BiggerPicture4Wake is calling last week's vote to convert Leesville Road elementary and middle schools back to a traditional calendar the Wake County school board majority's "third strike."
In a press release Monday, BiggerPicture says the first two strikes were eliminating the weekly Wednesday early dismissals and abandoning the Forest Ridge High site. The group says that the board majority is fulfilling campaign promises but ignoring data with decisions like abandoning the year-round calendar at Leesville.
"Now, the public needs to call them out to avoid further damage to Wake’s school system,” said Rhonda Curtright, BiggerPicture co-founder, in the press release.
Last week's vote was unanimous. But it likely wouldn't have even come up for a vote if not for the new majority. The minority chose not to fight this issue.
Curtright points to the survey results at Leesville Elementary, the staff surveys at both schools and the drop is suspensions at Leesville Middle.
School board member Deborah Prickett draws special scorn in the press release.
“Deborah Prickett had the chance to do what was right and popular by retaining LRES and LRMS on a year-round schedule,” said Cristine Allison, a Leesville parent of three children, in the press release. "Now she has led the BOE to make a decision that is detrimental academically for its students, stability-wise for its families, and financially for the Wake County system."
(I don't know if Allison is still the District 7 Board Advisory Council chairwoman.)
Comments
KEEP LEESVILLE YEAR ROUND!
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 12:45 — anonymous74Hope all you traditional folks know what you are asking for. when Ron Margiotta thankfully leaves the BOE next year, you know he will be replaced by a non-bigoted, PRO year round representative. It is going to happen. Either you deal with the growth of Wake County or LEAVE THE COUNTY.
Oh, you Sycamore Creek parents...beware. Hope you don't get booted out of your school because your constituent, Deborah Prickett, can't keep her promises or do what is best for our CHILDREN.
Yes we traditional folks do
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:16 — Gr8SchoolsYes we traditional folks do know what we are asking for. Believe me anonymous one, we know what we are asking for. We have been asking for it for many years. If you understood the big group effort involved at Leesville you would get it. Debra Prickett has listened and paid attention and she has kept her promises to do what is best for our children, thank you. The decision was made and Leesville schools are going back to traditional. We are exhausted by multiple schedules, but happy about the future.
Patty Head
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:09 — cookerPatty Head could have done the right thing for LES 4 years ago, but she chose not to listen to the parents!
If you had a brain in your
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 13:58 — changewcpssIf you had a brain in your head or spent any time following the BoE you would know that R Margiotta is a champion for families and far from a bigot. Looks like Leesville Road will thankfully lose another whiner as you chase the year round trophy.
Get over it
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 13:24 — cookerIt is a done deal folks! Get over it- at least that was what we were told 4 years ago when this fight really started- didn't matter what we felt or that the survey was 95% in favor of LES to stay traditional. No one listened to us. It is not a new fight. Most of the folks that are making noise are application students or weren't there with the original change and have no idea what it is all about. We moved to this area due to the Leesville Schools- the schools are great. The YR folks have a great option in BC or Sycamore- close and new schools built for YR, when the initial conversion happened our option was Stough- all the way across town- while my kids can walk, I had no reason to bus them there. We could argue all day whether YR is best or not- for us it is not. We lost a lot of great teachers when we converted to YR, so we lose more by converting back- we will get more good ones because Leesville is a good school. There weren't enough traditional seats in the area and it is one campus- if you had children at the middle school and high school you would have a clue.
Enough also with discipline problems going down with YR- yes LRMS is down, but are you aware that there is no more in school suspension? The teachers have to baby-sit and plan the day for the student and stay with them-shuffling them to what ever team teacher is free that period- no more in school suspension officer to take over. Ask any of the teachers- they deal with problems better because they don't want to deal with handling the in school suspension themselves. You can also thank the new Principal and her staff, prior to Mrs Hamlers arrival, the past principal didn't care and never focused on discipline- the school was a mess. The was the same time that $ went missing- Mrs Hamler walked into a difficult situation and has changed it around- this is why discipline is down- not YR.
it may be a done deal for
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:01 — jeannie84it may be a done deal for now, but when growth picks up again in northwestern Wake -- ID'd by Growth and Planning as a "high growth" area -- things will change -- again; but that's ok; it's just families trying to adapt from one year to the next; meanwhile Leesville will remain a campus divided, and overcrowded to boot. have fun, y'all!
Why did staff say this about
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:42 — Eric_BWhy did staff say this about Leesville Middle in their report:
Why did the school board proceed with conversion of Leesville Middle last year even though Growth & Planning acknowledges there has been little growth?
