GCS News Briefs

August 14, 2009

Budget Update

During last Tuesday’s meeting, the Board of Education approved the administrations’ recommendation to release all but 5 percent of Weighted Student Formula (WSF) dollars to schools. The decision to release the remaining 45 percent of WSF dollars (about $5.2 million) is in keeping with the district’s promise to return funds to schools first if budget cuts at the state level ended up being less severe than anticipated.

WSF dollars were chosen because this funding stream provides principals with the greatest amount of flexibility to meet the unique needs of their students. WSF dollars may be used by principals to purchase materials, tutoring, staff development, certain positions, etc.

In other budget news, the Board approved having students pay 25 percent of the costs for any Advanced Placement (AP) exams they take, except for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (FRL). Students who meet the federal standard for poverty as indicated by FRL status will not have to pay any AP exam fees. Taking the exam will now become voluntary; all AP students will be required to take a teacher-developed assessment, however.

As part of the new plan, which takes effect this school year, GCS will cover approximately 50 percent of the cost for AP exam fees. Businesses for Excellence in Education will pay for the remaining 25 percent. The measure, one of the most frequent cost-reduction suggestions voiced by employees during the budget process, will save the district about $400,000 each year.

The board also approved reinstating the Home Field Advantage program for the 2009-2010 school year. Home Field Advantage provides more stability for highly mobile students by giving them the option of remaining at certain schools with district transportation provided even if their families move. The program involves 10 elementary schools and one middle school.

In addition, the district has found new positions within GCS for nearly all of the 204 full-time licensed and classified employees whose jobs were displaced due to budget cuts or reorganization. GCS also has placed approximately 471 of the 578 interim employees whose positions were put on hold in June due to the budget uncertainty at the state level. These statistics do not include resignations or retirements. Currently, the district has about 54 vacancies for licensed personnel.

Now that the Legislature and Governor have signed off on a budget for the state, GCS administration is developing its final budget recommendations for the Board of Education. More details will be available as  recommendations to the Board are finalized and as the district receives additional guidance from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

Regional Offices Open to the Public

The offices for the five regions of GCS are open for the start of the 2009-10 school year. The opening of the regional offices signals the public launch of the district’s first major strategic plan initiative.

By organizing administrative services into regions, the district plans to improve its service to schools as well as form stronger connections with parents and the community members. The regional offices will serve as “one-stop shops” for employees, parents and community members to get information about GCS, including academics, discipline, transportation, facilities, finance, technology, health and safety, and some elements of exceptional children services.

Each of the regions – Central, Enrichment, Northern, Southeastern and Western – is led by a regional superintendent, executive director, formative assessment coach, student services administrator, instructional technology coach and office support. The Enrichment Region has additional staff to provide intensive support to nine schools.

Parents may follow the steps below for assistance within the regional structure:

• For classroom matters, contact the teacher and allow 24 hours for a return call. If the issue is not resolved, contact the principal. To seek further help, contact the regional office.
• For school matters, contact the school principal. Please remember that a school administrator’s day is unpredictable and allow him/her 24 hours to respond any calls. If the principal is not able to help, contact the regional office.
• For regional matters (issues or concerns that affect more than one school, or issues that have not been resolved successfully at the school level), contact the regional office.

More information about each region is available at http://www.gcsnc.com/regions.htm. 

News and Record Highlights Principal’s Community Outreach

This morning’s News and Record features a front-page story on Grimsley Principal Anna Brady’s unique efforts to get to know her school’s communities. Click here to read the story.

Business Journal Honors Ozment

Sharon Ozment, GCS chief financial officer, was one of several finalists honored last night as part of the Business Journal’s CFO of the Year Awards. The awards were given to financial professionals in the greater Triad area for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards.

Nominees were judged based on financial management skills, strategic thinking, a demonstrated commitment to fiscal integrity and accountability, and community service.   

Ozment, who has provided 35 years of service to the district, has been chief financial officer since 2000. She oversees the preparation and management of a more than $600 million annual budget, supervises the district’s Financial Services division and partners with the district’s chief operations officer in overseeing maintenance, facilities and transportation operations.

During the development of the district’s 2009-10 budget, Ozment has worked hard to minimize the impact of a tough budget year on employees. As GCS has faced cuts and uncertainty about the state’s budget outlook, Ozment helped the district find a way to protect classrooms as much as possible, taking more than half of the budget cuts from central administration.

Ozment’s financial leadership has been present through the development of past budgets as well. The district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report received Certificates of Excellence from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and the Association of School Business Officials for 14 years in a row between 1994 and 2008. The district’s budget documents also received recognition from the GFOA for fiscal years 2000 to 2009.

