The Wake County school board will hit on a variety of topics during today's work session.
Topics include the proposed 2011-12 calendars, the disadvantaged student supplemental fund, the times of board meetings, the transition plan for community-based schools, public-private partnerships and textbook funding.
In terms of meeting times, school board chairman Ron Margiotta has talked about starting the regular meetings later in the day for people who can't come now because of the afternoon start time. He's also talked about moving the meetings outside of Central Office.
This is the first official work session meeting of the board now that it has converted one of the two monthly regular meetings into a work session. The idea is that these work sessions will give board members more time to discuss issues before voting on them.
But with 10 items, the board will be hard pressed to cover them all today before the scheduled 6 p.m closing time.
The meeting starts at 1 p.m. in the board conference room, 3600 Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. As a work session, it's open to the public but there's no public comment section.
UPDATE
Click here to view the draft 2011-12 calendars for traditional, year-round and modified-calendar schools, They need to be approved by the school board by Dec. 31. Depending on what suggestions might be made today for changes, they could be formally approved by the board soon.
Comments
Meeting at Wiley ES Tonight
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 08:37 — magnetParentFrom Broughton's web page:
"Interested in the School Board conversation regarding Attendance Zones and the Plan for the new Community Schools Assignment Model? The Wiley PTA is hosting a Community Forum that will feature Dr. Anne McLaurin, Broughtons Wake County Public School Systems School Board Representative, along with staff from Wake County Public School Systems Growth and Planning Department. Dr. McLaurin will take your questions and comments regarding the changes to the School Assignment Policy. The Forum will be held on Thursday, September 23rd, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Wiley Elementary School, located at 301 Saint Mary's Street. "
Glad to see Dr. McLaurin is doing her job (despite the majority's efforts)
Principal invite vs board member presentation
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 18:28 — bluedaisyDr. Morrison said she and Ann Sherron were invited by the Reedy Creek Principal and the Sanderson Principal. I know for a fact the SHS principal initiated the invite - it was originally only 8:15 AM at his "coffee chat" with parents, and he broadened it to the night before also so that more parents could attend. The PTSA sent it out on their Yahoo news group, from Dr. Decker himself.
I believe Dr. McLaurin is working with her BAC - I could not listen during her explanation. Anybody? Did anybody hear what her avenue is?
...
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 20:45 — Sideburnsblue,
Did you go to that meeting? I'd be interested in hearing about it.
Despite what Goldman said
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 20:33 — KeungHui (author)Despite what Goldman said today, it appears Morrison was invited by the principal of Reedy Creek Elementary to be at the school. Morrison forwarded me a copy of an e-mail message from the principal to Goldman showing his invitation to Morrison and Anne Sherron.
Keung -
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 22:25 — bluedaisyWhy was the agenda for the work session not posted? Are work sessions treated diferently?
I'd chalk this up more to
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 22:34 — KeungHui (author)I'd chalk this up more to being the first time they've had to handle these new board work sessions. I'd look for them to be posted in advance of next month's work session.
Keung -
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:58 — bluedaisySo you are saying Goldman knew about the meeting, and was invited by the principal too? What's she fussing about? Its Morrison's district! Why did she point blank lie in the meeting, saying Morrison scheduled the meeting, not the principal!!!
To make things simpler, I'm
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 22:12 — KeungHui (author)To make things simpler, I'm pasting the e-mail message that Morrison forwarded to me. The only change I've made is removed Anne Sherron's personal e-mail address and omitted an earlier message that a parent had sent to Morrison and Goldman. What Morrison sent was a copy of the prinicipal's invitation to her, along with a message the principal previously sent to Goldman and Morrison saying he would invite Morrison.
To: Hilton T Evans/ReedyCreekES/WCPSS@Staff
>From: Carolyn Morrison/Superintendent/WCPSS
>Date: 09/08/2010 09:17PM
>Cc: Debra Goldman/Superintendent/WCPSS@Staff, Cathy
>Moore/CentWakeCo/WCPSS@Staff, (Anne Sherron's e-mail address)
>Subject: Re: Node 368.3
>
>
>Mr. Evans,
>
>I am so sorry but I did not have this on my calendar and I have
>accepted another invitation for September 14. I will talk with Anne
>Sherron and see what I can do.
