You will be able to ask questions to Wake County Schools Superintendent Tony Tata during monthly "Virtual Town Hall" online chat sessions starting next Friday.
The first live, interactive one-hour chat session will start at 10 a.m. on April 1 on the school system's website. People can begin submitting questions online at 9:45 a.m. via a link on the website's homepage.
School officials said a chat moderator will select "representative questions" while screening for confidential student or employee information, as well as abusive or off-topic language.
"Our supportive, passionate and multi-cultural community is the foundation of our schools," said Tata in a news release today on the chat sessions. "That's one of our core beliefs, and we will honor it by engaging our community up front. I want to hear your concerns and suggestions for increasing every student's achievement."
The school system will maintain transcripts of each monthly chat session on its website.
"This is just a first step in using technology more effectively to communicate with the community, especially parents and students," Tata said.
It hasn't been finalized yet but it looks like the sessions will be held the first Friday of every month.
Comments
ot-NC lawmakers look at how lottery money is allocated
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 14:00 — AngelaWLegislators have shifted how much lottery profit goes to the four education initiatives that must, by law, receive lottery money. Gov. Beverly Perdue used some lottery reserves in 2009 to help the state pay its bills in a budget emergency .
Then, last year, the Legislature and Perdue agreed to set aside $35 million in extra lottery receipts and unclaimed prizes to fill a potential Medicaid funding gap.
County leaders grew even more worried when Perdue's budget proposal last month set aside only 10 percent of lottery proceeds for school construction next year, or $132 million less than the 2005 law requires. Sixty-two of the 100 counties use the lottery funds for school debt service, according to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/9337974/
Props to Superintendent Tata
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 15:51 — CaryCurmudgeonProps to Superintendent Tata for doing this, I'm looking forward to Tata Time on Fridays. I continue to be impressed with this man.
A great opportunity to make diversity supporters happy
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 17:11 — FSandYOUIt will be April Fool's Day, so how about he re-instates the diversity policy!
For about 12 seconds. ;c)
Anything specific...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 16:54 — bpuli9999he has actually done to date that impresses you? Or is it just his republican-ness and vague statements to date. I know. I know. We have to give him a couple of years at least before we can question his competence ;-)
Actually
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 21:38 — nancyncI'd like to ask you, what did Del Burns do that impressed you, and he was around for longer than a month, so you should have a list of wonderful things he accomplished.
I see Gen Tata as a leader, who looks at every aspect as well as the total picture and then focuses on the needs, priority style approach.
I think it's refreshing and exactly what this lame school system has needed for a long time. Further, he is focusing on where the cutting will take place, vs. what happened under Burns.
When did I ever...
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 08:13 — bpuli9999I was impressed by Del Burns?
Del Burns avoided the
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:52 — HJ2ss2Del Burns avoided the difficult questions with empty answers that didn't even address the questions. I have proof as evidenced in his "answer" to my questions.
I guess
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 08:40 — nancyncBecause everything you post is aimed at your disdain for republicans, of any stripe, in any office. Hence, you must have been quite satisfied with Burns?
I've yet to see you post anything remotely positive though, about anything. I could have missed it.
Uh...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 17:16 — Bob_Sconce(1) Developed a budget that managed to fund the next school year without cutting teachers, and actually gave them a $500 bonus
(2) Successfully brought a bickering school board together at a retreat
(3) Taken over the student assignment morass
(4) Inspired confidence in teachers. (At least that's what I've gotten from friends in the schools)
Most importantly, it seems clear that he has the confidence of every member of the school board.
You can be a nay-sayer if you want, but it's clear that his leadership style is precisely what the district needed.
Premature
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:11 — Solon771) allocating additional teachers to Hilburn - Hilburn has the same enrollment as Leadmine and the same number of teachers and resources. Is he going to look across the district at equity or do each of the schools have to lobby him for their share ?
2) As in the case where there have been a number of votes where the board did not bicker and found common ground, Tata held a retreat and got them to agree on a mission, vision, ect. Ok - so. What does this say of Ron's leadership.
3) Taken on student assignment - basically it is his job. It should never have been with JT to begin with. Board sets policy , the administration figures out how to implement it.
4) Inspired teachers - unless the person is a complete jerk, anything new is going to create a positive first impression.
Regarding the virtual town hall - pretty common these days at least in the organization I work in. That said, I know managers and others in leadership positions that conduct and lead these - some are jerks and others use it effectively. In and of itself, a town hall is just a tool, we have yet to see how it will be used. For a person new to the district it is a good tool to connect with the public.
I am not a naysayer - just don't see the big deal. Frankly he could hold seances for all I care if it gets results.
Well...
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:54 — Bob_SconceThe point is that's off to a great start -- he's only been around for 2 months, after all. Two years from now, we'll have a much better view.
As to your (2), Ron's job and Tata's job are different. While I wasn't exactly happy with the heavy-handed way that the majority accomplished some of its goals, I don't have any issue with the board being distinctly split. Elections are there to allow voters to change the board's direction if they want.
Don't Get me wrong
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 13:13 — Solon77Don't get me wrong, I hope Tata is successful and I hope he looks beyond the rhetoric of the noise makers on both sides.
