Knightdale100 Community Forum Broadcast
Friday, January 29, 2010
In case you were not able to make it to the first Knightdale Community Forum that was held on Tuesday, January 26th 2010, it will be broadcasted tonight, 01/29/2010 8PM, on EWTV channel 22. It is also a good time to review the meeting. Please make sure to post any comments or questions in order to help us prepare for our next meeting on February 23rd, 2010
Gov. Perdue Submits "Race to the Top" Application; Achieves 100% Participation from Local Partners
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Gov. Bev Perdue this weekend mailed North Carolina’s completed application for funds from the federal “Race to the Top” initiative. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Race to the Top is a federal $4.5 billion competitive grant fund that rewards states for educational innovation and achieving significant improvements in student performance. North Carolina’s application requests approximately $469.5 million in federal funds to be spent over four years.
“As a national leader in educational innovation, I’m confident that North Carolina is in a good position to receive Race to the Top funding,” said Perdue. “I’m excited about the opportunities this funding will create toward reaching my goal of preparing every student to graduate high school ready for a career, college or technical training.”
North Carolina’s application, as required, assessed the state’s current education reform efforts and presented a comprehensive plan for improving student outcomes in four areas:
• Internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments;
• Development of data systems that measure success and improve instruction;
• Supporting effective teachers and leaders; and
• Turning around low-performing schools.
Gov. Perdue’s Career and College – Ready, Set, Go! agenda has North Carolina already working on higher standards, better curriculum, new diagnostic assessments to help keep students achieving at or above grade level, developing great teachers and school leaders, and improving low-performing schools.
According to the National Governors Association, Gov. Perdue is the first governor in the nation to direct state educational governing boards to adopt the National Common Core standards, so that they may work together to reach the goal of preparing every student to graduate from high school ready for a career, college or technical training.
The U.S. Department of Education is expected to award the first Race to the Top grants this spring.
Blog from Gov. Perdue: Race to the Top an example of statewide collaboration
Earlier this week, North Carolina submitted its application for the federal education program, “Race to the Top.” The program encourages states to be innovative and to look for new ways to achieve significant student improvement. Luckily for North Carolina, we are already an education innovation leader and I’m confident that we will be successful in receiving funds for our schools.
While we won’t get official word on funding from the federal government for some time, I don’t want us to lose sight of what we’ve already accomplished. The application process for Race for the Top was unprecedented. One hundred percent of local education agencies (LEAs) signed on to our application. That means every superintendent, school board chair and president of the local teachers association are in agreement with our plans for education in North Carolina – the plans laid out in my Career and College—Ready, Set, Go! agenda. This is a tremendous sign of the commitment state and local leaders share and I applaud this example of such statewide collaboration.
In addition, many leaders have signed letters of support on behalf of our state’s application. I’m proud to have education pioneers such as Gov. Jim Hunt and Judge Howard Manning standing behind our plans for North Carolina’s future.
That unanimity means that North Carolina’s education leadership is prepared to tackle the challenge of preparing every single student – no matter where he or she lives – to graduate from high school ready for a career, college or technical training. That’s no small feat, as it requires cooperation from all levels – schools, higher education, parents, local and state government.
“As a national leader in educational innovation, I’m confident that North Carolina is in a good position to receive Race to the Top funding,” said Perdue. “I’m excited about the opportunities this funding will create toward reaching my goal of preparing every student to graduate high school ready for a career, college or technical training.”
North Carolina’s application, as required, assessed the state’s current education reform efforts and presented a comprehensive plan for improving student outcomes in four areas:
• Internationally-benchmarked standards and assessments;
• Development of data systems that measure success and improve instruction;
• Supporting effective teachers and leaders; and
• Turning around low-performing schools.
Gov. Perdue’s Career and College – Ready, Set, Go! agenda has North Carolina already working on higher standards, better curriculum, new diagnostic assessments to help keep students achieving at or above grade level, developing great teachers and school leaders, and improving low-performing schools.
According to the National Governors Association, Gov. Perdue is the first governor in the nation to direct state educational governing boards to adopt the National Common Core standards, so that they may work together to reach the goal of preparing every student to graduate from high school ready for a career, college or technical training.
The U.S. Department of Education is expected to award the first Race to the Top grants this spring.
Blog from Gov. Perdue: Race to the Top an example of statewide collaboration
Earlier this week, North Carolina submitted its application for the federal education program, “Race to the Top.” The program encourages states to be innovative and to look for new ways to achieve significant student improvement. Luckily for North Carolina, we are already an education innovation leader and I’m confident that we will be successful in receiving funds for our schools.
