Magnetizing Millbrook High School isn't turning out to be all it's cracked up to be.
As noted in today's article, a large contingent of Millbrook High parents, teachers and students packed Monday's public hearing to complain about the reassignment plan.
While the Millbrook speakers said they still want the new International Baccalaureate magnet program, they're not thrilled with the proposed reassignment changes.
Administrators want to move nearly 1,300 students out of the school. It would lead to a net reduction in Millbrook's enrollment by 795 students.
Millbrook would be left with a much smaller base population of 1,613 students to make room for magnet applicants.
But the speakers complained that leaving Millbrook's base with a projected 40.4 percent low-income percentage will discourage applicants. They also question how many applicants would apply in the beginning.
Students held banners saying the IB program should be given a "healthy start."
Failure to draw a large number of magnet students would result in the loss of many teaching positions at Millbrook.
Jody Gross, Millbrook's past PTSA president, asked the school board to leave Millbrook with a base of at least 1,950 students and a low-income percentage of 35 percent.
Gross said that the low-income percentage of the base needs to be lower in the beginning because Millbrook already has a "tainted perception" in the minds of some families.
Gross said that Wake could always move more base students out in 2012 if the magnet interest is that high.
Gross insisted that Millbrook isn't trying to be like Broughton High in wanting to have the benefits of IB magnet funding with a low percentage of magnet students.
Comments
Of course I'm not comparing
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 10:13 — jenmanOf course I'm not comparing slavery and segregation to what is happening now in our school system. (and I think you know that) But if nobody was willing to fight for change in a system that they thought was wrong, then we'd still have Jim Crow laws in the South. We'd still have kids working in factories instead of going to school. Women wouldn't be allowed to vote. You get the picture.
I may not agree with every person's reason for wanting to change the system, but I have a lot of respect for those who are willing to fight for change rather than turn tail and run away. Personally, I think its the lower income, minority families who are hurt most by these assignments. If I was only concerned for my own kids I probably would have left the system already.
Why not move to one of these
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 14:21 — jenmanWhy not move to one of these places instead of trying to change this one?
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I guess all black people just should have left the South instead of fighting for their civil rights.
You're kidding...
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 22:17 — supportwcpssComparing slavery to school schedules and distances to schools? You cannot be serious...
Watershed issues
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 10:12 — CitizenmomComments below suggest a validity to restricting the construction of schools in the watershed. On the surface this appeals to our shared desire to protect environments and preserve water and ecosystems.
Here is the rub.....
Over years of living in Wake, I have watched as the City denied expansion of existing school facilities or construction of school facilities in watershed areas to later allow developers to construct gas stations, subdivisions and other high impact development in the same areas. Instead of allowing construction of a school on a parcel in the watershed which the city and county could carefully control, they deny this and later allow private development which they can not.
Ten years from now if the city rejects use of the parcel on Creedmor for a school (which would provide a public benefit) what use will we see of the parcel?
Growth will take care of itself
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 23:00 — g88ky07because Bev, Tim Minton and all his backroom dealing buddies marched on Obama turf today to get THEIR handout. Heaven knows builders certainly deserve some handout money too. They must be suffering just terribly.
After all, someone else is always responsible for paying their yearly dues to be members of the "build 'em and blame someone else for all your problems" con!!!
User1234
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 17:51 — JSCHas the right idea. Growth is certainly not all bad, but unchecked SPRAWL is the enemy. I DO agree that families who move to the outer edges of the county (and that's not just newcomers to the county, folks) should do so knowing that they will have to drive further than the rest of us to go to school (and to shop, dine and recreate too, for a while at least). Have any of you ever considered moving way out? We did, at one time. But what made us stay closer in was the very fact that we wanted convenience! I know that the school board has to try to provide schools for everyone in the county, but I agree with the City that we should not be encouraging sprawl and watershed construction by placing schools in those areas! Sorry, it's just one of those trade offs you make when you choose to live in Brier Creek (for instance), since the county doesn't require builders to set aside land for schools. That is why something has to give around here. The last county and city elections showed that Wake (and Raleigh) voters want to see some changes in the way the county is being managed. So, do it already!
