This month's school board election in District 7 pretty much has shown that more people opposed mandatory year-round schools and the calendar conversions than supported them.
Concerned and Committed Lessville Parents and BiggerPicture4Wake had both claimed they represented the silent majority. But as noted in today's North Raleigh News article, CCLP's side prevailed and now the question is when Leesville Road elementary and middle schools will go back to a traditional calendar.
The signs seem to be pointing to both schools abandoning the year-round calendar for the 2010-11 school year.
New school board member Deborah Prickett thinks a switch for next school year is reasonable. While Prickett says she can only speak for herself, the other members of the new board majority aren't saying no to holding back on the Leesville changes.
Lisa Boneham, founder of CCLP, said it's a "no brainer" to switch next year. She said the elections results have been cheered by parents throughout the Leesville area.
Boneham and Prickett are envisioning Leesville Elementary's year-round application students going to Sycamore Creek Elementary. But Boneham said she'd like the board to allow any current application students to stay at Leesville if they don't mind the calendar change.
It's not as clear what you would do with the application students for Leesville Middle. It's not like there are nearby year-round middle schools in that part of the county.
Prickett also wants to look at returning the Wood Valley subdivision students to Leesville Middle. They were moved to West Millbrook Middle this year to help that school's F&R mix and because their elementary school feeds there.
But Rhonda Curtright and Maria Mauriello, co-founders of BiggerPicture, say that leaving the Leesville schools on the year-round calendar are a better move for the future of the school system.
School board memer Patti Head echoed the BiggerPicture view. She said that growth will eventually pick up and the two Leesville schools won't be able to keep up with all the new students operating on a traditional calendar.
Head warned that Leesville parents who are pushing for the traditional calendar now could be courting major reassignment out of the schools in the future.
Head compared Leesville to the situation at Lacy Elementary, which had initially been considered in 2006 for year-round conversion before being dropped from the list.
The Lacy parents had fought conversion, helping form Wake Families for School Choice.
But this year, the school board voted to reassign students out of Lacy to help reduce crowding. (Also to improve the F&R balance at schools such as Stough Elementary.)
Head said several Lacy parents had come to board members saying they now wanted the year-round calendar if they could stay at the school. She said she told them it's too late to make the change now even though the renovated campus has more space.
(I'm on vacation for the rest of the week. I won't be checking the blog until Monday.)
Comments
I wonder
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 21:43 — SDR256I wonder how all those magnet parents felt about how their issue was hijacked - er - I mean publicized by the NAACP. Did it get the attention they thought it would?
They were so used for the photo opportunity. So cynically used. The organizers knew their numbers wouldn't add up and they knew the photos would look better with the magnet parents there. The news media made it look like you were ALL there for the diversity issue. Do you still think they care about you and your issue, magnet parents?
I'll tell you who will care - this new board. You should really have done your homework before you kicked your potential future friends in the face.
sybil strikes again!
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 16:06 — AngelaWOnce-and-apparently-still school board candidate Cathy Truitt said Saturday she would take the District 2 Board of Education seat in Wake County if voters elect her on Tuesday
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7093305
...
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 16:50 — SideburnsIs anyone really surprised? She hasn't been in the news for a day or two and her ego apparently needed a boost. I can't wait until Wednesday when we will be done with her for good.
It made me so angry to hear
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 16:59 — dryeraseuserIt made me so angry to hear this. I can not believe the nerve of this lady. She would be a dangerous tool on that board. She deserves to loose by a mile and I hope the voters leave her with nothing but trying to pick up what little self-respect she has for herself and her community. I just CANNOT see how any human, with a good moral up bringing, could ACTUALLY do what she has done and sleep at night and bold enough to look at the public in the eye. She is just pittyful, her character is something WCPSS DOES NOT need!!!!!!!
