Re: Advisory Council

Alice Spickard to: Carolyn Morrison

01/14/201009:58 PM

Hello, Dr. Morrison.

I want to thank you for all of the work you are doing on the Board of Education. I know that the tasks at hand are complicated and immense, and I appreciate your willingness to dig in and ask good questions of the decision making process and your fellow BOE members.

As I begin to understand the implications of potentially converting schools from/to year round schedules, and as I begin the understand the potential implications of removing the diversity criteria, I want to let you know that there are parents at Carroll Middle School who are watching and waiting. As we watch and wait, we hope that the dynamics at Carroll will be carefully considered before filling our empty seats.

As you know, Carroll is grossly under-enrolled such that the second floor of the school is not being utilized. This has affected our resources including a loss, this year, of 12 teaching positions. While we hope to regain our population, and thus our teaching staff, it will be important to pay attention as to whom will be filling our seats.

Carroll already sits at a 50% Free and Reduced Lunch population. With the previous Diversity policy with goals of 40% F&R or less to maintain healthy schools, we have already surpassed this ideal. If our F&R level raises much further, we have great potential to lose the core support of families who are working to see Carroll succeed.

Thank you for listening. We'd like to invite you to listen some more and get to know the PTA at Carroll. We will have aPT A meeting at 6:30pm on Monday, Feb. 22nd, and we would love to have you join us.

Please let me know if you will be able to come! Sincerely,

Alice Spickard

PT A President 2009-2010 Carroll Middle School

Assignment

care 71 to: Chris Malone

01/15/201009:59 PM

I live in Wakefield, and I have a child who will start Middle School in the Fall (not at Wakefield Middle) which is absurd. When does the Board plan to vote on a return to community schools?

Carrie Goodall concerned parent

my wcpss experience nkilbride to: Carolyn Morrison

01/20/201009:04 AM

I attended WCPSS during the first years of desegregation and can attest firsthand to the disparities of de facto segregation. I also attended high school at a "neighborhood school." I would have rather been bused to somewhere where education included diversity of ideas. This position is against my personal interest today, but I stand by it. Is there any

School Assignments

Robert Gardner to: Carolyn Morrison

01/22/201004:01 PM

To:

Dr. Carolyn Morrison cbmorrison@wcpss.net

In a perfect world we would all prefer neighborhood schools, but the world is not perfect. Our present student assignment plan may not be perfect but let those "who would like to take back America" understand we will not go back to a segregated school system - we have been there and it didn't work. If, and when, society becomes sufficiently integrated, then and only then will neighborhood schools work.

Year-round schools also may be an "inconvenient truth," especially in a down economy as people consider the economics of more schools versus higher taxes.

May we continue to have open discussions as we seek ways to improve our schools for the public good.

Robert R. Gardner, Retired 1409 Dellwood Drive Raleigh, NC 27607

Tel: 919-787-6430

choice (from Anna Crane ) anna crane to: Carolyn Morrison Please respond to anna crane

--~ --------------------------------------~~. --.-------------.--

01/22/201010:15 PM

Dr. Morrison,

Thank you for your concern!

We live in Holly Springs (district 8, node 435.2)and there are 3 elementary schools in Holly Springs (0.2 , 0.8 and 1 mile from our home).

Our assignment school is YR Herbert Atkins in Fuquay which is way below capacity, traditional choice Lincoln Heights (also in Fuquay) is over it's capacity.

I applied last year for a choice and all my choices were denied because they want to fill Herbert Atkins school.

I don't want to start allover again (school - apply-denied-appeal-denied - homeschool) if I am not sure I'll get my choice.

It just makes me very upset that my daughter can't go (actually walk to 2 neighborhood schools - there are sidewalks) and students who live close to Herbert Atkins go to those Holly Springs schools.

As you may know homeschooling movement is steady growing and I got a lot of support from many many wonderful caring people, some of them started just like me frustrating with assignment and magnet policies. I watch closely what happens with WCPSS and who knows one day it will be family friendly (regardless of income) system.

