The Wake County Board of Education has adopted a budget proposal for the 2013-14 school year. The proposal includes a request for an increase of $8.3 million in local revenue. The total county appropriation request is just over $326.6 million dollars. The proposal now goes before the Wake County Board of Commissioners for consideration.

The budget proposal also includes an appropriation of $28.7 million from the school system’s own fund balance, essentially a savings account generally reserved for “rainy day” expenses.

Wake County provides approximately 25 percent of the school system’s revenue. When all sources of funding are combined, the school system’s total operating budget is approximately $1.3 billion, including an estimated 60 percent from the state of North Carolina; nine percent from federal sources; and six percent from other local sources, such as fines and forfeitures.

Key trends that drive the request for increased funding include the following:
• Growth in the student population by approximately 3,000
• Expansion of the Magnet program
• The opening of one new school, Rolesville High
• Training for teachers in the adopted Common Core curriculum
• A modest change in our teacher formula reducing some class sizes
• Funding to phase in Technology Facilitators in our schools
• Potential small salary increases and employer benefit increases

The proposed local budget includes $218,478 to support the creation of an Office of Equity and Diversity, which would be staffed by an assistant superintendent and a secretary. This assistant superintendent would be expected to work closely with the yet-to-be-named new superintendent in defining a vision and scope of responsibility for the office.

At the state level, North Carolina’s public school budget has not yet been approved by the N.C. General Assembly. Governor Pat McCrory’s spending proposal requested support for enough teachers to accommodate growth in the state’s student population; however, funding would be cut for teacher assistants at grades 2 and 3. If approved, the state cuts could result in the elimination of as many as 400 teacher assistant positions in Wake County.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners is expected to decide on the county appropriation part of the school system’s budget before the deadline of June 30, 2013.

The Wake County Board of Education is one step closer to finalizing a proposed building program, which would be largely funded through a bond referendum expected to go before voters in early October 2013. Other revenue would come from a Wake County bond sale this spring along with other available county revenues.

The building program is driven by several factors:

• Projected growth in WCPSS’s student population, expected to increase by 32,000 students by the 2020 school year;
• Urgent renovations and expansions needed at Wake’s older facilities;
• Renovation or replacement of various building components such as roofs, flooring, windows, heating and air conditioning systems, paving, playgrounds, etc., and,
• Technology upgrades and renovations.

Under a proposal submitted to the school board by Assistant Superintendent Joe Desormeaux on May 7, the plan would build 11 new elementary schools; three middle schools; and two high schools. Additionally, seven elementary schools would undergo major renovations and expansions along with one middle school and two high schools. Many more schools would benefit from new roofs, flooring, painting, etc., as well as upgraded electrical and wiring systems to accommodate technology.

The next step is a combined meeting of the Wake County Board of Education with the Wake County Board of Commissioners on May 16 for a final review of the program. On May 21, the Board of Education is expected to adopt a resolution requesting a bond referendum from the Board of Commissioners. The final bond amount is yet to be determined, but is anticipated to be between $700 million and $800 million.

At the Wake County Teacher of the Year Banquet, the community congratulated the teachers from each Wake County school honored as the school’s Teacher of the Year.

Hundreds of educators, business leaders and community leaders gathered to celebrate the 12 finalists for the award and honor one as the Teacher of the Year.

The event is fully funded by donations from Wake County businesses, the largest donation coming from Wells Fargo. Dr. Stephen Gainey, Interim Superintendent of the Wake County Schools, praised the business community for its continued support of the banquet and the statement of support it made for Wake County teachers.
The full list of banquet sponsors can be found here.

American Idol winner Scotty McCreery donated computers to his elementary school music teacher at Timber Drive Elementary. After music teacher Elizabeth Palmieri led the fifth-grade chorus in its spring concert before the entire school on May 14, she received seven laptop computers for her classroom and a special surprise.

Several prominent state and local leaders will address a group of male Wake County students and their fathers at a leadership forum on Saturday, May 18, at Athens Drive High School.

At least 130 participants are expected to attend the event, which features speakers including Lt. Governor Dan Forest, N.C. Transportation Secretary Tony Tata, N.C. State Superintendent Dr. June Atkinson and other leaders in education, government and public policy. The event is being organized by the Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy and its PTSA, with the support of several local vendors.