>
>Carolyn
>
>Carolyn Morrison
>Board of Education District 6
>919-850-8870
>cbmorrison@wcpss.net
>
>
>
>
>-----Hilton T Evans/ReedyCreekES/WCPSS wrote: -----
>
>>To: Debra Goldman/Superintendent/WCPSS@Staff
>>From: Hilton T Evans/ReedyCreekES/WCPSS
>>Date: 09/08/2010 02:17PM
>>Cc: Cathy Moore/CentWakeCo/WCPSS@Staff, Carolyn
>>Morrison/Superintendent/WCPSS@Staff, (Anne Sherron's e-mail address)
>>Subject: Re: Node 368.3
>>
>>
>>Mrs. Goldman,
>>
>>Thank you for your response as this is a concern for many of our
>>Medfield parents. I have invited Anne Sherron out to the school to
>>share information and hear the concerns the parents have. Since
>>Reedy Creek Elementary is in District VI, I have extended an
>>invitation to Dr. Morrison to join us. Please feel free to join us
>>as well. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 14 @ 7:00
>>PM.
>>In partnership,
>>
>>Trent
>>
>>H. Trent Evans
>>Principal
>>Reedy Creek Elementary
>>940 Reedy Creek Road
>>Cary, North Carolina 27513
>>919.380.3660 (main line)
>>919.380.3678 (fax)
Video
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 12:05 — HereWeGohttp://www.wral.com/news/education/video/8327182/#/vid8327182
Goldman at 1:02 with her "No you ask for the meeting" comment. Her tone was nasty.
Amateurs
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 12:47 — duvalThanks for the link, though every time I watch these my blood pressure rises.
When I was a PTA president we had several meetings where we invited not only BOE members, but other wcpss staff who would enlighten our parents on the goings on in our system.
You would think that the BOE members would understand this and agree to attend any meetings that they are invited to attend. In fact I would expect them to if they did not have any other obligations.
It sounds like the majority members are trying to shut down the minority members from doing their jobs!!
Agree
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 14:37 — HereWeGoI was on the PTA borad at my childrens ES school and we invited all board members and Mrs. Goldman came - we are not in her dirstict. She did not express any concern about the cost of the event.
They need to understand parents are afraid and want to know how this new plan is going to effect their children.
OK it looks like Goldman
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 00:48 — jeffrey1OK it looks like Goldman needs to be called out on this.
The "Community in Schools" program covers use of school facilities by the general public. If Morrison had wanted to hold a meeting for her constituents on school property, it is likely she would have had to go throught the CIS program, and pay for the use of a room or auditorium, possibly incurring some janitorial costs as well.
But this is not what happened in this case. Morrison was invited. And now we see that Goldman knew that. As much as I support the BOE majority, this petty bickering has got to stop.
That is sad that adults need
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 20:56 — user12345That is sad that adults need to show a permission slip .... really puts the principal in an awkward position between his rep and the vice chair.
School growth
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 15:17 — Dove314Hopefully Keung will clarify this -- the discussion on growth implied that WCPSS needs 34 large schools at various levels (ES, MS, HS) with larger classroom sizes than we have now and with all schools at 100% capacity using conservative growth projections to even have enough seats for projected growth as of 2019? Did I hear this correctly?
I heard that too, and I
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 15:38 — magnetParentI heard that too, and I believe that was taking into account that these new ES/MS were YR. I thought I also heard Debra Goldman ask about the possibility of some of the schools (rim schools? or ITB?) that might have to be closed due to underutilization, which would require even more schools built "where they need them". Did I hear that correctly?
Missed the close some open other
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 15:59 — Dove314But did hear the all new schools would be have to be year round to have the capacity. WRAL has a synopsis blog up with more details.
Lost the feed, but read this
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 16:44 — magnetParentLost the feed, but read this from the WRAL blog:
"Member Keith Sutton asked about equity across schools in technology. Neter said that basic Internet access and availability of computers is "I'd say, reasonably equity." There are differences between schools for more advanced technologies, such as electronic white boards, he said.
Sometimes that is because new schools are designed with newer technology, Neter said. Sometimes, he added, PTAs raise money for schools to buy equipment.
Sutton also wanted to know if technology helps student achievement, and Interim Superintendent Donna Hargens told him that studies show it does, though Wake has not looked at student achievement and what technology is available in each school."
Not sure what the high poverty school PTAs are going to do to buy this equipment that could help student achievement.
I think that Stough recently
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 18:07 — jenmanI think that Stough recently got a grant to put the electronic white boards in.
So...
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 10:05 — Bob_SconceThere's no doubt that involved parents can spend money in ways that help student achievement. But, so what? The district's job is to provide a sound, basic, education to all students, not to balance out society's inequalities. If some generous benefactor wants to pay for every classroom to have a 3-d virtual display technology, is the district obligated to pay for that for every other school?
