drop-in-bill-fletcher

Thursday: Parent Chat with WCPSS Board Member Fletcher

/in , , /by

drop-in-bill-fletcher

Cary, NC — Got questions about Wake County Public Schools? Drop in on Thursday from 1-2 PM at the Cary Chamber to chat with School Board member Bill Fletcher.

Drop In with Bill Fletcher

This Thursday, June 5, 2014, drop in at the Cary Chamber from 1-2 PM for a casual chat with WCPSS School Board Member Bill Fletcher.

The first few minutes are usually devoted to agreeing on some topics for the session, so get there early if you have a burning issue.

“Thoughts from Bill”

Here’s the latest from Board member Fletcher, in his newsletter entitled “Thoughts from Bill” –

Graduates celebrate at 26 events – a time of joy and tears.  More than 10,000 students will graduate from the Wake School District this season…prepared for success in career, college or the military.  This year’s grads earned a record amount of scholarships.  Congratulations.

Setting a Community Vision for Wake Children!  On May 30 the District kicked off a months-long collaborative process to “envision our children’s future”.  What skills will our graduates need in 15 years and how will those skills be mastered?  We need you to participate.  Check out http://www.wcpss.net/vision/index.html and http://envisionwake.mindmixer.com/

ALERT!!  Transportation processes are changing!  All current students who did not ride the bus last year and any new students to the District who desire to ride a yellow bus this year must request transportation by 30 days BEFORE school starts.  For year round students, that’s June 6.  For modified calendar, June 25.  For traditional calendar, July 21.  For more info, see http://www.wcpss.net/parents/transportation/busrider/

Teacher pay – The County Manager’s proposed budget fails to include any funds for raises for school system employees.  We continue to press for local funding of a 3.5% across the board increase for our dedicated teachers and support personnel.  Any comments you’d care to share with County Commissioners prior to their vote on June 16 will be appreciated.

Download/review the School Board’s budget request and the County Manager’s budget at:

Houston, TX, school district held a job fair in Raleigh on May 31.  Houston is offering a beginning salary of $46,000.  North Carolina’s starting salary is $30,800.  It rises to $35,189 when the existing local salary supplement is included.  I guess Houston heard that our mid-year attrition of experienced, certified staff is up 42% year over year.  It’s called competition for talent.

The General Assembly keeps it interesting with multiple budget proposals. – There is no official Wake schools response yet.  What I can tell you is that our great schools are surviving on the good will of our dedicate staff.  How much longer they will remain, I don’t know.  Thank a teacher today and every day.

Student Assignment for 2015 and beyond – Planning continues on how to implement the revised and simplified student assignment plan for 2015-16 school year.  Details to follow.

Interesting factoid: Wake Schools’ service to autistic children is held in such high regard that families relocate here to be served.  This fall the district will add 15 self-contained classrooms to accommodate another 120 autistic children who need a controlled setting for their education.  That will bring the census for this one self-contained program to @875 students.  These classrooms typically have one teacher and at least one teaching assistant for eight children.

Event Details

Drop-In with WCPSS Board Member Bill Fletcher
Thursday, June 5, 2014
1-2 PM

Cary Chamber
307 N Academy St.
Cary, NC 27513

Free and open to all. No RSVP required – just drop in.

——————————————————————————————————————–

Community coverage on CaryCitizen is sponsored in part by NC Quick Pass.