“This is an opportunity to expose our students to what leadership means, and how they can contribute to issues facing their generation now and in the future,” said Ian Solomon, principal of the Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy.

“We have asked the students to bring their fathers or another significant adult figure in their lives because we really want parents to become civically engaged in some of the issues young men are facing, as well,” Solomon said. “We hope this experience helps our students as they explore and consider their future careers and involvement in our community.”

Topics of discussion will include leadership, financial literacy, public safety, and more.

What: Building Future Leaders

When: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18

Where: Athens Drive High School, 1420 Athens Drive, Raleigh

More than 130 participants have pre-registered for the event, but space is still available. Wake County students interested in attending may contact Amy Schroeder at aschroeder [at] wcpss [dot] net or (919) 431-2261.

The Wake County Board of Education and the Wake County Board of Commissioners have tentatively agreed on a revised school building plan in preparation of a bond referendum of $810 million to be set for October 8.

The bond money would substantially fund a $939.9 million school building program that would result in 11 new elementary schools; three middle schools; and two high schools. Significant renovations would take place at six schools, and dozens of schools would benefit from replacements, renovations, and upgrades. The remainder of the $939.9 million amount would come from existing funds from a recent bond sale by Wake County government and other county revenue.

The building program addresses the need for additional school space for the district’s growing population of students, expected to increase by as many as 32,000 students by the 2020 school year. The program also addresses renovation and replacement needs on several of the school system’s older campuses.

The next step is a May 21st meeting of the Wake Board of Education, when the board is expected to adopt a resolution requesting a bond referendum from the Board of Commissioners. The two boards plan to visit some of the school sites later this spring. The Board of Commissioners is expected to start the legal process for the bond referendum at its meeting on June 17.

The County Commissioners and Board of Education began focusing on the building program and funding plans earlier this year, significantly whittling down the program to make it affordable.

Apex High students won the Subway W8 2 TXT High School Competition.  Through the competition, Subway urges young drivers to wait to send text messages – or W8 2 TXT – when they are not behind the wheel. The W8 2 TXT Campaign was in April, during National Distracted Driver Awareness Month.

Students signed a virtual pledge wall to be counted in a high school challenge to see which school would have the highest student participation and earn free Subway subs for the entire school. In addition to the Subway Lunch Party, Apex High received a $500 grant to put toward safety programs.

Elaine Westarp/ Joyner ES

When Embree Duffy was first diagnosed with cancer, her classmates from J.Y. Joyner Elementary Magnet School showered her family with symbols of support.

They crafted colorful cards and letters to send to Embree’s house. They made orange and white T-shirts in Embree’s honor, and recorded a video to tell her how much they missed her while she was receiving treatment for leukemia.

The principal of the school even sent home an iPad so Embree could visit her classes via video chat, see her friends and keep up on what they were learning.

“They really rallied around her and loved her and supported her,” her mother Erin Duffy says.

It was that community spirit of the Joyner community, she says, that is being recognized by a special gift to the school from Wells Fargo.

The surprise gift was wheeled into a recent afternoon pep rally for Joyner students, cloaked in a heavy blue drape. Embree helped Principal Kathryn Hutchinson move the drape aside to reveal Birtha, a life-sized cow sculpture adorned in colorful cherry blossoms. View a video of the reveal. >>

Birtha was one of 79 painted cows created by North Carolina artists for CowParadeNC, a fundraiser for the N.C. Children’s Hospital. Wells Fargo representatives heard about Embree’s story and wanted to donate to the hospital in Embree’s honor, purchasing the cow at auction.

“It was cool,” Embree says of the big reveal. “I like the pattern on her and the flowers.”

According to the artist, Andria Linn, Birtha is representative of “life, love, rebirth and giving.” The cocoons and cherry blossoms adorning Birtha’s flanks are symbolic of “newness and expectation for what life’s challenges bring us.”

“It seemed almost to be about Embree, even though the artist doesn’t know Embree,” Erin Duffy says.