Thank you again, Anna Crane

Changing school curriculum for success jennybbrown to: Carolyn Morrison

01/24/201009:26 AM

If we want to get rid of the busing diversity - then we should be prepared to change the curriculum at each school to meet the needs of it's children. This program is working very well for their students and allows them to learn according to their strengths.

http://www.wral.com/news/edutopia/story/6874985/

Magnet Question

Betsy Livesay to: Carolyn Morrison

01/26/201009:10 AM

Carolyn, the following email came through to me yesterday from School/Community News - January 25 (see very bottom). Everything regarding the magnet application process is clear in this email, but how does the socioeconomic factor playa part. Last year as you know Nodes 114,

117 and 158 were moved from Lacy to Stough. There were 38 children from these 3 nodes who applied to magnet schools and 2 children of those 38 got into a magnet school. Here is an old email I have saved for you to review and follow back up with me (note there is a typo on node, should be 114 instead of 115, Laura and Beverley got that straight in a different email). Thanks in advance for your help. Betsy Livesay

-----Original Message-----

From: Beverley Clark [mailto:bsclark@wcpss.net] Sent: Friday, May 08,2009 2:29 PM

To: 'Betsy Livesay'

Subject: RE: Magnet Data - Nodes 158, 114, 117 Betsy,

They thought they had sent it to me, but had sent it to Ron M. Sorry for the delay!

Beverley

There were 38 applicants from the three nodes you asked about (115.0, 117.0, 158.0). Two were accepted and 36 were not accepted and are still in the applicant pool.

Laura

Laura Evans Sr Director

Growth Management, WCPSS 919-713-0652

FAX 919-850-1671

Application Period for WCPSS Calendar and Magnet School Program

The application period for the Wake County Public School System calendar and magnet schools will open Feb. 8 and continue to Feb. 28.

The application schedule was adjusted to Feb. 8 - 28 to allow families enrolling kindergarten students to have their students signed up for school.

Applications will only be accepted online. Calendar and magnet applications are available Feb. 8 - 28. There is no benefit to applying early or late within that window of time

Families may apply for both calendar choice and magnet schools. If an application is submitted for both calendar and magnet schools, the magnet application will be considered first in the selection process.

Every Wake County address has one base school assignment and one calendar application option. If families want a calendar different than the calendar of the base school assignment, families must complete this application. Every effort will be made to honor requests made during this application period. This is the ONLY opportunity to apply for a calendar change for the 2010-11 school year.

Magnet applications may include up to 3 choices. If selected, families will receive only one offer. Magnet schools have scheduled open houses and tours throughout the month of February. Parents can learn more about magnet schools at www.wcpss.net/magnet.

If you need assistance submitting your application, please contact the Office of Growth and Planning

(919-850-1921), the Magnet Resource Center (919-501-7900), or the media center at your nearest school.

The notification process works differently this year. Families will be able to check online to find their student's calendar or magnet school assignment on March 18. When families make their online application, they will receive at the completion a confirmation screen. You will need to print a copy of your confirmation screen and have it available March 18 to log on to find your application results. Families will have the opportunity to accept or decline this offer.

in support of diversity policy & magnet program Alison Eisenstadt to: Carolyn Morrison

02/02/2010 07:59 AM

Dear Ms. Morrison,

As a resident of the district you represent, I want to thank you for standing firm behind the current diversity policy.

My two children are magnet students, and have been their entire school career. While I do think that there may be ways to tweak: the magnet system, I am appalled by John Tedesco's willingness to undermine the entire program through his vision of "community schools." I'd also like to note that one of my children is not in the top tier of students, but rather very close to the bottom. Yes, he is a magnet student at Enloe - but not an academic lion. He struggles mightily, but I believe that because of the magnet program, he has found one thing he can excel in.

I'm also disappointed in Ron Margiotta's letter to parents of magnet students last month (see below). I hope that some members of the board will question him on this. I know I will.

Thank you, Alison Eisenstadt

Staff and parents,

Over the past several weeks, many concerns and questions have been raised

about the future of magnet Schools in our Public School system. I heard many comments during the Dec.1st. School Bd. meeting as well as

numerous stories in the media that have created uncertainty and frustration

with parents and staff. As Chairman of the School Board I feel it is

necessary to address this issue with those who are involved with Magnet

Schools on a daily basis to quell further rumors and hearsay. Magnet Schools serve as an integral piece in educating children in Wake

County.In conversations with School Board members, I can assure you that no

discussions have been held about the magnet system or its future.

As the Board moves forward, the magnet system will certainly be part of our

discussion in improving education for all children but only with the input

of parents, staff and taxpayers. Your involvement in the discussion process

is vital to achieving academic excellence for all our students. I thank you for your work and commitment to the children of Wake

County and

look forward to your guidance in the future. Ron Margiotta

Chairman Wake County School Board