"If I am elected in the
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 15:45 — AngelaW"If I am elected in the runoff race, I will serve the people of Wake County as a member of the school board," Truitt said
http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/6321797/
Please don't forget the
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 12:13 — WCTeachrPlease don't forget the teachers. We can only speak amongst ourselves but cannot give honest opinions to admin. Our faithful parents knew that we never wanted to switch from the traditional schedule. We appreciate your tireless efforts on our behalf. We do not like the 12 month schedule. A few of the young teachers are OK with it but only a small group. Our opinions can only be shared in confidence. MYR has been academically inferior to the traditional schedule. We are burned out and unhappy but always love our students. Parents have reached the tipping point and we have too. We hope and pray that the new board of ed will pay attention to what is best for everyone. I understand the importance of parents giving names but when you pass out the survey we cannot use our names. Perhaps you will give each teacher one survey and it can be a different color than what is given to the parents. We can only be honest anonymously. Thank you parents who have spoken for all of us who must suffer in silence. We love Leesville but it is becoming increasingly harder to do the job we love. We chose teaching for a reason. We did not choose the chaotic schedule. Please let us be heard. MYR has been harmful to what was always such a special situation. Thank you for this information and honesty. We look forward to a positive resolution to an unbearable situation dumped on us without considering the negative outcome.
“We can only speak
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 11:59 — user12345“We can only speak amongst ourselves. We do not like the 12 month schedule. MYR has been academically inferior to the traditional schedule. We can only be honest anonymously. We love Leesville but it is becoming increasingly harder to do the job we love. an unbearable situation dumped on us without considering the negative outcome.”
Observation …This comment seems a little contrived and “on message” for a real teacher. They stick to the party points and do not vary into any personal impact. I hope everyone takes these kinds of comments with a grain of salt . Compare the robotic style and lack specifics of the post above to say dryeraser below which is more human. These robo posts don't add anything to the blog.
This is the robot
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:30 — WCTeachrThis is the robot speaking. We teach tolerance but it is missing from some of you. With Big Brother watching I cannot reveal my identity. I hide identifying remarks and avoid elaboration for a reason. To those who appreciate and respect us I thank you. To those of you more interested in accusing and arguing I am not your person. Please do remember that we are unable to be interviewed or openly express our opinions or we will be unemployed. I will keep teaching and that is where my passion and energy will show. I hope the parents keep fighting for us and that is what you will hear from my co-workers. We are counting on you. We feel appreciated by the valiant volunteers and we appreciate you. I hope the 4th board member wins tomorrow so we will all be free of the abuse. Thank you.
I hear ya
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 21:37 — louiselee44I used to teach in Wake County. There has always been a fear of speaking out, and that needs to change. That will be a long time coming, I'm afraid...Thanks for caring for our children.
True, but...
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 12:16 — Bob_SconceThere's also the problem that the teacher doesn't want post information which might allow an inquisitive administrator to determine his/her identity. So, of course you'll end up with a lack of specifics.
The recommendation for an anonymous survey is a good one.
really?
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 12:00 — AngelaWand you've talked to teachers @ "other" schools--everyone knows you've stated on numerous occasions that you don't "know enough about MYR"...this proves it yet again. you know NOTHING about Leesville.
your comments should be taken with a shot of vodka!
Is world (interest,
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 12:52 — user12345Is world (interest, neighborhood) bigger than Leesville?
what the hell are you
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 17:05 — AngelaWwhat the hell are you blathering about now Matt?
YOU said this teacher's word seemed robotic, etc. take with a grain of salt, blah blah blah and this was a Leesville teacher....
your point again is what?
"was a Leesville
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:06 — user12345"was a Leesville teacher.... "
And I said, if so, she/he is more of a machine than a person. You don't need a secret knowledge of Leesville to separate a person from a bot. BTW, keep away from those Nigerian Lottery offers.
You don't need a secret knowledge
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 19:11 — AngelaWto spot a paid blogger=troll either...
Yes, but
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 13:52 — louiselee44the school system is responsible in part for preparing them to face that world head on. If parents anywhere believe that the best educational situation for their child is being compromised, they need to go to bat. Leesville parents are doing just that, along with other parents all across the county - parents with quite a variety of viewpoints.
Hopefully this will change
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 13:01 — Bob_SconceI've heard similar comments from other teachers. I hope that the new board will not allow the administration to silence the teachers, either explicitly or implicitly.