Land has already been acquired at Leesville Church Rd. for a new school that (as far as I know) is still planned to be YR. Why set up another situation where there are 2 YR middle schools within a mile and a half of each other? It makes sense to keep Leesville Middle on a traditional calendar and open the new middle school on a YR calendar in the future when those seats are needed for growth.
it's called a recession and,
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 17:08 — jeannie84it's called a recession and, history tells us, recessions eventually end and growth will return
The recession didn't start 3
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 17:48 — Eric_BThe recession didn't start 3 years ago.
more than one economist
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 17:51 — jeannie84more than one economist would disagree
Ok, let's go with your
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 17:53 — Eric_BOk, let's go with your recession scenario. Why did the board convert Leesville Middle to YR in the middle of a recession, knowing that the capacity would not be needed for many years, if at all?
that's called "long-range
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 19:09 — jeannie84that's called "long-range planning" -- something this new BOE majority needs a crash course in -- quick!
I call it long range tax dollars wasted
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 19:45 — tsgcoupthe supply of year round seats exceeds demand in Northwest Raleigh. (especially when you consider that the majority of people who favor year round overwhelmingly want track 1 or 4 which most closely match a traditional calendar - they have at least a 4 week summer compared to track 2 and 3 that have 1 week).
Operating year round schools without teachers moving classrooms does not save a dime or gain any capacity. Let's see - Brier Creek in year 4, no teacher ever moves, Sycamore Creek in year 2, no one moves plus empty classrooms. I would argue that the prior board and Chuck Delaney/Patti Head did not have long range planning in mind and should have never converterd LRES to a YR Calendar when Sycamore Creek was one year from opening.
It could also be argued that
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 20:49 — danofncIt could also be argued that if the recession hadn't happened and all those schools were operating at capacity then the conversions/openings were the correct moves.
Hindsight is a lot easier most of the time.
Sorry - there's no
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 21:21 — loriacSorry - there's no explaining away the stupidity of converting LRMS last year in the MIDDLE of a recession, after multiple growth targets had been missed. What a colossal waste of money - one might think it was just a parting gift. THAT will be Ms. Head's legacy.
According to WCPSS' website,
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 07:54 — danofncAccording to WCPSS' website, LMS was operating at 106% capacity in 08-09.
Let me guess....they should have reassigned some far away spot nodes to make room for growth, right?
You have to understand that
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 10:07 — Gr8SchoolsYou have to understand that those capacity numbers are Chuck Delaneys numbers. He changed numbers with the wind to suit his purpose at any given moment.
You guys really go out of
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:03 — danofncYou guys really go out of your way to accuse everyone involved with the old policies of having a serious personal agenda. The funny thing is that you act like people are crazy for assuming that the new members (along with Margiotta) also have personal agendas.
The only times I've heard Dulaney speak have been at some the of the recent board meetings. He didn't seem like a crazy idealogue. He seemed like an encycolpedia of WCPSS. He answered questions in a matter-of-fact way, and described to the new members some possible outcomes that they didn't seem to have considered.
You act like these 60% or so of LMS parents that were in favor of a TR calendar were right to speak for an ES that had parents who didn't want to switch. On the other hand, you talk about the need for "community schools" even though 85% (another Dulaney doctored number, I'm sure) or so of students already go to school within 5 miles of home.
Now, you'll question the 85% because the 5 mile measurement is a radial number, and not actual mileage traveled. I think that's illogical, because JT talks about proximity. Proximity is measured by locating a school on a map and determining how far you are from it. Actual miles traveled depends on how many other neighborhoods/houses the bus has to visit before it gets to the school.
Both sides of this debate are too over the top. Even the ones claiming specifically not to be. The school system wasn't perfect, but it also definitely wasn't the titanic. There are/were a lot of good things about WCPSS.
DanofNC Question
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:21 — Voice_of_Reason_Do you work within the WCPSS? You seem to have access to a lot of information or at least very familiar with where the information is available.
What has been your role in growth management planning?
Ummmmm....it's called
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 16:52 — danofncUmmmmm....it's called wcpss.net.
I don't have (and never have had) a role with GM planning.
C Dulaney was
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 12:30 — changewcpssC Dulaney was extremely intelligent but conniving. He appeared at times to have pulled numbers out of thin air, and when challenged he would simply ignore the question and move on. The BoE deserves staff members who will give solid facts that can be used to make realistic decisions.
Well....
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 11:16 — Bob_SconceIn the case of Growth Management's numbers, that skepticism is well-deserved because those numbers have been found to be misleading or just outright wrong in a number of cases. It's either utter incompetence or an ulterior motive. Dulaney doesn't seem to be incompetent, so that suggests an ulterior motive.