Builders have offered to
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 08:06 — vsheehanBuilders have offered to build the schools for cost on land they donate if the school is for the neighberhood they build. The BOE says NO, even if the builder is putting in a mixed development.
I bet either the land being
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 13:01 — user1234I bet either the land being donated is not appropriate (e.g. on a slope, bottom land) or not big enough (e.g. >50 acres?). Maybe we should consider non-standard schools that are built into a hillside? Also, the land might be a small portion of the cost. A million dollars of land might not be worth building a $70M school. Finally, is it fair for a developer to donate $1M of land, be able to charge a high price for home and have the rest of us fund the $70M school that the community will claim for themselves because of proximity?
Is that documented
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 10:08 — loriacIs that documented somewhere? I'd like to see where this was offered, especially if it was Brier Creek.
The last time the BOE told
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 16:38 — vsheehanThe last time the BOE told a builder no to the builder donating land and building at cost as long as the dev went to the school was 2 years ago in Apex. Its a common practice for builders to donate land for a school to be built on. There was land that everyone was screaming about when the BOE turned half of Cary/Apex/ Holly Spring's schools MYR. The land had been set aside by the builder to have a school put on it. People wanted to know why the BOE never got around to building the school. I think the builder had offered to build the school for cost if the BOE let the neighberhood go there. The BOE said no and the builder just donated the land. Weatherston subdivision in Cary was built with a school. Heck Erma Baumbec talks about the practice of new subdivisions being built with the school in her "The Grass is Greener over the Septic Tank".
The land is not all slope . Donating the land is a tax right off DUH
Does not make sense to me...
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 18:06 — NWRaleighMomDoes not make sense to me... If SPRAWL is the enemy, do not give permits to builders. It is a great strategy to collect builders' contributions to the election campaign, only then to blame newcomers for out of control growth.
"blame newcomers for out of
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 18:48 — user1234"blame newcomers for out of control growth"
I don't want to blame them, I want to punish them. On the MLS listing, tell them the nearest open seat is 16 miles away if you buy this house.
"I don't want to blame
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 20:59 — SideburnsDo you really mean that? You want to punish the children of newcomers?
Yep .. They came to the
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 23:22 — user1234Yep .. They came to the game late and their parents were naïve enough to think that the government would follow them around building schools. We don’t care about F&Rs, immigrants, LE, LI, etc. why give newbie kids special status. They are pushing old residents to the next school like dominos. Today we all are being punished in taxes and reassignments because they moved here. If they had stayed in NY or CA we would not have had to build all these new school and move all these kids around. Instead of pushing existing residents out, why not make the newbie’s go find their own open seat where ever it is in the county.
You are a fool - NCDAD1 or 1234 (AKA proof you can count to 4)
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 10:12 — Voice_of_Reason_You need money to fund an economy, people moving in with high paying jobs add to the economy. People living on the dole are parasitic. The goal of education is to help children to not negatively impact society and give them the tools to make a positive impact. We need to take care of the children of both. But if you treat the people fueling the economy bad, you will soon "run out of gas." i.e. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
But if you make it too good for the lower spectrum, you start to attract the families that produce less. It's a delicate balance, not politically correct to talk like this...but it's the truth. Neighborhood schools that provide equal opportunity help to maintain this balance.
Ability grouping in Elementary School would be another alternative. Let's treat everyone to the same opportunity, but don't expect the same results. Holding back any group of children for the sake of another group is just plain wrong and is a detriment to our society as a whole.
Money spent on diversity busing and the loss of builder money to help build new schools because of the diversity policy is not helping us educate our children.
Don't kick the football
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 10:37 — Dadof3Lucy keeps putting the football down. Why do you keep kicking it?
You are correct
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:19 — Voice_of_Reason_I just needed a stress relief today.
I just re-read your
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 17:24 — jenmanI just re-read your comments, user1234. IF we had tons of room at underutilized schools, then yes we should ask the newer, far flung areas to fill those schools. But I don't see that happening.
