Another Chance To Get On The List

I sometimes send information to supporters via email.  If you signed the petition, but did not explicitly choose to share your email address with me, and if you did not receive an email from me this past Wednesday night, then I do not have your email address.  If you would like to be added to my distribution list, please send me an email with “Add me to the SOSWake distribution list" in the subject line.  Please include your name in the body of the message.  

Please Print This Fact Sheet And Share It

Here’s a pdf version of the Fact Sheet. ( UPDATE: Here's a Word Doc version. ) These are the same points as in the “DO YOU KNOW...” post below, but in a handy printable format. Please share this information with Wake County voters that you know – particularly those without elementary children. They may not have heard what the school system is trying to do, and most likely have not thought of the negative impact to the county as a whole. Having pertinent facts in hand is critical to our cause. (Click here for the free Adobe Reader if you do not already have it.)

Please Take A Moment

Please take a moment to thank the two Wake County School Board members who voted NO on Friday to the proposal to convert most elementary schools to mandatory year-round attendance. They are Beverley Clark and Horace Tart.

DO YOU KNOW...

THE FACTS
** According to statistics recently obtained from the National Association for Year-Round Education (NAYRE), the number of year-round school districts in the United States has steadily declined over the past 5 years. The 2005-06 number is back down to where it was 10 years ago.
** According to NAYRE, the number of year-round schools in North Carolina has declined 30% over the last 5 years, from 129 to 89.
** There is no proven academic advantage to year-round schools. In a 2000 Evaluation Brief, the NC Department of Public Instruction reported the results of their own study, entitled, “Year-round Schools and Achievement in North Carolina”. I quote, “the results reported here do not imply any clear advantage or disadvantage to year-round education with respect to student achievement in reading and math.”
** Documentation abounds on why mandatory year-round school attendance has failed in districts throughout the United States. The prevailing reasons cited include: 1) Increased costs due to transportation expenses, soaring utility bills, wear and tear on buildings that are constantly in use, maintenance services that have to be provided on weekends, and staff salaries and benefits. Also, research shows that when postponed construction eventually has to take place, the cost is much greater due to dramatic increases in construction costs. 2) Staffing problems, including employee burnout and dissatisfaction
** Records show districts eventually reverting back to traditional calendars, sometimes after only two years
** In the current proposal by the WCPSS Administration (where all schools would go year-round), the only common summer break for all students would be one week in July.
** A Power Point presentation by the WCPSS Administration in February, 2005, listed the following findings on mandatory year-round schools:
-Mandatory year-round has not been successful in other districts; the districts who use year-round as a choice option are the most successful
-Siblings are not always able to be on the same track
-Increased transportation costs
-Forces a change in the family structure with vacations, family time, etc.
-Child care problematic
-Difficulty scheduling extra-curricular activities because one track is always out of school
-Huge reassignment plan necessary to fill all schools
LIKELY CONSEQUENCES
** Escalation in teacher recruitment and retention crisis (early retirements, transfers, fewer out-of-state applicants)
** Loss of family income from summer jobs - Students will no longer be able to work and provide money for college and other expenses. Many families depend on that extra income to literally help feed and clothe their families
** Loss of invaluable job experiences that sometimes lead to future careers
** Legal entanglements as parents are forced to seek changes in court-ordered custody dates
** The demise of small neighborhood pools, sports camps, church camps, etc.
** Increased expenses for childcare ** Greater tax increases down the road due to rising cost of construction that was simply delayed
** Siblings on different calendars
** Fewer chances to join family members in other parts of North Carolina or in other states for joint activities, reunions, etc.
** Increased absenteeism - parents with children on different schedules will have to pull children out in order to go on trips or participate in family activities together
** Decrease in parental involvement at individual schools
** Traditionally active and supportive parents opting out of public education

1,500 Signature Milestone Reached on the Petition Against Mandatory Year-Round School Attendance

Please continue to spread the word about opposition to mandatory year-rounds. Look for a letter to go out (and be posted) this week listing action steps, important dates, and a fact sheet. It is so obvious that people don’t know what implementation of this proposal will really mean!

Monday Night Panel Discussion on Year-Round Proposal

At the Monday night, April 24th meeting of the District 3 [Wake County School] Board Advisory Council I will “face off” with Commissioner Phil Jeffreys on the subject of mandatory year-round schools. This will take place at Northridge Elementary School at 5:30 PM. Commissioner Jeffreys remains unwavering in his insistence that total year-round conversion is the only solution to Wake County’s growth problem. If you can possibly spare the time, I could definitely use as much support as possible. I would also appreciate any thoughts and prayers for clarity of thought, and calm nerves! A large crowd is expected, along with media representation, so I hope I can adequately represent those of you who oppose the current mandatory year-round school proposal.

You're Making A Difference

You’ve more than doubled the number of signatures since Friday afternoon (> 1100 now!)  Please continue to spread the word about the petition Against Mandatory Year-Round School Attendance in Wake County.  

Make Sure You Haven't Missed This..

Please scroll down (or click here and here) to see pertinent facts and figures.

Please SIGN THE PETITION

If you have not already done so, please sign the petition.  If you have already signed it, please email other residents of Wake County to alert them of the petition.  The N&O article this morning mentioned it, but did not publish the URL.  Thanks for spreading the word.  We’re up to 554 signatures as of 3:11PM.

SPEAK OUT NOW!!

This just in from the N&O:RALEIGH -- Every Wake County school would move to a year-round calendar as part of a $994 million construction plan presented today by school administrators to keep up with the district's rapid growth. View entire article here.

Wake School Board Votes On Cuts

From the N&O

http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/427612.html

PETITION AGAINST MANDATORY YEAR-ROUND ATTENDANCE

Total year-round conversion is not inevitable, but it won't just go away by itself.
 
Sign the petition against Mandatory Year-Round School Attendance in Wake County, and spread the word to others of like mind! 
 
http://www.petitiononline.com/SOSWAKE1/

Year-Round School Action

IMPORTANT!

I am calling on all opponents of mandatory year-round school attendance to email and call Wake County’s members of the North Carolina General Assembly – all of them, not just the one who represents your district. I have kept some of them up to date on facts, research, etc., but they need to hear from YOU! Let them know what you think system-wide mandatory year-round school attendance would do to our community. It is important to keep in mind that this agenda could easily spread to other school systems in North Carolina.

Please, please, take the time to do this NOW. The Wake County delegation has a meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 13th with the Wake County School Board. Guess what is listed as a line item on the WCPSS Legislative Agenda for 2006-2007? Let me quote:

School Calendar

1. Restore the authority for local boards of education to set their school calendars.

Innocent sounding, but you can only imagine what that means.

Thank you, and spread the word! Volumes of personal comments get noticed and get action.

P.S. - Continue to contact board members, commissioners, and other city and county leaders. Look for another important message soon.

Louise

WCPSS Agenda

Look at the last item on this WCPSS legislative agenda, and get ready for battle! http://www.wcpss.net/Board/legislative-agenda.html