District 9 Board Advisory Council
Meeting Minutes
April 27th, 2015
Call to order
Mrs. Julie Roseland called to order the regular meeting of the District 9 Board Advisory Council at 5:40
pm on Monday, April 27th, 2015 at West Cary Middle School. Mrs. Roseland thanked Principal Cole
and the West Cary PTA for hosting our meeting. Ms. Cole expressed her gratitude to the West Cary
PTA president, her committee and Ruckus Pizza for providing our meal. In a brief spotlight on the
school, Ms. Cole noted that West Cary was a growing school of 890 students that was serving as an
overflow for the nearby capped Mills Park and Davis Drive schools. West Cary still has an average
class size as low as 27 and NC Report Card grade of B for last year. The school operates on the PBIS
model and is actively growing their elective base to give students exposure to the arts and a variety of
career opportunities. The council enjoyed wonderful presentations by a portion of the school’s show
choir and orchestra.
I.
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II.
Attendance
The following individuals attended the meeting:
WCPSS Principals: Stephanie Raiford (Briarcliff Elementary), Nolan Bryant (Cary High), Chip Mack
(Davis Drive Elementary), Edye Morris-Bryant (Davis Drive Middle), Winston Pierce (Farmington
Woods Elementary), Kristin Walker (Green Hope Elementary), Kim Collins (AP Green Hope High, sub
for Karen Summers), Sherry Schliesser (Kingswood Elementary), Burton Batten (Laurel Park
Elementary), Robin Wahl (Northwoods Elementary), Tracy Purvis (AP Reedy Creek Elementary, sub
for Catherine Yanello), Trent Evans (Reedy Creek Middle), Debbie Edwards (Salem Elementary),
Elaine Hofmann (Salem Middle), Tim Chadwick (Weatherstone Elementary) and Wanza Cole (West
Cary Middle).
BAC 9 Representatives: Marian Ingham (Briarcliff Elementary), Teresa MacDonald (Cary High), Julie
Swanson (Davis Drive Elementary), Dee Deanhardt (Green Hope High), Stacey Darbee (Laurel Park
Elementary), Julie Roseland (Northwoods Elementary), Tania Boardman (Reedy Creek Elementary),
Suzanne Davis (Reedy Creek Middle), Bracha Blanc (Salem Middle), Michelle Allen (West Cary
Middle), Curt Stangler (At-Large), and Diana Bader (At-Large).
Staff and Public Guests: Tim Locklair (Western Area Superintendent), T. Aaron Marcin (AP Green
Hope Elementary), Tracy Avery (Admin. Intern at Reedy Creek Elementary), Julie Cutler (AP Davis
Drive Elementary), and Chris Bradford (AP Green Hope High).
Members Absent: Douglas Hooper (Adams Elementary), Rodney Stanton (Cary Elementary), Kerry
Chisnall (East Cary Middle), Cyndi Tomblin (Adams Elementary), Joanie Peterson (Cary Elementary),
Jennifer Kaczynski (Davis Drive Middle), Liz McCabe (East Cary Middle), Anita Minicucci (Green
Hope Elementary), Tricia Lynch (Kingswood Elementary), Jennifer Wadsack (Salem Elementary), and
Stephanie Sosa (Weatherstone Elementary).
Budget – Mr. David Neter, Chief Operating Officer for WCPSS
Ms. Terry Kinsley, Senior Director of Budgets assisted Mr. Neter
Mr. Neter presented the council with the question: What is the investment necessary to accomplish our
goals? He then gave us some background on development of the budget and overview of the budget.
He discussed some risk factors involved and went over the timeline for adopting, funding and
implementing the budget.
With the student population growing and another 3000 students expected for the 2015-16 school year,
WCPSS is facing increased expenditures and greater inflationary costs. Since one third of the state’s
budget goes to education (not just K-12), we first looked at the state economy. The NC General
Assembly says the outlook is positive for growth. Sales tax revenue and corporate income tax support
this assertion. However, personal income tax revenue and franchise tax revenue are both below targets.
Half-way through the fiscal year, state general fund revenues are almost $200 m below target. Our
budget officers are keeping a close eye on whether or not the April 15th collections will reduce the state
budget shortfalls. If the state has to reduce their 15-16 revenue projections, how will this affect funding
for the 15-16 school year?