I would like to say that I
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 18:45 — user1234I would like to say that I have paid taxes here for nearly 30 years which I think adds up to a lot more than any new homeowner is paying for their house this year. In fact, the roads and sewer to that remote cabin on the edge of the county was paid for by me so they could take the building material to that home. The incremental tax revenue from those new developments won’t pay for the infrastructure (roads, sewers, schools) to drive for many, many years. So, I don’t feel any need to provide a new school to these folks. I am mad enough to say that the only open seat is on the other side of the county and they can have it. Look at the folks on the Wake side ofLake Jordon in Chatham County , they have to pay tuition to Wake County
It appears that we have 139k students and 139k seat in round numbers and the problem is the seats and the kids are not in the same place. So the new development is not causing an overage but a distribution problem. That distribution problem is causing mass movements of kids “sloshing” back and forth across the county as new schools open.
total enrollment is 137,706 (diff of 1294)
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 20:48 — AngelaWhttp://www.wcpss.net/demographics/overview/images/08/I-overview08.pdf
Thanks ....Wow ... I did not
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 23:10 — user1234Thanks ....Wow ... I did not realize that 20% of the kids life in trailers. (page 5).
yes they do "life"
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 23:29 — AngelaWyes they do "life" there....poor planning on all parts...CC's, WCPSS you name they didn't plan it...
During the current school year, 2008-09, there are 1,162 mobile or modular classrooms on campuses throughout Wake County.
The percentage of students in mobile classrooms in 2008-09 was 22.0% in elementary schools, 15.9% in middle schools, and 16.1% in high schools. The school system's long-term goal is to have 8% of students in mobile classrooms.
In 2005-06, approximately 17 percent of WCPSS students were learning in more than 1,000 mobile/modular classrooms across the county. WCPSS is adding more than 100 classroom units for 2006-07.
Outside of the mice and
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 08:02 — vsheehanOutside of the mice and mold the kids like being in trailers at least the Elementary kids. It gives them a feeling of a close knit group seperate in a way from the school. Their own little oasis if they like the teacher that is.
In MS and HS it sucks as you have to get to class in the rain our freezing air.
user1234--No, I don't think
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 17:21 — jenmanuser1234--No, I don't think 'newbies' should have to move to the 'back of the line'. We allow those developments to be built, we actively recruit businesses to locate to Wake County, we welcome the new tax revenue generated by the aforementioned, and we enjoy the amenties that this growth brings to the area (North Hills Renovation, Costco, Trader Joe's, Triangle Town Center, etc).
Of course there are negatives to the growth, but we do get benefits from it as well. And we are doing little to nothing to stop the growth. To then say that these newcomers have to get in the 'back of the line' when it comes to schools is not right in my opinion. Unless of course our officials want to tell these newcomers about their backseat position when it comes to education. I don't see that happening.
Loriac--I'm also concerned
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:47 — jenmanLoriac--I'm also concerned about the city's plans for Brier Creek when we don't have enough schools in that area. I can't imagine what they will do with even more MS or HS students in that area.
I thought the speaker from Brier Creek was very good at the Millbrook meeting. I didn't realize that their kids were being proposed to go two completely different directions for MS and HS and that they weren't in a logical feeder pattern. The speaker wasn't very demanding--she just asked that they not be pulled in two different directions and that they have a consistent feeder pattern. She didn't care which direction the BOE chose; she trusted them to make the best decision.
I wonder if people who move
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 13:03 — user1234I wonder if people who move to the edge of the county like Amberly or Bier Creek should get any special privileges like new schools? Shouldn’t they wait in line and drive long distances to existing schools that have room? These communities take away money intended to renovate older schools to build new schools making the older schools less desirable. Shouldn’t “newbie’s” get in the back of the line?
You are missing the point.
