Saturday, November 21st, 2009
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10/20/09 > State and National Physical Fitness Champions: Lower Creek Elementary

Lower Creek Elementary School wins the 2008-09 National and State Championship for the President's Challenge Physical Fitness and Sports Award, yet again. Not often does an elementary school tout a National Championship title, but Lower Creek Elementary now has earned 12 statewide championships and holds a second National title. The 2008-2009 recognition ranks the school as the most physically fit student body in North Carolina for enrollment of 200 to 500 students based on the highest percentage of students successfully passing the President's Physical Fitness Challenge.

 

With approximately 360 students enrolled in grades K-5, 89.98 percent met the Presidential Fitness Challenge requirement, a score that topped all the competition in the state and national ranking and surpassed the school's previous rate of 88.71 percent, when Lower Creek also won the state championship and placed second in the nation.

 

"We've experienced the excitement of being number one in the state for over a decade, but it is still rewarding and exciting to hear the news every single time," said Kathy Terrell, PE teacher. "And to be number one in the nation--a second time--is the ultimate. This is a huge honor, and I attribute our continued success to the dedication and support from our students, faculty, staff and administration." 

 

The award is presented to an elementary school in North Carolina with the greatest percentage of students passing five areas of fitness criteria in the President's Physical Fitness Test: pull-ups, sit-ups, shuttle run, mile run and the sit-and-reach. For individual students to qualify for the presidential award, a student must score 85 percent or higher on each event.

 

An elementary school in the Caldwell County School System has held the North Carolina Championship title of the President's Challenge Physical Fitness and Sports Award for the past 15 years. Davenport A+ won the state award in 2003-2004; Valmead Elementary championed the event in 2004-05 and 2005-06. The most recent results mark the twelfth year that Lower Creek Elementary School has been recognized with this distinction. Lower Creek Elementary also placed number one in the state and number one in the nation in 2006-2007.

"We are thrilled that one of our elementary schools in Caldwell County has received national and statewide acclaim," said Superintendent Dr. Steve Stone. "Lower Creek Elementary, like so many of our other schools, promotes and practices the importance and relevance of physical fitness for our young people What an outstanding honor this is for Lower Creek Elementary. We are very proud of their continued success and highest recognition in physical fitness, considering that more than 40 million students participate annually in the Presidential Fitness Challenge."

 

"We're already working on next year," said Kathy Terrill. "For example, today I had a student who beat the school's record in the shuttle run (a distance of 30 feet), who ran it in 9.2 seconds. A few minutes later, another student in the same class, broke his record and ran it in 9.1 seconds. This is a reflection of the continuous, healthy competition among our student body. For the students, it's fun and that's key to its success, but the larger benefit is that students are developing an early focus on daily physical fitness."

 

"Now it is an expectation as well as a goal within our school," said Lower Creek Elementary Principal Debbie Indicott. "We strongly encourage physical activity as it enhances the level of enthusiasm in students for academics, attendance and attitudes. Winning the national or state championship is an added bonus!"

 

 
10/08/09 > New K-2 Literacy Assessment

Elementary teachers and administrators spent their summer months reworking and improving the Caldwell County School System K-2 Literacy Assessment. Their efforts resulted in a new assessment document to be used this school year. The new K-2 Literacy Assessment incorporates a specific category designed for DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), a set of standardized measures of early literacy, and the assessment also includes a section for Letterland, a program that instructs students in phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling, sight words, and fluency of letter names, sounds and words.

 

The localized assessment continues to include information from the Department of Public Instruction K-2 Literacy Assessment, particularly the revisions approved in 2009. School systems may or may not use the state model in its entirety. The CCS K-2 Literacy Assessment Team extracted parts from the State assessment and combined several local academic evaluations into one document.

 

"A group of teachers representing kindergarten, first and second grade met with Central Office staff this past summer to review materials, and then they determined that streamlining DIBELS, Letterland and the State Assessment into one piece was the best course of action," said Stephen Martin, Elementary Education Director. "We reached consensus that this new document would afford teachers more time instructing students in the classroom."