Here are two examples regarding Wakefield ES (apologies for bringing up WES again, but it's the school I'm most familiar with): According to growth management's numbers, (1) the school was built with 36 classrooms and a capacity of 600 students, or 17 students per classroom; and (2) the school's traditional capacity is less than the total capacity of its three largest year-round tracks (even though 1/4 of the year, those three tracks are tracked-in at the same time). Neither one of those make sense, but both follow directly from figures presented to the board by Chuck D.
More about Wakefield ES and Kevin Hill - Bob
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 13:14 — Voice_of_Reason_8 out of 15 elementary schools in the NE Raleigh area are Year Round – the highest percent inWake County Mini City Wakefield
Look at the percentage of bused in students vs. base area. Is this something we see everywhere? It is easy to say WES will be overcrowded if it goes back traditional, but only if busing is increased.
Right now the school has seen a decrease of around 20% attendance, with only 3 tracks being utilitised. Those tracks are anything but balanced with F&R numbers. And as the number of bussed in students rises, and the neighborhood numbers drop, it is also true that the performance of the school drops accordingly. A lot of people from the base population have gone private, perhaps explaining the drop in base population.
I wonder what will happen when we go to community schools, will the F&R population want to travel here? They have shown a dislike for YR. And why would they want to go to a School of Progress without Title I services and funding. Long term what will this do the tax revenues that Wakefield delivers? Obviously it will be a downward influence on property values and the neighborhood is 10 years old right now. Is that good for the school system in the future? After all, property values have already dropped 20+% in the area.
You have seen the survey that 57% of parents that wish to have this school converted, Kevin Hill states this is not significant enough to make a change. Go figure.
She really did put it to
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 23:50 — changewcpssShe really did put it to Leesville Road in a punishing way. If she did do anything positive for their families she overshadowed it with the vindictive MYR conversions.
I have not met you but I do
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:50 — Gr8SchoolsI have not met you but I do read your posts and they are always factual and fair. You must remember last year when the board eventually admitted that they could not find a reason to convert LRMS but they thought it must be too late to stay traditional so they converted. Decisions were previously made by ignoring facts. It will be different with the new board members in office. One campus one calendar is here to stay.
no growth
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:07 — cookerWhat growth- supposedly Chuck planned LES for conversion looking at growth 5 yrs out- we are at 4 yrs now and haven't seen it. Get rid of applications and go to community schools and we will be fine- been there done that. The people that want to be there and stand by the school will make it work.
!!!
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 12:13 — choice4allIsn't this the same person who wore a Sycamore Creek T shirt in the Leesville School the day after the vote? I think its the same person who gave up her speaking spot to the Rev Barber. hmmmm
....
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 12:41 — SideburnsYup, same person who recently blogged that we should be compromising. Puh-lease.
Keep the year-round calendar at Leesville elementary & middle
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 11:26 — awake1Concerned parents and citizens opposed to the school board's recent decision to re-convert LRES and LRMS to the traditional calendar are urged to sign an online petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keep-leesville-elementary-school-year-round
Let's see if we can get our voices heard AGAIN!
LES Principal Mrs. Chapman
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 14:56 — Gr8SchoolsLES Principal Mrs. Chapman found out about this silly petition and was livid. The voices at all Leesville schools have been heard over and over and the decision was finally made to have LES and LMS traditional. Why this ridiculous attempt to create commotion over a sensible decision that will not be changed? Let us work as a community and stop the nonsense.
community
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 19:01 — awake1we have worked as a community for the past 3 years but unfortunately the "nonsense" continued and was made legitimate by this last election where 8.3% of registered voters in District 7 cast ballots for Deborah Prickett.
LES parents and staff have spoken and whether you like it or not, they prefer year round at Leesville. Sleep well knowing that hundreds of children -- "base" and "nonbase" -- will be uprooted from their school. Thanks for being so concerned about your community's welfare!
The only nonsense has been
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 00:25 — Gr8SchoolsThe only nonsense has been Patti Head and Chuck Delaney making Leesville a YR target against all reasonable opposition. LES parents and staff who prefer year round can take their convenient option. No one is being uprooted and everyone can choose to have year round or our traditional base. It would be nice if staff members choose to stay but I agree with Lisa; they should make the best choice for themselves. I believe there will be fewer than a handful of staff members leaving. If they would be happier elsewhere it should be their choice. I was told that Mrs. Chapman has offered to help them find employment at year round schools. The Leesville campus is a positive place to be, and even moreso with the vote last week. Our community will be stronger than ever now.
uprooted 4 yrs ago
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 23:59 — cookerHow about all the folks that were uprooted 4 yrs ago at the first conversion- did you care about us then? We (LES and staff) spoke then too, not to convert. Did you lose sleep when it happened to us?
