The school system is touting how a new method for auditing individual schools will "help schools see how they can improve."
Click here for the district's press release on the new audit process.
The new approach drew a lot of discussion at the March 31 school board committee of the whole meeting. Much of the talk was around whether the audits might actually hurt morale at individual schools.
After staff laid out the audit process, school board member Beverley Clark asked how they'd deal with the "human consequences."
Supt. Del burns said that the audit findings "will not be a surprise to the school." While the findings “might not be particularly fun, they will be fair," Burns told board members.
Burns added that he believes teachers will accept the audit findings and see it as a relief to have a structured model in place to evaluate schools. He said teachers know that it's more important to see what can be done to better educate the kids.
School board member Lori Millberg said school morale is already hurt based on the test scores that are published and the state report cards. She feels the audit will be well received and give the teachers the information “they’re dying to receive.”
For now, only Barwell Road Elementary and the East Wake School of Integrated Technology will be audited. They're being done now because they were labeled as low performing under last year's state ABCs program.
The other schools that will be audited still have to be identified. Wake is now training more people to do the audits.
Chief Academic Officer Donna Hargens told board members she "feels confident that schools will raise hands to volunteer" for audits.
UPDATE
Click here for info on the audits of Barwell and East Wake. Click here for a handout on the audit process.
Comments
A Demand to Freeze School Purchases
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 05:45 — AngelaWhttp://venitapeyton.com/2009/04/demand-to-freeze-school-purchases.html
It was not a request. It was a demand.
Wake County and other North Carolina public and charter schools were told to immediately suspend school purchases.
According to the News and Observer on April 15, “In a memo sent Monday by Bill Harrison, the state's chief education officer, all 115 school districts and 98 charter schools have been told to freeze hiring, travel, promotions and new purchases.”
In addition, it threatened individual audits to ensure compliance.
Which poses four questions:
-Was this action legal?
-Could this happen again?
-Why the assumption that state spending supersedes local needs?
-Where's the outrage from local school officials?
How can they mandate a GP next year then?
Tue, 04/21/2009 - 18:14 — momof2goodboysThis is another reason why I don't know how the WC school board can make the statement that they are going to have staff draw up something to make sure that the GP will be a requirement next year regardless of what the state says. How can they commit to spend the money that will be necessary to implement the GP then? Next year will be even worse to go with the GP as it is now. Streamlined with no mentor or product maybe. As it is now, no way.
I believe this demand should
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 08:08 — CaryCurmudgeonI believe this demand should apply to any items left which must be purchased in order to convert LRMS. That includes the cost of having a shipping company transport those stupid carts across town.
Wasteful LRMS Conversion
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 09:19 — Lisa_BHey Mudge:
I was told this applies to anything "NOT CURRENTLY RECEIVED", so even it if has been ordered, if it was not physically in the school as of the date (one day last week--not sure of the exact day) it needs to be returned when it arrives.
I do know that this applies to textbooks, classroom supplies, etc... which are REALLY needed, so paying even 1 cent toward this WASTEFUL and UNJUSTIFIED conversion would be a crime.
Lots of waste!
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 10:36 — g88ky07Hey LB,
I'd say continuing to operate most of these MYR schools is "WASTEFUL and UNJUSTIFIED" and a crime as well!!
We need the tools for education and our teachers a WHOLE LOT MORE than we need to operate empty classrooms!!!
It's time it ENDS!!!
Critical Items Cut While MYR Keeps Wasting Money
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 11:38 — Lisa_BHey g88:
I COMPLETELY agree. The 22 MYR conversions were not justified back when they were FORCED on our communities, and this ridiculous MYR experiment has continued going down the tubes ever since that time, wasting money every single day.
THEN, we look at very successful VYR schools like Green Elementary. NOW, they've actually taken that school and completely gotten rid of Track 2. Creating an overabundance of MYR seats in the county has put Green in such an unfortunate situation where they can't even operate 4 tracks.
