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Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley answers questions about Guilford County Schools

Dr. Whitney Oakley stops by WFMY News 2 to talk about Guilford County Schools.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on WFMY News 2, Guilford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley will be in the studio to answer your questions about GCS.

Some topics we will touch on include: 

  • Goals, challenges, and staffing needs for the new semester.
  • Updates on school construction and maintenance needs for current schools.
  • School Safety.
  • Learning loss due to the pandemic. How GCS is progressing and addressing learning loss.
  • Important dates families need to know for the spring semester.

What should parents know about the new semester?

"I think as we move into the second half of the school year, there are some things that are really important to remember," Dr. Oakley stated. "The first one that comes to mind is how important it is to attend school every day. I think since the pandemic, we've seen more absenteeism. And we really need kids in school. We also want to make sure that parents are an active part of their student's education."

Dr. Oakley said if students have issues accessing the parent portal to see their attendance and grades, they need to contact their school's front desk to receive help.

Parents should also be aware that applications for kindergarten and the school district's choice showcase are coming up at the end of the month.

School Choice Showcase

GCS choice showcase is on Jan. 31 at the Greensboro Coliseum, starting at 5:30 p.m.

During the showcase, you can talk to principals from different schools, apply on the spot, and learn about what transportation options there are. 

"We're so proud that we have our choice schools.," Dr. Oakley exclaimed. "We have the number one elementary school. The number one middle school and the number one high school in the state of North Carolina as part of our choice program."

Can you bring your kids to the showcase?

"I think kids are great judges of what's best for them," Dr. Oakley said. "I think something might spark their interest. There are often live demos with robots. Kindergarteners can practice going through a cafeteria line and see what it feels like to get on a school bus. I think when you're making the best decisions about kids, you involve them in the decision. And that's a great opportunity to do that."

School Construction

"We're seeing such big progress," Dr. Oakley shared. I drive by our construction sites each week, and they look like schools. And so what was once a design on paper is now a reality."

Peck Expeditionary Learning and Foust Gaming and Robotics are set to open in January. Dr. Oakley said parents can apply for those choice programs now. 

Lots of construction going on in the Triad for these schools and there's even a QR code at the site where people can see where exactly these construction projects are. 

"We're going in order and we're still so grateful to voters for passing the bond," Dr. Oakley shared.

Safety and Security 

"We were proud to launch 12 new safety strategies just last year, and we're continuing the work. We are paying attention to the research," Dr. Oakley shared.

She also mentioned how the school district is upgrading its cameras, training teachers, and improving its emergency response technology. 

"We stay in close communication with all three law enforcement agencies who employ our school resource officers. Those school resource officers are not just a safety measure, but also a relationship measure. They're a key part of the school community," she said.

She went on to say how they're keeping a close eye on mental health, stating the district has the largest mental health investment in the history of the state with more than $15 million in mental health resources for students and staff. 

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