How easily some people
Thu, 03/11/2010 - 00:30 — Gr8SchoolsHow easily some people forget. Now that we all get choice they are actually complaining. So much for caring about others.
If you really had concern
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 23:56 — changewcpssIf you really had concern for your community you would be overjoyed with those new changes. Now you all will have excellent choices and your families can be on matching schedules again. Your tone speaks otherwise and you come across as bitter and hateful toward the Leesville Road group that has proven to have a bigger picture viewpoint. Too bad that you can't see the positive through your obvious anger.
The only voters that count are the ones who vote...
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 20:13 — raleighlauraI don't get why people who backed losing candidates are so upset about the low turnout. They weren't unhappy with the even lower turnout when their candidates won. It's just more unproductive sour grapes.
...
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 19:39 — SideburnsWow, that means Patti Head was elected by less than 6% of registered voters.
exactly
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 19:51 — tsgcoupexactly, thanks for pointing that out sideburns! I love people that don't vote, and then complain.
what right do you have to
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 17:06 — jeannie84what right do you have to speak for Mrs. Chapman??
Not speaking for her. Just
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 19:32 — Gr8SchoolsNot speaking for her. Just relaying her reaction. Go ahead and call her to ask what she thinks of that petty petition. LRES main phone number is 870-4200.
I did ask her; now we both
Sat, 03/13/2010 - 21:30 — jeannie84I did ask her; now we both know you lied
A bunch of whiners who want
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 13:52 — changewcpssA bunch of whiners who want to make a little noise. What a joke. Only 228 signatures, many with same last name and many anonymous. Hmm, makes you wonder why they even bothered to start this weak petition anyway. I recall their year round option is only 2 or 3 miles from Leesville Road. Hardly an issue.
Mills Park's calendar conversion
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 10:07 — MPEparentMr. Hui, Can you tell me where I can find the survey response data on Mills Park Middle school? It is not contained in the large document on the WCPSS website. I assume the data that were used to make a decision on converting MPM to traditional included all potential rising 6, 7 and 8th graders from all of the nodes that would feed into MPM. Is that correct? I also wondered if a similar analysis was done for any other new schools opening next year. What prompted the staff to do such an analysis for MP Middle? Thank you.
Staff looked at it at the
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 11:13 — KeungHui (author)Staff looked at it at the request of Ron Margiotta. The info can be found at this link:
http://www.newsobserver.com/content/media/2010/3/1/conversion.pdf
Results are confusing
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 11:58 — MPEparentSo 70% also said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the calendar of MPM (which I assume to mean they were satisfied with YR calendar, since that was what it was scheduled to open on when the survey was taken).
63% said they prefer a traditional calendar for their child.
44% said they would prefer a calendar change (again this would mean changing from YR to traditional), leaving approx 50%+ saying that they like the YR calendar? It would be helpful to see all of the results...where are they on the WCPSS website.
Interpreting Rising Mills Park Survey Answers
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 15:32 — MomofThreeThe only question on the rising survey that can apply to MPM directly is Question 6, what calendar do you want for child is asked regardless of school, and 63% wanted traditional that were zoned to MPM next year. All other questions apply to the current school, for example a portion of the MPM 70% like West Cary's traditional calendar, and a portion of the MPM 44% want Salem YR or MPE YR to change to traditional. Also, converting MPE to traditional, you have to look at Question 8, if your sibling is on a different calendar do you want your calendar to change. Once MPM went tradtional, 62% at MPE prefer their calendar to change to match the middle school, which is why it made sense to vote the elementary to convert back to traditional.
So...
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 12:07 — Bob_SconceI think the inconsistency is that those questions were being asked about the student's *current* school, not about MPM. So, the only question that provides any illumination is the one about which calendar they prefer.
MILLS PARK'S CALENDAR CONVERSION
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 10:54 — MomofThreeThere is a survey called "rising middle at next school" where they pulled all rising middle school data. Mills Park Middle was 63% for traditional, only 32% for year-round.
So...
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 09:31 — Bob_SconceI gotta wonder if these press releases would even be happening if it weren't for the fact that they kept showing up here.
BOW doesn't play this game.
Wed, 03/10/2010 - 09:35 — red_balloonBOW doesn't play this game. We are a coalition of committed and concerned citizens partnering to focus on the bigger economic picture.