I keep thinking the entire School Board will eventually decide that HONESTY is the best policy, and their collective decisions will be made based on FACTS and not personal agendas. Unfortunately, it may not happen until after October.
Powerful data, hopeful solutions: actively ignored
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 09:42 — SDR256Yes, I already knew from the WSCA Research team that EVAAS allows for individual student tracking. What I LEARNED last night was that the NC DIP actually HAS the data on individual Wake students, but they have been unable to get the WCPSS interested in utilizing it! What are they afraid of?
Holy milking cows fer sher.
Let's accept the fact that some students may start lower on the scale. Big deal. With EVAAS all students would be tracked to make sure they improved - attacking the problem head on. Instead, WCPSS chooses today to use a fraudulent Enron-style accounting system of measuring schools and shuffling at-risk children around in a shell game of 'catch me if you can'. I suspect this is largely due to the fact that King Charles does not believe that low-income children can succeed, as he has stated. I'm betting he's not alone at WCPSS staff in this patronizing arrogant dismissal. Don't help 'em, HIDE 'em, Chuck. Great ideals you have there.
Baloney. At-risk children may need a different kind of support, as seen with the KIPP schools, but these schools prove that low income children can knock the socks off of WCPSS schools if given half a chance. The KIPP school in Gaston NC, with 70% F&R had a 100% acceptance rate to college. And yet, WCPSS has overtly and actively ignored any presentation regarding KIPP schools. Why? Why in the world would we not want that for Wake children? Could it be that entrenched WCPSS staffers fear a challenge to the solution so many have bet their careers on? NIH? CYA?
A problem unaddressed will only fester. Busing is not an academic goal.
EVAAS compared to Wake's System
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 22:56 — wakemomEVAAS is nothing like the data system Wake uses. Wake's Effectiveness Index is a simple regression analysis that uses one test score that has huge error in it, then they adjust for many demographic things including income. They have lower predicted learning for students who start out the same, or higher, depending on things like income. So, the results will say all is well when poor kids are not learning as much as higher income. EVAAS doesn't do this. EVAAS uses lots of scores, and does sophisticated things to predict which kids will succeed and doesn't have different predictions for different kinds of kids. You can't compare the two. This report makes no sense. I think it is written to give the "look and feel" of a comparison. Wake can't let people use EVAAS. All of their "research" is based on the statistical analyses of their own Effectiveness Index system, which reports all is well when poor kids learn less than wealthy kids. Look at the research on their website.
A real researcher should take a look at their Effectiveness Index and at the research they do with it. Is there any external review? What are the credentials of the folks there doing research? I think I know the credentials of Sanders and SAS. This is our tax money and our kids. Can Mr. Hui have someone who is qualified compare their system to EVAAS, and take a look at their research?
Bob Sconce ? Can we
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 10:42 — DrActualFactualBob Sconce ? Can we request this info from DPI under the freedom of information act or is it protected by privacy rules since the students are minors?
What information?
Sun, 04/19/2009 - 10:37 — Bob_SconceNot really my specialty, but see this link: http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/north-carolina/access-public-records-north-carolina
I suspect that you wouldn't be able to get information about individual students (privacy, after all), but may be able to get aggregate information about the schools.
William Sanders
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 08:13 — shank56Sanders was highly regarded by both WCPSS and Wake Ed Partnership in 2000. Here are a couple of links on the Wake Ed website. Sanders focus is mainly on teacher effectiveness, as I recall, which his data backs up.
All for All : Teacher Excellence for Every Child
http://www.wakeedpartnership.org/publications/d/AllForAll.pdf
Check page 4 for Sanders.
http://www.wakeedpartnership.org/news/wakefyi_archives/061506.html
this was prior to the original 22 MYR conversions
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 07:20 — AngelaWThe subject is funding for year-round conversion costs for 22 schools and associated moving of mobile units. Hence, that brings us to today for this special called meeting. The subject is: Funding for Year-Round Conversion Costs for 22 Schools and Associated Moving of Mobile Units.
