I kicked off my week with a D9 Connection Meeting on Sunday. On Tuesday, I visited East Cary Middle. Students were participating in "Would you Rather" and providing evidence, discussing observations and inferences, reviewing how an activity went in class the day before, providing feedback to peers, and more. On Thursday, I spent time at West Cary Middle. Students were designing an app (Yes... a real app!), creating birthday cards, working with fractions, preparing a career slideshow, and learning about the purposes of writing. On Friday, I wrapped up my week at Northwoods Elementary. There were several activities underway-- Letterland, counting, addition, working with math manipulatives, and learning about Penguins!
The amount of energy I continue to see in our Summer Learning Program is awesome. Thank you to all the families for allowing your children to participate in Camp WCPSS. A HUGE thank you to all the school staff for reaching kids where they are and reminding students learning can be fun!
This week as a Board, we had one meeting: Facilities Committee.
At the Wednesday, July 14th Facilities Committee:
- Dr. Martin, Committee Chair, provided a brief overview of the strategic planning feedback and comments received from Board members at the April 14th Facilities Committee Meeting. To access the scanned copies of the Board members' written comments, click here. To view the typed summary, use this link.
- Betty Parker, Senior Director, Real Estate Services; presented an overview of the Lockhart Elementary School easement area needed for a GoRaleigh bus stop and an overview of the schools with GoRaleigh/GoCary bus stops within a quarter of a mile. To access the presentation, click here.
- Marcella Rorie, Senior Director of Long Range Planning, presented background information about the FUR (Facility Utilization Report), the recommended new FUR format, and information about the new committee formed to provide oversight to requests for space use changes. This information is very important as it has implications for student assignment, transfer request approvals/denials, and more. I did ask about any possible impact on reassignment with the adjustments being made and how often the Board will be made aware of requests for space use changes and outcomes of the requests. To view the detailed presentation on the FUR, click use this link. To access the FUR Standardization Committee Draft Guideline for Space Use Changes, click here.
- Betty Parker, presented a review of the purpose, process, and implications of swing space for renovation/replacement projects (Swing Space 101). To view the Swing Space 101 presentation, use this link.
- Douglas Congdon, Program Executive, Facilities Design & Construction; shared the three month forecast which includes items for upcoming Facilities Committee Meetings and regular Board Meetings as it pertains to the Wake County Public School System and the Facilities Department. Click here to access the forecast document.
To watch the recording of the July 14th Facilities Committee, use this link.
Next week as a Board, we have the following meetings (Please remember all these meetings will be streamed live on the WCPSS YouTube Channel.):
- Tuesday, July 20th at 4 pm- Work Session. To access the agenda, click here. There are two agenda items: an update on the 2021-22 WCPSS Virtual Academy Program Planning and an Instructional Assistant Recruitment Bonus Recommendation.
- Tuesday, July 20th at 5:30 pm-Board Meeting. To view the agenda, use this link. There are a wide variety of items on the agenda. Some of the items are: service contracts for SROs with the Town of Cary, Town of Garner, and the Town of Apex, Instructional Assistant Sign-On Bonus, School Mental Health Improvement Plan, three policies presented for approval of first reading, and potential lawsuit against JUUL.
If you would like to attend the Work Session or Board Meeting and/or speak at the Board Meeting, please click here and select the correct form. The form should go live 48 hours prior to the start time of the meeting and close at 12 pm the day of the meeting. *Please note the form is now available in Spanish and there is an option to request an interpreter.
If you would like to provide written public comment, use this form. If you would like to submit a video public comment, click here.
On Monday, July 19th at 7:30 pm, I will be hosting a D9 Connection Meeting. This is an informal meeting for me to listen to you. If you live in D9, have a student in a D9 school, or work in a D9 school, please join us using this Google Meet Link.
I will host another D9 Connection Meeting On Sunday, August 1st at 4 pm.
If you have any questions or comments, please email me at kcarter3@wcpss.net.
