On Monday, I attended the WakeEd Stars of Education 2021 Virtual Gala. To watch the recording of the event, click here. On Wednesday, I attended the incredible performance of the 12 Angry Jurors at Cary High School. This was the first CHS Performing Arts live theatrical performance since March 2020. The students were powerful; their emotion and energy was moving. On Thursday, I attended the WCPSS Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Banquet. Congratulations to the finalists, the Principal of the Year-Keith Richardson, Knightdale High School, and the Assistant Principal of the Year-Bonnie Mwanda, Heritage High School.
This week as a Board, we had two meetings: Work Session and Board Meeting.
At the Tuesday, October 5th Work Session:
- Glenn Carrozza, Senior Director, Office of Student Assignment, presented Draft One of the Enrollment Plan for 2022-23. Please review the presentation at this link. There will be info sessions this month. Dates TBD. Draft two will be released on November 16th. Staff is recommending a public hearing on November 30th. The final vote will be on December 7th. Click here to access the enrollment proposal website. Use this link to submit feedback about draft one.
To watch the recording of the October 5th Work Session, click here.
At the Tuesday, October 5th Board Meeting:
- The agenda was amended to move the following two items from consent to action: Senate Bill 654-Local Face Covering Policy and Board of Education General Counsel Second Amendment.
- Superintendent Moore provided a brief overview of what was covered in the Work Session.
- Dr. Gardner, Chief of Staff and Strategic Planning; MariaRosa Rangel, Director for Office of Equity Affairs; Alanah Payne, Student, Athens Drive High School; and Kavya Sriram, Student, Athens Drive High School; presented information about National Hispanic Heritage Month. To access the presentation, use this link. To watch Alanah and Kavya's documentary, "Nos Vamos Local," click here.
- The Board unanimously approved the second reading of three policies: Board Policy 4309: Student Behavior-Code of Student Conduct, Board Policy 5210: Distribution and Display of Non-School Material, and Board Policy 6300: Goals of Student Transportation Services.
- Betty Park, Senior Director, Real Estate Services; Paul Domenico, Director of Curriculum Enhancement Programs; and Dr. Kimberly Lane, Senior Director, Magnet and Curriculum Enhancement Programs; presented the Memorandum of Agreement between the Wake County Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of Wake Technical Community College (WTCC) to memorialize the partnership between the Board and WTCC to offer students technical programs that follow Career and College Promise including but not limited to Cooperative Innovative programs to prepare high school students for both career and post-secondary opportunities. The board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). To review the MOA, use this link.
- The Board of Education's nomination of Chris Heagarty for the North Carolina School Boards Association Board of Directors was presented for approval. The Board approved the nomination 9-0. Click here to review the nomination form.
- Keith Sutton, Board Chair, presented a Supplemental Resolution Requesting Legislation to Return to Odd-Year Elections for School Board Members with Staggered Four-Year Terms. The Board approved the resolution 9-0. Use this link to access the resolution.
- Keith Sutton, presented a Resolution in Support of Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan. To review the resolution, click here.
- Keith Sutton, presented the Board of Education's General Counsel Second Amendment. Tharrington Smith, LLC, proposed a rate increase effective January 1, 2022. The rate increase is $10 per hour across each billing rate, including partner ($225) and associate ($210), and $5 per hour for paralegal services ($125). The Board approved this rate increase 8-1. I did not support this rate increase. I expressed my concern that school staff have been waiting a long time for a pay raise and that I did not think voting on this before our school staff could have raises approved was appropriate or respectful to our staff. At our last Finance Committee, Dr. Muttillo shared that the Instructional Assistant starting rate has increased by 52 cents per hour since the 2008-2009 school year (Yes, you are reading that correctly.). Use this link to access the purchase order.
- Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, presented the Local Face Covering Policy for Board approval. The Board approved the Local Face Covering Policy 8-1. I did not vote in favor of this policy due to the outside mask requirement. I voiced my support for masks inside and my concerns about the outside mask requirement for extracurricular activities (band, athletics, etc.) for staff and students not participating in physical exertion in contests or performances.
To watch the Tuesday, October 5th meeting, click here.
Next week as a Board, we have the following meeting (Please remember this meeting will be streamed live on the WCPSS YouTube Channel.):
- Wednesday, October 13th at 3:00 pm-Facilities Committee. To access the agenda, use this link. Some of the items on the agenda are the naming of the Cooperative Innovative High School at RTP, HVAC ventilation update, and year-round schools discussion.
I will be hosting a D9 Connecting Meeting on Tuesday, October 12th at 7:30 pm. This is an informal meeting for me to listen to your concerns and feedback. If you live in D9, work in a D9 school, or have a student in a D9 school, please join us by clicking here.
If you have any questions or comments, please email me at kcarter3@wcpss.net.
