GCS News Briefs

May 1, 2009

Budget 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.

How does the state budget impact GCS’ budget?
The state provides roughly 60 percent of our operating budget. We receive about 32 percent from local sources including the Guilford County budget and eight percent from federal sources. This year, we based our budget on Governor Beverly Perdue’s budget, which reflected approximately an $11 million reduction from last year’s budget.

The Senate’s budget proposal almost doubles these cuts, calling for a $21.7 million reduction. Currently, the House Appropriations Committee is developing their version of the state budget, and we expect their cuts to be even deeper.

These budget cuts would have a significant impact on our budget, when the majority of our costs are personnel based.

The Board of Education currently is reviewing our proposed budget. They are scheduled to vote on the budget at their May 12 meeting; however, we may not know the state’s final budget until sometime this fall.

Click here to view a fact sheet on our budget and the effects of the Senate’s budget proposal.

Update on H1N1 (Swine Flu)

Guilford County Schools is working closely with the Guilford County Department of Public Health to monitor H1N1, previously known as swine flu, locally and nationally. At this time, there are no confirmed cases in Guilford County Schools, but North Carolina does have two “probable” cases (not in Guilford County).

School nurses are monitoring schools for signs of illness among staff and students. Also, the district is encouraging everyone to practice good hygiene.

If you or a child is sick with flu-like symptoms, see a school nurse or other healthcare provider and stay at home. Symptoms of H1N1 are similar to those of regular influenza (flu) and can include fever, cough, sore throat, chills, fatigue and body aches. Gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea can be present as well. For more information, visit
http://www.gcsnc.com/parents/h1n1.htm.

Aubrey Lee Brooks Foundation Scholarship Recipients

Three GCS students are among the North Carolina recipients of the 2009 Aubrey Lee Brooks Foundation Scholarship. Tim Rosenberg from High Point Central High, Karly Saffer from Southern High and Tyler Tran from Grimsley High. 

Established in 1955 by a trust agreement of the late Aubrey Lee Brooks, scholarships are available to graduating high school seniors from a 14-county area of North Carolina. Awards are made annually to 17 graduating high school seniors who plan to enroll as full-time students in a degree-granting program at North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

The scholarship provides for an award of approximately one-half of the cost of an Undergraduate education. Congratulations to these students on earning this honor.  For more information, please contact Gwen Willis, executive director of student services, at 370-8397 or Samara Johnson, supervisor of secondary counseling, at 370-2332.

Three Guilford County Schools Teachers Named Kenan Fellows

The Kenan Fellows Program for Curriculum and Leadership Development at North Carolina State University selected three GCS teachers for the Kenan Fellows Class of 2011. Beginning in June, Aebeyo Abraha, Kathleen (Katie) Eckersley and Gail Holmes will engage in two-year fellowships to develop innovative curricula for use in North Carolina classrooms.

Mr. Abraha is a physical science and chemistry teacher at Smith High. Ms. Eckersley is a chemistry teacher at High Point Central High. Ms. Holmes is an instructional technology specialist currently on loan from GCS to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

During the fellowships, the teachers will work closely with mentors to develop a project, participate in research on inquiry-guided instruction, develop and distribute lesson plans statewide, talk with state leaders at events, train to be a teacher leader and present findings at state and national conferences. Kenan Fellows are selected through a competitive process. Public school teachers from across the state were eligible to apply for this honor. For more information, please contact Laurie Hogan, program administrator – communications, at 370-8307.

High School Poet Laureates Read for the Public

The GCS High School Poet Laureates are reading their poems and participating in a poetry workshop led by nationally known poet and author Pat Mora on Saturday. The public is invited for the reading in the Nussbaum Room at the Greensboro Public Library at 1:30 p.m.

The poet laureate program is a collaboration between media specialists and English teachers in participating high schools, the Greensboro Public Library and the Friends of the Greensboro Public Library. For more information, please contact Kate Cummings, Grimsley High media specialist, at 370-8180, or Steve Sumerford, assistant director of the Greensboro Public Library, at 373-2471.

GCS Middle School Student Wins at NC State Science Fair and I-SWEEP National Competition

Nicole Shaw, a student at Aycock Middle, earned several awards at the NC State Science and Engineering Fair competition held at Meredith College on March 28.   Her topic of “Evaluating and Comparing Energy content of Animal Feed Stock and Home Compost Using Process of Anaerobic Respiration,” won the NC American Water Works Association Award, the EPA Award of Promoting Sustainability, Honorable mention in the Technology/Engineering Award, as well as a cash award.

