public School System should be able to come to school each day feeling respected and supported.”
Burns concluded, “The presentation of the guest speaker at Enloe was unacceptable and very regrettable. However, because of it, I believe we have clarified expectations and provided better guidance and support to our teachers regarding the appropriate use of outside resources. On behalf of the school system, I apologize to members of our Muslim community who were understandably concerned and offended by this incident.”
BUS SAFETY INSPECTION SCORES IMPROVE
The results from the May 23 state safety re-inspection of Wake County Public School System buses showed significant improvement in the school system's bus safety inspection score.
James Hawkins, Transportation Consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction, said the school system received a re-inspection score of 73.10, a score significantly lower than the 94.02 in a November 2006 inspection.
Don Haydon, WCPSS Chief for Facilities and Operations, said the lower score shows a significant improvement for the school system's fleet of more than 800 buses.
"We've shifted staff to make inspections a priority," said Haydon. "This score reflects significant improvement, and has us headed in the right direction. We must continue to improve the safety inspection ratings for our buses."
With WCPSS buses operate on a triple tier system reducing the number of buses and drivers needed by taking three loads of students to school in the morning and then home in the afternoons. This also reduces the time available for mechanics to do inspections. WCPSS Transportation employees have spent changed schedules, even working Saturday hours, to complete inspections. The school system has also included six mechanics in the budget.
The review includes the inspection of selected school buses in different areas of the school system transportation fleet. The inspection looked at 21 buses total, seven in each of three WCPSS Transportation areas. The state inspection process helps to provide a safer and more efficient bus transportation program.
Maintenance problems ranged from low tire tread to inoperative warning lights, having an aerosol can on a bus and damage to the padding of a seat belt. Each deficiency was repaired immediately so that all buses remained in service and did not miss a run.
WCPSS Transportation operates nearly 840 buses that travel more than 14 million miles a year transporting more than 65,000 students to and from school.
BOARD RECEIVES UPDATE ON POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT
At its May 22 meeting, the Board of Education heard from John Ringo on the implementation of the Positive Behavior Support program in WCPSS schools. Ringo told the board that PBS is currently being implemented in 42 schools (elementary, middle and high) with 30 additional schools coming on-board in 2007-08. The purpose of PBS is to improve the achievement of all students by reducing the number of office discipline referrals; reducing the number of suspensions; increasing staff morale and improving school climate.
BOARD RECEIVES REPORT ON PROJECT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
At its May 22 meeting, the Board of Education heard from Southeast Raleigh High principal Beulah Wright and Band Director Clifton Scott about the band’s New Orleans Service Project field trip. The band collected instruments, uniforms and art and music supplies to share with students in New Orleans who were trying to re-establish the bands at their schools. On their trip, the Southeast Raleigh students performed in Jackson Square for the public; performed for Clark High School seniors and shared with them donated items; and devoted a day to assisting the New Orleans community in the area of clean up and light construction. Principal Wright said it was an important trip that helped students develop an awareness of the needs of others and how they could make a difference.
BOARD APPROVES 2008-09 MODIFIED CALENDAR
At its May 22 meeting, the Board of Education approved the modified calendar for 1008-09. Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School, Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School, Moore Square Magnet Middle School, Carver Elementary School, and Partnership Elementary School use this calendar.
The modified year-round instructional calendar combines features of the traditional and year-round calendar. The first semester is similar to Track 4 of the year-round calendar and the second semester is similar to Track 1. The calendar provides a summer break of approximately seven weeks. The first day for students will be Thursday, July 24, 2008. The last day will be Tuesday, May 27, 2009. On this calendar, the four-day Easter weekend coincides with the spring break on the traditional calendar.
SCHOOL MEAL PRICES UNCHANGED FOR 2007-08
There will be no change to the prices students pay for breakfast and lunch at WCPSS schools in 2007-08. At its May 8 meeting, the Board of Education agreed to keep meal prices the same.
In elementary schools, the full price is 80 cents for breakfast and $1.75 for lunch. In secondary schools, the full price for breakfast is $1 and $2 for lunch.
There have been no changes in WCPSS meal prices since 2004-05. Elementary breakfast prices have not changed since 1995-96.
CALENDAR
| June 5 | 12 p.m., Committee of the Whole meeting in board conference room; 2 p.m., Board of Education meeting in board room |
| June 19 | 12 p.m., Committee of the Whole meeting in board conference room; 2 p.m., Board of Education meeting in board room |
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