Personally, I think there's too much fuss made about electronic whiteboards. I see no real pedantic value over a regular whiteboard and an overhead projector. Sure, they're nifty technology, but history is full of nifty technology that was originally promised to vault education into the 21st century, but never fulfilled that promise.
Good to know
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 22:57 — Solon77The district's job is to provide a sound, basic, education to all students, not to balance out society's inequalities.
Good to know we can count on your support of the high poverty schools that will be created under the new assignment plan.
?
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 13:25 — Bob_SconceIf getting a sound education to students at any WCPSS school requires pouring more resources into those schools, they will get my support. I'm happy to have my taxes raised to pay for that, if need be.
But, I won't support anybody who starts complaining that it's unfair for the PTA at School A to sponsor a piano-player for its cafeteria (a la SAS), and argues that all schools should get that, on the basis of some nebulous concept of 'equity.'
I know of a district in
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 14:08 — carson79I know of a district in Florida where one high schools PTO gave $30,000 in 2 months to the school for use at principal discretion, and another high school doesn't even have a PTO.
I understand what you are saying but that "piano player" example you've laid out is far from the actual trenches of where and how money is used - and it's much more gray.
Piano player? I don't care
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 13:59 — magnetParentPiano player? I don't care a bit about that and don't know where that came from. However, being able to add newer technology is a huge benefit academically. Not only does it provide better tools for teaching/learning, in this digital age these kids are living in it can grab their interest and keep them motivated to learn. Unfortunately, the schools that will need it most will be the schools that will have a difficult time raising that kind of money through fundraising (the students at those affluent schools probably already have most of the new technology in their own home, the students at the high poverty schools likely do not.)
Our School Is....
Fri, 09/24/2010 - 02:34 — JanisTangoOur non-affluent school is getting SMART boards in our classrooms and most of them are being paid for by the school not the PTA. The PTA has pitched in funds to buy two over the last year. I don't know exactly how the funding works, but our principal has been allocating money over the last few years to make sure the rooms are equipped. She has also been able to secure free labor to do some of the wiring required. For the ones that currently don't have a SMART board, there is an empty classroom the teachers can use on a scheduled basis. There is a lot of ways to get technology in the schools/classrooms beyond the PTA.
Next month she has a church coming to paint the entire inside of our school for 'free'. She is securing donations for the paint. This is called being creative when the funds are not there!
The you wouldnt mind
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 11:46 — Dove314Then you wouldn't mind donating any in your school to some other school where the staff there feels they could use them?
Options
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 00:55 — TrailerParkGirlOptions include grants, community business partners (and no the business partners don't have to be from the immediate area), municipal partnerships, equity funding and possibly others.
For example the playground equipment at the highest poverty ES where I'm from was accomplished through a combination of PTA fundraising efforts, equity funding from the district, community business partners and the municipality even provided a couple people and some heavy duty equipment to help in the installation.
Does your school PTA receive money and support solely from the parents at the school?
Solely from the parents?
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 06:13 — magnetParentSolely from the parents? No. But most of the monies that come in start there. My kids ES fundraising included a fund-raising walk (where the kids asked their friends and family for donations to walk laps), a book fair (where most of the patrons were families/students at the school), and a silent auction at their fall field day (where donated auction items were from all over, but most bidders were family and friends). Would you not agree that the schools in the low-poverty areas would have more success in receiving donations from their families and friends than those in a high-poverty area?
It depends & is not limited to the "friends and family" plan
Fri, 09/24/2010 - 00:11 — TrailerParkGirl"Would you not agree that the schools in the low-poverty areas would have more success in receiving donations from their families and friends than those in a high-poverty area?"
1) you are assuming that people in high-poverty areas only know high poverty people
2) you are equating income and where people live with "wherewithal to pay" - not always the case. Based on past professional experiences, I will tell you that there are many middle class people living on the financial edge (they just don't let you know it) so they don't have extra to give. Many people have a tendency to live at or above their means. I've heard PTA people comment how some of the people that seem to make the most, gave the least.
3) you are equating assumed "wherewithal to pay" with "will pay." Let's face it, some people have money because they don't give it away (Joe Biden comes to mind) and some people don't have as much money because they give it away even when they can't really afford to (my father comes to mind).