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 21:53 — loriacYou are missing the point. It's not about 'newbies'. It's about the County Commissioners letting builders get away with building huge new developments with no new schools. If someone is looking into buying a house there, looking at the master plan and seeing the closest schools are 10 miles away in any direction and they are all overcrowded... and still decides to buy a house - they should realize what they are getting into. Namely - they will get shuffled around to different schools.
you don't understand our government
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 23:21 — supportwcpssThe County Commisioners control less than 20% of the land around here and that number is dwindeling as towns keep annexing. If you want to complain about growth talk to those Mayors who seem to be the windbags bitching about the BOE. Talk about hypocrites. We have 12 municipalities who all control permits and growth differently.
Join us
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:26 — SDR256Vsheehan, NWRaleighMom, Dadof3...Join some like minded people in building a diverse cross county action group. We're gaining momentum. Send me an email to sdr256@hotmail.com. Enough talk. Its time to act.
Your right supportWCPSS!!!
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 07:01 — vsheehanYour right supportWCPSS!!! Let those nasty Mayors deal with the schools in their towns. Your idea points to the need for Mayors to be responsiable for the schools in their areas so lets give them the responsibilty then people will leave Raleigh's BOE alone.
I like it!
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 08:04 — Dadof3There was a diamond in that rough -- thanks for drawing it out
Let'em loose
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 23:54 — NWRaleighMomLet each municipality have its own school district !
"Let each
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 13:07 — user1234"Let each municipality have its own school district !"
Why not move to one of these places instead of trying to change this one?
Pfft.
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 20:22 — Bob_SconcePfft. George Wallace had the same line.
It's a democracy. If people don't like how their government is working, they have the right to try to change it. If we are successful in changing how WCPSS is operated, will you move someplace else instead of trying to change it back?
I don’t have a problem
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 20:33 — user1234I don’t have a problem with the generic government education that is offered. You know we supplement where we think it is lacking. But to put so much energy into changing such a huge organization seems epic. You have to change the Federal, State, and local groups. By the time folks here make the changes they want (e.g. town schools, no reassignments, etc.) their kids will have graduated. If people are so unhappy, keep on investing in moving from street to street to stay in a certain school, and think some other place does it better, why not move there now and put the extra time in your kids … live is short …
Let's see
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 13:38 — Falc1) I believe in trying to resolve an issue, rather than run away from it.
2) I love a lot of things about living here and plan to stay in this community for a long time, which is why I want to see it have the best education system possible. Some of the students today or in 10 years may some day be my nurse or electrician, my grandchildren's teacher or a person my taxes pay to house in prison.
3) I'm not motivated solely by my own best short-term interests. My kids will be fine whether WCPSS is mediocre or outstanding. They have parents who have the resources to fill in the gaps and the resources to help them when they struggle with transitioning to a new school. Not all kids in Wake County have that.
4) Life is short, but differences that people make in others' lives last beyond their own lifetime.
5) I don't hate the school system, but I do think some of the leaders and supporters are narrow-minded, some of their theories and execution are flawed, and that there is certainly room for improvement. If it were me, knowing that there are systems out there with more challenges that have fewer failing schools, I would not be satisfied (let alone patting myself on the back) and saying no studies are needed - I'd be trying to figure out why and how things could be improved.
?
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 10:44 — Bob_SconceAre you talking about the same thing? What federal changes would need to be made? Heck, what State changes would need to be made? Most of the WCPSS problems can be solved by a significant change in the school board and some time.
Play with calumnibot, get burned
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 12:32 — Dadof3Breaking up this monster won't be easy. That doesn't mean its not a worthy goal.
Yes, I agree with Bob.
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 11:18 — NWRaleighMomYes, I agree with Bob. Although splitting the monster would be an ideal solution, someone on this blog wrote that it took over 10 years in Colorado. I suspect it would take even longer in today's political climate.
But if we still have enough disgrunted parents by next November, we can have SOME changes in BOE. We are up against effective propaganda machine in heavily gerrymandered district but we'll be heard, eventually.
It's possible to have district resembling Charlotte/Faiffax County in several years.
I hope it will happen.
Well, Bob since it is so
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 11:03 — user1234Well, Bob since it is so easy, I wish you luck. You won't be the first to think that fixing public education is easy and can be done quickly.
