I'm a bit backed up on updating the blog, but I figure for now you guys would be interested in this year's school crowding figures.

During Tuesday's board work session, Wake County school administrators presented the 2010-11 facility utilization report. The report shows the crowding levels at each school and how school capacity levels are determined.

Overall, Chief Facilities and Operations Officer Don Haydon said they've got enough seats now but that won't be the case based on projected growth. He previously told the school board that at least 33 new schools would be needed by 2020.

The school board is giving in and will pay the $1.4 million cost of doing road work around Panther Creek High School in order to get permission to use 22 modular classrooms on campus.

It's a far cry from as recently as two weeks ago when the board only voted 5-4 to pay up to $750,000 for the road improvements. They unanimously agreed today that they need to get the modulars in use as soon as possible.

The money will come from savings in the Cary High School renovation project budget.

It's apparently not easy getting modular classrooms moved quickly, as the folks at Panther Creek High School in Cary can attest.

School administrators told the board this week that the projected completion date for installing 22 modular classrooms at Panther Creek is now Jan. 30. The original projected date had been Aug. 15.

Back in September, administrators said they hoped to have the units ready by Dec. 18.

"I was thinking of something [chief facilities and operations officer] Don Haydon has said. We've been conditioned to accept things that five years ago we would not have. People have made it work."

The above quote is what Chuck Dulaney, assistant superintendent for growth and planning, told school board members at a facilities committee meeting two weeks ago.

Now what do you think he was referring to?