Moment of Silence

I made a motion at the last Board of Education meeting for all students and staff to observe a moment of silence each morning beginning with the 2011/2012 school year.  Pitt County Schools will conduct a survey to get input from parents, staff and citizens of Pitt County.  Please complete the survey and express whether you are for or against this policy.  It should be ready in a couple of weeks.

Basically what we're doing is to afford students and teachers a moment of quiet reflection at the beginning of each day in the public schools, to create a boundary between school time and non-school time , and to set a tone of decorum in the classroom that will be conducive to discipline and learning. 

This time will be totally unstructured and free of influence of any kind.  A student may engage in any silent activity, which may include meditating or praying according to the student's choice, as long as it does not distract other students.  The moment is not intended to be and should not be conducted as a religious exercise. 

Worth Forbes

Board of Education, Seat 6 A

Our kids come to school every day with a lot on their shoulders.  They have a lot of troubled hearts.  To me this gives them a time to reflect in any manner that they wish. 

Reassignment Approved Plans for 2011-2012

The Pitt County Board of Education voted to approve the proposed student reassignment recommendations during their meeting last night. The adopted changes will become effective starting with the 2011-12 school year.

Click on the following link to review the approved plans:

http://www.pitt.k12.nc.us/pitt/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=281760

Thanks,
Worth

Redistricting

Redistricting

            Hopefully, the Pitt County Board of Education will make a decision on redistricting at the November 15 Board meeting.  It is important that the Board follows their timeline and decides on the maps that will best move this system forward.  The Board had set November 15, 2010 as the date for the decision deadline.  Parents need to know where their children will attend school next year. The system needs to make a decision so that plans to move students can be made.  There is a lot of work that must take place to ensure a smooth transition.  I will let you know what the outcome of the decision is tomorrow night. 

Pitt County Redistricting

Welcome to my website and blog!  As promised, I have set up a website where I can share my thoughts, feedback on school system issues, and favorite links with you.  Please bookmark my link and check it often.  With the help of technology--and some savvy technical support!--I plan to be an out-front and accessible Pitt County school board member.  So here we go on our journey together.  Let's work together to make the best decisions for the sake of our students.  Here's the latest and most pertinent matter at the moment:

The Pitt County redistricting process is continuing.  It is important that the maps are based on proximity with segments/neighborhoods attending the same schools.  Neighborhoods should not be separated.  Proficiency should not be the major factor when populating schools.  The present process should be effective enough that we do not have to revisit this process for ten years or more.  If some schools begin to get over crowded, the first option should be to build on to the present facility rather than move students again.

If we have a school in our system performing below 50 percent proficiency, then it is vital that our county provide all the resources possible to get this school's scores higher.  We must strive to provide focused programs in all of our schools to promote student growth and high proficiency.