What an excellent cry for
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 16:55 — dryeraseuserWhat an excellent cry for help from a teacher. I too, am a teacher and reaching my tipping point with everything. I can only hope that District 2 will go out and vote for John. I just caught the report on CH.14 news about what Truitt is going to do. I can not believe that a "logical" thinking human being would go about the election in this manner. There's just no words here to express, how much anger I have for her. Since I don't live in Dist. 2 I can not vote for John. I will be watching, with my fingers crossed and my breathe held, until the final results Tuesday night. WE need and open minded school board that doesn't allow administration trump all the decision. I want a school board that will listen to both the parents and teachers and make "common sense" decisions for the good of the children. ENOUGH of this fly by the night ideas and voting quickly on things that will uproot parents and spin schedules out of control.
Be sure to survey the
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 08:52 — changewcpssBe sure to survey the appropriate population at Leesville. Require a name and address. Sort responses base vs. application. Application kids can choose to go to your area's YR school and it appears that you have a couple. Base families are responses you need to tally to gauge what they want. Expect acornlike practices from applications. They will try to claim your school as their own.
careful....
Sun, 11/01/2009 - 22:51 — lesparentWe are an application family and before you group us with ACORN, you need to step back. We are a family just like many others that were LES base & were redistricted in the past few years. We were given LES as our year round option. Since this schedule works best for us we plan to stay YR even if LES changes. However, it is not fair to accuse us of stacking the surveys. LES is our school. It is the only school my children have know & how dare you say we don't have a right to give our opinion! If the majority would like to go back to traditional then allow it...but don't tell me that our neighborhood school is going to be over 20 minutes away, and a different bell schedule! We are all parents wanting the best for our kids. Please don't judge...it isn't really polite!
You should be asked but now
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 08:35 — changewcpssYou should be asked but now you are a base student for another schoool. Current base students are the more valid opinions for this survey purpose. Sending you away is a BoE issue. Where is your base school? How far? Somewhere I read that there is a proposal out there asking that WCPSS allow all Leesville application students to stay at your school. Sounds more than fair. You may be honest but not everyone is. Need to prepare for those who are not in today's dishonest climate.
So here we come upon a
Fri, 10/30/2009 - 07:54 — AngelaWSo here we come upon a school board run-off election which will include only parents and voters from one district: District 2. And suddenly, parents from the third group are being used as pawns once again
I encourage all persons who haven't voted yet, to vote on Tuesday, November 3 for John Tedesco for District 2, for the Wake County School Board. So that someone with experience 'listening' to parents and children, can put those skills to use.
http://venitapeyton.com/2009/10/bright-future-for-wake-kids.html
Sheriff, mayor endorse
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:33 — AngelaWSheriff, mayor endorse Tedesco
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7089260
Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison, who lives in Garner, and Garner mayor, Ronnie Williams, announced their support at a news conference. They want voters to know the race is far from over.
Good for them. Our towns
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 13:28 — changewcpssGood for them. Our towns need to know that votes are needed Tuesday. Thanks for sharing.
Need 5 board votes for policy changes - get to work 4 Tedesco!
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 15:51 — btwalshWow - 82 blog posts on an mute issue. It takes 5 board member votes to make policy changes like unconverting year round calendars. We're not there yet so stop beating a dead horse.
Stop blogging and get to work on John Tedesco's campaign in District 2. If you want change, Tedesco needs to win. He will be your 5th board member vote for change. Doesn't matter what Prickett wants to do, it won't happen if Tedesco goes down.
You don't have to live in district 2 to volunteer your time making phone calls, handing out literature or making a donation. Here's his website: www.4wakekids.com.
Get off your duff and get John Tedesco elected!!
EVERYONE Can Help Get John Elected
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:03 — Lisa_BHey BT Walsh:
I agree. I just sent an e-mail out to all of my "groups" explaining the situation for next week.
Even if you do not reside in District 2, you may have friends in your networks who do--REACH OUT to let them know that you support John Tedesco and a common sense school board. Ask them to encourage THEIR friends and neighbors to vote. While John is exactly the person we need, the status quo people are going to do all they can to prevent families from having a say in school issues.