Embree and her fellow students will get to see Birtha whenever they’d like to. She’ll be placed on a stand in the school’s lobby, surrounded by a white picket fence. Students and teachers will be able to visit her for writing prompts, lessons in artistic expression and building social awareness.

Three finalists for the position of Superintendent of the Wake County Public School System will take questions from the public at a Community Forum scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, 2 East South Street, Raleigh. The public is invited.

WRAL and NBC-17 will be live streaming the event.

The Wake County Board of Education announced the three finalists on May 21:

• Dr. Dana T. Bedden, Superintendent of the Irving Independent School District, Irving, TX
• Ms. Ann B. Clark, Deputy Superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte, NC.
• Dr. James G. Merrill, Superintendent of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Virginia Beach, VA

The search process began several months ago as the school board’s executive search firm McPherson and Jacobson compiled school board community input on superintendent qualifications and challenges.  Twenty-three candidates applied for the position.  The board chose four as semi-finalists and then narrowed the list to three.

The school board will conduct final interviews with the candidates on Wednesday, May 29.   The announcement of the new Superintendent could come as early as the next school board meeting on June 4.  Once a decision is made, a start date will be announced.

Tahquetta Hunter (left) and Milly Hodges (center) of North Garner Middle School receive a $3,000 grant from the Wake Education Partnership, presented by the organization’s President Steve Parrott.

Students who arrive this fall in Milly Hodges’ 6^th-grade science classes might not know what an electromagnetic spectrum is. But she’s hoping the use of an iPod application will help them understand the concept.

This summer, a $3,000 grant from the Wake Education Partnership will help Hodges and her colleagues at North Garner Middle School stock an iPod cart that will travel through science classes. The interactive devices will be equipped with apps that students will use to tackle challenging science vocabulary—electromagnetic spectra, binomial nomenclature and more.

Hodges and her colleagues are among 34 educators who received grants from the Wake Education Partnership on May 29. Overall, the nonprofit organization was able to give more than $70,000 in Teacher Leadership Grants for projects addressing students’ dental health, nutrition, arts education, literacy, special education and more. The teacher grants were made possible by numerous Triangle corporations (see below for complete list). View more photos from the event. >>

New this year, Wake Education Partnership also awarded grants in honor of two WCPSS employees—a literacy grant in honor of the late Dr. Sherri Merritt, the district’s former literacy director, and an arts education grant in honor of Elizabeth Grimes-Droessler, the district’s senior administrator for the arts and WCPSS educator of 30 years.

Phil Merritt, husband of Dr. Merritt, was among several family members who helped award the grant in her honor.

“Her goal in life was helping kids become passionate readers,” says Phil Merritt, who is a music teacher at Holly Springs Elementary School.

Grants such as those offered through the Wake Education Partnership make new ideas possible, says Sabrina Penuel, who is a dance teacher at Garner Magnet High School.

“It’s validating when you have an idea, and you take a chance and someone backs up your idea,” she says.

Hodges and her colleagues are eager to get to work on their grant project. Sixth-grade science brings an array of new and challenging scientific words, she says. With the implementation of new state standards that place an increased emphasis on non-fiction texts, Hodges wants her students to build their ability to decipher vocabulary in a motivating and enjoyable way.

“Technology has changed so much,” says teacher Tahquetta Hunter, who applied for the grant with Hodges. “We know that kids need different ways to learn.”

Getting to use a touch-screen device is a great incentive for most students.

“You can hear a pin drop when the students get to use iPads to read,” Hodges says. “Students who don’t even like to read will read if you let them do it on the iPads.”

Teacher Leadership Grants were made possible by Time Warner Cable, Biogen Idec., GlaxoSmithKline, Food Lion, Quintiles, the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, Duke Carolina Hospital and VantageSouth Bank.

For more information on Teacher Leadership Grants, visit the Wake Education Partnership website. >>

The Board of Education formally adopted a resolution on June 4 in support of a $939.9 million building program that would be largely funded through an $810 million bond referendum on October 8.

The remainder of the $939.9 million amount would come from existing funds from a recent bond sale by Wake County government and other county revenue.

The building program would result in 11 new elementary schools; three middle schools; and two high schools. Significant renovations would take place at six schools, and the majority of remaining schools would benefit from replacements, renovations, and upgrades.