 

Students in grades K-2 will be formally assessed by certified classroom teachers or teacher assistants (depending on the area of assessment) three times during the school year. By definition, the K-2 Literacy Assessment is intended to assess the reading and writing skills of students in kindergarten, first, and second grade based on the grade level English Language Arts competencies. The North Carolina State Board Policy HSP -C-016 states that the "State Board of Education requires that schools and school districts implement assessments of grades K, 1, and 2 that include documented on-going individualized assessments throughout the year and a summative evaluation at the end of the year. These assessments monitor achievement of benchmarks in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study." The Caldwell County K-2 Assessment is designed to be a process for formative, interim/benchmark, and summative assessment.

 

In accordance with State Board policy and Caldwell County School Board Policy 7500, the K-2 Literacy Assessment monitors the progress of the student and provides indicators for early adaptations and interventions if necessary; documents student performance over time; keeps parents informed about the status of their children relative to grade level standards at the end of the year; and provides the school and district information on the academic progress of groups of students. Students are assessed in the core subject areas of reading, spelling, grammar, and writing (compositions, stories, journals). Numerical numbers 1-4 are used to indicate levels of performance, from 1 being performance below grade level to the highest mark of 4, consistently exceeding grade level expectations in one of these areas.

 

Another area of implementation aligned with the K-2 Literacy Assessment occurred this fall. Elementary teachers and administrators agreed that modifications were needed in the Progress Report, which is referred to now as the Report Card. The major changes in the reporting process included 1.generating a K-2 report card on NCWISE, which replaces a voluminous paper trail previously sorted and filed by each K-2 teacher; 2.allowing K-2 teachers the ability to easily produce progress reports and assessments; and 3.archiving academic performance of students in grades K-2.

 

"The assessment has become a user-friendly, accessible document and will better serve teachers and parents as the reporting record for students in grades K-2," said Elementary Director Stephen Martin. "We're only one of a few systems in NC posting the K-2 report card on NCWISE. However, it's my prediction that in the near future most systems will follow our lead."

 

The K-2 math assessment is administered quarterly and based on the Caldwell County Schools pacing guides provided through the school system. After review last summer, changes were made to align the K-2 math assessment to the new math textbook and pacing guide. Math is another subject area measured on the K-2 Report Card with 1-4 assessment levels. Other areas listed on the report card and graded with an S-Satisfactory, N-Needs Improvement or U-Unsatisfactory include Social Studies, Science/Health,  Handwriting, Conduct, Computer Skills, Music, Art, Physical Education and Drama (at some schools).

9/25/09 > Accepting Hall of Honor Nominations

When you think of successful Caldwell County people in all different walks of life, these are the individuals' plaques lining the hallway at the Education Center in the Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor currently distinguishes 39 Caldwell County graduates who have made significant contributions to their profession and/or community and who have maintained exemplary character throughout their experiences and careers beyond high school.

 

Nominations are currently being accepted for the Caldwell County Schools Hall of Honor and will be accepted until December 1, 2009. The 2009 inductees will be honored at the Seventh Annual Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony scheduled April 26, 2010.

 

A nominee must meet one of the following criteria to be considered as a candidate for the Hall of Honor: 1) be a graduate of a Caldwell County Schools, 2) while attending Caldwell County Schools was admitted to the NC School of Mathematics and Science or the NC School of the Arts and received a high school diploma from that institution, or 3)ended his/her secondary education as a Caldwell County Schools student, did not receive a high school diploma, but did receive a post-secondary degree from an institution of higher learning.

 

The public is invited to nominate qualified individuals who meet one of the above criteria. Nomination forms are available at the Education Center, the News Topic, or online at the school system website: www.caldwellschools.com under the Community section.

 

The Hall of Honor selection committee, consisting of representatives from each high school district, the school system and the community, will select no more than five inductees each year. Once a nomination form is received, the nomination stays on file with the Hall of Honor Committee for reconsideration each year, eliminating the need to resubmit.