Make some calls, GET THE WORD OUT. If the Status Quo crowd is able to steal this election, we'll all be sorry!
"Make some calls, GET THE
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:10 — AngelaW"Make some calls, GET THE WORD OUT"
better yet, man a poll! there are 21 polling places in D2 that need coverage!
contact: www.4wakekids.com.
to see where you can help!
Bring the family to Holly
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 17:37 — changewcpssBring the family to Holly Springs Hollyfest and talk up J Tedesco. The Acorn wanna-bes won't stand a chance.
Great point
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:52 — SDR256Great point BTWalsh. I'm going back tomorrow to finish task 1 and start on task 2. Anyone interested in making sure we seal the deal can also contact wsca09@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities. Otherwise, I don't want to hear a WORD from anyone complaining that we don't end up with a majority of board members who will work with parents, and that we have reverted right back to the draconian rule of the current status quo. Act now or forever hold your peace.
Even if you are not in
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 10:20 — changewcpssEven if you are not in District 2 you can help now. If we don't get John we get the unknown status quo pawn. That would be bad for all families across the county. Volunteer to bring us across the finish line.
Deleting duplicate post.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 10:21 — changewcpssDeleting duplicate post.
done! :)
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:54 — AngelaWdone! :)
Bigger Picture are organizing with the NAACP
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 13:36 — SDR256So, I don't know these Bigger Picture people, and I don't know this Mauriello person (spelling) but I have received - in a round about way - invitations to the March they are helping to organize with the NAACP. The alleged reason for the march is combined : to support magnet schools and to support the status quo position on diversity. So, if these Bigger Picture people's big problem is with Leesville calendar why are they marching for magnets? Its pretty clear that the real reason for this desperate attempt is to undermine the CHANGE that VOTERS have already spoken for.
Let me tell you-all, if we don't ALL take a phone list and start calling over the weekend (contact WSCA09@gmail for your list) and help John win by a landslide AGAIN, we WILL have Cathy Truitt as a swing vote. And not you or I or Del or Keith Sutton or Dr. Barber can tell which way her flag will blow on any particular day.
John is a reasonable, honest man who has proven his committment to at-risk children. It is a CRIME that he has been put in this position by special interest groups who are more concerned with power than with finding real solutions that work for ALL children.
If we are not able to seat John, the work WSCA has done over the last 9 months will be severely weakend if not nullified.
GET OUT THE TEDESCO VOTE PEOPLE!
Contact WSCA09@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities!
Funny.....
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 17:34 — chaboard....when you were fghting tooth & nail in opposition to the policies of a board the voters selected 8-1 that was ok. But now all of the sudden it's "undermining" when the other side begins organizing to oppose your new narrow 5-4 majority?
You don't really expect the other side to roll over anymore than you did, do you?
There is no majority yet.
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:48 — SDR256We're still fighting the policies of the existing board. There is no 5 - 4 majority yet. We will be living under the medieval rule of this board for another four years. Just tit for tat Chabord. This is still an active election.
Huh? You do not make
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:07 — changewcpssHuh? You do not make sense.
You do realize that the
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:01 — NWRaleighMomYou do realize that the majority will be 6-3 in two years when Kevin Hill's seat is up for re-election, don't you?
actually in 2011, there will
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:06 — AngelaWactually in 2011, there will be 5 seats up for election.
how many years away is that...
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 20:50 — petehswe may all need to take a nap for that long...especially John!!!
Too many of you miss the point...
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 13:33 — OneForAllA school's scheduled calendar year and a school's desired attendance are not even one and the same. Too many of you miss the point that demand for seats at specific schools is much greater then the supply of seats can be offered. If you desire to attend your neighborhood school, then year round is the best immediate solution to provide us the seats to meet the demand. I want my children to go to our neighborhood school. I could care less what type is the school's calendar year. I vote for year round so that the present resources can accomodate more of us wanting to attend our neighborhood school. MAKE NO MISTAKE: Some of us voting for year round are sending the message that it is most important to attend our neighborhood school even regardless of the calendar type year. Those of you unwilling to accept the year round solution to address a resource problem are either (i) greedy, too selfish to accomodate the largest number of people, or (ii) rank traditional calendar schedule more important then school proximity to your neighborhood. Either way, you should be put on a list behind me ;-) Seriously, do NOT assume voting for year round in any way diminishes or reflects on one's desired school proximity.
