On Sunday, I canceled the D9 Connection Meeting due to a family emergency. On Wednesday, I attended the Green Hope High School Midyear Graduation. The Green Hope Brass Quintet did a fabulous job performing "Largo," "Rondeau," "The Star-Spangled Banner," and "Toreador Song." A huge congratulations to the graduates and their families. Best wishes on your next steps! On Saturday, I will be attending the WCPSS Cheer Competition at Green Hope High School.
This week as a Board, we had two meetings: Work Session and Board Meeting.
At the Tuesday, February 1st Work Session:
- Adam Mitchell, Tharrington Smith, LLP, redistricting consultant; and Blake Esselstyn, Mapfigure Consulting, redistricting consultant; presented three alternative redistricting draft plans of the Board Election Districts. To view the presentation of the three options, use this link. Click here to access the interactive online map of the plans. The next steps are public meetings to receive feedback about the plans, see if any adjustments are needed, a Board discussion, and vote.
- Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services; Dr. Pettiford, Senior Director of Counseling and Student Services; Cam Lopes, Director of Special Education Services Social Behavior Programming and Extended Content; and Michael Pesce, Director School Social Work; provided an overview of the required components for a School Mental Health Improvement Plan and the district behavioral health practices. Use this link to view their presentation.
To watch the recording of the February 1st Work Session, click here.
At the Tuesday, February 1st Board Meeting:
- Superintendent Moore provided an overview of the two agenda items from our Work Session: redistricting draft plans of the Board Election Districts and an update on the School Mental Health Improvement Plan and district behavioral health practices.
- Lloyd Gardner, Chief of Staff; Matthew Wight, Principal, Apex Friendship High School; Shejuanna Jacobs, Principal, Apex Friendship Middle School; Rebecca Ashley, Media Assistant, Apex Friendship High School; and Larry Harris, Friendship Community Member; provided an overview of the project the high school, middle school, and community facilitated in partnership to research the Friendship community, which ultimately led to the placement of a historical marker recognizing and honoring the history of Friendship School and its community. This project conducted by Apex Friendship High School and Apex Friendship Middle School is tied to the district’s initiative “Respecting our History, Building our Future” that encourages and supports schools and communities working jointly in learning about and documenting the educational history and contributions past and present of its respective school communities. To view the presentation, use this link.
- Glenn Carrozza, Assistant Superintendent, School Choice, Planning and Assignment, presented capping recommendations for Board approval. The Board approved the capping recommendations 8-0. Click here to read the capping recommendations.
- Glenn Carrozza recommended three schools, Middle Creek Elementary, West Lake Elementary, and West Lake Middle; be converted from a multi-track year-round calendar to track 4 only beginning the 2022-23 school year. An amendment to the recommendations was made to include Bank Road Elementary. The Board approved the amended recommendations 7-1. Use this link to access the presentation.
- Dr. Lane, Senior Director of Magnet and Curriculum Enhancement; presented proposed schools and themes for candidates for the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) Grant for 2022-2027. The Board approved the recommended schools and themes 8-0. To view the presentation, click here.
- Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services, presented the Local Face Covering Policy for Board Approval. The change proposed by staff was to add a mask requirement for 2-, 3-, and 4-year old students. I voiced my concerns around the additional proposed requirement. Paul Koh explained that the reason for bringing the new mask requirement for these young students was that since our last vote in January, the ChildCare Toolkit had added a recommendation to require children ages 2 and up to wear masks. I asked when that was added. He was unsure of the specific date.** An amendment was presented to not require masks for 2-, 3-, and 4- year old students, but recommend masks. The Board approved the amendment 6-2. I voted in support of the amendment because I do not support requiring masks for our youngest students. Additionally, I expressed my request that staff consider additional information as part of the criteria they consider to make their mask recommendations. Dr. Mushonga, Wake Public Health, shared information at our Work Session on January 18th about the shift of the severity of COVID. This was an example of information I voiced my support of staff using as part of their considerations. The Board did approve the current Local Face Covering Policy 8-0.
- Drew Cooke, Assistant Superintendent, Academics; presented a request to waive Section F of Policy 6860: Co-Curricular Activities and Athletics for middle and high schools for the spring semester of the 2021-2022 school year. Section F outlines the attendance requirement for student athletes in high school and middle school. The Board approved the waiver 8-0. I voiced my appreciation for staff bringing this to the Board to help support our students. To read the policy, use this link.
**Please note that the ChildCare Toolkit was last updated on January 13th, but the language about recommending to require children ages 2 and up to wear a mask was not added with the latest update. I contacted the Division of Child Development and Early Education and asked when that language was added. I was informed on February 3rd that it was included in the ChildCare Toolkit in August 2021 (over 5 months ago).
Click here to watch the February 1st Board Meeting.
Next week as a Board, we have the following meeting (Please remember this meeting will be streamed live on the WCPSS YouTube Channel.)
- Wednesday, February 9th at 3:00 pm- Facilities Committee. The items on the agenda are Schematic Design Presentation for Parkside Middle School/Morrisville Campus of the Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies, Long Range Student Membership Forecast, Draft Program Assumptions and Cost Model Update, new business, and Facilities Three Month Forecast. To access the agenda, use this link.
If you are interested in attending the Facilities Committee Meeting, there is no sign-up form. You can report to the Board Room at 3:00 pm on February 9th.
The District 9 BAC Meeting on February 9th was canceled due to staff being unavailable to present information. The next District 9 BAC Meeting will be March 31st at 6 pm.
I will be hosting another D9 Connection Meeting on Sunday, February 13th at 4 pm. 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.
If you have any questions or comments, please email me at kcarter3@wcpss.net.