GCS News Briefs

September 11, 2009

Board of Education Adopts 2009-10 Budget

The Guilford County Board of Education adopted an operating budget Tuesday for the 2009-10 school year totaling $590,685,328.

The budget reflects a total of $21.9 million in reductions, with $11.84 million coming from schools and $10.03 million coming from administrative support services. As a result, the percentage of funding going directly to schools in GCS increased from approximately 79 percent in 2008-09 to 81 percent in 2009-10, while the percentage of funding going to administrative support services decreased from slightly more than 21 percent in 2008-09 to 19 percent in 2009-10.

In the spring, staff identified $36 million in potential cuts. Since total reductions for the district were about $14.1 million less, board members have considered and approved items to keep in the final budget over the last several board meetings. At the meeting Tuesday, the remaining $4.9 million was allocated.

The budget includes the restoration of the remaining weighted student formula dollars to schools (about $5.8 million) and the addition of $2.1 million to balance class sizes and deal with other school-based needs. The budget also restores $500,000 in funding for maintenance and $333,997 in support for curriculum and instruction initiatives.

In addition, the board approved holding $3 million in reserve in order to manage potential state budget shortfalls that could occur later in the school year. The budget also reinstates approximately 13 of 94 central office positions identified for cuts or redirection.

Click here for more information.

GCS Hosts Teacher Quality Forum

GCS is hosting a forum on teacher quality featuring national school policy and reform experts on Monday, Sept. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Proximity Hotel in Greensboro. The forum, which is paid for by private funding, will introduce local community representatives to the issues surrounding teacher quality, recruitment and retention. The following national experts are participating in the forum:

• Sabrina Laine, chief program officer for educator quality, Learning Point Associates
• James Guthrie, professor and director of the Peabody Center for Education Policy at Vanderbilt University
• Karen Dyer, group director, Center for Creative Leadership
• Patrick Schuermann, assistant professor at Vanderbilt University and director of technical assistance for the Center for Educator Compensation Reform

For more information, please contact Amy Holcombe, executive director of talent development, at 335-3294.

Page High Student Participates in Civic Engagement Advisory Committee

Braxton Becoats, a freshman at Page High, was one of 13 students across the state chosen to participate on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) for the North Carolina Civic Education Consortium. Braxton will join veteran members of the organization and will provide input on the Consortium’s initiatives while serving as a role model for civic engagement. The group will meet quarterly throughout the school year with their first meeting scheduled for Saturday.

YAC offers its members real-world experience with an advisory board and informs them about the role of councils, boards and commissions, while helping students become leaders in their communities. For more information, please contact Marilyn Foley, principal, at 370-8200.

Grimsley Graduate Featured on National Merit Poster

Ross Taggart, a 2008 graduate of Grimsley High, is pictured on a new poster advertising the National Merit Scholarship Program. In addition to receiving a National Merit Scholarship, Taggart was also an AP Scholar. He is now a sophomore at Duke University, where he is a Trinity Scholar.

Taggart is just one example of how working hard and taking on challenges leads to educational excellence. While many Guilford County Schools students are already taking advantage of the opportunities to excel academically, the district’s Strategic Plan calls for an expansion in access to academic rigor. GCS wants students to achieve educational excellence so they can continue to challenge themselves at the next level.

Students are able to compete in the National Merit Scholarship process based on scores they earn on the PSAT.

Click here to view the poster.

For more information, please contact Anna Brady, principal, at 370-8180.

Enrichment Fund Deadlines

Take advantage of the many opportunities for grants and scholarships from the Enrichment Fund for GCS. The Enrichment Fund provides financial support to enhance GCS educational programs, to aid students needing financial assistance with enrichment opportunities and to encourage and reward creativity, innovation and outstanding teaching.

Here is some important information for funding:

Mini-Grants

• Application Deadline – Nov. 6, 2009
• Award Schedule – Dec. 4, 2009
• Award Amount - $300 to $1,000
• Contact: enrichmentfund@gmail.com

Scholarship Application Deadline

• Sept. 18, 2009 for events taking place or requiring deposits to be paid between Oct. 1, 2009 – Nov. 6, 2009
• Oct. 23, 2009 for events taking place or requiring deposits to be paid between Nov. 7, 2009 – Jan. 21, 2010
• Jan. 8, 2010 for events taking place or requiring deposits to be paid between Jan. 22, 2010 and April 30, 2010
• April 16, 2010 for events taking place or requiring deposits to be paid after April 30, 2010

The fund is a private, not-for-profit organization, which is administered by a volunteer board of directors. For application forms and more information, visit www.enrichmentfund.org, or contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

Student of the Month

Battleground KIA Dealership is once again sponsoring the Battleground KIA Student of the Month program for the GCS 2009-10 school year. Nominations are currently being accepted from teachers and faculty members and can be submitted as an e-mail to studentofthemonth@battlegroundkia.com.  Each month, one student from an elementary, middle and high school will be awarded Student of the Month and will be presented with a plaque and gift card from Battleground KIA’s Owner and General Manager Avery Beland. The first Student of the Month Award will be given in October, so please e-mail your nominations soon. For more information, please contact Cecilia Adams, manager of community partnerships, at 370-8355.

One Hundred Chances to Checkmate

One hundred young players will have the chance to take on the Triad's best chess experts at the fifth-annual "One Hundred Chances to Checkmate," a simultaneous chess exhibition at the Bryan YMCA in downtown Greensboro from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Advance registration is recommended, and the free competition is open to chess players of all skill levels between the ages of 6 and 21.

All players will be considered winners and will receive trophies and prizes provided by the exhibition's sponsors: Stearns Financial Services Group, The Greensboro Symphony and the YMCA of Greensboro.

At the event, the young players are paired with one of the experts. Numerous boards are set up, and the expert moves from board to board making his move. The young players have the time in which it takes the exhibitor to return to their board to consider their moves. The young player makes his or her move in front of the expert once he returns to their board individually. Parents, grandparents and caregivers are welcome to coach their young chess players.

With only 100 seats available, pre-registration is recommended, but participants also can register the day of the event between 1:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. Players are welcome to bring their own chess sets. Other sets are being provided by the Southeast Greensboro Chess Club, North Carolina A&T State University and the YMCAs of Greensboro. For more information, please e-mail gsoadmin@greensborosymphony.org or call 335-5456 ext. 227.

Sumner Elementary Learns About Character with the NED Show

Through amazing yo-yo tricks and high-energy comedy, Sumner Elementary students learned about character and excellence in academics during a performance of “The NED Show” on Sept. 4. The show promoted academic achievement and character development by teaching three critical skills that will benefit the students for a lifetime: “Never Give Up”, “Encourage Others” and “Do Your Best.”

While the show was full of energy and provided a lot of fun for students and teachers, it showed students what it takes to be champions at school and in life. For more information, please contact Dr. Brian Clarida, principal, at 316-5888.

The Latest News from GCS:

GCS Newsbreak

Do boys and girls learn differently?  That question is at the heart of an experiment at Wiley Elementary. GCS welcomes its new principals and African American male students come together to discuss a variety of topics that affect their lives.

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Update

Get the latest information on precautions to prevent the spread of the flu virus and what to do if someone has the flu.

Fair Play

The new school year brings a new initiative to encourage sportsmanship and raise awareness of adherence to the rules of eligibility in athletics.

GCSTV 2-LIVE

Now streaming online.

GCS Board of Education

Watch an encore presentation of the latest GCS Board of Education meeting Saturday at 1 p.m. You also can watch board of education meetings at your convenience.  The meetings are now archived and available online at gcsnc.com.  See them here.

Also on GCSTV 2:

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.