The funding that is being requested includes the moving of mobile units, teacher carts, teaching materials, library books, and related supplies. Funding for the teacher carts, teaching materials, library books, and related supplies will come from the undesignated fund balance in the amount of $1, 523, 660.Funding for the relocation of mobile units will come from current capital outlay budget and also from the undesignated capital outlay fund balance.Don Haydon gave a summary of the agenda item. Mr. Haydon stated that we will berelocating 18 additional modular/ mobile classroom units at elementary schools and 7 at middle schools for a total of 25 new units. We estimate that will take about 1.4 million dollars and money available at about $730,000, leaving a requirement of an additional $670,000 from fund balance.
Susan Parry requested that the numbers be repeated. It was estimated that 1.4 million dollars are required, and we have $730,000 available in operating budget now, leaving a need for an additional $670,000. Mrs. Parker noted that Harris Creek originally had 4 mobile units. Don Haydon replied that we have postponed that need for 1 year. Mr. Dulaney went out and met with the principal, walked the campus, and worked around how the principal was going to provide classrooms for next year and be able to accommodate without the mobiles for this year; however, we will need them for next year.
Superintendent Burns replies that it has been our
practice to use capital outlay funds in the current expense budget for the move of mobiles
and modulars and is consistent with past practice. As a reminder, your undesignated fund
balance has two components. An operating funding component and a capital outlay
component. The action that is being requested today is to both appropriate from
undesignated fund balance an amount from the operating funding and that is in the amount
of $1.5 million and from the Capital Outlay undesignated fund balance $670,000 to add to
the $730,000 that exists in your current year’s operating funding for capital outlay
The total undesignated fund balance is
approximately 22 million dollars.
1.523 million dollars, plus the $670,000 from the undesignated capital outlay fund balance,
which is approximately 2.1 million dollars”. Mrs. Parker noticed that there is a difference in
the amount of expenditure for the carts from the original request. Mr. Neter replied that
beginning back in the fall, our Purchasing Department and Caroline Massengill began
extensive research, working with several principals going through the conversion to redefine
and redesign the carts, which gave us the opportunity to get several more bidders involved.
We were able to cut the cost by approximately 40% as a result
Superintendent Burns states that “You have control
over the undesignated fund balance, both operating and capital outlay, as a Board of
education. Where you can not go is transferring from capital outlay to operating or
operating to capital outlay without County Commissioner’s approval. You are staying within
the categories of capital outlay and operating. It is within your authority and the last
conversation that I had with your Board attorney was that you have the authority to do
that”.
Green Hope Elementary 3 classrooms being added
Harris Creek Elementary 0 classrooms being added
Highcroft Elementary 3 classrooms being added
Holly Springs Elementary 6 classrooms being added
Lockhart Elementary 0 classrooms being added
Salem Elementary 6 classrooms being added
____________________
18 total for Elementary
East Wake Middle 7
_____________________
7 total for Middle
25 total classrooms
The motion to approve Funding for Year-Round Conversions Costs for 22 School and
Associated Moving of Mobile Units was read. The vote was unanimous.
(The school board said that the "cost of conversion" for an Elementary School was $65,000---basically the cost of the track-out carts. They failed to disclose that there were HUGE additional operating expenses, costs to move mobile units, cost of shade structures, and other expenses that would not be necessary if the schools weren't forced to convert.)
The miracle MYR
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 19:49 — SideburnsFrom WCPSS handout....
Schools collapsing tracks next year:
Other schools are facing triple tracks becoming double tracks and double tracks becoming single tracks.
Good job, WCPSS.
How is Year Round saving money?
Mon, 04/20/2009 - 09:17 — srhudson06I thought the purpose of Year Round was to save money and handle growth. How are we saving money when we are not running at full capacity and collapsing tracks everywhere?
Wake up Wake County...
