After Monday's experience in Cary, school board members should probably get a more positive feeling from tonight's forum, "Achieving Educational Excellence in Tough Times."
Here are some hints to the direction of the forum, whose sponsors are WakeUP Wake County, BiggerPicture4Wake, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children, Wake NCAE and the Wake County League of Women Voters.
Tom Oxholm, co-author of "A School District's Journey to Excellence" will speak on whether Wake has achieved academic excellence.
A later panel discussion, "Next Steps to Excellence in Wake County," will discuss issues such as achieving healthy schools.
Click here for more information on the forum, which will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at N.C. State's McKimmon Center.
Below is the press release:
Public Forum on Achieving Educational Excellence in Tough Times - May 12
In these times of budget crisis, a major concern for elected officials and parents is how can Wake County schools continue to advance educational excellence? Many are criticizing WCPSS's reassignment policies; meanwhile, local school funding is decreasing and school population continues to grow. These realities pose significant challenges to high quality schools in the long run.
An impressive lineup of state and community leaders will present their ideas and answer questions on Tuesday, May 12 from 7 to 9:30 pm at NCSU's McKimmon Center, 1101 Gorman St. in Raleigh. This free public forum is entitled "Achieving Educational Excellence in Times of Challenge and Change: How Should Wake County Schools Plan for Growth and the Economic Crisis."
Karen Rindge, WakeUP Wake County Executive Director, commented, "We are holding this forum because it is critical we keep our eyes on the prize of providing the best education we can for all our kids. It's very important that we ensure our schools are strong and classrooms effective, while keeping up with growth, even though growth has slowed."
Speakers and panelists include former School Board member Tom Oxholm, who with former superintendent Bill McNeal, co-authored the recent book, "A School District's Journey to Excellence." Chair of the Wake Education Partnership, Ann Delinger, will present results of their latest study "What is a World Class Education?" Deputy County Manager Johnna Rogers will discuss county growth and budget issues. Other participants include John Dornan of the NC Public School Forum, Professor Dudley Flood, Wake School Board member Beverley Clark, NC Representative Nelson Dollar, Jim Blackburn of the NC Association of County Commissioners, County Commissioner Stan Norwalk, and Charlotte Turpin, NCAE. Questions from the audience will be taken at the end of the forum.
WakeUP Wake County, a citizen's group advocating managed growth, is hosting the event in conjunction with the Wake chapter of the NC Association of Educators, the Wake League of Women Voters, Concerned Citizens for African American Children, and parents' group Bigger Picture 4 Wake.
Pre-registration encouraged, but not required, at www.wakeupwakecounty.com. For more information, contact krindge@earthlink.net.
Comments
Time Sensitive Information!
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 15:07 — louiselee44I apologize for veering totally off-topic here, but the following information is extremely time sensitive and affects most public school students in NC.
I will not editorialize, but since I've been totally immersed in all of this for what seems like forever, and have been present at almost all meetings, I will gladly try to answer specific questions you might have. I just can't promise a quick answer, though!
HB 593 (Change School Starting Date) made it out of the Commerce Committee yesterday, and will go to the House of Representatives for a vote as early as Wednesday or Thursday of this week. This bill would change the earliest school start date from August 25th to the second Monday in August and would apply to all school systems in the state. The closing date would remain unchanged from the current law. Depending on each year's calendar, schools could open as early as August 8th. Click here for exact wording:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H593v2.pdf
This bill would give local school boards the authority to start school on August 8th, depending on the year, and end on June 10th. If that were the case, summer break would last about 8 weeks. The shortest summer I can remember here in Wake County lasted about 10 weeks.
(FYI, the year before the current school calendar law went into effect, Wake County schools began on August 10th, and got out on May 25th.)
