Superintendent's Blog

October 24, 2008: This is What You Said

A few weeks ago, we asked you to send us your thoughts to aid us in formulating a four-year plan that would make Guilford County Schools the nation’s leading public school system. We are thankful to the several thousands of you who responded.  The nearly 4,000 comments covered a broad scope of subjects, including testing, class sizes, facilities, personnel matters and much more.  This information will help us immensely as we develop our strategic plan.

Over the next couple of months, as we formulate our strategic plan, I will be sharing your suggestions through a variety of forums, including my blog.  Today, I am publishing two suggestions, one from a student and another from a parent.

“I think more emphasis needs to be placed on learners in Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade who are working way above their classmates,” the parent wrote. “We do not start any AL material until 3rd grade but for me it seems that some students could handle more of a challenge earlier in the grade level. My daughter is very smart but she struggles with attention because the work is too easy and she gets done way before everyone else and has nothing to do. We need to help these students be successful in all areas.”

One student wrote: “I think we should provide a hands-on learning environment for all students by integrating technology and showing students concepts using a real life way and by showing student how to apply the concepts learned in the workplace.”

October 24, 2008: Kids Voting

For the last 12 years, Kids Voting in Guilford County has done a wonderful job of educating K-12 children about the voting process and bringing it alive to them by taking them to real polling places on Election Day.

Kids Voting, which does a lot of outreach in many of our schools, is not only a great tool for teaching young people to become responsible adults but also to become better students of civics. Students have the opportunity to vote on many of the same candidates and issues that are on the adult ballots.  Their votes are tabulated and reported to the media, just like the adult votes.  This year, the organization expects 25,000 – 30,000 student voters will vote at the county’s 165 adult polls.

In addition to providing a hands-on learning experience at the polls for students, Kids Voting also encourages the use of its Kids Voting USA Classroom Activities, which are designed to provide civic education to students through grade appropriate lessons that focus on the elections process, democracy, citizenship, and the right to vote.  The activities encourage critical thinking skills as well as civic education.  Kids Voting provides these lessons and support to teachers at no charge. 

October 20, 2008: National School Bus Safety Week

The week of October 20-24 is National School Bus Safety Week, a nationwide public education program designed to promote bus safety. Each day, GCS transports more than 40,000 students to and from school. Their safety is always our top priority.

I want to encourage everyone to join forces and address the importance of school bus and bus stop safety, which should be practiced on a daily basis. Motorists should always be on guard for students waiting at the bus stop and for stopped school buses loading or unloading children. It is the law in North Carolina that motorists must stop for a stopped school bus that is displaying flashing red lights and the stop sign. Violation of the bus stop law is a Class 1 misdemeanor. 

Daily, the district’s 634 school buses travel approximately 52,000 miles. School buses make approximately 22,000 bus stops twice daily. Students are transported between the hours of 5:45 a.m. and 9 p.m., so please be cautious throughout the day, not just in the morning and afternoon hours.

This week and throughout the year, I ask all parents, teachers, community leaders and bus drivers to discuss bus stop safety practices with students. I also encourage parents to monitor children of all ages at every bus stop to ensure their safety and well-being. Together, we can keep all children safe and out of harm’s way.

October 20, 2008: Update on “Mo Wants to Know”

Two weeks ago we asked you to dream big with us. We ask that you send us your thoughts on the future of Guilford County Schools through our “Mo Wants to Know” campaign. We asked, and you delivered.

As of yesterday afternoon, we had more than 3,500 responses. I am encouraged by the fact that so many have chosen to send in suggestions, and although the campaign officially ended yesterday, I hope you will continue to let me know your ideas or concerns. You can e-mail me at superintendent@gcsnc.com anytime you want to voice your opinions or suggestions. You play a key role in helping to shape the future of our children in the coming years.

Our next step is to read through all of your ideas as we begin forming our strategic plan for the district.   Please come back to this blog often for more information on how the planning is going.

I also want to let you know that we are continuing to bring our “Town Hall Meetings” to various parts of the county. Our next one is November 10 at the First Baptist Church in Summerfield. We’ll have word soon on dates and locations in High Point and Pleasant Garden.

October 14, 2008: Election Day

As you know, Tuesday, November 4 is Election Day. Aside from making your voice heard in this historic presidential election, you can make an impact on the many local issues on the ballot.

For instance, six Guilford County Board of Education seats are up for grabs. Even if you don’t live in a district that’s on the ballot, you may still vote for an at-large member. These board members are directly responsible for policies that govern our school system and ultimately shape the lives of our children. In addition, there are several bonds on the ballot for Greensboro residents.  There is also a sales tax question on the ballot.

This is an exciting time not just for our country, but for our community. I urge you to be a part of it. If you missed last week’s deadline you have the option of participating in one stop voting from October 16 through November 1. To find out the locations in Guilford County where you can take advantage of one-stop voting, please visit the State Board of Election Web site at www.sboe.state.nc.us.