Mr. Neter’s office delivered a budget to the Superintendent that makes a few assumptions. First they
assume no further state funding reductions and that state allotment formulas will remain constant. They
also believe that the beginning teachers will have a starting salary of $35k with no other legislated
increases. The office is relying on federal funding to continue for Title I, II, IDEA Title VIB and Early
Intervention Services. Also, WCPSS could be faced with higher costs if the legislature decides that the
system must cover driver’s education expenses, the state no longer funds growth, employers are
expected to pay higher retirement and health care contributions, utilities increase due to weather, usage
and rate hikes.
In order to meet goals set in the strategic plan and the board member priorities, we need to be able to
attract and retain high quality employees, provide rigorous education at all levels and find funding for
high needs programs and the expansion of pre-K services. 80% of the WCPSS budget goes to pay for
people in WCPSS. Moving forward, we cannot afford to have underpaid teachers and staff.
The 2015-16 budget will focus on several areas. The budget will need to cover 3000 more students and
professional development of the employees. Wake County will need to provide $12.9 m in local
funding just to cover growth and the cost of current programs. More money will be needed to cover
teacher salaries as the state is expected to legislate increases in beginning teacher salaries. This is only
the first of a 5 year phase in to bring teachers to the national salary average. The system is also
expecting the first of a 5 year phase in to revise the extra duty salary schedule. The school system also
needs to be able to fund a number of high needs elementary schools and increase the number of
technology facilitators. While the county keeps growing in population and the economy improves, the
per pupil appropriation at the local county level is way below the 2008 rate.
WCPSS is building on many successes such as:
- more than 90% of our teachers met or exceeded growth
- SAT results are increasing
- graduation rates have reached the highest level ever
- the percentage of students considered college ready on the ACT exceeded state and national averages
- the district leads the nation in teachers that are nationally board certified
- 24 magnets schools have been named among the best in the nation.
Moving forward, our students need for the local, county, state and federal governments to be willing to
invest in their future. Our local and county investment in education is among the lowest 1/3 in our state.
We have to be willing to prioritize funding for education.
III.
National Magnet Symposium
Principals Pierce and Schliesser talked about the recent opportunity to celebrate magnet success at the
symposium hosted by the Wake County district. This event showcased our magnet schools and their
programs to about 1200 participants. People came from all over the country to attend the Magnet
Schools of America conference. Wake County has a great reputation for dealing with diversity. There
were a number of wonderful speakers at the event and tours were given to highlight several of the Wake
County magnet schools.
IV.
Business and Adjournment
The minutes from our last meeting were provided on each table. The group took time to review them.
A motion was made by Mr. Stangler to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by
Ms. Bader and approved unanimously by the group.
Mrs. Roseland distributed Board Advisory Council Nomination forms to each table and asked principals
and parent representatives to make sure their paperwork was updated with central office and Mr.
Fletcher. The parent representatives need to be updated every 3 years and serve at the pleasure of the
board representative.
We will need schools to volunteer to host our meetings in the upcoming school year. Our first two
meeting dates have been set. Our first meeting will be on Monday, September 14th, 2015 and the second
meeting will be on Monday, November 16th, 2015. Schools willing to host a meeting should contact
Mrs. Roseland.
Mrs. Roseland expressed a willingness to chair the BAC 9 again next year. The current secretary, Dee
Deanhardt, will be stepping down. Mrs. Deanhardt was recognized for her service to the council of
three years. Mrs. Roseland expressed gratitude for Dee’s outstanding efforts, on behalf of Mr. Fletcher
and the entire council. Anyone interested in serving as the 2015-16 secretary should contact Mrs.
Roseland. Mr. Curt Stangler nominated Mrs. Roseland to serve as the 2015-16 BAC 9 chair and the
nomination was seconded by Diana Bader. The motion passed unanimously.
Mrs. Roseland took a couple of moments to introduce 2 new principals to the group. Ms. Kristin Walker
is the new principal at Green Hope Elementary and Ms. Elaine Hoffman is the new principal at Salem
Middle.
Mrs. Julie Roseland thanked all of our speakers. Our next meeting will be on Monday, September 14th.
The meeting adjourned at 7:06 pm. Minutes respectfully submitted by Dee Deanhardt, District 9 BAC
Secretary.