legislative breakfast with orange county schools

At a breakfast meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12, members of the Orange County Schools Board of Education talked with state legislators Sen. Ellie Kinnaird and Rep. Verla Insko (Rep. Bill Faison was unable to attend due to "an emergency conflict") about the impact of the budget on the district, upcoming budget concerns and their stance on certain bills making their way through the legislature.
George McFarley, district chief operating officer, gave a recap of how decreases in the state's budgetary allotment affected Orange County Schools.
The district received $3.7 million less than they had the previous year. But that wasn't all.
"In addition to the reduction, we had to revert another $1.1 million back to the state," he said. "Of course, we did received some stimulus money for Title I and Exceptional Children services to the tune of ... $1.5 million."
Those stimulus dollars, however, had strings attached: They could not be used generally to plug the holes left by fewer state and local dollars. They had to be used in their specific area. Title I schools are high-poverty schools, while the Exceptional Children program supports children with special needs.
Certain budget line items were "zeroed out" — or completely unfunded —such as at-risk funding, which went from about $247,000 in 2008-2009 to nothing, McFarley said.
Textbook funding was almost halved: from nearly $472,000 to a little more than $280,000.
But non-instructional support — mostly salaries for people such as custodians, media assistants and secretaries — had one of the most dramatic reductions: From more than $1.9 million to a little less than $5,000.
"So, what did you do?" Kinnaird said.
District Chief Instructional Officer Denise Morton said the district received stimulus dollars and stabilization dollars; they used the latter to fill the whole left in non-instructional support.
Morton also said with textbook and other funding there are upcoming worries.
"As they call it in [the Department of Public Instruction], there's a big cliff we'll fall off at the end of next year," she said. "... After this year, we will no longer receive dollars for any kind of textbook purchase."
Insko asked whether the use of the Internet and online learning tools could help fill that gap.
Morton said that is difficult because "in northern Orange, there's very little Internet connectivity." That would make it hard for some students to access learning materials from home.
"We know some children would not be able to access it," she said.
Board member Debbie Piscitelli said in school, teachers are using the Internet more, but there are still issues with that: connectivity, making sure the technology is functional and making sure clases have access to the computer labs among them.
Morton said another way the state has tried to stretch limited textbook dollars is going to a seven-year — instead of a five-year — textbook adoption cycle.
Kinnaird said that concerned her because of the wear and tear on textbooks. Board Chair Anne Medenblik said it could also cause some books — especially history — to become out-of-date before new books are adopted. For example some are showing former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein as still in power, mentioning nothing that has happened since the early 2000s.
As for the at-risk funding, Morton said the people running those programs need the funds they lost and used every last stimulus dollar they received.
"The schools needed every bit of [that money] to support students who struggle with learning," she said. "... They really missed that money. It was zeroed out.  ... The Board of Education tried to plug some holes with local dollars, but that is something that we'd like to see returned if possible."
Students served by Exceptional Children have grown in the district, too, making those dollars ever more necessary.
In 2004, there were 15 children identified with autism in the district. In 2009, there were 100.
"Those students, their disabilities range from mild to very severe, so they require additional services," Morton said. "... We want to provide the best education we can for those students. ... The stimulus has helped, but it will go away."
There are similar problems with Limited English Proficiency and Academically and Intellectually Gifted programs as well, Morton said.

Next year's budget
Board member Ted Triebel said as terrible as the cuts they already had to endure were, the worst is probably yet to come.
"One of the scariest parts for us is ... there's going to be a 35 percent increase in budget reductions" according to some, he said.
Insko said there have been some increases in revenue, such as from corporate taxes, which she hoped would help fill the gaps.
"I guess I'm probably foolishly optimistic," she said. "Everybody's talking about what we're going to have to do. We are going to have some reductions, but I just hope they won't be as bad."
Triebel said he was also concerned about losing stimulus funds, which have buffered the blows landed by budget reductions.
Kinnaird said the long-term solution is more economic development to change the tax base.
"Orange County's taxes are already way too high," she said. "... My answer to that is we've got to get out there and get more commercial. We've got to change our balance."
Insko said she wasn't sure how much more the district could cut.
"You all have already cut all you can," she said. "And you've got to cut more."
Piscitelli agreed, saying theirs is a diverse district with gifted students and EC students and everything in between, for a total of nearly 7,100 students.
"It's very hard when you keep cutting to meet all of their needs in public education," she said.

Legislative issues
Board members also told their legislators their stances on four legislative issues: their opposition to HB 1292, Employ of Non-Certified Personnel, which "ties the hands of superintendents, principals, and other hiring-level personnel by stripping them of the power to suspend, demote of dismiss a non-certified employee," according to background materials; their support for calendar flexibility; their desire to retain governmental immunity; and their desire to allow LEAs (local education agencies) to include students who earn their high school diploma from a community college in graduation rate calculations. 

in today's edition

Well, this week's paper definitely has a different look and feel; Robin's really making her mark, in a positive way (at least, I think so!).  I hope all of you like it.