By investing a few moments of your time, you can significantly impact the lives of our children, our community and our country.

October 8, 2008: National School Lunch Week

Next week is National School Lunch Week. At Guilford County Schools, food services are overseen by the department of School Nutrition Services (SNS). The 700-employee department, which serves 45,000 lunches and 12,000 breakfasts each day, has a huge impact on the lives of our children and the local economy.

The department places a premium on health. Menus follow the Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Americans, offering foods with less than 30 percent of calories from fat, more fresh fruits and vegetables and foods rich in fiber. Meals provide 1/3 of the recommended dietary allowances for protein, vitamins A&C, iron, calcium and calories. In addition, SNS provides free breakfast to all students at 23 schools. SNS also purchases local produce, which is good for the area’s economy and reduces the costs of transporting food.

SNS manages to accomplish this while also keeping costs down. Lunch still averages $1.80 at the elementary level and we have not raised meal prices this school year. That’s a tough deal to beat.

The department will celebrate National School Lunch Week by offering students the opportunity to vote for their favorite school lunch item. Will it be pizza dippers, chicken nuggets or turnip greens? Cafeterias will be decorated in red, white and blue. Throughout the week, Uncle Sam will visit some of our elementary schools.

Representatives from the Southeast United Dairy Association will also be guests at the selected schools to promote milk consumption. They plan to serve red, white and blue milk to students.

October 7, 2008: My First Town Hall Meeting

Approximately 100 people showed up at First Baptist Church Gibsonville last night for a two-hour town hall meeting. They came from all walks of life - parents, grandparents, members of the public, GCS employees and even a few students. It offered another wonderful opportunity to listen and learn from the community. 

There were questions and comments about a broad spectrum of issues that ranged from student discipline to busing to the large number of our students taking Advanced Placement classes. I did not have all the answers, but I left the meeting feeling energized. I was encouraged by the dialog and by the passion that many in Guilford County have for their schools and for our school system in general. It was a reminder of the commitment that many people in this county have to public education.

Thanks to all of you who attended the event. Thanks also to Rev. Brian Ayers, pastor of First Baptist Church Gibsonville, and his members for hosting this meeting.   

October 3, 2008: Monday’s Town Hall Meeting

I am looking forward to my first town hall meeting on Monday, October 6 at First Baptist Church Gibsonville. Since becoming superintendent, one of my top priorities has been traveling throughout the county listening to people’s thoughts about Guilford County Schools. I have attended various events, community gatherings, churches and visited many schools. 

I have met many people and have learned a lot at these gatherings, and I believe the town hall meeting format presents yet another wonderful opportunity for dialog. I look forward to hearing your questions and your comments about what we can do to make our school system even better.
I am grateful to Reverend Brian Ayers, pastor of First Baptist Church Gibsonville, for organizing and hosting this event.

The church is located at 221 Piedmont Avenue, Gibsonville. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and end at about 8 p.m. I plan to stick around for after the meeting formally ends to meet as many of you as I can.

 I look forward to seeing you there.

October 3, 2008: My First Principals’ Meeting

My listening and learning tour has both internal and external components. On Thursday morning I spoke with my largest internal audience to date – our principals. 

In nearly a month on the job, I have visited many schools and had an opportunity to meet with some principals individually or in small groups. But this was my first opportunity to appear before all of them to share a little about my background and to discuss my education philosophy, beliefs, expectations and vision for Guilford County Schools. It also provided another opportunity to chat with many of these principals individually and to build relationships.

I am excited about the prospect of doing more of these kinds of meeting with all groups of employees. By interacting with my colleagues regularly and by helping them understand that we are all part of one team, I have no doubt that we can work together to move this school district forward.

October 1, 2008: Introducing the “Mo Wants to Know” Campaign

This morning I kicked off a campaign designed to solicit suggestions from parents, students, employees and the community at large for transforming Guilford County Schools into one of the nation’s top public school systems.

Many of these ideas will form the basis of a four-year strategic plan, a road map for determining where we are heading in the coming years and how we will get there. We are asking  that your suggestions be submitted through Oct. 16.

This campaign will give the entire Guilford County community – parents, students, employees and community members   –   the opportunity to voice their thoughts, ideas and concerns. This is our school district. We all have a vested interest in determining the future path of the district.
An online form for submitting suggestions will be available on the district’s Web site, and all submissions will be anonymous. Please visit the district’s Web site at www.gcsnc.com and click on the “Mo Wants to Know” logo.

Comment boxes will be available at all school and central office locations for those without access to computers or who simply want to submit their suggestions on paper. After the two-week period, all suggestions will be compiled and studied to assist the district’s process of defining its direction and ultimately asking the question, “How do we excel?”