While we won’t get official word on funding from the federal government for some time, I don’t want us to lose sight of what we’ve already accomplished. The application process for Race for the Top was unprecedented. One hundred percent of local education agencies (LEAs) signed on to our application. That means every superintendent, school board chair and president of the local teachers association are in agreement with our plans for education in North Carolina – the plans laid out in my Career and College—Ready, Set, Go! agenda. This is a tremendous sign of the commitment state and local leaders share and I applaud this example of such statewide collaboration.
In addition, many leaders have signed letters of support on behalf of our state’s application. I’m proud to have education pioneers such as Gov. Jim Hunt and Judge Howard Manning standing behind our plans for North Carolina’s future.
That unanimity means that North Carolina’s education leadership is prepared to tackle the challenge of preparing every single student – no matter where he or she lives – to graduate from high school ready for a career, college or technical training. That’s no small feat, as it requires cooperation from all levels – schools, higher education, parents, local and state government.
K100 Jan 26 2010 Meeting Agenda
Monday, January 25, 2010
Speakers
Dr. Ann Denlinger – President, Wake Education Partnership
Mr. Tim Simmons – Vice President of Communications, Wake Education Partnership
Ms. Carla Jernigan - Principal of Knightdale High School
Mr. Joe Bryan - Wake County Commissioner
Meeting Agenda
7:00-7:10pm Welcome and Agenda Review
7:10-7:20pm Review of Meeting Purpose and Introduction of Speakers
7:20-7:50pm Review of Current KHS Data – Dr. Denlinger & Mr. Simmons
7:50-8:05pm Comments – Commissioner Bryan
8:05-8:20pm Comments – Principal Jernigan
8:20-8:30pm Meeting Conclusion – Ms. Hardy
Meeting Facilitator: Ms. Shannon Hardy – Parent and Knightdale Resident
Next Meeting
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Our first community forum will be held on January 26th, 2010 at 7 PM. Undoubtedly, the information and data presented will give some great follow-up topics to be presented at the meeting that follows this one, on February 23rd. We would like to hear other education topics and concerns that you would like to see Knightdale100 education committee work on for our community. Please take a moment to comment below on your thoughts.
Equal Education in Knightdale??
The Knightdale 100 Education Committee invites you to attend it’s first Community forum:
On Tuesday, January 26th 7-8:30pm
Knightdale Town Hall, 950 Steeple Square Court.
Do KHS students have the same opportunities as other Wake County high school students?
Purpose: To inform Knightdale citizens of current data, policies and resources that impact Knightdale High School students to be successful.
Speakers
Tim Simmons and Ann Dillinger, Wake Education Partnership
Joe Bryan - Wake County Commissioner
Carla Jernigan-Principal of Knightdale High School
What we do today will impact our children tomorrow!
“EQUAL EDUCATION at Knightdale High School?”
On Tuesday, January 26th 7-8:30pm
Knightdale Town Hall, 950 Steeple Square Court.
Do KHS students have the same opportunities as other Wake County high school students?
Purpose: To inform Knightdale citizens of current data, policies and resources that impact Knightdale High School students to be successful.
Speakers
Tim Simmons and Ann Dillinger, Wake Education Partnership
Joe Bryan - Wake County Commissioner
Carla Jernigan-Principal of Knightdale High School
What we do today will impact our children tomorrow!
2010 School Calendar Parent Survey
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The 2010 School Calendar Parent Survey is now available for you to voice your opinions on school calendar options currently used in Wake County Public Schools. Your answers and comments will assist the board in the decisions they will make. Please take the time to voice your opinion on this important matter!!
The survey consists of 16 questions and a place to add additional comments.
The direct link to the rating page can be found at the following site: http://www.wcpss.net/survey/2010-school-calendar/
The board has also scheduled four community meetings scheduled for in February on the matter:
Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Holly Springs High School, 5329 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs
Thursday, Feb. 18 at Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road, Wake Forest
Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Leesville Road High School, 8409 Leesville Road, Raleigh
Thursday, Feb. 25 at Panther Creek High School, 6770 McCrimmon Parkway, Cary
The survey consists of 16 questions and a place to add additional comments.