You also have to consider your target audience when determining liklihood of success for fundraisers. The big ones where I grew up were "Fun Fairs" and food purchases. With "Fun Fairs" you can get businesses to donate the give-aways (live goldfish were the most desired prize by the kids) and families would come and purchase the tickets to play the games. It was like the State Fair midway only much less expensive to play and not rigged. It was low cost entertainment for the families which drew them and still a money maker as the expense side was basically zero (business donations and volunteer time). At Halloween, they had Haunted Houses (where volunteers set everything up and you paid a little to basically crawl through darkened, large cardboard boxes and have cold spaghetti thrown at you and people yell Boo at you - we thought it was a hoot.) The school events like those were advertised to the entire town, so everyone went to everyone elses "Fun Fairs" - they were crowded events. Food purchases - everyone has to eat and you can generally make something for real cheap and sell it for cheap and still make some money (daily popcorn for a dime in the '70s was the big one at my school growing up (not sure what it should sell for now with inflation), but I'm sure these days they could find a healthier alternative) and also had food sales at the Fun Fair type events.
The bigger challenge IMO is getting people who have unengaged from the education system, re-engaged and not setting up barriers to engagement. In other words, the school atmosphere and PTA have to feel welcoming and respectful of all. I don't think all schools have that right now. You may recall that I've said everyday I hope to get through the day without hearing a negative stereotype of low income people and every day I'm disappointed? Well, I've certainly heard some at PTA meetings, so not exactly an environment that a low-income parent is going to be anxious to be a part of - it takes a thick skin. Also, need to find ways to re-engage parents who had negative educational experiences themselves.
Again, plenty of opportunities outside the "friends and family" plan as well - look at what Harlem Children's Zone has done.
Discussion...
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 08:06 — bpuli9999After the new board majority got elected, has there been even one significant issue that both sides have agreed on? Why the pretense of discussion? BoE members have become partisan hacks.
Today's discussion certainly doesn't help things.
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 14:35 — Dove314Am listening to today's work session while working. The BoE majority is not happy for the minority members to meet with members of their district and talk. The majority wants to control those BAC's now.
Morrison's meeting was not
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 14:11 — jeannie84Morrison's meeting was not a BAC meeting; however, at least one BOE majority member (Prickett) who is systematically cleaning house, asking active, sitting BAC reps to step down so she can install her own, hand-picked replacements, while ignoring Board policy 1800 that states such nominations should be made "in consideration with the Principal and Parent-Teacher Association"
http://www.wcpss.net/policy-files/series/policies/1800-bp.html
...
Wed, 09/22/2010 - 15:47 — SideburnsAlso per Policy 1800:
1. During terms of membership, Board Advisory Council Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Wake County Board of Education.
3. Appointments shall be made for terms of up to three years; however, all positions require reinstatement following Oath of Office for newly appointed or elected Board members.
I don't see the problem.
Wow, very interesting - can
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 15:09 — carson79Wow, very interesting - can you tell if it's a specific area they are worried about losing support or facing organized opposition from?
I thought it would be North Raleigh and the rim, wonder why they say that Board members should not meet with their disrict?
I'm not listening but any other details you can provide would be great.
Definitely out of the loop
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 15:23 — Dove314it seems as though there is a large gossip network which isn't helping anything. It appeared that Goldman and Malone (with side digs from the other majority members) jumped on Morrison and McLaurin for holding meetings in their districts, chastising them for the potential to present misinformation or not properly representing the whole of the county. The amusing aspect was the clear "running to tell mommy" aspect of people reporting both in to and among the majority 5 about the actions of the minority 4 about what the maps meant that were posted on the web and answering questions about the selected map.
Not much use being a rep if
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 16:36 — user12345Not much use being a rep if you can not meet with your constituency ....and it looks like the only right answers are locking John's head .... sort of a catch 22 with a complete stalemate
Tell me Ron is not sly in trying to keep control by controlling the janitor costs to limit meeting with the public ...
Margiotta said that members who want to have meetings in schools are supposed to go through the administration to arrange for them, and there may be expenses. It's a process "we must all follow," Margiotta told McLaurin and Morrison. Expenses might have to be approved by the full board, he said.
... let's take up a collection so people can talk to their reps ...
Actually...
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 17:06 — Bob_SconceYou can question his motives, but he's right about this. We do not want to be in the situation where board members go around trying to do things on their own authority (since, individually, no board member has any authority.) When the accreditation agency pulled the accreditation of that Atlanta district, they cited EXACTLY that sort of thing. It's just part of good governance -- individual board members do not have the authority to direct either the spending or activities of the entire district. Margiotta, as chairman, has slightly more leeway in emergency cirumstances -- such as hiring a law firm to defend the suit about the ticket policy -- but even then, he asked the board to approve it after-the-fact.