 

For more information, contact Libby Brown, Community Services Director and event organizer, at 728-8407 ext. 120.

9/12/09 > Prepare and Hope for the Best The Cold and Flu Season has Arrived
The flu season has already begun, much to the dismay of the medical community, according to North Carolina Public Health Director Dr. Jeffrey Engel who says that two percent of all doctor's visits are flu-like symptoms and the predominant flu this time of year is Novel A H1N1. Its presence is here in North Carolina and throughout the country, but it never completely left. Over the summer, in North Carolina alone, more than 650 cases of H1N1 were confirmed in 75 out of 100 counties. Caldwell County happened to be one of the counties with no confirmed cases, but H1N1 is now in Caldwell County as reported from physician's offices.

How do you prepare?

First, you need to understand the current response to Novel H1N1 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Office in North Carolina. You may recall the nationwide response and global response to H1N1 last spring---the images of face masks, quarantined families, and weekly network announcements of school closings. If so, your memory serves you well because that was the response from the CDC in the spring to H1N1 or the swine flu as it was referred to in the initial stages. The situation was extremely intense and up until August, counties were still reporting confirmatory cases (cultured-confirmed) to the CDC.

Today, the direction from the CDC and the state Public Health Office has changed. NC Public Health Director Dr. Engel has characterized Novel H1N1 as a "mild pandemic" meaning that it has been downgraded in classification from the spring of 2009, but continues to be categorized as a pandemic--- an influenza virus that spreads on a worldwide scale and infects a large proportion of the human population. The recommendation to public school officials has also changed since last spring. Dr. Engel recommends that "schools stay in session" and should not be closing because of a single case or low numbers of cases of H1N1 as was the scenario last school year. Considering that H1N1 has primarily affected the population of young people ages 5 to 24, school systems across the nation are being advised to utilize three different types of school closing procedures if necessary. The first two are based on a localized decision: selective and reactive closing and the third type of closing is preemptive, when the Governor or Public Health official would close public schools. A selective closing involves identifying the most medically at-risk students and closing school for the same to protect their health from exposure to elevated numbers of H1N1 cases. The reactive closing is in response to the inability to effectively instruct students in a protected environment based on the number of affected cases among faculty, staff and students.

How can schools prepare for any closings and practice preventative measures during the school day?
  • The Crisis Management Team is crafting a newly revised 25-page document to deal with any measures that may occur because of a pandemic.
  • The School System works very closely with the Caldwell County Health Department and other health professionals, being advised frequently of any measures that are necessary to ensure the utmost safety and wellbeing of each student.
  • The Caldwell County Health Department and the school nurses are providing and administering the seasonal flu vaccine on-site at schools for all students in grades K-5 (parent permission is required).
  • Informational pieces, customized with local data and advisement, is available at each school and is posted on the Caldwell County Schools website: www.caldwellschools.com
  • Schools are isolating sick students (as much as possible) to prevent the spread of viruses until parents pick them up from school.
The school system is advising every parent, student and employee to do the following:

 WASH HANDS---frequently
KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE
DO NOT GO BACK TO SCHOOL OR WORK UNTIL YOUR TEMPERATURE IS NORMAL FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT FEVER-REDUCING MEDICATION
SNEEZE INTO YOUR SLEEVE if you don't have a tissue
IF YOU HAVE THE FLU, STAY AT HOME
GET THE SEASONAL AND H1N1 FLU VACCINES

As mentioned in the above list, the seasonal flu vaccines will be administered in elementary schools for students in grades K-5 beginning in mid-October. The H1N1 vaccination may not be available until late October, and the Centers for Disease and Prevention website indicates that the shipment of the vaccine and the quantity of shipment per state is unpredictable. The health community strongly encourages you to get both vaccines: the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available. The Caldwell County Health Department will hold its annual Flu Drive-By at the Caldwell County Health Department and Granite Falls Elementary School on Saturday, October 3 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Both practices getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene provide a 70 to 80 percent prevention rate. By practing good hygiene and getting the vaccination, you will help yourself from contracting the H1N1 virus and help prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Get prepared and hope for the best as we face a lengthy cold and flu season. For more information, go to www.flu.com or www.cdc.gov  and for any preexisitng medical conditions or concerns regarding the vaccination, you are always encouraged to contact your personal physician.