The direct link to the rating page can be found at the following site: http://www.wcpss.net/survey/2010-school-calendar/
The board has also scheduled four community meetings scheduled for in February on the matter:
Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Holly Springs High School, 5329 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs
Thursday, Feb. 18 at Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road, Wake Forest
Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Leesville Road High School, 8409 Leesville Road, Raleigh
Thursday, Feb. 25 at Panther Creek High School, 6770 McCrimmon Parkway, Cary
Wake quashes mandatory year-round - Education - NewsObserver.com
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Wake quashes mandatory year-round - Education - NewsObserver.com
BY T. KEUNG HUI AND THOMAS GOLDSMITH - Staff Writers
Tags: education local news politics
RALEIGH -- Wake County's new school board majority Tuesday night ended mandatory year-round schools and took the first step toward gutting the district's diversity policy.
By a 5-4 vote, the ruling coalition approved a resolution that they added at the last minute to the meeting agenda. The measure says mandatory year-round assignments will end beginning with the 2010-11 school year. The resolution also ends the use of economic diversity in determining which students get priority for voluntary acceptance into year-round schools.
"This is what people are asking for," said Chris Malone, one of four Republican-backed newcomers who swept into office last fall and altered the board's balance of power. "This is why we were all elected the way we were."
It was short on details but could have major ramifications, including the reversal of board policy that called for year-round schools to have balanced student bodies based on families' economic backgrounds.
Prickett said the school system's capable staff could handle the details.
"I think it will be resolved in a timely manner and in a cost-efficient way," she said.
But board member Keith Sutton angrily called the sudden addition of the resolution "business as usual" by the new majority, recalling the slew of contentious measures added to the agenda of the new coalition's first meeting.
Currently, Wake gives priority to applicants from low-income neighborhoods to attend year-round schools as part of the effort to balance enrollment. This means applicants from some richer neighborhoods are unable to attend.
For this school year, 23 percent of the 3,887 applicants for year-round schools couldn't be placed.
In a previous meeting, the board sent to its policy committee a resolution that would remove diversity as a factor in all student assignments. But members of the board minority questioned whether Tuesday's year-round resolution was a shortcut toward achieving the broader goal.
Members of the board minority also questioned whether ending the mandatory year-round policy would force the district to shoulder the expense of building more schools.
"You're going to end up in some cases with significant overcrowding and in some cases significant underutilization," said school board member Anne McLaurin.
But new school board member John Tedesco said that ending mandatory year-round would have a minor impact. He said that only 143 people who wanted to leave a year-round school were not able to this school year.
Success on the third try
The resolution drew negative reaction from several speakers during a public comment section that was again dominated by critics of the new board.
"I've never been more ashamed to be a resident of Wake County," said Susan Evans, an Apex resident.
But Russell Capps, president of the Wake County Taxpayers Association, which had backed the new board members, praised their actions. "The people who voted for new board members voted for choice," Capps said. "I ask you to stand firmly for the things you believe in."
In addition to Malone, Tedesco and Prickett, Debra Goldman and board chairman Ron Margiotta voted for the resolution. Kevin Hill, McLaurin, Carolyn Morrison and Sutton voted no.
It is the third time since the new board members took office last month that they had tried to pass a resolution ending mandatory year-round schools.
Supporters of mandatory year-round schools have argued that they save on construction costs because they can hold more students than traditional-calendar schools. But critics have countered that enrollment has grown much less than expected and that the year-round calendar is a hardship for many families.
Now more than 44,000 students attend 51 year-round schools. The majority aren't there by choice; they're assigned to the schools.
The N.C. Supreme Court ruled in May that Wake didn't need parental permission to send students to year-round schools. But opposition to mandatory year-round became one of the campaign issues that helped get the new board members elected.
As part of the increased use of mandatory year-round, 22 schools were converted from a traditional calendar in 2007. To help reverse some of those conversions, the board agreed to fast-track a parental survey on calendar preference - traditional or year-round.
Parents of all 140,000 Wake County students will be targeted in an online survey conducted later this month. Based on the results, administrators will recommend Feb. 16 which schools can be converted back as quickly as the 2010-11 school year.
No vote on lawyer
Through a parliamentary error, board members were unable to vote on a proposal to hire Thomas Farr, an employment lawyer with longstanding ties to the state Republican party.
A motion to return the proposal for consideration would have required a two-thirds vote and failed when members McLaurin, Hill and Morrison voted against it. Margiotta said he'll call a special meeting to vote on Farr's hiring at $250 an hour to review the system's contracts and arrangements with law firms, including Raleigh-based Tharrington Smith.
During a public comment period, four people spoke against hiring Farr, saying that it was a waste of taxpayer money during a tight budget time for Wake schools.
