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PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2004

MESSAGES 2004 :: OCTOBER 21, 2004

OCTOBER 21, 2004

This week I was pleased to meet with the Principals' Advisory Committee, as well as the Parents' and Teachers' Advisory Committees, to provide information and receive feedback on many of the topics facing us. Please make a note of the item in today's message that lists all the principals who serve on this committee. I hope you will consider them a resource for bringing your concerns and issues to the forefront. I appreciate their willingness to serve principals across the state.

Regards,
Tricia Willoughby


In this Biweekly Principals' Message:

  1. 2004-05 State Superintendent's Principals' Advisory Committee Members Named
  2. Release Date for School Report Cards Changed to Nov. 1
  3. SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Meeting Summary
  4. Educator Expense Deduction Reinstated
  5. Textbook Caravan Hits the Road
  6. Project Recovery Instructor Training
  7. Belk Sets Annual Educators Night Celebration
  8. Diabetes Video Conference
  9. 2004 Shelton Leadership Forum
  10. NC High School Network Conference Scheduled
  11. Wildlife Commission Sponsors Art Contest
  12. Grant Web Site


2004-05 State Superintendent's Principals' Advisory Committee Members Named


Release Date for School Report Cards Changed to Nov. 16

The official release of the 2003-04 NC School Report Cards has been changed to Tuesday, Nov. 16. On this day, we will hold a press conference to declare Nov. 16 as "NC School Report Card Day." We are committed to ensuring that the NC School Report Cards provide parents and communities with important information about our public schools and we did not want to release the Report Cards at a time when they could be overshadowed by the general election.

In preparation for School Report Card Day, principals and other staff will be able to download and print Snapshots beginning on Wednesday, Nov. 10. Since the official 2003-04 Web site will not go live until Nov. 16, we will provide principals with a special Web address from which to access their Report Cards (we will email this information on the morning of Nov. 10). While it is up to each system to decide when to send the Snapshots home with students, we encourage you to distribute the Report Cards on or soon after the official release on Nov. 16.

We appreciate all that you've done to verify your school's report card data with your LEA coordinator. We know this is an arduous process and we appreciate your assistance in helping us to ensure the accuracy of the Report Cards.


SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Meeting Summary

The SBE Teacher Retention and Recruitment Task Force met for a second time on Oct. 13. The topics of discussion included teacher working conditions, teacher leadership roles/differentiated roles, and administrator support and accountability. The committee talked at length about the importance of protected planning time for teachers, the extra duties imposed on teachers, teachers' participation on school improvement teams, the need for mentoring of new teachers, ways to provide leadership opportunities for teachers and differentiated work assignments for teachers and administrator support, knowledge and communication with teachers. The task force will meet again on Monday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the State Board Room, Education Building. Topics for discussion include: Enhancing the Image of the Teaching Profession - Barriers to Entering the Profession; Teacher Preparation and Teacher Induction, Support and Mentoring. In between meetings, task force members are meeting with their constituents to get input on these topics.


Educator Expense Deduction Reinstated

The Internal Revenue Service last week advised educators to save their receipts for books and other classroom supplies purchased in 2004 and apply it to the educator expense deduction. Teachers can deduct up to $250 when figuring adjusted gross income. This deduction is available whether or not the taxpayer itemizes deductions on Schedule A. To be eligible, a person must work at least 900 hours during a school year as a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide. For more information, please call the IRS Tele-Tax system toll-free at 800.829.4477 and select Topic 458. Or go to the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov and use its search engine to find Tax Topic 458.


Textbook Caravan Hits the Road

The North Carolina Textbook Caravan will hold presentations and have samples for K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 Science; Foreign Language 6-12; English Language Development, (ESL) K-12; and Agricultural Education 7-12 at the following eight regional sites: Nov. 1, Asheville; Nov. 2, Boone; Nov. 3, Winston-Salem; Nov. 4, Durham; Nov. 8, Greensboro; Nov. 9, Fayetteville; Nov. 10, Wilmington; and Nov. 11, New Bern. Schools are encouraged to organize teams of teachers to attend. There is no charge for registration. For additional information, please go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/textbook/directory/ or contact Wandra Polk, Instructional Services, DPI, 919.807.3816, or by email, wpolk@dpi.state.nc.us.


