GCS News Briefs

April 10, 2009

Budget Reductions, Redirections Questions Answered
For the next several weeks, we will feature answers to your budget questions in this newsletter. If you have a comment about the budget, please e-mail feedback@gcsnc.com . To see an interview with Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green on the budget, click here.

Q. If we do not have final information from the state or county on what our budget will be, why are we making cuts now?
A. Any reduction in staffing depends on approval of the Board of Education and would impact staffing for the 2009-10 school year. We have to anticipate the outcomes of these budgets now, based on current information, in order to be ready to begin the new school year with a working budget in place.

So, while having conversations about these considerations is difficult because we’re telling employees things before final decisions can be made,  we think it is important to give our employees as much information as we can as early as we can.

If the final budget reductions required by the state or other funding sources are less than anticipated, the district intends to return resources to schools first, rather than to central administration.

The Board of Education received the Superintendent’s proposed budget on April 7. The school board will hold a budget work session on April 21 and a public hearing during their next regularly scheduled meeting on April 23 at 6 p.m. in the Eugene St. board room. The school board must present its budget request to the Board of County Commissioners by May 15. The County Commissioners then schedule a public hearing before they vote on the county’s budget. That vote is currently scheduled for June 18. The state, which provides the largest part of our budget, does not have a set time frame for budget development.

Superintendent Green Presents Budget to Board of Education
This week Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green recommended a district budget of $651,840,823 for 2009-2010 to the Guilford County Board of Education. The proposed budget, which uses the Governor’s budget as a baseline, includes approximately $21.8 million in cuts and redirections.

For budget updates and to view the budget proposal, click here. For more information, contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

Guilford County Schools (GCS) Names Regional Leadership
GCS named regional superintendents and executive directors who will lead the district’s five new regions, which were approved by the Guilford County Board of Education last month.

The regional superintendents are Lewis Ferebee, Phyllis Martin, Angelo Kidd, Terry Worrell and John Modest, Jr. The executive directors are John Eldridge, Steve Oates, Darcy Kemp, Tony Watlington and Sandra Culmer.

Along with the regional superintendent and executive director, additional academic and support personnel will serve each of the regions. Central office departments also will appoint liaisons to support the regions with specific areas of expertise, including communications, transportation, human resources, finance, etc.

To provide information on the development of the regions, the district launched a new regionalization section on its Web site. Click here to go to the Web site and view the regional superintendent’s biographies, regional maps, office locations and more. We will continue to update this site as more information becomes available. For more information, contact Haley Miller, media relations manager, at 370-3200.

Middle and High School Students Invited to Spring Break Kick-Off
With Spring Break just around the corner, GCS has teamed up with High Point Community Against Violence (HPCAV) and the High Point Police Department to host an event this weekend for middle and high school students in the High Point area.

The Spring Break Kick-Off is Saturday, April 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Washington Terrace Park in High Point. Event highlights include a three-on-three basketball competition, free food, music, games, community resources and an appearance by former Carolina Panthers football player Mike Minter. In addition, students will receive free movie, bowling, putt-putt and restaurant vouchers to be used during the week of Spring Break by visiting information tables and completing a check-off list.

HPCAV’s goal through hosting the event is to encourage students to participate in safe, structured activities and stay away from crime during Spring Break. For more information, please contact Jim Summey, executive director of HPCAV, at 870-1114.

Spring Donation Drive for Teacher Supply Warehouse
 Here’s a great way to take care of some spring cleaning and help out GCS teachers. The Teacher Supply Warehouse (TSW) is holding a spring donation drive. The shelves at TSW are getting a bit bare, so there is an immediate need for more donations.  Items in short supply include pencils, notebook paper, copy paper, markers, tape, glue sticks, index cards and erasers.

With the downturn in the economy, more parents are unable to send their children to school with the supplies they need. This means a significantly higher number of teachers are taking advantage of TSW, where they can find items to use in their classrooms at no charge.
TSW is asking the community and local businesses to donate items at the following locations:

• Greensboro Cultural Arts Center - 200 North Davie St. , Greensboro, NC 27401

• State Employee's Credit Unions
• Stoney Creek, 6501 West Interstate Court  Whitsett, NC 27377-
• Muirs Chapel 200 Muirs Chapel Rd Greensboro, NC 27410
• Summit Ave, 720 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC
• Pisgah Church, 211 Pisgah Church Rd Greensboro, NC 27455

Donation drive sites will accept donations from April 13- 24. Hours of business may vary. 
The Teacher Supply Warehouse collects new or gently used items from local businesses, organizations and individuals and allows teachers to “shop” the warehouse free of charge. Many items donated are overstocked office supplies that would eventually end up in landfills. In the first year of operation, teachers visited the warehouse more than 900 times, which recycled $250,000 worth of classroom supplies back into the classroom.

Operated by Guilford Education Alliance in partnership with the Welfare Reform Liaison Project, Leadership Greensboro and Guilford County Schools, the TSW opened in Fall, 2007.  Its success depends heavily on community support and donations.

