Stimulus money and differentiated teacher pay dominated today's finance committee meeting.
School board members heard about how the district will use $31 million in stimulus money. The feds are requiring the money to be used for Title I and special education.
Staff says it will save or create at least 97 jobs.
The money will go toward things such as expanding pre-kindergarten classes, hiring math coaches at each Title I school to work with teachers and hiring more special education teacher assistants.
Another part of the stimulus program consists of federal TIF grant money. While started by Pres. Bush, it was expanded by Pres. Obama as a way to help high-povety schools.
Schools can use TIF money to offer merit pay at high needs schools. For instance, teachers can get incentives just for working there along with merit pay based on student test scores.
Board members Eleanor Goettee and Lori Mllberg led the charge to apply for the TIf grants.
But board members Rosa Gill and Beverley Clark said they first need to answer questions about the strings in the grant money and how it would be implemented before applying. For instance, Gill said teachers at schools that don't have this program might complain.
The board will have an extensive discussion on June 2.
Comments
My point is...educators come
Mon, 09/14/2009 - 08:48 — movietrailersMy point is...educators come to the table with a different set of tools... business people come with a different set of tools and training. I'd like to see some business people elected to run the "business" that WCPSS is, because right now it's being run into the ground. movie trailers
I agree
Fri, 05/15/2009 - 09:39 — choice4allBenchmarks keep on getting lowered and more money is spent on Administration rather than getting to the child. And now they throw the bone to a group of teachers that are selected (SST) to decide whether your child even qualifys for an evaluation. Hence why the child you are speaking of has been waiting 2 yrs...pathetic..2 years wasted of vital time for that child. Bueracracy at its best!
OT-alert (an idea that makes sense??!!!)
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 08:40 — AngelaWA new private school, set to open on July 15 in Durham, will offer free education to students
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5144823/
Mr Hui
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 21:04 — choice4allIf most of these counsleors have case loads with the special needs population and they are let go simply because of budget woes at what point will WCPSS fall out of compliance with IDEA/childrens disability act? Who makes this final decision on how the money is spent? IEP's are mandated on the Federal level and should be addressed first before hiring Math Teachers IMHO.
Ask anyone who works with
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 19:40 — aspienatAsk anyone who works with special ed kids. WCPSS is out of compliance allready with Fed regs for special ed. One person has been trying to get testing done for 2 years. The ASD case load is through the roof and many kids get no services because no testing. Even with testing you barley get services . WCPSS has OTs cover THREE schools. Most states its one OT to a school. Speech is a joke hear and the NEW push-in services for learning issues is USELESS. The system is so broken all you have to do is threaten a lawsuit and have the name of a lawyer on your formal letter to Dell and tada things get some action. Not much but some. WCPSS knows it will lose any lawsuit based on lack of Special Ed services.
Mr. Hui, can you check into this?
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:28 — AngelaWdo guidance counselors fall under special ed?
Guidance counselors and
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:43 — KeungHui (author)Guidance counselors and special ed are separate sections, but both report to Student Support Services.
thanks for the link! hmmmm,
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:52 — AngelaWthanks for the link! hmmmm, so does this "extra" funding cover guidance counselors I wonder? or it's strictly special ed (even though they work as "teams")??
Counselors weren't
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 18:05 — KeungHui (author)Counselors weren't specifically mentioned today. One of the concerns with using stimulus money is that it will go away so a lot of the special ed spending is one materials rather than personnel.
OH! right, well that does
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 18:11 — AngelaWOH! right, well that does makes sense, thanks!
drats!!
I should add it's not
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 18:12 — KeungHui (author)I should add it's not stopping them from hiring the Title I math coaches and the pre-K teachers. But that's a different shop than student suport services.
Wake Still Looking For Spots For Displaced Teachers
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:22 — AngelaWhttp://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/34402/wake-still-looking-for-spots-for-displaced-teachers
Thanks for the link
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 19:14 — mcwp3616Thanks for the link! As one of the terminated, it has been almost impossible to get any information as to when, or even if, there might be a chance for us to be rehired for the coming school year. This keeps that glimmer of hope alive!
well I sure hope it helps!
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 19:20 — AngelaWwell I sure hope it helps!
Let me get this straight
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 16:30 — Falc"Gill said teachers at schools that don't have this program might complain."
So, WCPSS should not apply for grant money to encourage teachers to work at high needs schools because someone might complain? Once again, I read something a BOE member says and try to process it and all that comes back is "does not compute."
SOunds like
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 11:13 — supportwcpss"Parents at schools that don't have traditional might complain"
it simply boggles the mind
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:23 — AngelaWit simply boggles the mind how wrong these people think!
You know, it simply boggles my mind!
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 19:20 — g88ky07Absolutely it does!! It seems to be the same ole same ole with every element of "public education" and I wonder, is this how "it's always been?"
The school system says this and the local media reports that. Is there anything new here, or is this how public ED has always been in Wake County?
I'm so sick of hearing the same, they can legally do this and I can technically report that, that I COULD PUKE!
When does someone, or a group, or the "system" step forward and "do something that will work?"
http://wake.mync.com/site/wak
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 16:19 — AngelaWhttp://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/34393/school-board-to-look-at-higher-pay-for-teachers-in-high-needs-schools
Funds from the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) and Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) are already in use in at least two North Carolina school districts.
Guilford County is using its money to fund a program called Mission Possible, which offers financial incentives ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to teachers in selected grades and subjects to address low student achievement. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools offer financial incentives to teachers in 16 high need schools.
Wilburn Elementary School in Wake County is currently piloting a TAP program.
As I've mentioned before, if
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 13:26 — KeungHui (author)As I've mentioned before, if you got in via the February application process you're not going back to your year-round base. You are going year-round if you're only at a traditional calendar school because you didn't give consent.
Mentioning "before"
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 19:22 — g88ky07doesn't mean that is how it's going to be "going forward!"
Oh we might think it is, but until October, and beyond, nothing is off limits!
Staff again mentioned at
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 08:49 — KeungHui (author)Staff again mentioned at last week's board meeting that people who got in via the February app process will not be returned to base.
off topic question
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 13:15 — tiredparentcan anyone CONFIRM if there has been a decision as to what the BOE is doing with those who are supposed to be at a YR school, but got accepted into a traditional school. Are they being sent back to their YR base now???
Thanks! Hui?