This article was contributed by Libby Brown, Communicy Services Director of the Caldwell Couty Schools, 828.728.8407 ext. 120.
8/19/09 > CHANGES IN SCHOOL BUS STOPS
On Tuesday, August 25, classes begin for nearly 13,000 students in the Caldwell County Schools and more than half of these students, or 7,000 bus riders, will be traveling to and from school on 120 yellow school buses. Last year, the yellow fleet covered more than 350 routes, logging approximately 1.2 million miles between August and May. These figures will decrease in 2009-10 due to severe state budget cuts. The transportation department suffered a significant decrease in funding, possibly as much as 23 percent in the upcoming year. With fewer operating dollars, difficult decisions were made this summer to consolidate bus stops.

"Severe budget cuts in transportation coupled with projected increases in fuel cost left us little choice but to closely evaluate each school bus route this summer and determine the necessity for each bus stop. Any changes made are in compliance with state guidelines," said Dr. Jeff Church Assistant Superintendent.

Some bus stops have been consolidated and students may be required to walk no farther than 3/10 mile to a bus stop. 

I spent a great deal of my summer riding bus routes and evaluating bus stops. Our focus has been on consolidating bus stops for more efficiency and to more closely adhere to the state guidelines, while giving utmost consideration to the bus riders," said Phil Johnson, Transportation Director.

Students will receive complete detailed information on bus routes during school orientation. School administration received revised bus routes last week. Parents of students who are bus riders are encouraged to contact the school administrative office for updated bus stops and schedules. If parents have concerns regarding school bus stops, they may complete a Request to Change/Add School Bus Stop/Extend Route Form and return to the school administrative office.

While students are being transported on the yellow school bus to school, there are well-defined policies adopted by the Board of Education regarding bus conduct. The following policy is applicable to all bus passengers on a Caldwell County School bus:
  • If a student refuses to cooperate with the bus driver, parents will be notified.
  • If a student persists in causing trouble on the bus or refuses to cooperate, the student may be barred from riding a school bus for a period of 1-10 school days. The parent or guardian will be notified in advance of this action.
  • For serious misconducts or continued misbehavior or lack of cooperation, the principal may recommend a long-term suspension for the remainder of the school year. The Superintendent or his designee will hold an informal hearing on the matter prior to rendering a final decision.
  • Not withstanding the above steps, the bus driver, in case of a serious safety emergency, may suspend completion of the assigned route and immediately call for assistance of law enforcement and/or other personnel to deal with the emergency. Such emergencies may include a seriously disruptive or dangerous passenger. In such an event, the principal and the parent should be notified at the earliest opportunity.
Also, there are safety suggestions provided to parents and students in the Duties and Responsibilities of School Bus Passengers brochure that will be sent home with every student the first week of school. We strongly encourage parents to discuss these safety measures with their children, especially if that child is a school bus passenger.