I understand Ron's and Tata's jobs are different and I am ok with a board that has different points of view. However, it is the responsibility of the chairman (leadership) to bring them together and get things done. Ron's attitude seems to be - well I don't have a majority so I am going to punt. - Very disappointing. Maybe it is a societal thing - either it is a 100 yard touchdown play or give up. There seems to be an unwillingness to grind it out. Rome wasn't built in a day.
really? so Lead Mine has
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 17:46 — AngelaWreally? so Lead Mine has about 300 kids and 12 empty classrooms too? Part time specialists? Funny, that's not what was discussed at the BAC meeting last week.
and it wasn't "JT" it was a committee....now it's Tata's committee....
Teachers who are encouraged to hear a Super who wants funding IN the classrooms and FOR teachers, not repeated threats of "massive cuts and lay-offs"--very encouraging and a CERTAIN change from the past.
And a way to reach out to parents and the community on a regular basis? unheard of in the last ten years.
not a naysayer? not a big deal? puhlease.
Leadmine
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 13:01 — Solon77Hilburn has been complaining this year about resources. According to the 20th day enrollment Leadmine has 482 students and Hilburn has 481. Yes Leadmine has part time specialists and have had for some time. It would be helpful if you did a little fact checking first before you spouted off - but then again why let fact get in the way. So the question remains - how is Tata awarding resources - squeaky wheel gets the grease ? The tough call would be to reassign students from overcrowded Leesville to Hilburn.
As far as a way to reach out - it is only in the last couple of years that on line vitual town hall has become affordable for an entity such as a school system to reach out to the masses. Heck 10 years ago a town hall in business was rare, generally reserved for visiting dignitaries. Today, at least in my company they are held monthly. So, I do not find this a big deal.
As far as the assignment committe - JT chaired it and led it. It should have been led by the administration all along and not a board member.
I am not a naysayer, just not easily impressed when some one throws out a few scraps. What did you expect him to do ? Repeat the mstakes Ron and co made on day one. Right now Tata is in the honeymoon phase, soon real decisions have to be made.
Am I reading that correctly
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 22:44 — FSandYOU300 kids total at Lead Mine? If so, how come it hasn't been closed? How much is it costing per pupil to operate that school? What am I missing here, come on, is it April 1st already?
actually I think Lead Mine
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 07:52 — AngelaWactually I think Lead Mine is just around 500....it's Hilburn that's around 300 and possibly about 280 next year.....that all started with Sycamore creek opening, BTW.
c'mon it's WCPSS, it's almost *always* April Fool's.....well maybe until now with Tata.....I'm actually hopeful after hearing him at the BAC.
Thanks for clarifying
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 09:20 — FSandYOUSo maybe LM is borderline needing to be closed, but sounds to me like Hillburn should have already been shut down. How does this school system, in the hole it is in, justify operating a school with 300 kids in it? I don't know Hillburn's calendar, but I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it's not a YR school?
I am not saying either
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 09:49 — aacismeI totally agree
Mon, 03/28/2011 - 11:33 — FSandYOUand I think much of the public does also and will show they do by not supporting the building of any new schools, certainly not 30 new ones, until they fill up every last seat sitting empty now and that includes the undesirable tracks. It's not just across the north side, but the south end of the county has many schools with lots of empty seats. Once the next election cycle ends and the obstructionist clearly take back the "majority" I fully expect chaos and uncertainty to reign again when it comes to assignments. I do not for one second believe the assignment plan they are about to create will be the last we hear of that issue. A new board will reverse everything they can and we'll be back to the Burns/Dulaney/Millberg/Head days all over again by this time next year.
Hilburn is Going To Be At...
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 08:55 — JanisTango36% capacity next year based on the numbers presented at the District 7 BAC meeting. They need the help that Mr. Tata is recommending. I am pleased that he is looking at issues like this. These kind of issues have been ignored for way too long.
I actually have children at
Sun, 03/27/2011 - 10:55 — aacismeI actually have children at both HDE and Lead Mine. Lead Mine had part-time specialists in 09-10 and has a different mix this year based on how some things worked out. PE/Art are FT and Music is at 70% (I think that is the right percentage - it is staffed by 2 people). All things being equal, specialists woulod be part time at Lead Mine next year based on enrollment projections, although tthe principal is excellent and always figures something out with staffing.
While I would love to have additional resources at LM, it just will not be in the same dire straights that HDE will be next year. Enrollment has been holding steady at LM around 480-500 the past couple of years, while HDE has been steadily declining. It is projected to be 280 next year. There is always talk about targeting schools less than 75% capacity and LM always seems to hover around that, some years above and some years below.
The schools have many similarities and many differences. I compare them a lot myself (obviously) but it can be like comparing apples to oranges.
I look for results...
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 08:15 — bpuli9999I am surprised at how easy it is to impress you guys.
Yup....
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 16:38 — Bob_SconceThis is an excellent idea. I'm glad that they'll be filtering the input. Far too easy for one or two yahoos to be PITAs otherwise.
The difference in leadership styles between Tata and Burns is like night and day.
That's right...
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 08:16 — bpuli9999You don't want any questions he might not be able to answer.
He is proving to be one of
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 15:59 — DrActualFactualHe is proving to be one of our best leaders. A leader that can lead during difficult times is truly an inspiration.
He has done...
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 16:54 — bpuli9999so much leading in the few months that he has been here. It is, indeed, amazing.
So negative
Fri, 03/25/2011 - 20:19 — Voice_of_Reason_Is it possible a non-liberal can actually do something right? There has been more leadership out of BGen Tata in the short time he has been in his seat than I saw with Dr. Burns. Dr. Burns was a not a leader, only a manager.
So positive....
Sat, 03/26/2011 - 08:17 — bpuli9999Borders on sycophancy.