I saw on the last BOE minutes, there was to be a study on a new salary schedule that included "step pay". Was the schedule approved, the study approved, or what? Anyone know?

I started a new forum at Gene's CCS site (http://chathamncschools.ning.com/) for folks to list instruments they may have for sale, or to post queries for parents looking for musical instruments for the fall. Don't let those trumpets and sousaphones gather dust in your closet folks! Get them into the hands of our budding Chatham County musicians!

I have heard a lot of worries that the middle school won't open on time in 2010. I have spoken with the construction manager, and here is the timeline - everything is on target.

Award site work contracts - mid-August 2008
Site work complete - November 2008
Award Construction contracts - mid March 2009
Construction complete - May 2010
Move in - June 2010
School starts - August 25, 2010

That does seem to be the case in Chatham County. There are certain bright spots here - new softball field at NW, baseball team at CC, soccer at JM.

However, when you compare this county to some other counties there is definitely a sports shortfall. Schoools with successful sports programs seem to have strong personalities driving the programs and LOTS of community and local business support.

Why can't the female athletes ever get a fair shake?

The Northwood weight room is nothing pretty to look at, but it functions....  if you want to bulk up and hang out with the sweaty 300 pound football players (don't get me wrong, nice guys).

Sure wish the girls could have a corner somewhere with some female friendly weights and weight systems.

For now we settle for the $20/mo. NW deal that Millennium offers.

If many years from now there is more money for renovations and I am older than dirt, that entire end of the gym complex needs to be gutted and expanded.  It's certainly the most embarrassing part of the school building....unless you count the field house.
That's where some corporate money would come in handy.

I fear the future is not bright for sports in public education.  Too many other things and too little funding.

Mount Pleasant Afterschool will be reopening this upcoming school year under new ownership.  We are located approximately one block from Perry Harrison school and are a small afterschool focusing on individual attention for each child.  We provide snacks, homework assistance, structured activities, as well as freeplay.  We offer care for children from K-8.  Our operating hours will be from school ending until 6.  Fees are as follows:

full time - $50 per child weekly and a $5 per week discount for siblings. 
part time - $12 per child per day

We will also be open for most teacher workdays, spring break, and will be starting a summer camp in the summer of 2009.  I am really excited to be undertaking this wonderful program and look forward to meeting parents and children interested in the program.  I will be holding an informational meeting this summer on a date TBA.  If you are interested in this program or have any additional questions, please feel free to message me on BBS or call me at (919)548-8340.

Thank you so much for your time,

Tabatha Steed

As readers of this forum are very aware of there is a load of information that parents and students can find useful going into the new school year (which is only a couple of months away.)

To help facilitate this spread of information, we will try to incorporate more back to school information into the August issue of the Chatham Journal newspaper.

Therefore I ask bbs members for their assistance is listing things that would be helpful to include in a back-to-school issue. Sources for this information would also be helpful.

You can post here or also email me the info at news-at-chathamjournal.com

Thanks so much for your assistance.

Who knows maybe we'll get enough information to create a mini new school year resource guide with "news you can use".

Gene

High School Coaches
from http://www.thisboardrocks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=149281

I'm looking to move to NC this summer and find a teaching / coaching job at a high school. Does anybody know of any openings other than the ones on NCHSAA.org?

I teach high school social studies and have a masters in secondary school counseling, can drive a bus, CPR and First Aid are up to date and I can sweep floors if need be.

I have 15 years at the varsity level - past 9 as head coach - in Kentucky.

Any help be appreciated and if interested or know something you can contact me at coach2709@bellsouth.net

Thanks guys

my son will be starting kindergarten at north chatham this fall.  during parent orientation we were told by a teacher that we would be getting a "big packet of information" over the summer that would tell us everything we would need to know, including things like the school supply list.  i called the office to find out when these might be going out and they clearly had no idea what i was talking about and  said that they don't send anything out over the summer.  in my confusion i simply mumbled "ok, thanks" and never got around to asking "so how DO i find out this information?"....

yes, i know, i just need to call them back tomorrow and press them for information, but in the mean time, does anyone know about any of this?  are packets sent out?  if not, how do i find out what supplies, backpacks, etc we need to get?  thanks!

I am just thinking out loud and am wondering what other's thought.  Given the high cost of fuel, and other burdens being placed on the school system, would it be beneficial to stop busing kids to other schools to promote diversity?  How much could we save in the school budget?