If a board member wants to have his/her own meetings, he/she has three options: (1) get approval from the entire board, (2) go through an organization that pays rent to the school district for use of the space (IIRC, those agreements do not need board approval), (3) have meetings elsewhere.
I agree that (3) is the best
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 17:18 — carson79I agree that (3) is the best option, but I don't think you can liken this to minority members using individual authority to direct spending or activities of the entire district.
They were exercising their authority to communicate with constituents - they do have this authority, correct?
Not quite
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 17:31 — Bob_SconceWhat happens if Carolyn Morrison decides to have these meetings on school property "to communicate with her constituents" in, say, July 2011, after somebody has started campaigning against her?
It may be that this is a situation where we can all agree "she should be able to do this," but how do we distinguish between "she should be able to do this NOW" and "she should not be able to do this IN JULY"? Right now, we give the full board the authority to make those decisions.
Ok I'm slow today - what is
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 17:37 — carson79Ok I'm slow today - what is the real issue? Is the problem since she couldn't do it during a campaign (unfair to her challenger) that she can't do it now?
Also, you are just talking about holidng meetings on school property, right? Not the meetings themselves - you agree that any member can meet with constituents off of school property at any time, right?
So...
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 20:16 — Bob_SconceThe issue is that there is a rule. The rule says "You need to follow a specific protocol to use school facilities." The rule is in place for good reasons. Board members need to uphold the districts rules..
I'm talking only about using school resources. I think members SHOULD meet with constituents. And I have no issues with their doing it on school property as long as they follow the proper process. My issue here is that it appears that they didn't.
Following rules
Thu, 09/23/2010 - 06:40 — SatchHHI had to laugh when I read this post by Bob_Sconce given the number of board policies and rules that the board majority has stomped on since December. Hilarious that people are nit picking the "rules" around meeting with district members (parents, etc.) at schools when they were invited by the principal to discuss with the teachers/parents and John T. is talking every week, it seems, about all of this. Is JT the only one who can speak to the public about their ideas for an assignment plan? This whole fuss is absolutely amazing. We should applaud the effort to communicate with parents and teachers. Oh - isn't that what many of the majority members ran on - more communication with constituents? Funny.
At every board meeting,
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:00 — danofncAt every board meeting, different members talk about how they enjoyed visiting whatever school and talking to whatever people.
If (as seems to be the case) the board members were invited to attend a meeting by the principal (a meeting that apparently is held regularly), why would they need to get permission from anyone?
BEcause...
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:31 — Bob_SconceThere's a imputed cost to using a school facility -- janitorial, utilities, etc.... There's no added cost to a person visiting a school, but if you want to hold a meeting there, it's different.
As to another question about what happens when board committees have meetings at schools; I don't know -- that may be covered by a different policy.
Have you read the email from
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 22:42 — danofncHave you read the email from the principal? I'm pretty sure the principal has the authority to have a meeting in his school if he wants. I don't remember the board having to approve open houses for every school, but I'm pretty sure they all had them.
The principal invited board members to his school. The board members didn't ask for a meeting with the school.
That difference matters.
Does the board have to vote
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:00 — user12345Does the board have to vote every time , anyone wants to meet in a classroom after school? Shouldn't they be working on finding $2B for new schools or $100M for next year and not sweat the janitor's fee?
No...
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:33 — Bob_SconceThey've set policy, effectively deciding in advance: See policy 7400.
...http://www.wcpss.net/polic
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 22:24 — user12345...http://www.wcpss.net/policy-files/series/policies/7400-bp.html
Bob, does not seem appropriate ... the wording seems to be directed to outside folks like churches who want to rent the facility for non-school related activities ... not a board member meeting with teacher and parents to garner feedback on an assignment plan.
Yup....
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 22:31 — Bob_SconceYou asked
Does the board have to vote every time , anyone wants to meet in a classroom after school?
I said, in essence, "No, the board has a policy that allows the administration to approve most typical uses without having to go to the board."
You're right that the policy doesn't cover use by school board members (it probably doesn't happen often enough to warrant a policy.) So, since the board hasn't delegated to the administration in that regard, the board itself needs to approve such requests.
5S
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 21:24 — Solon77The meeting participants can 5S the meeting space. I am sure the janitor's union will not object.
BTW - did JT get full board approval to hold his committee meetings at Barwell and the other schools ?
That's crazy - did it really
Tue, 09/21/2010 - 16:48 — carson79That's crazy - did it really come across as Margiotta trying to limit the access of minority members to their constituents?
Sadly I'm not surprised - I think they are starting to feel pressure and heat and they really don't want any more steam building in the minority members' districts.