State Board of Education is coming to Goldsboro
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on September 5, 2006 1:52 PM
When the State Board of Education rolls into town for a meeting this week, it will also be an opportunity for educators and the public to weigh in on the state of the schools, particularly Goldsboro High.
The state board regularly travels around the state holding its regular monthly meeting as well as community forums, officials from the state office said. During a four-year cycle, the board is expected to hold a monthly meeting in each of the eight education districts.
The formal board meeting will be Thursday morning at the central office on Royall Avenue. Prior to that, sessions will be at Goldsboro High School.
The state board will meet in the school's auditorium Wednesday at 5 p.m. with the Wayne County Board of Education, county commissioners, central office staff, Goldsboro High School administrators and other invited guests.
Following a dinner, the state delegates will continue their meeting with the local contingent as well as representatives from the business community, churches, civic/community organizations, parents and parent group representatives and others.
The community session is slated to begin at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
While the meeting is open to the public as well as educators from other schools, discussion is expected to center around Goldsboro High School, said Ken Derksen, public information officer for the school system. With Goldsboro among 17 schools around the state that were in the spotlight over the past year because of Judge Howard Manning's proposed action against low-performing schools, this will be an opportunity for the state and the community to see what is going on at the school, Derksen said.
"This is an exciting time for the school system to have the state Board of Education in town to see the schools up close," he said. "We work with the state as far as integrating programs - the state's high school reform efforts. We're pulling them out and using them.
"It's exciting to be able to show them all the great things going on at that school. We can show them firsthand what programs we have incorporated and where we're headed for the future."
Goldsboro Principal Patricia Burden is expected to speak about the progress being made at the school, as well as plans and strategies for the coming year.
Former Senator Howard Lee, chairman of the state Board of Education, will also discuss the state board's position on education for the 21st century, Derksen said.
"There is a push for community education in the education process, and he will also talk about that a little bit during the 7-8 p.m. public session," he said.
Derksen said the public is encouraged to come and hear the presentations Wednesday evening, regardless of where they reside in the county.
"It's a privilege to have this big Board of Education meeting here," he said. "Whether you live in Goldsboro or Pikeville or Fremont or Dudley, you have an opportunity to address the state Board of Education."
On Thursday morning, the state contingent will return to Goldsboro High School for a tour of the school, convening at the central office at 10:30 to conclude their meeting.
Agenda items include discussion about student performance, quality teachers, administrators and staff, and effective and efficient operations. The chairman and vice-chairman of the board will also be elected as part of new business.
This week's tour itinerary kicked off today with meetings in Craven County's school district. The New Bern visit will include a tour of Craven County schools and such agenda items as action on the Dis-advantaged Student Supple-mental Funding Program for 2006-07 changes to AYP results, LEA improvement, Title I School Improvement and High School Performance Composites; and recommendations for preliminary approval of 2006 charter school applications.