Contact information for Representatives and Senate members can be found here:
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/memberList.pl?sChamber=House
http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/members/memberList.pl?sChamber=Senate
I hope these links work. If not, go to www.ncleg.net
NC Leg - WRAL
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 18:21 — shank56There were several stories related to NC Leg. education news tonight on WRAL: adding 3 days to the end of the calendar for makeup days or something like that; a mention of the calendar change Louise mentions; and a bill tto allow students to participate on sports teams at school which the students are not enrolled!
I think intent is geared towards schools who do not offer a particuler sport. BUT, it was stated that private and homeschoolers would be included in the bill too.
IMAGINE: if a homeschooler beats out your kid on the ______team at the public high school at which your family is engaged. Ooh...this one should be fun.
Sorry Louise
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 16:55 — shank56I saw this in the news twice yesterday and have been surprised at the "silence" on this blog.
Sorry , Louise. IMO, the current calendar punishes high school teachers and students.. (uh AP exams are almost over) Each district should have the leeway to do what is best for them. Personally, we should like the old WCPSS traditional calendar and not the state mandated one.
Nothing but TOTAL respect
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 18:09 — g88ky07Louise, absolutely TOTAL for all you do and have done, but maybe the silence is because SO many of us are in FYR schools and this won't mean a thing to us. OR have I missed something?
Our summers were done when they converted us all to FYR!
3 weeks does not a summer make!
This still has the
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 10:22 — CaryMomof4This still has the potential to affect many kids in FYR with siblings on a traditional schedule. At least with 12 weeks of summer break, if all your YR kids are on the same track you know you will have 3 weeks with all your kids out together. With an 8 week summer break that's not a guarantee. Even if it's not siblings, it may be relatives or neighbors you may no longer be able to plan to go on vacation with.
Thanks...
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 22:12 — louiselee44Thank you, g88kyo7 - I guess you're right about who checks this blog. There are some parents whose children would be affected, but not many here. The thing is though, if I had a forum in which to tell "the rest of the story", I think most citizens would be surprised at the potential (and probable) repercussions that would affect us all.
Thanks for replying. You too, Shank56!
Me too. I'd like to be a
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 13:00 — Big_PictureMe too. I'd like to be a fly on the wall for this lovefest. Without facts to justify the current diversity policy expect same ol' lies and spin. The current regime refuses to study the effect on individual achievement but won't hesitate to inflict pain and disruption on families. Please supply a rundown tonight.
Well now isn't that special.
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 10:57 — Big_PictureWell now isn't that special. WSCA was excluded and I do not see CCLP listed either. Notice that the BoE worshipping *Bigger Picture Gaggle of 5* are a sponsor. Guess that should give an indication as to what this evening is all about. Exclude the true Big Picture folks but brown nosers are welcome. Hmmm. Back pats and high fives all around to celebrate a failing effort. Not much longer before reality sets in and status quo can go away.
Well now isn't that special.
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 10:56 — Big_PictureWell now isn't that special. WSCA was excluded and I do not see CCLP listed either. Notice that the BoE worshipping *Bigger Picture Gaggle of 5* are a sponsor. Guess that should give an indication as to what this evening is all about. Exclude the true Big Picture folks but brown nosers are welcome. Hmmm. Back pats and high fives all around to celebrate a failing effort. Not much longer before reality sets in and status quo can go away.
For the record, WSCA was
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 08:17 — CaryCurmudgeonFor the record, WSCA was excluded from the sponsorship invitation list. I question how balanced this forum is intended to be when all of the groups supporting the current reassignment policy were invited, but the group opposing it was excluded. Seems to me that WakeUp Wake County is falling right in line with WEP in propping up the status-quo.
Positive feeling?
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 07:39 — wsca_09"After Monday's experience in Cary, school board members should probably get a more positive feeling from tonight's forum"
Oh, did someone's feelings get hurt yesterday? What a shame. We need board members who can relate to the hurt feelings of those heartbroken children who are torn away from the only stability they have ever known. Nobody has provided THEM with a "positive feeling" forum!
Counterpoint Welcome
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 12:10 — ncklinesAs someone who attended the event on Monday in Cary, I am looking forward to hearing a counterpoint!