GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Class is back in session. Guilford County Schools Superintendent Dr. Whitney Oakley said there's an excitement like no other this time of year.
“You see smiling faces coming in, teachers getting their classrooms ready, and all the work we do to prepare during the Summer comes true on that first day of school,” Dr. Oakley said.
WFMY News 2’s Lauren Coleman asked the superintendent about the biggest challenges the district is trying to overcome this school year and how the district plans to address them.
“I would say compensating our frontline workers and our teachers is what keeps me up at night,” Dr. Oakley said. “We know that our teachers and our frontline staff deserve living wages that allow them to take care of their families as the cost of living continues to rise."
Guilford County commissioners recently approved a quarter-cent sales tax to go on the ballot this November. Commissioners said the extra money would go to raising teacher salaries. It's a vote, Dr. Oakley said, could make a big difference in the classroom.
"We need that,” Dr. Oakley said. “We need great people in schools to serve kids. It's what they deserve."
Recruitment and retaining talent are just one of four areas the district has lined out in its strategic plan. Improving health and safety in schools, preparing students for world success, and accelerating learning are also top priorities.
“The district is doing numerous things in terms of making sure students have access to high-quality instructional materials and providing professional learning for staff,” Dr. Oakley said. “The high dosage tutoring, keeping that in place for the fullest extent possible.”
She said plans for accelerating learning are working.
“It takes three to five years to do a full program evaluation, but we know they are successful because the more students attend learning hubs, the higher their daily attendance rate is, and attendance and academic success are so closely correlated," Dr. Oakley said.
This year the district is breathing new life into one of its schools. Claxton Elementary is the first of six GCS schools to reopen after a complete rebuild, thanks to a $2-billion bond that Triad Voters approved.
“So those projects that are under construction are on track, but what we'll mostly see more quickly is this deferred maintenance,” Dr. Oakley said. “Like large H-VAC replacements, bathrooms, and high school athletic upgrades.”
As students start a new chapter in their grade school careers, Dr. Oakley wants to assure families.
“I feel really good about our teachers and our school leaders,” Dr. Oakley said. “I feel like our community has momentum in terms of what we believe about public education, and we believe we're the best choice for families and we're excited to show that in the 2024-2025 school year.”
All week on the Good Morning Show, WFMY News 2 will share details from its conversation with Dr. Oakley as well as a news conference held just days before the start of the new year.