Raleigh resident Duncan Munn argued that the board would set a bad precedent by selecting a lawyer without more input from all members and citizens.
"There's no substitute for an open public process," Munn said.
BY T. KEUNG HUI AND THOMAS GOLDSMITH - Staff Writers
Tags: education local news politics
RALEIGH -- Wake County's new school board majority Tuesday night ended mandatory year-round schools and took the first step toward gutting the district's diversity policy.
By a 5-4 vote, the ruling coalition approved a resolution that they added at the last minute to the meeting agenda. The measure says mandatory year-round assignments will end beginning with the 2010-11 school year. The resolution also ends the use of economic diversity in determining which students get priority for voluntary acceptance into year-round schools.
"This is what people are asking for," said Chris Malone, one of four Republican-backed newcomers who swept into office last fall and altered the board's balance of power. "This is why we were all elected the way we were."
It was short on details but could have major ramifications, including the reversal of board policy that called for year-round schools to have balanced student bodies based on families' economic backgrounds.
Prickett said the school system's capable staff could handle the details.
"I think it will be resolved in a timely manner and in a cost-efficient way," she said.
But board member Keith Sutton angrily called the sudden addition of the resolution "business as usual" by the new majority, recalling the slew of contentious measures added to the agenda of the new coalition's first meeting.
Currently, Wake gives priority to applicants from low-income neighborhoods to attend year-round schools as part of the effort to balance enrollment. This means applicants from some richer neighborhoods are unable to attend.
For this school year, 23 percent of the 3,887 applicants for year-round schools couldn't be placed.
In a previous meeting, the board sent to its policy committee a resolution that would remove diversity as a factor in all student assignments. But members of the board minority questioned whether Tuesday's year-round resolution was a shortcut toward achieving the broader goal.
Members of the board minority also questioned whether ending the mandatory year-round policy would force the district to shoulder the expense of building more schools.
"You're going to end up in some cases with significant overcrowding and in some cases significant underutilization," said school board member Anne McLaurin.
But new school board member John Tedesco said that ending mandatory year-round would have a minor impact. He said that only 143 people who wanted to leave a year-round school were not able to this school year.
Success on the third try
The resolution drew negative reaction from several speakers during a public comment section that was again dominated by critics of the new board.
"I've never been more ashamed to be a resident of Wake County," said Susan Evans, an Apex resident.
But Russell Capps, president of the Wake County Taxpayers Association, which had backed the new board members, praised their actions. "The people who voted for new board members voted for choice," Capps said. "I ask you to stand firmly for the things you believe in."
In addition to Malone, Tedesco and Prickett, Debra Goldman and board chairman Ron Margiotta voted for the resolution. Kevin Hill, McLaurin, Carolyn Morrison and Sutton voted no.
It is the third time since the new board members took office last month that they had tried to pass a resolution ending mandatory year-round schools.
Supporters of mandatory year-round schools have argued that they save on construction costs because they can hold more students than traditional-calendar schools. But critics have countered that enrollment has grown much less than expected and that the year-round calendar is a hardship for many families.
Now more than 44,000 students attend 51 year-round schools. The majority aren't there by choice; they're assigned to the schools.
The N.C. Supreme Court ruled in May that Wake didn't need parental permission to send students to year-round schools. But opposition to mandatory year-round became one of the campaign issues that helped get the new board members elected.
As part of the increased use of mandatory year-round, 22 schools were converted from a traditional calendar in 2007. To help reverse some of those conversions, the board agreed to fast-track a parental survey on calendar preference - traditional or year-round.
Parents of all 140,000 Wake County students will be targeted in an online survey conducted later this month. Based on the results, administrators will recommend Feb. 16 which schools can be converted back as quickly as the 2010-11 school year.
No vote on lawyer
Through a parliamentary error, board members were unable to vote on a proposal to hire Thomas Farr, an employment lawyer with longstanding ties to the state Republican party.
A motion to return the proposal for consideration would have required a two-thirds vote and failed when members McLaurin, Hill and Morrison voted against it. Margiotta said he'll call a special meeting to vote on Farr's hiring at $250 an hour to review the system's contracts and arrangements with law firms, including Raleigh-based Tharrington Smith.
During a public comment period, four people spoke against hiring Farr, saying that it was a waste of taxpayer money during a tight budget time for Wake schools.
Raleigh resident Duncan Munn argued that the board would set a bad precedent by selecting a lawyer without more input from all members and citizens.
"There's no substitute for an open public process," Munn said.
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