It's looking less likely that you'll be able to rely on the assurances that will be part of the new multi-year assignment plan.
As noted in today's article, the state Supreme Court's decision to hear the year-round case will pose major challenges on Wake's ability to lock down the new plan. The possibility of the school board revisiting the plan after it's adopted is going up.
In other words, you might not want to base any vacation plans off the plan that the board is scheduled to adopt in January.
School officials are hoping the court will hear oral arguments by December. There are no guarantees though. Even if they hear it then, it's uncertain how long it would be before a decision was issued.
For now, Superintendent Del Burns said they'll have to base the multi-year plan around the need to continue seeking consent from families.
If the high court sides with Wake, you can expect some revisions. This could really shake up the 2010-11 and 2011-12 aspects of the plan.
If the high court backs Wake CARES, you'll see pressure on whether Wake will want to operate year-round schools with an annual consent process on a permanent basis.
Even the impact on 2009-10 is unclear. Wake could do what it did earlier this year and delay issuing consent forms for as long as possible in hopes of getting the ruling first.
Comments
Year round - not everyone "Loves" it
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 15:28 — Anonymous (not verified)My two daughters attend a YR middle School that we had a "choice" in attending - if you call choosing the YR ms that we share a property line with to the "traditional" MS that is located two towns away from us - so for all intents and purposes we were FORCED into YR school. The school (East Wake Middle) is now under-enrolled on track 1 and 4 (track 4 in 6th grade and track 1 in 7th). They were not able to hire a 4th teacher for the 6th grade track 4 because of it and now teachers in these grades are teaching double classes. I was never in support of converting our middle school - we love traditional calendar and now when our older daughter heads off to high school next year we will have two more years of messed up schedules and all that goes with it. We already experienced this last year when our younger daughter was in traditional elementary school and they converted EWMS to year round. It does not promote family togetherness - isn't that what is so important to families? Where are the priorities?
It's a 3 year joke!
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 10:53 — g88ky07And the joke is on us! BUT, the joke will be BACK on them when NEXT YEAR, count on it Rosa, the bond WILL FAIL!
Hopefully the supreme court shows more intelligence than the appeals court and by this time next year Wake County, Rosa and Patti, Lori and Del will all be on the national news LYING AGAIN as to why the public called for a mutiny and GOT IT!
I'm working on my own 3 year plan Chuck, when my child is ready for middle school we'll find a seat somewhere OTHER than in YOUR David Koresh system of throwing dung in parent's and families faces!
I'll throw it back in YOURS!
Multiyear Goal
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 09:02 — CitizenmomSymantics perhaps, but just call it a multiyear reassignment goal (not plan). A plan implies taking known facts and data and using them to generate a systematic process. That is not what this is or was ever intended to be.
This is a WCPSS goal, and like all other WCPSS goals it is easy to discard. Shucks you can even change goals like they attempted to do with the max F&R per school and did with the comparable F&R per area. This is an aspiration involving an unworthy amount of persperation.
They will "plan" and divert attention and resources from actually meeting the need of reducing the overcrowded conditions at far too many schools. They will then ask the state for waivers because they have too many students per teacher, while retaining teachers where they admit they don't need them.
The multiyear plan families need is an escape plan. Those with children entering middle school especially.
Call It What It Is
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 09:41 — Lisa_BYes, Citizenmom, it can only be called a "goal" since they have already admitted that they'll make changes "if conditions change". I've said it before and I'll say it again, HOW does this provide ANY stability for anyone???
If you want to provide stability, stop the constant reassignments and put together a plan that will NOT be changed for a certain time period. Saying that the Supreme Court's decision may not allow them to have a 3-year plan is just another attempt to place blame on someone else.
How about another novel idea--neighborhood schools, and bring the extra funding/programs to the places that truly need them??
They know the intent of Judge Manning's ruling, they know that the CC saw right through the "smoke and mirrors" of the MYR promises and chose not to fund the MYR conversions, and NOW they've seen what a dismal failure MYR has been.
How about coming clean and starting the process by saying NO MORE MYR? THAT would tell me that WCPSS cares about families.
If they fall back on destructive "business as usual" that we'll show us where their true motivations lie.
Sure there will be changes...
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 08:41 — gunfam...but they have ALWAYS planned on the assumption they would be able to do what they want. Even this "consent" is crap...the 22 schools are still MYR...and either way I'm either coerced or forced into YR. WHY can't they REALLY abide by the ruling and convert schools back to traditional in this 3 year plan.
I hope that the ruling is in our favor (whenever that may be), but it still doesn't change the calendar our schools are on now, and not sure it will change it in the future (but I continue to voice my discontent and hope for change!)
Impact on MYR Middle Schools?
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 07:20 — Lisa_BMr. Hui:
Leesville is one of the overcrowded middle schools. We've been pushing for a "6th grade center" to help ease the crowding, but considering how the BoE's focus continues to be on MYR there is always the possibility that they'd try to force another MYR conversion against the wishes of the entire Leesville community.
With Elementary Schools, there was available capacity around the county so they were able to claim that they were "offering traditional seats" even though they made them as "unappealing" as possible. I don't think there is enough available capacity in Middle Schools, so it's my GUESS that they wouldn't force a MYR conversion because they don't have the traditional seats for those who would opt-out. Is that correct, or are there 'enough' MS seats in the county that they'd attempt another destructive MYR conversion in our community?
While we're thrilled that the Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, we're just preparing ourselves for the possibility (probably very real) that they'd try to find a way to keep the blinders on and forge ahead with more MYR.
Ugh....can't ANYONE besides Ron think about the families and the REALITY of the situation???
Middle schools
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 21:08 — KeungHui (author)In theory, they'd only have 355 seats free countywide if they met their growth projection for middle schools this year. At this point it's not likely they'll reach that projection. The fact that the case is still looming means they might hold off on more conversions until they see how it turns out. If the district wins, you might see a more aggressive push to convert a school to deal with the looming space crunch.
Lisa, FYI, back to
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 07:44 — bigwinnieLisa,
FYI, back to numbers.....Carroll Middle (the reassignment possibility for LRMS) has been historically "under-enrolled" by WCPSS definition. Even as far back as 03/04 when LRMS was at 102% campus percent crowding, Carroll was at only 82%.
Gotta watch that.....always be watching the "back door" when it comes to WCPSS....and do not think for a minute that this stuff is just coming up now, in terms of "crowding"......
http://www.wcpss.net/announcements/archives/2005/12/finding_the_rig.html
http://www.wcpss.net/growth/long-range_planning/6706new_school_listing2.pdf
and these are only a few......
House of cards knocked over by burp
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 06:55 — Dadof3I await the book signing ceremony for the Del Burns book "How I Planned a Utopia and No One Showed Up"
Look, just teach the kids.
No system, no competence, can keep such a monster afloat.
MYR/Burns/Delany/BoE(eR)
FAIL
Just another name
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 06:55 — Sideburnsbigwinnie,
Totally agree. The "multi-year" reassignment plan was just another name for the annual reassignment. No guarantees and the BoE would still have the ability to alter the plan year-after-year. That's what we have now. Nothing has changed.
tell me, is ANYONE at all
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 06:46 — bigwinnietell me, is ANYONE at all surprised by the flip-flopping and the excuses? If anyone thought for a minute that the "three year" plan was really going to really GIVE a basis for "knowing" where your child is going instead of give the ILLUSION of trying to accomodate families and students.......then you aren't really up to snuff with the way this BoE and WCPSS G&P really works.