Latest news with #ChrisDossenbach
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
West Lee, SanLee chosen for Golden LEAF Schools Initiative
West Lee and SanLee middle schools were selected to participate in the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative, a five-year, $25 million school improvement program focused on enhancing academic outcomes and career readiness for middle school students across North Carolina. The initiative is led by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation in partnership with Marzano Resources. West Lee will receive $1.8 million and SanLee $400,000, according to Superintendent Chris Dossenbach. At the district's June 10 meeting, he called the funds 'a game changer' for those schools. Both will join different cohorts of 15 schools across the state receiving intensive support to implement innovative instructional strategies, with a strong emphasis on mathematics and career development. 'This program will provide an infusion of resources, focus and energy that we are confident will strengthen our instructional practices, build staff capacity and provide our students with high-quality learning experiences in our local public middle schools,' Dossenbach said. He noted Aimee Petrarca, Christian Chaney, Natalie Kelly and Ricky Secor for their hard work in making this a reality for our students. As part of the Transformative Schools Cohort, West Lee will benefit from focused coaching and support. This includes implementation of the Marzano High Reliability Schools Framework, math curriculum resources, instructional coaching and career development resources tailored to meet the unique needs of West Lee's students and staff. As part of the Personalized, Competency-Based Education Cohort, SanLee will benefit from focused coaching and support. This includes implementation of the Competency-Based Education Model and career development resources geared to meet the individualized needs of SanLee's students and staff while challenging them to reach higher goals. The selection process was highly competitive and included a rigorous application and interview process that involved key school and district leaders.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
LCS adds 9 schools to Purple Star Award list
Nine additional Lee County Schools have joined J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School on the state's distinguished Purple Star Award list for 2024-2025. Bragg Street Academy, B.T. Bullock Elementary, East Lee Middle, Lee County High, Tramway Elementary, Warren Williams School, W.B. Wicker Elementary, SanLee Middle and Southern Lee High have joined the ranks of the state's most supportive schools for military students and families, a release states. This year's new awardees bring the district's total to 10 of the 17 LCS campuses and highlight local public schools commitment to growing and expanding services to help meet the complex needs of military connected families. Awarded to schools that demonstrate military-friendly practices and a commitment to military students and families, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recognizes schools annually and has done so since 2019. Statewide for 2024-2025, some 453 schools received recognition, which represents an increase of 59 schools. All schools earning the Purple Star Award are required to have a staff member designated as the point of contact for military students and families, a designated central administration staff member supporting the point of contact in the school and annual professional development addressing special considerations for military students and families. Designated schools also must have a transition program to support inbound and outbound military students and families, including a checklist for their use. 'Military-connected families are such an integral and important part of our community,' Superintendent Chris Dossenbach said. 'Their service and sacrifice place a tremendous burden on their families and that is why we believe that it is critical to provide additional support, care and services that help ease some of the challenges associated with military life and transitions.' LCS Executive Director for Student Services, Dr. Lisa Duffey agreed. 'There are many hurdles to education associated with military life, whether it be frequent moves, deployments, interruptions in educational curriculum delivery or making new friends and connections,' she said. 'Our awareness of these challenges keep us committed to providing a solid support structure for military-connected students and their families so that they can thrive while they are with us or as they transition to their next duty station.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
School board approves $25.1M budget request; 16% increase includes classified pay bump
Feb. 20—During a brief meeting on Monday night, the Lee County Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a requested budget for fiscal 2025-26. Their request of the county commissioners represents a 16% increase over the current fiscal year and would fully fund a four-step pay increase for classified staff, along with other items. Superintendent Chris Dossenbach explained, using a chart, that based on the county's current funding, the request represents 24.1% of the county budget. He noted that the schools' percentage of the county's budget has declined from 25% and 26% several years ago to only 20.8% in the the current budget. "This ask is entirely reasonable," board member Cindy Ortiz said. "A true olive branch would be for them to fund our budget request." This was a reference to county Commissioner Taylor Vorbeck recently calling the commissioners funding of asbestos removal from the old Jonesboro School and the foundation for visitors' side bleachers at Lee County High School an "olive branch." Fully funding a classified pay increase is $2 million. Dossenbach's proposed budget also includes supplemental funding of $459,438 for certified employees, $271,001 for central office employees and $122,085 for administrators. That funding is based on information from an Evergreen Salary Study. Dossenbach also noted the effect that attrition has had on the school system. He showed a chart that represented the school districts where 17 teachers went after resigning from LCS since Sept. 1, 2024. Five went to Wake County, four went to Chatham, two went to Moore and the rest to six other counties. Wake, Chatham and Johnston schools have higher teacher supplements, Dossenbach said, although the other six counties do not. According to a chart he presented, for the 2022-23 school year, Lee County Schools' attrition rate was 16.1% while the state's was 11.4%. The total budget request was $25.1 million plus about $2.1 million for capital outlay projects. Some of the proposed capital outlay projects include: $300,000 for more parking at Broadway Elementary, $200,000 for in-house construction at various locations, $175,000 for lighting at the Lee County High School softball field and $136,500 for cafeteria table replacements at San Lee Middle School. Other projects include $368,500 for visitors' side bleachers at LCHS, $150,000 for a Chromebook refresh, and $180,000 for replacement of three fleet vehicles, purchase of a trailer for moving large equipment, a mini digger and a scissor lift. During public comment before the budget meeting, classified employee Emily York said she is pleased to see the budget proposal includes the full amount for classified staff. She asked again for the school system to post the classified staff pay scale on the district's website. "If we were to put up the pay scale, it would cause mass confusion," Dossenbach said toward the end of the meeting. "Every single [classified] employee is on a different place on the pay scale." He noted that the district's classified staff pay scale was frozen for 15 years until recently, but there are varying circumstances surrounding each employee's pay. He said two finance employees have been working on implementing the first of four scheduled classified pay raises by the end of February. Board Chair Sherry Lynn Womack noted the salary information is a public record, so someone could request salaries for all classified staff, for example. Dossenbach said the district could post a "fully-funded" classified salary pay scale within two months.