If we don't fight this,
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 14:44 — NWRaleighMomIf we don't fight this, it'll eventually spread like cancer to other places.
Bingo
Thu, 01/15/2009 - 15:23 — SDR256Yeah, especially if their well funded propoganda keeps lying about what a success it is.
jmoster--thanks for the
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:43 — jenmanjmoster--thanks for the additional info on CTE. So a school automaticallly gets a certain number of moe for CTE teachers, but the actual courses offered may vary depending on student interest and instructor availability?
Just looking at the list of CTE courses offered at each HS, I see basic ones that seem to be offered everywhere--Sports Marketing, Housing & Interiors, and Drafting for example. But then only a few schools have Furniture and Cabinetmaking, Auto, Masonry, Ag Mechanics, etc. I can understand Ag Mechanics being more popular at a more 'rural' school like F-V HS than at Sanderson.
Brier Creek to Broughton?
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 08:58 — JSCHow much sense does THAT make? Sanderson was working hard, leading up to the IB removal decision, to keep affluent students in their base. It makes more sense to put Brier Creek at Sanderson - taking them maybe a little more than half as far.
Brier Creek was originally
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 09:09 — shank56Brier Creek was originally assigned to Broughton and to Daniels when it opened- sounds as if the Leesville folks have done a great job protecting themselves from being shifted.
Brier Creek was built
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:30 — loriacBrier Creek was built without any schools (except one small elementary school). Those of us in Leesville who bought into older neighborhoods that have supported the Leesville schools since they opened, have fought hard to stay at our neighborhood schools. If you buy into a brand new neighborhood far from any schools, expect to be reassigned often.
It's also interesting to note that in Raleigh's Urban Growth plan, Brier Creek is considered one of Raleigh's main urban centers. Yet the Wake County school plan does not show any new schools in this area. Instead, we have schools like H6 where they're not needed and then have to shift students from all over to fill them. This is out of control!
Land is expensive and in
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 12:42 — NWRaleighMomLand is expensive and in high demand in this area. Does anyone know if it is an option to buy land adjacent to Brier Creek but located in Durham county?? Or does it have to be in Wake for taxes, zoning and for whatever other reasons?
Not needed?
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 12:00 — Bob_SconceI think you're wrong about H6 not being needed. As I've posted before, high schools in that area of the county are seriously overcrowded. But, putting a high school, a middle school and possibly a couple more elementary schools in the Brier Creek area makes a *lot* of sense (it would have been nice for the developers to have set that land aside).
Sounds like something to push for in the next bond.
H6
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 08:47 — For_The_ChildrenI am not at all happy about the location of H6 or the reassignment in general to this school. Haveng Heritage and H6 so close to each other is a disservice to the surrounding area and Rolesville is in desparate need of its own high school which should be located right in the heart of rolesville. The land has a cemetary on it - which is a disgrace if you ask me to move forward with building on this land. The other disgrace is that any 2009 freshmen assigned to H6 will be moved 3 times in 3 years. They will start at their assigned base HS in 09, move to Heritage in 010 and then to H6 as a Junior in 011 - what kind of high school experience is this. I just cannot believe that the Board of Education thinks this is healthy for these kids - especially high schoolers - such pivotal years for these kids. I also feel it should be illegal to assign students to a school that isn't even built! The freschman of 09 will not have the choice of grandfathering in at the school they started at in their Junior year because they will be moved their Sophomore year - and this is not fair to this group. The Freshman of 09 who are assigned to H6 are getting the short end of the stick all around - not fair at all!
Well the PTSA is being
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 06:36 — vsheehanWell the PTSA is being realistic about Millbrooks reputation.
I think their plan makes sense to first repear the schools reputation with the Magnet program then move in more Magnet seats. I agree an AG school would be a better match as people will send their child to an AG school no matter the reputation look at Enloe. I doubt the recent news coverage of the crime that has been their all along is going to stop people from applying. If Millbrook was AG then you would not need to slowly add magnet seats but that is not an option right now. Plus the IB certfication insures that all of the classes at the school meet a much more academicly demanding curiculm then WCPSS has at non Magnet schools.