Here's what's in this week's paper:

• STATE LIBRARIAN CALLS NEW FACILITY 'A MAINSTAY': The new Orange County Public Library opened Friday to a standing-room only crowd with residents and local officials. Look for Robin's story and my and David Hunt's photos (you can't miss 'em).
• FAMILY HONORS TEEN'S RESCUERS: The Houghs have had a rough few months, but thanks to some local heroes, it's not as bad as it could have been. Read about how 17-year-old Natalie Hough, who suffered a cardiac arrest, is doing now.
• CEDAR GROVE MAN KILLED IN CRASH:  A 51-year-old Cedar Grove man was killed in a car accident last week.
• DEATH OF SON, 21, BRINGS SADNESS, STRUGGLES: The death of 21-year-old Scotty Nipper Jr. in December has taken its toll on his mother, who also lost her husband a few months before.

Plus, look for inside education and sports content, including a feature on Upward, a Christian sports organization that focuses more on how you play the game than who wins.

Central Elementary receives Lighthouse Award

From Michael Gilbert, Orange County Schools public information officer:

Central Elementary School received the prestigious NCASCD’s 2010 Lighthouse Award.  In the span of three years, Ms. Daniels and her staff have taken Central Elementary School from Title I sanctions to among the best in the state.

For more information, read tomorrow's The News of Orange County.

BOE & legislators

I'm at the Board of Education meeting with our state legislators. I'll post some highlights here as the meeting progresses. 

7:58 a.m.: Anne Medenblik said to Sen. Ellie Kinnaird and Rep. Verla Insko legislators faced a tough budget year, but didn't "balance the budget on the backs of our students."

8:10 a.m.: Rep. Bill Faison will not be attending because of an emergency conflict.

8:15 a.m.: Dr. McFarley and Dr. Morton talking about the budget's impact on the district. Rep. Insko and Sen. Kinnaird asking questions and seeking clarification. Rep. Insko said the state legislator should push for connectivity in rural areas so the Internet could be used for additional learning and to fill the gap left by a longer textbook adoption cycle.

8:25 a.m.: Sen. Kinnaird: Orange County taxes are already way too high. ... My answer to that is we've got to get out there and get more commercial. We've got to change our balance.

8:38 a.m.: Board chair Anne Medenblik said there was an unfunded mandate to background check volunteers.

Sen. Kinnaird said she thought the background checks are an "overreaction."

"You're denying those parents to help in their parents kid," she said.

Mike Gilbert, OCS public information officer, said there have been 2,100 volunteers approved.

Morton said there have been several "questionable instances" involving parents and students.

Gilbert said there are 25 sex offenders within 3 miles of the district Central Office on King Street.

9 a.m.: Dr. McFarley explained that, though the district has been awarded a construction bond for building an auditorium at C.W. Stanford Middle School, no one will buy it. In North Carolina, only one such bond has been purchased, he said.

"Part of the problem for most of the school districts in the state is that he allocation for the Qualified Zoning Construction Bond is not a huge amount," he said. "So the tax benefit that a bank or individual would get for buying this bond is not attractive."

notice: legislative breakfast

The following notice was posted on the Board of Education's Web site:

NOTICE  OF  SPECIAL MEETING  

The Orange County Board of Education will hold a legislative breakfast meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 beginning at 7:45 a.m. in the Board of Education offices located at 200 East King Street, Hillsborough, NC. The purpose of this meeting is to dialogue with state legislators  regarding issues related to public education. 

I'll be there, and if I can get online, I'll blog what's going on.

BOE Jan. 4 regular meeting

At Monday's Board of Education meeting, the district recognized those at Cedar Ridge High School, pictured at left, who helped save Natalie Hough's life when the teen had a cardiac arrest last September.
Libbie Hough, Natalie's mother, was also present to thank those who helped keep Natalie alive. Sister Kaytee and father H.B. also came along, but did not speak.

Public comment

Several community members also spoke to board members, including a former student of Cedar Ridge High School. Matt Hughes, now a teaching fellow at UNC, said board members could use a refresher in ethical conduct. Personal agendas, he said, along with micromanagement, have led to the board's mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.
Nicole McWhirter, mother of two children in Orange County Schools including one with special needs, said she had come to talk with the board because of services due her autistic unrelated to a due process case she filed against the district.
She said her family had come to and agreement with the district over Extended Year Services (services eligible special needs children receive when school is not in session) in July. By that time, the summer was half over, and the McWhirters had been providing their son with the services they thought he needed to be successful. The district had agreed to reimburse them for what they had provided, she said.
McWhirter said she hoped this was just an oversight that happened when the district changed the lawyers dealing with her son's due process case and that by bringing this to their attention, the board would be able to fix it.
"I use you to take a look at this issue and to honor the agreement you made with our son," she said.

