The issue of calendar conversions for the 2010-11 school year could be decided as soon as Tuesday.
As noted in today's article, members of the new Wake County school board majority say they plan to vote Tuesday after they get the recommendations from staff earlier in the day on which schools to convert. They're not planning to wait two more weeks until March 16 for the vote.
"If it's on the agenda, I'm ready to go," said school board member Chris Malone on the conversion of some year-round schools to a traditional calendar.
School board chairman Ron Margiotta explained that staff is telling them that the later they wait the harder it is for schools to plan for the upcoming school year. He said they'll have all the data they need to decide from the calendar survey results, the feedback from the CEM meetings and the staff recommendations.
On the flip side, the lateness of the vote is why board member Kevin Hill thinks waiting until 2011-12 for the conversions makes more sense.
It wouldn't be unprecedented for the board to make a quick decision. The board had voted Oct. 7, 2008 to reverse the conversions at Baucom and Green Hope elementary schools without having formally put it out there for public comment. Baucom had been mentioned a couple of weeks earlier on Sept. 16 during a work session but it wasn't an official proposal.
Staff will present the conversion recommendations during the committee of the whole meeting that starts at noon. You can expect a lot of discussion during the COW and probably also at the regular meeting.
You can also expect to see some speakers on the issue during the public comment section of the board meeting.
The number and identity of year-round schools that will be converted remains to be seen.
You had a majority of respondents in the calendar survey from Leesville Road Middle, Salem Middle and Wakefield Elementary who said they'd prefer the traditional calendar. You've also got parents from Leesville Road Elementary who want to be converted back.
Plus, speakers from the new Holly Grove and Mills Park middle schools have also argued they should open on the traditional calendar.
Comments
What are we fighting for...
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 00:07 — dhodgesAfter reading through the posts made throughout this week, I felt compelled to comment. I understand the fight for calendar choice. I understand there are families that perfer traditional and I understand their are families that prefer year round. There seem to be pros and cons to both of these systems. However, I do not understand why the fight has to degrade to attacking YR schools, or personally attacking YR parents or YR supporters themselves. (sorry, this hasn't necessary occurred on this current thread, but one earlier in the week.) YR supporters are not the enemy, YR schools are not the enemy - unecessary conversion and MANDATORY YR was the issue - right? I guess you can tell I am pro-YR. (Track 3 - love it!) YR works great for my family, but I realize it doesn't work for everyone. I have not necessarily been for all of the YR conversions including Leesville Middle. I have a Leesville Middle student and a Sycamore Creek student - these are now our base schools. My Leesville student was an application YR student at Green for K - 2 then was bounced to our new base schools as they opened YR - Brier Creek for 3 -4 and Sycamore Creek for 5th. I would have actually preferred to go to Durant Middle this year for 6th where they already had experience running a middle school on a year-round calendar. All families - traditional and year-round supporters have been affected by the assignment changes and haven't necessarily gotten what they've wanted. We anxiously await the calendar decision at Leesville Middle. There are families who will be overjoyed if Leesville Middle goes back to traditional, and there are also families who will once again have to change schools or have kids on different calendars. Please don't criticize those on the other side - we all want what is best for our kids.
I think the issue is not
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 07:40 — lilybugI think the issue is not just about fighting over a particular calendar, but about the fact that with only SOME schools year round, that means families with more than one child are going to be forced to have their own kids on different calendars at some point. That is the outrage. I'm not aware of this being done in other places. There are a few districts that have ALL year round schools, or some that have strictly voluntary year round schools, but to have this particular mix of "your elemenatary kids will be on one calendar, but your middle and high school kids on a different calendar" is what makes it so unacceptable to folks.
Mr. Hui is there a taped
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 20:43 — lilybugMr. Hui is there a taped version somewhere of the 2nd half of the Leesville meeting? They took a break around 8, and the tape I've seen doesn't seem to extend beyond that, to the 2nd half of speakers.
I'm guessing you're talking
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 00:25 — KeungHui (author)I'm guessing you're talking about the feed that was aired by WRAL. You'd have to ask them. The school district has its own tape of the event that you could ask for.
Okay...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 10:59 — louiselee44Thanks Keung!
Important Vote
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 08:43 — occum_sharpeThis vote, more than any other, will reveal if the board is really going to listen to parents or if they are just carrying out political promises to a chosen few. It could be a deal sealer or deal breaker.
Yes very important.
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:26 — Gr8SchoolsYes very important. Leesville has fought long and hard for these changes and consistently received opposition from Patty Head. She did not even understand what was happening in our schools but she fought against our families. Debra Pricket has listened and she understands. The other newly elected members and Mr. Margiota also care to do what is right. I felt like the other 4 board reps in attendance Tuesday were listening too. We can sleep well at night knowing that we are finally being fairly and accurately represented.
Couldn't agree more! If
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:08 — DrActualFactualCouldn't agree more! If Salem MS doesn't revert back to traditional then we will indeed be able to see whether they want to serve parents or business interests.
Actually
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 15:34 — local23Mills Park should open as a TR, since it has the largest footprint of all MS in this entire area and feeds into PC.
That being said, you have East Cary (65% capacity) that should remain YR and wasn't this suppose to be IB too?