She also won a spot on the middle school team to compete at the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering, and the Environment Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) competition in Houston, Texas held April 15 -20, 2009. At the I-SWEEEP competition, she was a silver medalist winner (Junior Division: Energy) and received a cash award.

Additionally, she won an award from the Office of Naval Sciences. This competition included 495 projects with 600 students competing from 40 states and 60 countries. Nobel Peace Prize winners and government officials spoke at the awards ceremony. Congratulations Nicole!  For more information, please contact Beth Chappell, middle school science specialist, at 370-3274 or chappee@gcsnc.com.

Mendenhall Middle Student Advances to National Essay Contest

Brian Roskelly, a sixth-grade student at Mendenhall Middle, advanced to the national level of the Elk’s Lodge’s essay competition, “What Freedom Means to Me.” Roskelly was the winner of the state essay competition. His essay will represent North Carolina in the fifth- and sixth-grade division of the national competition, and the results of this competition will be announced in July. For more information, please contact Principal Julie Olson at 545-2000.

GCS Principal to Receive Achievement Award

Dr. Benita Lawrence, principal of Monticello-Brown Summit Elementary, has been selected to receive a 2009 UNCG School of Education Outstanding Achievement Award. This prestigious award was conferred in recognition of her dedication as an educator who has made significant contributions to education and is held in high regard by her colleagues.  The award presentation will be held at the School of Education alumni reception and awards ceremony on Friday, May 8. For more information, please contact Steve Oates, instructional improvement officer, at 370-8060 or oatess@gcsnc.com.

Project Fit America Training Provided at Four Elementary Schools

During the week of April 27, staff from Pearce Elementary, Reedy Fork Elementary, Northern Elementary and Guilford Elementary received Project Fit America booster training. This training provides curriculum updates strategies for continued use and implementation and is made possible through a partnership with The Moses Cone-Wesley Long Community Health Foundation. For more information, please contact Robin Bergeron-Nolan, director of health services, at 370-8333.

Revised Change in Graduate Pay Policy

Licensed employees received an email from Human Resources on Friday, April 3, 2009 notifying them of an approved change to the State Board of Education Graduate Pay Policy which planned to recognize all graduate degrees earned through regionally accredited institutions for salary purposes effective July 1, 2009.  However, notice was received this week from the State Board of Education that implementation of this policy has been delayed until July 1, 2010 due to the state of the economy.  Licensed employees received an email from Human Resources on Friday, April 17, 2009 notifying them of this information.  For more information, please contact your assigned staffing specialist at 378-8806 or Alison Yates, director of staffing, at 370-8094 or yatesa@gcsnc.com.

Wellness Activity

The Annual Walk/Run Wellness Activity is taking place for all employees during the months of April, May and June.  Employees who have not registered should contact their site’s wellness coordinator. 

Employees also will receive an email regarding Retail Generic Prescription Programs.  Many national and local retail pharmacies now offer generics at discounted prices. Generic medications may cost only $4 for a month's supply or $10 for a three-month’s supply. Each retailer has a unique program with different generic medications covered.  Check with your pharmacy regarding the generic prescription program. For more information, please contact Patty Kinkade, director of benefits at 370-8092 or kinkadp@gcsnc.com.

Health Insurance Annual Enrollment

Annual enrollment for our Health Insurance will begin May 6, 2009 and continue through May 29. 2009.  All enrollment or change forms must be sent to the Benefits Office by 5pm May 29, 2009.  Employees currently enrolled will receive enrollment kits from the State Health Plan. Kits will be mailed to home addresses.  Eligible employees, currently not enrolled, may obtain information and forms by visiting the State Health Plan Web site at www.shpnc.org. 

GCSTV 2

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

News from GCS- GCSTV 2 Newsbreaks
GCSTV2 Newsbreak

Also on GCSTV 2:
New Regional Superintendents
New Regional Superintendents Named

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

“Keeping Teachers Teaching and Students Learning”

This newest program from the U.S. Department of Education explores the impact on education of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act” The program airs daily at 11 p.m.

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.

All County Chorus

The All County Chorus performed recently at Western Guilford 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, please contact Leonard Simpson, broadcast production manager, at 370-8167.