Guilford County Board of Education
Fall Retreat
October 2, 2010
To:Members, Board of Education
From:Maurice O. Green, Superintendent
Beth L Folger, Chief Academic Officer
Regional Superintendents
Date:October 2, 2010
RE:Regionalization Update
In March of 2009, the Board of Education approved the regionalization of central administration services, as defined in the GCS Strategic Plan. The option chosen by the board included four geographic regions and an Enrichment Region, which were implemented at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year.
Prior to implementing regionalization, the district gathered feedback through teacher advisory and PTA council focus groups and two online surveys, including one for principals and one for other staff, students, parents and community members. About 3,500 people participated in the surveys. More than 70 percent of principals surveyed indicated that it would be important for regional offices to reduce red tape, offer more consistent answers to questions from parents and employees, provide customized curriculum and instruction services, and strengthen relationships between district administration and principals. Employees, parents and community members indicated it would be extremely important for regional offices to support discipline intervention/prevention, curriculum and instruction, professional development and human resources services as well.
Except for the Enrichment Region, which includes nine schools that need intensive support, the regions are geographically contiguous. They consist of elementary, middle and high schools based on current GCS high school feeder patterns. A regional superintendent, executive director, student services administrator, formative assessment coach, instructional technology facilitator, and two office supports serve each of the regions. The Enrichment Region employs additional academic coaches to assist with improving achievement. Additionally, central office departments have appointed liaisons to support the regions with specific areas of expertise, including communications, transportation, human resources, finance, etc.
The change in central administration to a regional structure has placed resources closer to the schools, helped improve achievement levels, enhanced central office responsiveness and increased community involvement. Departments in the existing administrative structure were collapsed and the resources from those departments were reallocated to support the regions. To conserve additional funds, the district placed regional offices in facilities already owned by GCS. Through the reorganization of Academic Services in 2009, including regionalization, the district saved $1.1 million.
Attachment #1- Presentation
Attachment #2 - Regional Charts |