A true servant to education in Guilford County, Ozment began her career with Greensboro City Schools in 1974. Through the years, she worked her way up from Xerox Operator to Chief Financial Officer. In the absence of a superintendent in 2008, she served the district as co-interim superintendent with Chief Administrative Officer Eric Becoats.

Ozment and other finalists are featured in a special section in today’s Business Journal.
Other nominees for the awards included Charles Bingenheimer of Kingsdown, Jim Hogan of Advanced Home Care, Stephen Holcombe of TransTech Pharma, Jeff May of Biscuitville, Anthony Slater of Pike Electric, Kelly Smith of Replacements, Ltd., and Elizabeth Ward of Moses Cone Health System.

Special Education Facility Named After Student and Educator

For the first time in GCS history, a facility is being named for a former student, as well as for an educator. The board voted to name the new special education facility the “Meredith Leigh Haynes - Bennie Lee Inman Education Center.” The school, located in Jamestown, will serve exceptional children in the western part of the district.

Meredith Leigh Haynes attended Gateway Education Center in Greensboro, although her family lived in Jamestown. Diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis as a toddler, she needed specialized programs to meet her needs, even if it meant being transported across the county.

Bennie Lee Inman served as the director of the Greensboro Cerebral Palsy School for more than 30 years and has dedicated her life to ensuring the education, training and success of special needs children. Inman also played an integral role opening the Gateway Education Center.

The Meredith Leigh Haynes - Bennie Lee Inman Education Center, a project of the 2003 and 2008 School Bonds, is now under construction and is expected to open in the fall of 2010. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new school will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2009. For more information, please contact Lillian Govus, program administrator-communications, at 370-8997.

Additional GCS Schools Start a New Year

Summer vacation ended this week for students at nine more schools. GCS’ early and middle colleges, an extended-year school and an academy opened Monday and Tuesday.

All of the schools that opened this week are magnet and choice schools that offer specialty programs. High school students at the early and middle colleges attend school in a college setting and are able to earn college course credit. The Academy at Smith offers focused study in Medical Careers or Construction Technology. Washington Montessori provides elementary students with a personalized approach to learning while recognizing that each child learns with a unique style and pace.

Schools opening Monday, Aug. 10

• The Early College at Guilford
• Greensboro College Middle College
• Washington Montessori

Schools opening Tuesday, Aug. 11

• The Academy at Smith
• The Middle College at Bennett
• The Middle College at GTCC-High Point
• The Middle College at GTCC-Greensboro
• The Middle College at GTCC-Jamestown
• The Middle College at N.C. A&T

Congratulations to the GCS Summer Graduates

GCS celebrated the graduation of an additional 34 students Tuesday at the district’s recent ceremony at Smith High. The graduates, who represented 12 high schools, completed their graduation requirements during the summer.

At the graduation ceremony, Twilight High also celebrated its 100th graduate. Twilight is an alternative school for students who are within nine credits or less of graduation. For more information, please contact Tony Watlington, central region executive director, at 574-1642.

Congratulations Retirees

GCS honored retiring employees on Tuesday at a special reception celebrating their dedication to the district’s students. More than 100 of the 184 retirees had 25 years or more of service.
Overall, the group represented more than 4,000 years of commitment to public education.

Velma Byrd, a second-grade teacher at Johnson Street Global Studies, retired with 45 years of service to GCS, the longest of any of this year’s retirees. She received a $100 gift card to Harris Teeter.

Retirees who were unable to attend Tuesday’s reception may pick up their awards and gift cards at GCS’ Administrative Building at 712 N. Eugene St. in Greensboro.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Landes, program administrator for communications, at 370-8353 or landesj@gcsnc.com.

GCS Central Offices Resume Normal Hours Monday

On Monday, August 17, the Administrative Offices will resume regular hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, please call 370-8100.

Preparing for a Healthy School Year

Each year, there are a variety of tasks parents and students have to take care of before beginning school.  The Guilford County Department of Public Health wants to remind parents of some important steps they can take to ensure a healthy start to the school year for their child. Click here for more information.

GCSTV 2

GCS Newsbreak

Tdap and Other Required Vaccinations

Back-to-school time means children have to be up-to-date on vaccinations.

Watch GCSTV 2 Online

GCSTV 2

A Library of GCS News

GCS Newsbreaks-Media Center

Also on GCSTV 2:

New Rules for Kindergarten:

Kindergarten Kickoff Newsbreak Video

GCSTV 2 Programming Guide

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

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 & 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, GCSTV 2 production manager, at 370-8167.