On Wednesday, I attended West Cary Middle School's Spring Concert for Beginning and Concert Band. It was spectacular! Well done students and Band Director-Ryan Anderson. A special shoutout to the guest musicians from Cary High. After the concert, I was able to visit their Art Gallery and view all the amazing artwork. Excellent job artists and Art Teacher-Lial Miller! Later on Wednesday, I hosted a D9 Connection Meeting. On Friday, I attended the Future Teachers Luncheon. It was so exciting to celebrate those being hired by WCPSS for the 2022-23 school year and those still working through this program. Use this link to learn more about the Future Teachers Program.
This week as a Board, we had two meetings: Work Session and Board Meeting.
At the Tuesday, May 17th Work Session:
- One item, the 2022-25 WCPSS AIG Plan, was removed from the agenda due to a staff member's emergency.
- Representatives from the School Safety Advocacy Council (SSAC) provided an update on seven key areas from the SSAC Security Assessment of WCPSS. Click here to view their presentation.
- Mark Strickland, Chief of Facilities and Operations; and Paula De Lucca, Senior Director, Child Nutrition Services; shared information regarding the CNS budget, reasons for recommending a $0.25 increase for full-priced breakfasts and lunches. Use this link to access their presentation. I did raise my concern about needing to proactively work to ensure students that might be eligible for free or reduced meal prices submit applications. This is especially important after not needing to complete an application the past two school years.
- Brian Pittman, Senior Director, High School Programs; and Jo Anne Honeycutt, Director, Career and Technical Education; presented the local plan for Career and Technical Education. To review their presentation, click here. I did voice my concerns about such low participation for English Language Learners (5.7%) and students with disabilities (8.5%) and my support to work on increasing their participation.
- Paul Koh, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services; Paul Walker, Senior Director, Student Due Process; and Ken Jorgenson, Director, Alternative Learning Programs; provided an overview of the Alternative Schools Accountability Model and the three options. Staff is recommending option B. To view the presentation and different options, use this link.
Click here to watch the recording of the May 17th Work Session.
At the Tuesday, May 17th Board Meeting:
- Superintendent Moore provided an update on the items discussed in the Work Session: SSAC Security Assessment, meal price increase, CTE local plan, and the Alternative Schools Accountability Model.
- Paula De Lucca requested Board approval of a meal price increase of $0.25 for full-priced breakfasts and lunches. The Board approved the recommendation 6-2. I did vote in favor of the increase based on the significant increases in projected CNS budget expenditures. Please view the presentation link above in the Work Session materials to review the full CNS report.
- Drew Cook, Assistant Superintendent for Academics, requested Board approval of proposed modifications to 2022-2023 instructional calendars to incorporate additional time needed for Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional learning for Pre-K-5th grade teachers. Modifications include the incorporation of six, two-hour early release days into each instructional calendar and the conversion of one instructional day to a teacher workday on April 24, 2023 for Tracks 1, 2, and 3 for Year-Round schools. The Board approved the recommendation 7-1. I did not support the recommendation due to concerns about the impact on the school day for students and staff, childcare concerns that existed when WCPSS had early release days in the past, and the proposal including a loss of an instructional day for Tracks 1, 2, and 3. The following are direct links to each new instructional calendar: KHS, NWCCA, VMCCA, WECHS, WECIBT*; Traditional, Wake Leadership Academies, Modified, Wake STEM, and Year-Round. *Please note the WECIBT calendar is contingent upon approval by the NC General Assembly.
To watch the recording of the May 17th Board Meeting, click here.
Next week as a Board, we have the following meeting (Please note this meeting will be streamed live on the WCPSS YouTube Channel.):
- Monday, May 23rd at 3:00 pm- Student Achievement Committee.* The items on the agenda are work in support of the Strategic Plan and the Comprehensive Plan for Equitable Discipline-Part II. Use this link to access the agenda.
*Please note this meeting will be virtual.
I will be hosting another D9 Connection Meeting on Wednesday, June 1st at 7:00 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.
