This is your regular source for a look at the people, places, and behind-the-scenes workings of the Wake County Public School System.

July 2 Superintendent's Journal: Back to School

In this week's video journal, Dr. Burns talks about preparations for the start of the new school year, particularly regarding transportation and early dismissal Wednesdays.

(Downloadable in QuickTime)

(Transcript)

School Bus Policies:

• 7105 (Use of Transportation Services)


• 7125 (School Bus Routing and Bus Stops)

Posted by Chip Sudderth at 12:04 PM on July 2, 2009 | Leave Feedback

July Clinics for Tdap Booster Vaccines (Required for Sixth Grade)

North Carolina law requires a Tdap booster for all children entering sixth grade on or after August 1, 2008, if five or more years have passed since their last tetanus shot.

Wake County Human Services is providing free walk-in immunization clinics the week of July 27, from 3 to 5 p.m., across the county. Just bring a copy of your child's shot record. Here's the schedule:

Monday, July 27: Millbrook Human Services Center, 2809 E. Millbrook Rd., Raleigh

Tuesday, July 28: Western Wake Center, 150 Cornerstone Dr., Cary

Wednesday, July 29: Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest

Thursday, July 30: Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Dr., Zebulon

Friday, July 31: Southern Regional Center, 130 North Judd Parkway, Fuquay-Varina

For more information about the Tdap booster and state immunization requirements, follow this link.

Posted by Chip Sudderth at 3:11 PM on July 1, 2009 | Leave Feedback

ParentVision: Back to School

The new school year's about to begin at our year-round schools. Watch the latest ParentVision video podcast to find out about some available resources to help start the year off right. And don't forget to check out our Back to School section on the web!

Posted by Chip Sudderth at 3:04 PM on July 1, 2009 | Leave Feedback

June 26 Superintendent's Journal: Further Actions to Prepare for a Lean Year

In this week's video journal, Dr. Burns explains further steps taken this week -- prompted by recent developments in the North Carolina General Assembly -- to prepare for the possibility of significantly reduced state funding.

Dr. Burns says that the possibilities of significant cuts in funding for teachers, teacher assistants and schools "are rapidly becoming probabilities." As a result, Dr. Burns announces extending the existing hiring freeze to include teacher assistants and teachers in grades six through twelve, as well as banning out-of-state travel and restricting all expenditures of county funding to essential goods and services only.

(Downloadable in QuickTime)

(Transcript)

Posted by Chip Sudderth at 3:04 PM on June 26, 2009 | Leave Feedback

Board Names Principals

At its June 16 meeting, the Board of Education named Timothy Locklair principal at Holly Springs High, Chip Mack principal of Davis Drive Elementary, Catherine Yanello principal at Wildwood Forest Elementary and Judy Dudley interim principal at Carver Elementary.

Locklair has been principal at Apex Middle since 2004. Prior to that, he was a middle school principal, high school assistant principal and high school teacher in Silver Springs, Maryland.

Mack has been principal at Root Elementary since 1999. Prior to that, he was an assistant principal at Powell Elementary and a teacher at Conn Elementary.

Yanello has been assistant principal at Wildwood Forest Elementary since 2007. Prior to that, she was assistant principal intern at Yates Mill Elementary and a teacher at Yates Mill Elementary and Lockhart Elementary.

Dudley has served as an interim principal at Knightdale Elementary and Lynn Road Elementary after retiring from WCPSS. Prior to that, Dudley had served as principal of York Elementary and Conn Elementary.

The board named assistant principals including Kenneth Jorgenson to River Bend Elementary, Nanette Lavery to Lake Myra Elementary, Keith Richardson to Sycamore Creek Elementary, Holly Shaw to Timber Drive Elementary, Rossi Wade to Swift Creek Elementary and Samantha Whittington to Banks Road Elementary.

Posted by Bill Poston at 2:15 PM on June 26, 2009 | Leave Feedback

June 19 Superintendent's Journal: The Budget's Potential Impact on Schools

Dr. Burns provides an update on local funding following the adoption of the county budget, and discusses some of the potential changes in the classroom after the state government completes its work, in this week's Journal.

(Downloadable in QuickTime)

(Transcript)

Posted by Chip Sudderth at 3:25 PM on June 19, 2009 | Leave Feedback