PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2008
PRINCIPALS' MESSAGES 2008MAY 16, 2008 - Principals' Biweekly Message
General Assembly members began their short session this week, and education issues are expected to be a high priority. We anticipate that teacher salaries, the continued support of Learn and Earn and Learn and Earn Online, More at 4 and high school dropout issues will all receive attention this year. I encourage you to follow the news from the legislature, and to make appropriate contacts with your legislators to help them understand your needs at the school and classroom levels. We will be sending you and your colleagues regular email updates regarding legislative activity.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Principals' Message:
Gov. Easley Presents Budget
Gov. Mike Easley on Monday released his recommended budget adjustments for the 2008-09 fiscal year that provide $12.5 billion for education and a number of other state priorities, such as job growth, mental health services, oversight of prison parolees and drought planning. The budget also better prepares the state to deal with the uncertain economy by expanding the Rainy Day Fund to $848 million. Unlike most states that are facing shortfalls, North Carolina will end the current fiscal year with a $152 million surplus. The budget also includes $396 million in general fund budget cuts, nearly 2 percent of the total operating budget. The education budget includes funds to move teacher salaries closer to the national average, funds to support More at Four and Learn and Earn/Learn and Earn Online, School Connectivity and the Graduation Project, among other education priorities. Additional details about the budget will be sent as they become available.
General Assembly Convenes Short Session
The General Assembly convened its short session on Tuesday and will take up primarily budgetary issues. Updates from the General Assembly will be sent to principals on Friday afternoons as we have done in the past. We encourage you to keep in close touch with your legislators and provide feedback as to how their budgetary choices will affect your schools.
Testing and Accountability Feedback Sought
Principals are reminded that the State Board of Education's Framework for Change: The Next Generation of Assessments and Accountability is posted online at www.ncpublicschools.org under Highlights. Visitors to this site also can reach the email address for providing feedback to the Board's framework. That address is testingfeedback@dpi.state.nc.us. Please submit your ideas by May 28, and share this email feedback opportunity with others in your school community.
NC NCLB May 2008 Newsletter Online
The NC NCLB May 2008 Newsletter features a special insert, "Opening the Box of AYP," that offers a step-by-step explanation of how a school's Adequate Yearly Progress status is determined. This resource is designed to help school leaders guide their teams and parents through their school's AYP report. Other newsletter features include information on the agency's reorganization efforts, Title I updates from the US Department of Education, and news from the field regarding NCDPI's new Framework for Comprehensive Support for Districts and Schools. The newsletter is available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb.
Professional Development Opportunity for eCommerce I Teachers
Principals are asked to pass the following along to appropriate teachers. Teaching e-Commerce I for the first time next year? Virtual Mentoring: e-Commerce I will take you through the entire course. Teachers will participate in discussions and activities designed to explore how best to teach this exciting new curriculum, with guidance from the original online course developer. This eight-week online course from LEARN NC begins June 9 and is worth 3 CEUs. For a full course description or to register, please go online to www.learnnc.org/courses/current/ExploringeCommerceI_6_9_08.
If you'd like to review past Principals' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv
group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/principalsarchive/.