UPDATE (9:33 a.m. 7 Jan.): McWhirter wrote on her blog that the issue has been resolved.
"Spoke at the Board mtg on Monday, recieved a phone call from district admin on Tuesday, reimbursed on Wednesday," she wrote. "and that’s that."


Cultural arts collaboration
Board member Debbie Piscitelli said with all the talk about potential uses for the Whitted Building — which was recently vacated by the county library — as a cultural arts center and performance space, there may be a reasonable compromise.
C.W. Stanford Middle School has long been without a proper auditorium, instead performing plays and doing wrestling matches on a cafeteria stage. The district has been granted stimulus bonds (which must first be bought) to build the school a standalone auditorium.
If this comes to pass, Piscitelli said she saw no reason why community groups couldn't use the facility, since it would not be physically attached to the school.
"I think it would be good community to work together to use our buildings because they are paid for by taxpayers," she said.
Board Chair Anne Medenblik started a committee to study the feasibility of such a collaboration, with Piscitelli and Board member Susan Hallman as members.

Addition/elimination of courses
A district course review committee — that included as members administrators, teachers and parents from both high schools — identified five courses that could  be added and recommended one for elimination.
Global Issues (OHS), Professional Barbering (post-secondary option for OHS and CRHS juniors and seniors), Literacy Strategies (OHS and CRHS), Foods II and Introduction to Biotechnology (OHS and CRHS) would be added to courses high school students could select; Networking was proposed to be eliminated from Orange High School.
Global Issues "seeks to engage students in a vigorous examination of issues that will greatly impact our democracy and our world," according to background materials. The course would use current events to gain the skills needed to "tackle some of the most pressing and complex issues of the day" and to formulate ideas for how they should be addressed.
There would be no additional cost for this course as there is a teacher already willing to teach the class, and there is no textbook required.
Professional Barbering would be an off-campus, after school, post-secondary option for high school juniors and seniors. Taught over four semesters, this course would not only teach students to become barbers and pass the state licensing test, but also prepare them for owning a business, among other things.
There is a $785 cost per student, which the district would not pay. Scholarships will be made available, however, by those running the program.
Literacy Strategies is designed for Exceptional Children who are reading several years below grade level. There would be no additional cost for this course, as the EC department would provide funding for materials and resources.
Foods II would allow Foods I students to continue. "Student enrollment and student interest are the main justification for adding a new section," according to background materials.
The estimated cost for this course offering is $1,500, which would be provided by the Office of Career and Technical Education.
Introduction to Biotechnology would begin to prepare students for a career in biotechnology. "During the past year, parents, community leaders and business partners have partnered with Orange County Schools to promote the possibility of a Biotechnology pathway at each high school."
The estimated cost to start up this program is $1,500 per high school. Additional start-up funds will be supplied by business and community sponsors. The schools will use existing classroom space, and no additional teachers will be hired during the 2010 academic year.
Networking was proposed to be eliminated because the state Department of Public Instruction is transition to a curriculum that has two courses instead of one. DPI recommends eliminating the course.
The board voted to add those five courses and eliminated Networking.

Policies
The Board considered six policies at Monday's meeting, passing four unanimously, one by a 5-1 vote and tabling the other.
The Board unanimously approved for first reading changes to Policies No. 7811 (Action Plans for Certified Employees), 7930 (Professional Employees: Demotion and Dismissal), 7940 (Suspension and Dismissal Policy) and 8602 (Local Salary Supplements).
Board member Stephen Halkiotis opposed some changes made to Policy No. 2335 (Advance Delivery of Meeting Materials) but was the lone no vote.
Board members tabled voting on a revision of Policy No. 903 (Naming New Facilities) after a committee brought their revisions forward, saying the policy as proposed was confusing.

Nat'l Trust for Historic Preservation: Road Threatens Early NASCAR Track

Elizabeth Read, head of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, posted this via Twitter (her handle: ElizBRead) about the Elizabeth Brady Bypass potentially cutting through the Speedway.

According to the article, which comes via the National Trust for Historic Preservation, DOT officials said there are laws that would generally prevent construction through a property of historic significance.

It's an interesting read, for sure.

...and now, for something completely different

Well, I hope you like this week's paper; I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. Robin did a really great job designing the front, and there's a nice mix of stories on there.

Expect your paper to look different in the coming weeks than it has in the past. We've got some interesting ideas for some new elements and the placement of old elements. We hope you like what we have in store.

About the Web:  Apparently, the password is different now than the one I have saved in my computer, so please bear with me as I try to figure it out.

In a little bit, I'll have a recap on Monday's Board of Education meeting up here.

welcome, 2010

Who can believe it's 2010 already? It seems not too long ago, we were all waiting for something horrible to happen with Y2K. That year, like this one, changed over pretty smoothly.

As for what I'll have this week, that's a bit up in the air, but I've talked to some teachers for our feature Educator of the Week (though I might hold that until I get an Ed page back!), one who has retired after nearly 40 years, a school opening, library preview and the list goes on!

Above, there's a preview of the school's new campus' art room. Read this week's paper for more!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.