These include:
Waiting for the Bus and Arriving on School Grounds
  • Select the safest route to your bus stop.
  • Arrive at the stop at least five minutes before time for the bus to arrive. 
  • Stay out of the street and avoid unruliness.
  • Stand back away from the curb.
  • Wait until the bus and all traffic have stopped before getting on the bus.
  • NEVER crawl under the bus.
  • Take your seat quickly and remain seated.
  • Open windows only if you get the "OK" from the driver.
  • Remain seated until the bus reaches the unloading area, has come to a complete stop, and the driver has opened the door.
  • Unload from front to back quickly.
  • Walk in a single file.
  • Do not attempt to ride on a school bus unless assigned by your principal. It is unlawful for a person to ride on a school bus without proper assignment.
On the Bus
  • Remain seated at all times and keep the aisles clear.
  • Keep your head, arms and feet inside the bus (and to yourself).
  • Maintain complete silence at all rail road crossings.
Do Not...
  • Throw objects inside the bus or out of the windows.
  • Shout to pedestrians or occupants of other vehicles from the bus windows.
  • Eat or drink on the school bus.
  • Pile books, musical instruments, or other objects in the bus aisles.
  • Use profane and indecent language, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages.
  • Shout or distract the bus driver.
  • Fight or cause a disruption on the bus.
  • Tamper with the emergency door.
  • Deface the bus in any way.
Boarding the Bus After School
  • Follow school instructions in going to the bus parking area and entering the bus after school.
  • Leave your room at the appropriate bell and walk quickly (not run) and quietly to the bus loading area.
  • Enter the bus, take your seat, and remain seated.
Leaving the Bus Enroute
  • Leave your bus only at your designated stop.
  • Do not get off the bus at stops to make purchases, visits, or perform errands.
  • Remain seated until the bus has completely stopped at your bus stop and the driver has opened the door, then leave the bus in an orderly manner. If a highway must be crossed to leave the bus, cross the highway at least 10 feet in front of the bus.
  • Proceed home from the bus stop as soon as possible.
Safety also involves motorists, and they have a responsibility to follow the North Carolina School Bus Stop Law. There are severe penalties for a motorist who passes a stopped school bus: 5 driver's license points and dramatically higher insurance premiums. But more disconcerting, it endangers the life of a child.
Motorists should follow these guidelines:
Two-lane roadway
When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop
Two-lane with a center turning lane
When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop
Four lanes with a median separation When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop
Four lanes with a center turning lane When school bus stops for passengers, only traffic following the bus must stop

Keeping children safe on the Caldwell County Schools' bus fleet includes the support and assistance from many: bus drivers, parents, students, mechanics and motorists. We are looking forward to another safe year with thousands of bus passengers and hundreds of bus drivers, and we encourage all those involved to obey the school bus safety rules and to act appropriately.

 
8/17/09 > NC ABCs Caldwell County Results for 2008-2009

• 83.3 percent of students in grades 3-8 scored on grade level or above in mathematics on End of Grade tests, a 10 percent improvement over last year's scores.

• 72.15 percent of students in grades 3-8 scored on grade level or above in reading on End of Grade tests, a significant gain of 14.35 percent compared to test scores the previous year.

• Twenty-two of 26 schools, approximately 85 percent, made Expected or High Academic Growth status, the highest growth standards established by the state for elementary, middle and high school.

• North Carolina recognized the following schools for academic achievement:  Collettsville School - Honor School of Excellence for making high academic growth, Adequate Yearly Progress and having 90 percent or more students on grade level.  Baton Elementary, Caldwell Early College High School, Davenport A+, Granite Falls Elementary, Granite Falls Middle, Hudson Middle, Kings Creek, Valmead Elementary - North Carolina Schools of Distinction for making expected or high academic growth and having 80 percent or more students on grade level.

• High school student performance on End of Course tests in English, US History, Civics/Economics, Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, Physical Science and Physics jumped from 73 percent in 2007-08 to 78 percent proficiency or above in 2008-09.

• The State Board of Education allowed retesting in grades 3-8 to be included in the End of Grade ABCs results. Levels I and II were retested in the Caldwell County Schools. End of Course retesting will be included in the 2009-10 ABCs report.

• ABCs means Accountability, Basic Skills with high educational standards and Control (at the local level). The state implemented the ABCs Program in 1996-97 for grades K-8 and in 1997-98 for high schools. AYP was added to the accountability model in 2002-03.

