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February 5, 2021

This week, I started off with a D9 Connection Virtual Meeting on Sunday, February 1st. I appreciate the educators and parents who attended and provided feedback regarding a return to in-person instruction plan. As a Board, we had two meetings on Tuesday, February 2nd: the Work Session and Board Meeting. 

At the Tuesday, February 2nd, Work Session:

  • Brad McMillen, Assistant Superintendent for Data, Research, and Accountability; Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services; Drew Cook, Assistant Superintendent for Academics; and Dr. Muttillo, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, provided a midyear update. The topics covered were: results from the WCPSS parent, staff, and principal surveys; attendance data, dropouts, grades, and sub recruitment. Even with the flexibility of how students can be counted as attending school (in person, two-way communication, turning in schoolwork, or attending a live meet), absences for Blacks and Hispanics have increased significantly. Additionally, there is an increase in failing grades at the middle and high school level. Regarding middle school Fs, in fall 2018 and 2019, 5 to 6% of course grades were Fs compared to in the fall 2020: 13 or 15% of course grades were Fs. At the high school level, in 2018 and 2019, 7-11% of course grades were Fs compared to this fall: 15 or 19% were Fs, depending on the grading period (Quarter 1 or 2).

  • Superintendent Moore presented information about returning to in-person instruction. Staff's recommendation was Plan A (daily, in-person instruction) for Prek-3rd grade and all special education regional program students; Plan B (three-cohort rotation) for 4th-12th grade.
The presentation for the Work Session can be accessed here. The recording of the Work Session can be viewed at this link.

At the Tuesday, February 2nd, Board Meeting:

  • The agenda was amended to move Cumming Construction Management Contract from consent to action and to add second semester return to in-person instruction plan to action.

  • Dr. Rodney Trice, Assistant Superintendent for the Office of Equity Affairs, shared information in recognition of Black History Month. You can access his presentation here.

  • Paul Koh, Area Superintendent for Student Support Services, and Crystal Reardon, Director, Counseling, announced the 2020 North Carolina Counselor of the Year-- Nancy Stavrakakis, Counselor at Mills Park Elementary. Congratulations!! They also spoke about this being National School Counseling Week.

  • Superintendent Moore presented the staff recommendation for the second semester return to in-person plan; PreK – third grade and all special education regional programs on a daily basis (Plan A), grades four and five on a three-cohort rotation (Plan B), and grades six through twelfth on a three-cohort rotation (Plan B).  Schools will return on their respective calendar the week of February 15, 2021. The Board approved the plan. Staff is currently reviewing the cohort calendars to determine what adjustments can/will be made to rotation schedules that will lead to better overall balance across cohorts. Staff will be providing more information on any revised cohort rotation plan to the Board at our next scheduled Board Meeting on February 16th.

  • David Neter, Chief Financial Officer, presented a contract amendment for Cumming Construction Management in the amount of  $1,063,466. The contract and supporting documents can be viewed here. The Board approved the contract. I, personally, expressed concerns about two additional staff for over 1 million dollars.
The Board Meeting recording can be viewed here.

Please note there is a pending bill, SB37 In-Person Learning Choice For Families, which could have an impact on our in-person instruction plan. To read more about the pending legislation, click here.

This upcoming week, we have the following meeting:
  • Wednesday, February 10th at 3 pm-Facilities Committee. At this time, there is no agenda posted. Once the agenda is posted, you can find it here. Please remember the meeting will be live on the WCPSS YouTube Channel. 
I will be hosting another D9 Connection Virtual Meeting this Monday, February 8th at 7 pm. This is a very informal meeting for me to listen to community members in District 9 as they share their feedback and concerns. If you would like to join us, please use this link.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at kcarter3@wcpss.net.



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