Holy Milkin' Cows
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 20:26 — g88ky07Where's the growth crisis when you need it!
Add Ballentine to the list at the bottom. We have at least 10-12 classes folding up shop, those teachers going away and lots of forced track changes.
Growth crisis my a$$! How much is being wasted to keep these schools on the mandated utopian plan???
..
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 06:51 — SideburnsWithout a whole track, isn't the school operating with a traditional enrollment of children -- with the MYR costs?
note highlights below
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 07:07 — AngelaWCriteria For Conversion Of Elementary Schools From A Traditional Calendar To The 45/15 Multi-Track Calendar
From: WCPSS Growth and Planning Department
Approved By: The Board of Education On July 18, 2006
Staff will consider all the criteria shown below when developing recommendations for conversion of
schools from traditional calendars to multi-track calendars, but will be guided by the relative
importance of the groupings as listed.
The most important criteria will be capacity.
• How much capacity (space for new students) will be gained through conversion of a school? Can
the capacity gain be optimized through adjustment of mobile/modular classrooms, and does the
capacity gain provide space for special needs students as well as general enrollment growth?
• Is the student population growing in the base area of the school? Will the capacity gained through
conversion be utilized without reassignment or movement of mobile classrooms?
The second most important group of criteria involve the size of the school, the impact of conversion on
healthy school demographics, and the impact of conversion on the instructional program of the school.
• Does the school have sufficient projected membership to organize at least one class at each grade
level on each track?
• Will conversion of a school, and any necessary associated student reassignment, have a negative
impact on the district’s efforts to maintain a healthy demographic mix at all schools and on all
tracks?
• Will conversion of a school have a negative impact on the instructional program of the school or
the instructional services provided to the population served by that school?
The third most important group of criteria includes the history of interest in year-round education
shown by the community and the potential for enrollment growth in the areas assigned to the school.
• How many students residing in the base area of the school currently attend year-round schools
through the application process and how many students from the base area applied to year-round
but were not selected?
• Is the staff of the school interested in converting to the 45/15 calendar for instructional reasons?
The fourth group of criteria includes consideration of availability of alternatives for families and
teachers, availability of middle school matching calendars, the impact of conversion on student
assignment, and the ability of the school facility to support year-round multi-track utilization.
• Is there a traditional calendar school that could be made available to parents and teachers who can’t
make the year-round calendar work for their family?
• Does a school have a year-round middle school feeder option or can such an option be created?
How much reassignment would be associated with creation of a middle school feeder option?
• Will conversion to a year-round calendar require reassignment of some of a school’s base area
because of the large number of students that might return from existing year-round schools? If so,
how much reassignment is required?
• Will conversion of a school enable the Board of Education to remove a cap on enrollment or return
spot nodes to the base assignment area of the school?
• How will conversion of a school impact the needs of transfer students at that school?
• Does the school facility have obstacles that would inhibit or restrict effective multi-track
programming? For example, are there physical obstacles to the movement of materials on carts
between classrooms? If so, can those obstacles be addressed through minor facilities modifications
such as construction or reconfiguration of ramps or sidewalks? Will renovation plans create poor
learning conditions? Will poor air-conditioning create poor learning conditions?
Hate to say it, WCPSS moral
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 17:05 — viking60Hate to say it, WCPSS moral is already in the gutter.
I tell ya, these folks in
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 17:02 — dryeraseuserI tell ya, these folks in WCPSS...just amaze me everyday.. YEAH , Dr. B...this will "help" if you think the schools are unhealthy now...do it...and You will probably be run out of office, since your schools will be dragging the moral through the mud. The moral is bad enough NOW, so why not do more to "help" it out...but help it out in the negative direction. LOL
Sideburns--I have been told
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 16:54 — jenmanSideburns--I have been told the very same thing by David Holdzkom. I have also been told by somebody with WCPSS (Chuck, David, a BOE member--can't remember who) that they don't have the capability of following individual students to see how they do. This was in regards to tracking how well students do after a long distance diversity reassignment.
that's the point
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 17:22 — loriacBut that's the point - they do have the capability to track down to the class and student level. We saw an example of the data last night, and it was very powerful.
