You can call this a compromise or a game of chicken, but the school board is only willing to pay a little more than half the $1.4 million cost for road work near Panther Creek High School.
The school board voted 5-4 this afternoon to authorize its leadership to negotiate with Cary to pay up to $750,000 for the road improvements. The inability to work out a deal has blocked the use of 22 modular classrooms on Panther Creek's campus.
"This is not how our funds are supposed to be used," said school board member Beverley Clark, who proposed the $750,000. "Our funds are supposed to be used to build schools.”
Cary is requiring Wake to construct an additional northbound through lane on N.C. 55 from McCrimmon Parkway through the intersections of the ramps at N.C. 540.
The school system initially asked for a waiver from the work, but Cary Town Council members said in November that they couldn't legally grant an exemption.
Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht has said a waiver would leave the town vulnerable to lawsuits from developers.
Citing the economic conditions, Weinbrecht said the town can't offer to pay all or part of the estimated $1.4 million cost of the road improvements. He said it's fair for the school system to pay because it has received $64 million from Cary since 2000 in the form of cash, infrastructure improvements or land.
Weinbrecht said the town has tried to be reasonable by giving the school system up to three years to start the work and four years to complete the project.
School and town leaders met privately Monday to try to resolve the dispute. As a result of the meeting, board members argue that Panther Creek's operating hours won't impact traffic as much as the town thinks will occur.
Duringt today's meeting, Cindy Sinkez, who has two sons at Panther Creek, lashed out at the school board for not having the modulars ready by now.
“It is not the community’s fault," Sinkez said. "It is the board's fault and you need to fix it.”
Today's vote was 5-4 with Clark, Patti Head, Anne McLaurin, Lori Millberg and Rosa Gill voting yes.
Kevin Hill, Horace Tart, Ron Margiotta and Eleanor Goettee voted no.
Goettee complained that the school board's refusal to pay the $1.4 million is endangering their ability to get the modular classrooms ready for students this year. Overcrowding has forced compromises such as students meeting in the school library.
Comments
Cary's high & mighty
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 17:50 — labellefleurI am sick to death of Cary's continual belly-aching! Wah~ your kids reassigned, wah~ you are stuck in traffic. Here is an idea, get your own Cary city schools and have them foot the bill.
Thanks AW
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 09:59 — Dadof3http://donfrantz.blogspot.com/
About as clear a case as one can make. I await the spin from the WCPSS bench warmers on this carefully-made case.
their nauseating
Sat, 02/07/2009 - 10:29 — AngelaWtheir nauseating incompetence and disregard continues to astound and dismay.....makes one want to throw their hands up.....(or simply throw up!)
Boy, Patti, Rosa and Lori
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 18:32 — g88ky07NEVER do anything for the better of the kids do they! NEVER!!!
Chris H., we hope you're wrong that a tragedy might occur one day, but IF it does, I hope they sue them and clean out their "rainy day/MYR fund."
I know that's exactly what I'd do!
When is the last time anyone heard a SINGLE thing this bunch has done lately for E D U C A T I O N????
Anyone, Bueller???
Not in the know
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 18:18 — Chris_HMy son attends Panther and I travel to RTP everyday around the same time as kids are commuting to school. This is a prime time for traffic - many people head to work between 7 and 7:15 and it is a dangerous bottle neck by Panther Creek. Cary has been very generous with funds to Wake County schools. Our payback has been high reassignment, MYR and now this, I think Wake County BOE better help out this situation before the High School becomes dangerously crowded or there is a major traffic accident - possibly with a high school student.
"Cary is requiring Wake to
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 18:50 — user1234"Cary is requiring Wake to construct an additional northbound through lane on N.C. 55 from McCrimmon Parkway through the intersections of the ramps at N.C. 540."
Will another north bound lane from the McCrimmon to 540 make the intersection that much safer? Seems like the whole intersection needs to be scrapped.