Minutes 09-30-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Bedford said Mike Kelly suggested that this be done collaboratively, and she appreciates working with Orange County schools to make this nomination. Introductions were made. 2. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) — Overview of Approved FY 2014-15 Budqet Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Superintendent Tom Forcella said he and Todd Lofrese would be presenting the budget information. He reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the following information. • Where We Were Obstacles overcome Tough decisions Success stories • Where We Are Current challenges Strategic plan update Instructional excellence • Where We Will Be Compensation model Tough decisions Future focus Tom Forcella said much of what the school systems do is dependent on people, and it is important to make sure the organizational structure is as good as it can be. He said the Greenhouse project was a project to gather information and input from students, parents, administrators, teachers and community members. He said the district has had a problem for many years with trying to eliminate the achievement gap, as well as issues with curriculum work and how this related to the common core and how to prepare for it. Tom Forcella said the district has been spending more time on discipline in the schools, and the latest figures have shown reductions in discipline referrals, especially in the minority groups. He said the next goal is a full court press on efforts for academic achievement for minority students. He said the Equal Opportunity Schools program has really made a difference. He said a dashboard has been created to identify minority students who have not enrolled in honors and AP classes. He said there have been efforts to enroll more of these students in the honors and AP classes and provide support and pre-teaching to allow a better chance for success. Tom Forcella said Chapel Hill High School was just recognized as the only comprehensive high school in North Carolina on Newsweek's Top 500 High Schools. Tom Forcella said the rhetoric and the lack of resources that have come out of Raleigh have created a challenge. He said the most recent national study put N.C. teachers at the bottom (51 St) as far as how they feel and how they are paid. He said this is one more thing that teachers hear about, and it sets them back. He said there have been recruiting difficulties, and the district had a challenging time finding teachers at the first of the year, although the district is fully staffed now.