I would love for Salem (has a small footprint) to be a TR, but Davis is close by already as a TR, unless they also consider Laural Park to stay as YR..this would give many more options to this entire Western/Northern Coridor.
Also, I believe Alston MS is scheduled to open in 2013(?), but will probably really serve Brier Creek areas.
but
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 15:44 — supportwcpssWhat about the current schools that will feed into Mills Park? All of them (at this point) are YR, aren't they?
Independent of the calendar argument, this is the only MS planned in the NW part of the county for a very long time. This was stated about a year ago at BAC meeting. Given that it scares me to think of the overcrowding of that school in the next 3-4 years with no hope of another middle school.
While the economy has slowed the plans for even more houses west of 55 with the extension of 540 is tremendous.
ALMOST ALL
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 15:58 — local23OF THE SCHOOLS (ES) ARE YR OUT HERE!!!!
Cedar Fork & Davis are the only two TR
Carpenter, Green Hope, High Croft, Turner Creek, Alston Rdige, Morrisville and Salem are YR..
That is the whole problem..we don't have a choice out here..we need more MS and ES to be TR!! Convert back and have a few be YR - just like it use to be!!
Green Hope ES is switching
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 18:44 — DrActualFactualGreen Hope ES is switching back to traditional this year aren't they?
yes...I believe that is true.
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 18:45 — AngelaWyes...I believe that is true.
Yes
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 19:22 — choice4allThat is true.
Your are correct
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 20:50 — local23I just received the YMCA trackout and traditional info and Green Hope is back at TR.
The Y will have to make some changes based on Tuesday's meeting
Just answered your own question
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 16:27 — supportwcpssWith all those ES and no MS, we have a space issue in the next 4-5 years. I agree that there should be more Trad options in this area. But the MS is a different problem .
Missing the Point
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 17:47 — local23Many of the YR are underenrolled and even those that are near capacity have many nodes bused in or bused from one side of town to another or one town from another. This new Zone will probably be the key.
Of course there are growing areas that will need more schools, but remember the tax base and business base is what substantiates the schools being built.
The new plan thru 2025 needs to be redone and there will be another bond or tax increase within the next year or so to help this..that is a given. You can't have a great business and school area without some growth and a higher tax base..atleast not in the long run. Keeping down costs and using the money wisely is what WCPSS needs to do. We have a great school area, but lets give credit where credit is due..Teachers, Principals, Parents and the Community help foster this great area!
I am happy to hear Mr. Chris
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 08:23 — Gr8SchoolsI am happy to hear Mr. Chris Malone quoted as saying he is ready to go. Some school calendar changes are long overdue. Leesville constitutes 2 of those that are ready for immediately switching back. Would some of the other members be so uncaring that they might vote against changes like Leesville in spite of the solid case built to this point?
" the lateness of the vote
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 06:53 — AngelaW" the lateness of the vote is why board member Kevin Hill thinks waiting until 2011-12 for the conversions makes more sense"
I am weary of Mr. Hill and his "lateness" claims. This NEVER bothered him with the vote to convert LRMS with no notice given to the principal until AFTER the vote. Track assignments were not given out @ LRMS until APRIL....by voting Tuesday to convert LRMS back actually gains MORE time for staff and school because it will give them back July and August to prepare for the traditional calendar school year of 2011-12. This goes for the elementary school as well, obviously.
Let them know
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 09:54 — louiselee44YES!!!!!!!
I hope folks will remind all of the school board members about this - now!! Otherwise, people will continue to think that the "lateness" excuse is legit. It's not.
Is the timing ideal? Certainly not, but it's not like more study has to be done on the conversion back to traditional issue. It has been reviewed extensively, and the board members should know what's what by now. Make a decision!
Reversing 2 or 3 schools in each District
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:44 — g88ky07would be the right thing to do. Many of us believe there are several mYR schools in each district that are not operating at or near capacity and those are the ones that need your serious consideration for reversals. Based on the #'s that you have, and will have in front of you on Tuesday, it should be fairly straight forward to pin point where these schools are. I'll leave it at that.
Good luck on Tuesday school board. Many, many of us stand with you, support you and are looking for some hope going forward!
blowing smoke
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 09:11 — loriacLast year, some folks who were grandfathered into LRMS after the late conversion didn't get their track assignments until June, only to find out they started school on July 7. What a disaster.
And, some teachers didn't get their final track...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 10:08 — midtownmomassignments until the day before open house. Seven months is definately enough time to do a smooth transition back into a traditional schedule.
He is so worried about this
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 08:43 — DrActualFactualHe is so worried about this decision and the lateness of the vote he didn't attend the final Thursday mtg. at PCHS to hear over 100 speakers! Plenty of time to forge ahead with change, don't let Mr. Hill deter you from your path. He just wants to stall until no change is made.
You're kidding
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 09:55 — louiselee44Hill wasn't there? Any reason given? Something legit?
I didn't see Hill, Malone,
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:40 — ApexterI didn't see Hill, Malone, or Morrison there. Dr. Burns was present.
He was teaching over at NC
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 10:15 — KeungHui (author)He was teaching over at NC State and coudn't attend. He got the video of the meeitng. All the meetings were taped by the district in case board members couldn't attend.