Kindergarten Choral Corral

Our Kindergarten crew has been working long hard days to get ready for their annual concert.  Get ready to enjoy the show on Tuesday evening at 7 PM.  There will be a general PTA meeting before the show at 6:45.

Highlights of Budget Presentation @ SHS

These are the highlights from the Community Budget Presentation held at Smithfield High School on March 7, 2013.

Three Focus Points for FY 2014 Budget:

1. Provide Safe & Secure Learning Environment

•  Support safe learning environments by maintaining and upgrading security technology
•  Maintain safe and secure modes of transportation
•  Replace aging equipment and conduct maintenance in school buildings

2. Increase Technology Access & Upgrade Infrastructure

•  Expand availability of technology in elementary/middle schools
•  Update/replace/maintain aging technology infrastructure
•  Provide secure oversight/operation of online resources

3. Provide Rigorous 21st Century Instruction

•  Increase student achievement 
•  Meet new SOL challenges (Rigor/TEI)
•  Restore cyclical adoption of learning resources 
•  Provide equitable allocation of instructional materials funding

Some common Questions and Answers:

- What does the budget proposal directly provide to my student at Carrollton Elementary?

    A: 1. Maintaining our current Student/Staff Ratio (Currently 19.5:1)

         2. Installing 3 new computers in every CAES classroom.  CAES currently has a mixture of  machines- many over 10 years old.  Our goal this year is 2 "working" machines in each classroom.

         3. Installing new multimedia LCD projectors in every classroom

         4. Restoring the substitute budget to previous levels so split classes or canceled resource classes are highly unusual

- What can I do to advocate for my child's education at CAES?

    A: 1. Join the CAES Parent Group.  Contact Mrs. Ellen Baker (familybaker@verizon.net) or Kevin Goetz (kgoetz@iwcs.k12.va.us)

         2. Contact the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors and tell them that you value education

JoAnn W. Hall (Chairman) joannhall@charter.net

Byron B. Bailey (Vice-Chairman) Byron.Bailey@isleofwightus.net

Rex Alphin rex.alphin@isleofwightus.net

Al Casteen acasteen@isleofwightus.net

Delores M. Darden Delores.Darden@isleofwightus.net

- What about the iSLE 21 Initiative?  Isn't the school division spending a ton of money on iPads for the high school students?

    A: iPads cost the division $471,000, of which the state paid 58%.  iPads represent less than .0074% of the entire school division's budget, yet are an aggressive approach to ensuring that our students are prepared for the 21st Century world that they will be entering.

Here is the link to the PowerPoint Presentation:

Superintendent's Budget Proposal Power Point

Here is the link to the entire Budget Proposal:
Budget Book

Proposed Budget Information

While many of us are excited for spring weather to finally arrive (and stay), March is also the time for budgets!  There has been much information in the media about the budget.  Superintendent Perera released her proposed budget on Friday.  I'll provide links at the bottom to her budget presentation and the accompanying documentation.  Mrs. Perera will be presenting her budget on Thursday at Smithfield High School at 6 PM.  This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the budget and how it will impact your student at CAES.

Some tangible improvements proposed for CAES in the new budget include a restoration of the full substitute budget, 3 new classroom computers in each CAES classroom, and new multi-media projectors in all CAES classrooms.  The last two components are seen as the elementary component of the Isle 21 Initiative that brought iPads to all county high school students and will tremendously improve our ability to bring 21st century technology to our students.

If you've been in any way connected to the local media, you are also well aware of the conflict between the IWCS School Board and the IW Board of Supervisors.  To this point, IWCS parents have been rather quiet about their support for the fine public education that is available in county schools.  There are a group of dedicated CAES parents who have been meeting and planning to advocate for public schools in a positive and proactive manner.  If you are interested in supporting and improving our excellent education at CAES, please contact Mrs. Ellen Baker- familybaker@verizon.net



Superintendent's Budget Proposal Power Point

Budget Book