On Monday, I joined Ms. Culver's class at Davis Drive Elementary for a United Arts Artist in Our Schools Event: a Song Writing Workshop with Roger Day! This is Roger's 19th year performing at DDE. He sang some songs, broke down the song writing process, connected the process to what the students are doing in Ms. Culver's class, and the students helped write a song. Their song was called Coach Potatoes! Monday evening, I hosted a D9 Connection Meeting. On Wednesday, I attended the Cary Chamber's Elected Officials Reception. On Friday, I had a meeting with a high school student. This student has concerns about the impact of poverty and creative ideas for a partnership between students, schools, and the community. On Saturday, I will be attending Davis Drive Elementary's Earth Day Celebration.
This week as a Board, we had five meetings: Finance Committee, Work Session, Board Meeting, Student Achievement Committee, and Policy Committee.
At the Tuesday, April 19th Finance Committee Meeting:
- David Neter, Chief Finance Officer; and Terri Kimzey, Senior Director, Budget, presented the Board Member questions submitted about the budget and the answers. To view the questions and answers, click here. I voiced my support for staff to look at ways to begin to add textbooks in our schools (even if just starting with one subject/grade, etc.) and for continuing with building substitutes. I also emphasized the school social work, guidance counselor, and school psychologist ratios that the multiyear is aiming to achieve each year. I also voiced my appreciation for the asterisks under the noncertified staff/classified staff multiyear initiative that mentions the current goals for hourly rates.
Use this link to watch the recording of the April 19th Finance Committee.
At the Tuesday, April 19th Work Session:
- Douglas Congdon, Program Executive, Facilities Design & Construction; provided the 2022 Final Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) update. Again, I voiced my concern about Cary High School not being the high school recommended for renovation given the higher health and safety score. Staff recommendations will be presented later today for Board approval. Click here to access the presentation.
- Drew Cook, Assistant Superintendent for Academics; and Michele Woodson, Senior Director, K-12 Instructional Supports; provided an update about the state-required LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) professional development. There are multiple staff recommendations: add six early-release days to the 2022-23 calendar, add a teacher workday on April 24, 2023 for Tracks 1, 2 and 3, add five minutes to every instructional day for all 2022-23 instructional calendars to maintain the required instructional hours and have banked days for emergencies, and bonuses for teachers completing the training. The bonuses for K-5 teachers would be $500 for completion for Volume 1, $500 for completion of Volume 2, $500 for demonstration of mastery of content for Volume 1, and $500 for demonstration of mastery of content for Volume 2. This would bring the potential bonus total to $2,000 for K-5 teachers. Since pre-k teachers have half the content, their bonus total would be $1,000. I voiced my concerns about the possible significant impact of adding five minutes to each school day and six early release days on staff, families, and students. I asked if other options were considered. To view the presentation and staff recommendations, use this link.
To watch the recording of the April 19th Work Session, click here.
At the Tuesday, April 19th Board Meeting:
- Dr. Lloyd Gardner, Chief of Staff and Strategic Planning, provided an overview of what was discussed in the Work Session: CIP and LETRS professional development update.
- The following five policies were approved (first reading) by the Board 9-0: Policy Code: 2302 Remote Participation in Board Meetings, Policy Code: 6421: Preaudit and Disbursement Certifications, Policy Code: 6441/9121: Bidders' List, Policy Code: 6442: Vendor List, and Policy Code: 7100: Recruitment and Selection of Personnel.
- Policy Code: 6402 Participation by Historically Underutilized Businesses will return to a future Policy Committee Meeting for further discussion.
- Douglas Congdon presented the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Board approval. The Board approved the CIP 9-0. I did, once again, voice my concerns about Cary High School prior to the vote. To view the presentation, use this link.
- Douglas Congdon presented the Board Resolution Requesting and Petitioning the Board of Commissioners for the County of Wake, North Carolina to Provide Necessary Funds for the Purpose of Paying the Cost of School Facilities. Click here to read the full resolution. The Board approved the resolution 9-0.