The building program addresses the need for additional school space for the district’s growing population of students, expected to increase by as many as 32,000 students by the 2020 school year. The program also addresses renovation and replacement needs on several of the school system’s older campuses. The Board of Commissioners is expected to start the legal process for the bond referendum at its meeting on June 17.

What a year it has been at WCPSS!

Check out a Special Issue of our e-newsletter, School-Community News, to see the year’s most memorable and exciting moments for our students: http://bit.ly/19q3wKf

School-Community News focuses on news and issues of interest to Wake County students, parents and community members. Subscribe to have this newsletter delivered right to your email inbox.

Five WCPSS high school seniors are among the 44 Class of 2017 Park Scholars. The scholarship provides for a four-year education at NC State University. The new class was selected from a record of nearly 1,650 outstanding candidates who submitted applications.

The WCPSS students include:

Alex Carlisle Brown of Cary High School is the founder and co-president of the Biology Club, an officer of the National Honor Society and a member of the yearbook staff. He is an Eagle Scout, a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and a coordinator for a fundraising project with Stop Hunger Now. Alex plans to major in business administration

Rizwan Krishan Dard of Panther Creek High School is president of the Leo Club and Spanish Club, and a Catamount mentor. He has organized blood drives in his school and community, coordinated fundraising projects to benefit Stop Hunger Now and is the recipient of the Mayor’s Award for Volunteering. Rizwan plans to major in chemistry.

Lauren Isabel Frey of Enloe Magnet High School is student body president, founding president of the Diversity Club and leader of both the United Student Success Team and the annual Charity Ball. She was inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women as Teen Woman of the Year. Lauren plans to major in environmental science.

Laila Imad Knio of Athens Drive High School is vice president of National Honor Society and co-president of the Psychology Club and French Club. She has been a tutor in her school and community, and is a volunteer with the Cary Health and Rehabilitation Center. Laila plans to double major in textile engineering and psychology.

Mikayla Elizabeth Raleigh of Athens Drive High School is president of the senior class, vice president of Key Club and co-captain of the varsity cross-country team. She is the creator of a fitness training business for young athletes and a member of a world ranking competitive cheerleading team. Mikayla plans to major in marketing.

The Park Scholarships are named for the late Roy H. Park, an N.C. State alumnus who created the charitable Park Foundation, dedicated to education, media, and the environment. Approximately 45 scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding high school seniors for undergraduate study in any discipline at N.C. State.

The Wake County Board of Education has adopted a budget proposal for the 2013-14 school year. The proposal includes a request for an increase of $8.3 million in local revenue. The total county appropriation request is just over $326.6 million dollars. The proposal now goes before the Wake County Board of Commissioners for consideration.

The budget proposal also includes an appropriation of $28.7 million from the school system’s own fund balance, essentially a savings account generally reserved for “rainy day” expenses.

Wake County provides approximately 25 percent of the school system’s revenue. When all sources of funding are combined, the school system’s total operating budget is approximately $1.3 billion, including an estimated 60 percent from the state of North Carolina; nine percent from federal sources; and six percent from other local sources, such as fines and forfeitures.

Key trends that drive the request for increased funding include the following:
• Growth in the student population by approximately 3,000
• Expansion of the Magnet program
• The opening of one new school, Rolesville High
• Training for teachers in the adopted Common Core curriculum
• A modest change in our teacher formula reducing some class sizes
• Funding to phase in Technology Facilitators in our schools
• Potential small salary increases and employer benefit increases

The proposed local budget includes $218,478 to support the creation of an Office of Equity and Diversity, which would be staffed by an assistant superintendent and a secretary. This assistant superintendent would be expected to work closely with the yet-to-be-named new superintendent in defining a vision and scope of responsibility for the office.

At the state level, North Carolina’s public school budget has not yet been approved by the N.C. General Assembly. Governor Pat McCrory’s spending proposal requested support for enough teachers to accommodate growth in the state’s student population; however, funding would be cut for teacher assistants at grades 2 and 3. If approved, the state cuts could result in the elimination of as many as 400 teacher assistant positions in Wake County.