Project Recovery Instructor Training

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, in partnership with LEARN NC and Class.com, is now offering Project Recovery Rapid Recovery Courses for Middle Grade and High School Students. Project Recovery is designed to provide Web-based alternatives for students to recover credit from failed courses, and is primarily directed at the courses representing the main stumbling blocks for 8th and 9th grade students, as well as LEP students. Courses will be taught by local teachers, trained through LEARN NC. Schools may purchase student enrollments (course licensing fee) at a significantly reduced rate, $130 per half credit course. The courses available for licensing initially include 8th grade math, science, and English; pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and math skills review; beginning composition and reading comprehension; biology; and conversational English (for ESL students). Registration is now open for the following instructor training sessions: Oct. 28-29 - Chapel Hill; Jan. 20-21 - Chapel Hill; and March 10-11 - Chapel Hill. (Training at your location may also be arranged if there are 15 or more local teachers interested.) The cost for the training is $250 per participant. If you are interested in registering for a Project Recovery Instructor Training, please email bbregister@learnnc.org. More information on Project Recovery is at http://vote.learn.unc.edu/courses/recovery.php


Belk Sets Annual Educators Night Celebration

In Celebration of Education, Belk is again proud to welcome all educators, administrators, support staff, and their immediate families to Educators Night 2004 for a private evening of shopping fun. This year's event will be held Sunday, Nov. 7, from 5-9 p.m., at all Belk Stores. This event is not open to the public. Educators will be treated to a 15 percent shopping discount off all regular and sale priced merchandise (normal exclusions will apply); a 10 percent shopping discount in the Home area; a chance to win a trip for four to Jamaica or the Bahamas for three nights and four days; a chance to win one of four $1,000 principals' awards to be used in your school; and a chance to win a $200 Belk Shopping Spree (one of these will be given away in every Belk store). Belk store managers will be contacting local schools with flyers and ID discount cards for the event. Please feel free to contact your nearest Belk Store manager for information regarding this event or Leigh Ann Lyle, Belk, Special Events Coordinator, 704.426.6862, or by email, LeighAnn_Lyle@belk.com.


Diabetes Video Conference

On Nov. 18, the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Public Health is sponsoring a video conference, "Kids With Diabetes In North Carolina Schools - What's New In 2004?," at 16 sites across the state. The registration deadline is Nov. 10 and the cost for the session is $40. For more information, or to register online, please go to www.sph.unc.edu/oce/ and click on Courses and Conferences then look under the November link. You also may view the registration form and video conference information at www.NCHealthySchools.org or contact Paula Hudson Collins at pcollins@dpi.state.nc.us for more information.


004 Shelton Leadership Forum

The General Hugh Shelton Leadership Initiative at NC State University has scheduled its third Annual Shelton Forum, "Practical Applications for Exemplary Leadership," on Friday, Nov. 19, at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center, Raleigh. The Shelton Leadership Forum is an annual seminar series that focuses attention on the importance of leadership development and includes a K-12 track, "Succeeding Through Leadership Challenges in K-12 Education. Lunch is included in the $159 registration fee. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://www.continuingeducation.ncsu.edu/hughshelton or contact Debbie Reno, Coordinator of Educational Programs and Training, at 919.513.0148, or by email, debbie_reno@ncsu.edu.


NC High School Network Conference Scheduled

The North Carolina High School Network will be hosting its 5th Annual Conference on Jan. 31-Feb. 1, at the Sheraton Imperial Conference Center, RTP. Proposals are currently being accepted. Please contact Marilyn Palmer at mpalmer@dpi.state.nc.us or J.chancey@cms.k12.nc.us for a proposal form or registration information. Registration information also is available online at www.nchighschoolnetwork.com


Wildlife Commission Sponsors Art Contest

School children ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's "Go Wild" Wildlife Art activity and contest. All entrants receive a certificate of appreciation from the Commission, and juried winners receive plaques, Wild Store merchandise, and a chance to be featured in the 2005-06 school year Young Wildlife Artist calendar. Submissions must be received by Dec. 31. For details, visit the Wildlife Commission's Web site at www.ncwildlife.org or call Mark Dubowski, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, at 919.733.7123 ext. 257, or by email, mark.dubowski@ncwildife.org. To request a paper brochure of contest rules and art activity instructions, please email Alicia Foell at alicia.foell@ncwildlife.org.


Grant Web Site

Educators interested in federal government and foundation funding opportunities may want to bookmark a new Web site, www.GrantsAlert.com.

 

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