- Drew Cook presented information about the current backlog related to the Behind-the-Wheel Training. Staff requested amending Jordan Driving School's current contract by a decrease of $500,000. Board approved this request 9-0. To view the amended contract use this link. The second contract presented for Board approval is in response to the RFP #251-22-335 initiated in February 2022 to identify driver education vendors to provide behind-the-wheel driver training to students in the Wake County Public School System for the purpose of addressing the pandemic-related backlog of students needing this instruction. Jordan Driving School will be contracted at a rate of $400 per student completing behind the wheel driver training. The vendor will only be compensated at this rate for students in excess of the 455 average served per month on the existing contract. The contract is limited to $240,000. The Board approved this contract 9-0. Click here to access the contract.
- Betty Parker, Director Real Estate Services, presented information about the terms and conditions of an Offer to Purchase and Contract which have been reached with The Board of Trustees of Wake Technical Community College to acquire certain real property totaling ± 34.0 acres located in the Morrisville/RTP area. The property is further identified as a portion of a parcel having Wake County PIN 0746-86-7028. Terms and conditions of Memoranda of Understanding with WTCC and Town of Morrisville have also been developed to memorialize additional material terms and conditions related to acquisition of the subject property. The Board was asked for approval. The Board approved the Offer to Purchase and Contract and the Memoranda of Understanding 9-0. Use this link to read the Offer to Purchase and Contract. To access the Memorandum of Understanding Town of Morrisville, Wake Technical Community College, and Wake County Board of Education, click here. To view the Memorandum of Understanding Town of Morrisville and Wake County Board of Education, use this link. To access the Memorandum of Understanding Town of Cary and Wake County Board of Education, use this link. The purchase order can be viewed here.
Use this link to watch the recording of the April 19th Board Meeting.
At the Wednesday, April 20th Student Achievement Committee Meeting:
- Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services; and Kathryn Chontos, Consultant, Student Support Services; provided an overview of the WCPSS Comprehensive Plan for Equitable Discipline (CPED) including context related to the monitoring by the Office of Civil Rights, connecting the CPED to the WCPSS Core Beliefs #1, #2, and #5. reviewed the updated CPED document elements, and provided next steps. I did voice my concern about possible inconsistencies from one school to another and doing what we can to not shut the door for an educational path for students. To view the presentation, click here. To access the updated CPED document, use this link.
To watch the recording of the April 20th Student Achievement Committee Meeting, click here.
At the Wednesday, April 20th Policy Committee Meeting:
- Jonathan Enns, Southwestern Area Superintendent; and Dr. Crain, Director, Strategy and Policy; presented the revised Board Policy: 3320 R&P School Trips and related non-school sponsored trip notification form. To view the updated R&P, use this link. Click here to access the revised notification form.
- Dr. Muttillo, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources; presented revised Board Policy 7503: Teleworking. I voiced my appreciation for the changes to allow for staff to telework on an unprotected workday(s) designated by each school's principal. This has no fiscal cost and is a benefit. It gives staff flexibility and shows them respect. I did voice my concern about the possibility of having a wide range across the district since each principal determines the number of unprotected workdays that teleworking will be allowed. I am hopeful more consistency will be encouraged districtwide. This revised policy will be presented at a future Board Meeting for first reading. Use this link to view the policy.
- Drew Cook, Brian Pittman, Senior Director, High School Programs; and Shawn Johnson, Director, K-12 Literacy; presented revised Board Policy: 3240 Student Promotion and Accountability. There are changes made based on new state requirements and updates made to the North Carolina School Boards Association. To read the updated policy, click here. This revised policy will be presented for first reading at a future Board Meeting.
- Crystal Reardon, Director, School Counseling; presented information about Class Rank on High School Transcripts including what is required by state statute, State Board of Education, the UNC System Board of Governors and Community Colleges. At this time, WCPSS does not have the authority to change the method used to determine Class Rank.
To watch the recording of the April 20th Policy Committee Meeting, use this link.
Next week as a Board, there are no meetings scheduled as a full Board. The majority of the Board will be traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah for the Greater Raleigh Chamber Inter-City Visit and Leadership Conference. To view more information about that Greater Raleigh Chamber Event, click here. I will not be attending. Our Student Achievement Committee and Policy Committee were moved to this week due to this conference.
District 9's final Board Advisory Council Meeting for this school year will be on April 27th at 6 pm. This meeting will be focused on gathering input on the District's Strategic Plan. If you are interested in joining us, please register at this link and a Google Meet Link will be sent to you.
I will be hosting another D9 Connection Virtual Meeting on Sunday, May 1st 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.