The Wake County Board of Commissioners is expected to decide on the county appropriation part of the school system’s budget before the deadline of June 30, 2013.

Students in the Academy of Information Technology at Apex High work in internships during the summer to complete academy requirements. Apex companies find the students are well prepared to assist them and students get a better understanding of the link between their school work and careers.

Home Depot selected Dillard Drive Elementary and Middle schools to receive its prestigious Adopt a School Choice award.

Home Depot helped Dillard Drive Elementary to update their outdoor classroom, install raised planting beds for grade level planting and spruce up some gardening bed areas.

“We are very thankful to Home Depot and other community members in supporting our students and our school with these improvements.” Dillard Drive Elementary School Principal James Douglas said.

Dillard Drive Middle School received much needed landscaping in front of and behind the school, new and updated raised planting beds to support a community garden and new wooden benches and picnic areas around the campus.

“We are extremely excited about this award and using it for a community garden to provide food for the Raleigh Food Shuttle,” said Nolan Bryant, Principal, Dillard Drive Middle School.

Home Depot’s Adopt a School Choice is a local program that assists public schools with educational and environmental projects that strengthen the local community.

An important part of Home Depot’s program is the opportunity for employees to give of their time, talent, energy and resources to the community and society.  Corporate community involvement is coordinated through The Home Depot Foundation Team Depot.  The Home Depot’s associate-led volunteer force uses the time and talents of associates to meet community needs through hands-on service.

Thanks to Jonathan Pritchett, Store Manager of Home Depot at Cary Crossroads, for Home Depot’s support of the Wake County Public School System.

The Knightdale High Academy of Environmental Studies received a $2,000 Living to Serve grant from the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Organization.

Students in the Knightdale High Academy of Environmental Studies and FFA club will use this money to create a composting program at Knightdale High. The KAES Kompost program will be an in service-learning project. Students will be in charge of research, development, and the implementation of the needs of both the school and the community.

Throughout the year, KAES and FFA students will be responsible for maintaining the composting site, and educating their peers about composting, modeling appropriate composting in the lunchroom, as well as communicating with community members about their efforts. As the program progresses, students will be responsible for speaking with community members about the distribution of compost materials. Both KAES members and faculty are excited about the opportunity this will provide to work in conjunction with the Knightdale community.

Thanks to Geof Duncan, Knightdale High Career Academy Coordinator and STEM Technology Facilitator for sharing this story.

Wake County schools may apply for the  2013-14 Advocates for Health in Action Brains and Bodies Award, the only award recognizing individual Wake County schools working to improve the health of students and staff.

School administrators, teachers and parents are invited to attend AHA’s Brains and Bodies Workshop on Wednesday., September. 11 at 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. in Raleigh. AHA will share information about the award program and how schools can apply.

Registration for the September 11 workshop is free, but attendees must pre-register at www.AdvofcatesforHealthinAction.org because space is limited.

The award application deadline is not until March 21, but by learning about the application and award criteria this fall, schools can work toward their wellness goals and award recognition throughout the school year.

AHA will present schools awards at the gold, silver and bronze levels in three wellness areas: policy/systems, employee wellness and student wellness.

All winning schools receive an AHA Brains and Bodies Award: Healthy Students Grow Here banner and framed certificate to display in their school. AHA will award a limited number of Wellness Stars for schools’ outstanding Walk to School and/or Bike to School efforts. A Wellness Star may be earned regardless of whether a school earns a Brains and Bodies Award.

AHA’s Brains and Bodies Award uses the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Framework as the assessment tool. The Alliance’s many online resources will also enable schools to manage their entire wellness program and track their progress.

Homeschool groups:  Please share this information with your parents.

Our district has been awarded free access to thousands of videos on NBC Learn for 6-12 grade through June 2015. The membership includes a multimedia archive with unlimited streaming videos and downloads that can be used both inside the classroom and as homework. Teachers are able to set up playlists that are correlated to North Carolina State Standards and Common Core standards. The playlists are then shared with their students through presentations, or even tweeted directly to them. The NBC Learn website includes historical videos, news reports, NBC original series collections, and today’s current events. Teachers and students have access to this massive video database courtesy of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and Chevron Corporation.