Missing the point? Speak
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 18:23 — changewcpssMissing the point? Speak for yourself. I plan to vote J Tedesco. We will drive the point home that we all deserve the right to a quality education and all deserve representation. Enough of the abuse we have endured at the hands of the current BoE.
I understand what you are
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 14:03 — Eric_BI understand what you are saying, but you are missing the point that their is no resource problem with YR calendar seats. Sycamore Creek has between 360 and 400 open seats, Brier Creek has 200 open seats and Leesville Elementary would not be filled as it is if Growth & Planning did not allow 217 YR application students into the school.
Why did they not open Sycamore Creek or Brier Creek up as a YR application school? Why didn't the school board wait 1 year before deciding whether to convert Leesville Elementary to see the impact of opening Sycamore Creek nearby?
Why not convert Sycamore Creek to a traditional calendar and avoid impacting Leesville Elementary at all? We could get the cost savings of traditional calendar and avoid reassignments of the YR application students that would occur if Leesville Elementary was converted back to traditional.
Eric, where do you see 200
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 14:16 — NWRaleighMomEric, where do you see 200 open seats at Brier Creek?
Right
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 14:24 — Eric_BRight here:
http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/quickfacts/08/el-08.html
Brier Creek holds 880 students and had 657 in 2008-09 for a total of 223 open seats. Hmm, looking at the 20th day attendance numbers for this year, 726 students now attend for a total of 154 open seats.
Year round
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 16:46 — cmcneil5571Brier Creek is already an application school. Sycamore currently is not. My children were at BC as applicants, and were thrilled to switch over to Sycamore. I would hate to see Leesville Middle switch back to traditional. I would then have to apply to Durant for my rising sixth grader. I have talked to a lot of people who were upset when they were switched to year round, BUT now they love it. I really hope the board doesn't switch Leesville back.
No doubt there will be
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 19:43 — g88ky07some, and maybe more than some, who don't want to get switched back. That was part of the utopian plan from day one. Force them into it and they won't want to switch back because they've adjusted and are dealing with it. Heck, Horace Tart said those of us here in district 2 just needed to be forced into going year round and then we'd see the light.
Well, to those I say, what's more important, paying for year round operation of under capacity schools and all that goes with that or having paper at the schools?
I say the sooner the better, switch 'em back!
Is there really enough YR seats for demand?
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 11:23 — nwraleighparentSycamore Creek's current capacity is 1078, and its 10th day enrollment was 718. That leaves 360 seats. Currently, 204 students attend Leesville as an application school for Year Round. If those students all go to Sycamore Creek, that leaves only 156 seats left for Leesville base parents who like year round. That suggests that only 20% of LES base parents at LES (not those who are already in a magnet, traditional, or some other transfer) would get a year round seat. I suspect that more than 20% of LES parents want year round, but only a survey of CURRENT LES parents (and perhaps those with incoming kindergartners if feasible) should guide decision making... not what was voiced three years ago.
Don't forget that there are
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 11:35 — jenmanDon't forget that there are seats available at Brier Creek as well.
This is complicated. Demand
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 11:34 — NWRaleighMomThis is complicated. Demand for YR will go down significantly with LRMS switching to traditional. On the other hand, there are other families in the area who would like to get into YR program but were unable to do so (Jeffreys Grove, Hilburn, York). That's why a proposition of a dual calendar for Leesville might work for most folks. If I recall correctly, that was proposed before but was refused by Patty Head.
You Forgot To Take Into Account Sycamore Parents Choices?
Wed, 10/28/2009 - 11:32 — MamaLynnWhat about Sycamore parents that want traditional? You assume because they are there they want YR. That is stretching it.