For a complete list of supplies needed, visit the Teacher Supply Warehouse Website: www.gcsnc.com/teacher_warehouse/index.html.  To contribute supplies, contact Guilford County Schools at 370-8355.  For more information, contact the Guilford Education Alliance at 841-4332 or info@GuilfordEducationAlliance.org.

Teacher Assistant Named April Employee of the Month
Some say that good help is hard to come by. That’s not the case in the Gateway Education Center classroom where the latest GCS Employee of the Month works. Ma’Lisa Lee’s colleagues describe her as a supportive, enthusiastic, hard-working, friendly, creative and professional team player.

To her principal, she is one of a kind. “When this employee presented herself to me two summers ago,” Principal Linda Lyon said, “she stated that if she were to be hired, this administrator would never, ever be sorry. Well, she was wrong – I am sorry each and every day that I don’t have 20 more just like her. In 31 years, Ms. Lee is, without question, one of the most dedicated and professional assistants with whom I have had the pleasure to work. She is an angel and a true voice to these children and their families.”

As Employee of the Month, Lee was surprised with a $50 gift card from Sam’s Club, which has generously partnered with GCS to support the employee recognition program. During the month of April, her photo will hang at the district’s central offices, Gateway Education Center and the Sam’s Club on Wendover Avenue. In addition, the Guilford County Board of Education recognized her at its April 7 meeting.

Know an outstanding employee who settles for nothing less than excellence? Nominate him or her to be the GCS Employee of the Month here: www.gcsnc.com/employees/emp_month/index.aspx

Volunteer of the Month Gives Third- and Fifth-Graders a Boost 
Students at Florence Elementary have an easy pick when it comes to finding a role model – they can count on Brian Alvstad to be at their school every Wednesday morning. He tutors in math, reads books to the children and simply acts as a friend to the students. One-on-one or in large groups, Alvstad gives the children a little extra attention.

Alvstad doesn’t just help out in the classroom. He also builds props for the fifth-grade Clown Club and chaperones field trips. According to Ned McMillan, the teacher who nominated Alvstad, “He is really making a difference, especially with students who are struggling and depend on his help every Wednesday.” 

An American Express representative and district officials surprised Alvstad with Volunteer of the Month honors in a brief ceremony at the school. As Volunteer of the Month, Alvstad received a gift bag and $25 gift card from American Express, which has generously partnered with GCS to support the volunteer recognition program. His photo will hang at Florence as well as the district’s central offices. In addition, the Guilford County Board of Education recognized him at its April 7 meeting.

Know a volunteer who goes above and beyond? Nominate him or her to be the next GCS Volunteer of the Month here: http://www.gcsnc.com/depts/community/vom_form.htm.

Special Olympics Names Teachers of the Year
Special Olympics Greensboro is proud to announce that the Teachers of the Year for 2009 are the GCS Adapted PE teachers!  The 12 teachers were recognized at the opening ceremonies of Spring Games on Friday, April 3. 

This group of teachers have made such a difference in the lives of hundreds of students.  For the past four years, the Adapted PE Teachers have been instrumental in getting schools and classroom teachers involved in Special Olympics by training teachers and athletes and serving as key staff at local events.  Without the dedication and support of the Adapted PE Teachers, Special Olympics Greensboro would not reach the hundreds of students, and events like Spring Games would not take place.
 
The Special Olympic Teachers of the Year are Nanette Wood, Nancy Abel, Valerie Kerekes, Ashlie Beavers, Luann Tatum, Joann Degraw, Tim McMullan, Vicki Simmons, Trish Smith, Aftenne Cheek, Donna Carr and Ruth Weiser. Please help us congratulate them. For more information , please contact Charyl A. Clark, Special Olympics Greensboro director, at 544-0578.

GCSTV 2

Here’s a sample of what you can see on GCSTV 2 on Time Warner Cable.

News from GCS – GCSTV 2 Newsbreaks
The Latest GCSTV 2 Newsbreak

Tdap Alert – Vaccinations Required to Attend School
GCSTV 2 NEWS ALERT-Tdap  These News Alerts air at 10 a.m., 11:16 a.m., and 7 p.m.  

New Rules for Kindergarten
Kindergarten Kickoff Newsbreak Video

Also on GCSTV 2:

NASA 360
NASA explores new frontiers in science, helping to develop and inspire technological innovation.  This program airs daily at 3:35 a.m., 9:02 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

World’s Largest Concert
The Alamance Elementary chorus performs as part of the National Association for Music Education’s “World’s Largest Concert” airing on television stations across America. You can see it right here daily on GCSTV 2 at 11:16 a.m. 

All County Chorus
The All County Chorus performed recently at Western High. See their performance daily Friday through Monday at 6:13 a.m., 5:05 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. 

Showcase Your Talent on GCSTV 2
GCSTV 2 is now accepting student, faculty, staff or parent produced programming.  See the Details for submissions here or  Watch the video.

GCSTV 2 Programming Guide
Find out what else is showing on GCSTV 2 here: GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

GCSTV 2 & ABC-45
GCS continues its partnership with ABC-45 television to share current news and feature stories about our district. These Newsbreak segments are broadcast on ABC-45 (Cable Channel 7) during “Good Morning America” each Wednesday and Friday at 7:25 a.m. and 8:25 a.m.

For more information contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.