7/21/09 > AYP PRELIMINARY REPORT RELEASED - No Child Left Behind

The Caldwell County Schools edge closer to the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) goal of having 100 percent of students at proficiency level in reading and math by 2014. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently released the 2009 Preliminary Report for Adequate Yearly Progress and the Caldwell County School System reached its highest level to date in the percentage of schools making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Twenty-two of 25 schools made Adequate Yearly Progress, or 88 percent, up from 75 percent the previous year. The Caldwell County Schools as a whole met 56 out of 60 target goals, or 93.3 percent, another improvement over last year.

We believe that every child has the potential to learn and to progress and to achieve, as reflected in the recent report that shows us ranking in the top percentages," said Superintendent Dr. Steve Stone. "The biggest challenge with No Child Left Behind is that the low performance of a few students on any given test day can adversely affect the performance rating of the entire school and even the entire school system. It is an all or nothing standard."

To make Adequate Year Progress, each student group must met proficiency targets in reading and in math, and each group must have at least a 95 percent participation rate in the assessments for both subjects. A student group is made up of at least 40 students, and NCLB identifies 10 different group populations: a whole (entire tested student body), White, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, multiracial, economically disadvantaged students (free and reduced lunch), limited English proficient students and students with disabilities.

"The reading and/or math scores of 40 students could possibly determine the schoolwide status and countywide status of making or not making Adequate Yearly Progress," said Dr. Stone.  "Under this law, forty students, or less than 1 percent of most total school populations in Caldwell County, can and do determine the academic status of the school." 

No Child Left Behind requires 100 percent student proficiency in 2013-14. North Carolina raised its annual targets in 2007-08 for elementary and middle school students to 77.2 percent proficient in math and 43.2 percent proficiency in reading. Target for high school proficiency in math is 68.4 percent and 38.5 percent in reading/language arts. In the 2009-10 school year, target proficiency does not change; however, the following year, the proficiency percentages jump significantly.

The 22 schools within the school system that made Adequate Yearly Progress are Baton Elementary, Collettsville, Caldwell Early College High School, Davenport A+ Elementary, Dudley Shoals, Gamewell Elementary, Gamewell Middle, Gateway School, Granite Falls Elementary, Granite Falls Middle, Happy Valley School, Hudson Elementary, Hudson Middle, Kings Creek School, Lower Creek Elementary, Oak Hill School, Sawmills Elementary, South Caldwell High School, Valmead Elementary, West Caldwell High School, West Lenoir Elementary and Whitnel Elementary. The status of the Career Center Middle College is still undetermined. Horizons Elementary, Hibriten High and William Lenoir Middle School did not make AYP. Title I Schools not making AYP are subject to federal sanctions. All elementary, middle schools and Gateway Alternative School in the Caldwell County School System are identified as schoolwide Title I schools, where 40 percent or more students qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Schools that do not meet AYP for two consecutive years enter into School Improvement status after the second year and must offer supplemental educational services. The school system is involved in a federal pilot program that provides supplemental educational services as a first option rather than school choice. West Lenoir Elementary made AYP, but will continue to offer supplemental education services as the school continues to be in improvement.  Even though Hudson Middle and Oak Hill made AYP, they had been previously identified as a School in Improvement and must continue offering choice or student supplemental services until the school has made AYP for two consecutive years in reading and/or math. Parents with children enrolled in these schools will receive notification for transfer options. At Gamewell Middle School, the school met AYP standards, first time in six consecutive years, but the school will continue in the restructuring phase of Title I School Improvement meaning that educational tutoring services will be offered to students performing below proficiency, parents will receive notification for transfer options, intensive staff development will be provided to faculty and staff and central office personnel will continue comprehensive support. Due to Gamewell Middle's diverse student population, it has more target goals to meet in reading and math than any other elementary or middle school in the school system.

This is the seventh consecutive year that the Caldwell County Schools and schools across North Carolina and the United States have been held to the No Child Left Behind standards. The law provides for an all or none situation - either every subgroup meets every goal in reading and math - or the school and the district do not make Adequate Yearly Progress.

On October 1, the State Board of Education will approve any final changes to the 2009 Adequate Yearly Progress Report.