However - if you keep moving the students around to make the schools look healthy (as opposed to really being concerned about the students' progress), I think I understand why they wouldn't want to pursue the student level data.
Mr. Hui - I wish you had seen this - it's really questionable why the school isn't taking more advantage of this program.
New Evaluation System or more of the same?
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 15:22 — OLDCROWThe flogging will continue until morale improves!
New Evaluation System or more of the same
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 15:20 — OLDCROWThe flogging will continue until morale improves
EVAAS (sas system) ---IT COSTS WCPSS NOTHING!!!!
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 10:27 — AngelaWIT COSTS WCPSS NOTHING!!!! IT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE THROUGH NCDPI AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CHOOSES NOT TO ACCESS AND/OR UTILIZE IT.
Click here for a recently
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 11:25 — KeungHui (author)Click here for a recently released school district report comparing EVAAS with Wake's school effectiveness index.
recently released report
Sat, 04/18/2009 - 06:59 — mbgjwaltersMr Hui,
I think this report only compares WCPSS reports to EVAAS at the school level. EVAAS provides information at the district, school, grade, class and individual student leve, showing what progress has been made at each of those levels, as well as subgroups within a level. It also predicts how a student (or group of students) will perform on future tests.
NCDPI made EVAAS available to all school districts in 2007. Pennsylvania has done the same thing. Here is a video PA produced to educate their school board members on what EVAAS (or PVAAS) offers and how they are using it.
http://www.pattan.net/files/cc/understanding_pvaas.asx
Summary - schools vs students
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 12:44 — loriac"It must be noted that the comparison reported here focused on one type of analysis available from
the EVAAS© system – the School Value Added Report – which happens to parallel the WCPSS
Effectiveness Index model. It should be noted that the EVAAS© system contains many types of
reports that go beyond what is measured and reported in the WCPSS Effectiveness Index. This
analysis made no attempts to catalog or evaluate those, or to compare them to any other reporting
systems. "
Wake's system focuses on 'schools' - what I saw last night was that EVAAS allows analysis of data at the student and classroom level . To me, that's what it's all about - being able to track effectiveness of teaching methods, etc. at the classroom and student level.
If Wake's audit is only at the school level - will that be effective? Are we only interested in helping schools, or the students?
...
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 13:17 — SideburnsAccording to Kevin Hill, WCPSS is only interested in school performance -- not individual students.
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/responding-to-the-open-letter-on-diversity
Thanks for posting!
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 11:49 — AngelaWthis was just released in March, correct?
The report is dated March 24
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 12:06 — KeungHui (author)The report is dated March 24 so it had to have been released in the past 3 1/2 weeks.
If the audit shows that
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 10:24 — kirtlIf the audit shows that money should be spent in the classroom on ways to improve instruction rather than on something adminsitrative away from the classroom will it's advice be followed?
question for Mr. Hui
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 10:06 — loriacLast night at the WSCA meeting, we saw a presentation on a SAS program that is currently available to the State BOE (I can't remember the name) that gives student performance results. I can't tell from this audit writeup what they are using to perform the audit analysis. It seems like using data from this program along with the information being gathered would be very useful. Do you know? Maybe someone else can comment on the name of that program.
See reply above to Angela's
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 11:26 — KeungHui (author)See reply above to Angela's post.
All I can say...
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 09:54 — supportwcpssIs that it's about a time. While the curriculum audit was a good idea it didn't get down to the individual school level. I think this a great step for assessing individual schools and looking to make improvements.
A structured feedback mechanism for schools. Excellent.
In terms of cost, my guess is they are training current staff so the only cost should be the initial training.
One question...
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 09:49 — louiselee44How much will it cost?!