6/08/09 > Education Job Cuts Closing In --- Pending Approval of State Budget

While dried-up revenue sources leave gapping holes in the state budget, the Caldwell County School System is left facing the formidable challenge of educating 13,000 or more students with a lot less money. Uncertainty continues to linger over the state's budget, but what appears to be certain, is that legislators are seriously considering some of the deepest cuts in recent education history.

 

Already, the Caldwell County School System has done more with less. The school system reverted $516,268 back to the state in November. Again in May, the system returned $364,930. The state also decreased the budget by $367,717 from lottery funds used for capital outlay projects such as window replacements. Public education in Caldwell County had to make these unexpected reversions to the state out of this year's funding and now the Board of Education is trying to forecast how the Caldwell County School System is going to be impacted next year. As the House Committees unveil their proposed budget packages, no area in government will be spared. It appears that education will carry the weightiest loss. Disturbingly, K-12 education will suffer some of the biggest cuts, reductions totaling more than a billion dollars in the 2009-2010 school year. If the proposed cuts are approved, the Caldwell County School System, its employees and students, will feel the full effects.

 

With fewer dollars, difficult decisions must be made to operate with an already strapped budget. Based on a proposed House of Representative's plan to increase the class size in North Carolina schools by two students, the number of allocated Caldwell County Schools' state-paid teaching positions would be reduced by up to 54 teachers. The House also proposes to do away with teacher assistants for grade three, which could cost the school system 55 teacher assistant jobs. Other areas slated to be negatively affected by the loss of positions include instructional support employees (counselors, media, social workers), assistant principals and clerical and/or custodians.

 

The Caldwell County Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools in Caldwell County, Dr. Steve Stone, have said repeatedly that they will do everything within their means to preserve jobs, especially the ones directly impacting the classroom. However, under these extreme and unpredictable budget conditions, job reductions would be unavoidable if the above-mentioned proposals are passed.

 

Fortunately, the Caldwell County School System has not experienced layoffs up to this point, but employees are aware that the possibility exists. To prepare for the funding shortfalls, the School Board froze all local and federal spending in conjunction with the directive from the Governor to suspend state expenditures for the remainder of the fiscal year. The Board Finance Committee has identified educational programs that may be abbreviated or cut altogether, and the Superintendent has briefed administration on the Board of Education policy addressing the systemwide procedures for reduction in force.

 

The majority of the Caldwell County School System's funding comes from the state: about 65 percent, which primarily funds salaries, benefits, instructional supplies and materials. Unfortunately, the proposed state funding cuts will directly impact students and the classroom. Besides losing teacher and teacher assistant positions, the school system will receive fewer dollars for technology, bus transportation, staff development, textbooks, remediation and supplies for instruction. Reduced funding may also force a reduction in electives for high school students and enhancement classes like Spanish, art and music for elementary students.

 

The school system also receives local money as a primary funding source, approximately 21 percent of the system's budget. Generally this source provides funding for operating expenses and capital outlay needs as well as other educational enhancements not possible through state funds, such as lowering class size by hiring additional teachers and providing needed educational materials.

 

Approximately seven percent of public education funding in Caldwell County comes from the federal level, the third primary source. Federal funds cover the exceptional children's programs and programs for at-risk students. The federal stimulus money is not the saving grace that has been promised. There are too many strings attached and too many parameters on how the money can be spent. It will not fill the holes that are going to be created by the significant loss of state funds.

 

State officials hope to approve their 2009-10 budget by June 30, 2009, and the public is encouraged to contact local legislators in support of public education in an effort to move forward in public education, not backwards. By partnering together, the students in Caldwell County will continue to move ahead with the necessary resources they need in the classroom to reach a bright and promising future.

For legislative contact information, go to http://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/communications/legislative.php

For more information about state and local budget cuts go to:

http://www.ncpublicschools.org/newsroom/news/

 

--This article was provided courtesy of the Communications Office of the Caldwell County Schools.