I'm going to try to hit some of the high points of the plan here.
First, the three-year plan affects 26,771 students. It starts with 8,162 students in 2009-10, 14,200 in 2010-11 and 4,409 in 2011-12.
Administrators are recommending unconverting Knightdale Elementary School for the 2009-10 school year. But it comes with a catch.
All of Knightdale's staff and most of the students would be reassigned to the new Lake Myra Elementary. Knightdale Elementary would become another traditional-calendar option for the Eastern Wake area.
Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney had first mentioned the Knightdale Elementary option last month when the board discussed which schools to unconvert. It didn't gain any traction after school board member Lori Millberg said parents in Knightdale were against the idea of converting a school back when there's not a nearby traditional-calendar middle school.
Staff wants to move out base students from Broughton High to create more magnet slots. You can expect a fight here from parents.
Kids from the Brier Creek area of northwest Raleigh won't be going to Leesville Road Middle School after all. The plan calls for moving them out of Daniels Middle School to East Cary Middle School.
Dulaney says there's not enough space at Leesville Middle, even after conversion, to house Brier Creek kids. They'd go to East Cary for year-round calendar continuity.
Even without the Brier Creek kids, Dulaney said 80 percent of Leesville Middle's students would now come from year-round elementary schools. This would be accomplished by making sure all students from Leesville and Sycamore Creek elementary schools are assigned to the school.
Panther Creek High would get some relief next year from sending students to Cary High. But Dulaney says that won't be enough to help the school.
Dulaney says Panther Creek would get major relief in 2010-11 when the students from the Brier Creek area are moved to Leesville Road High. This is part of series of moves affecting other schools before ending with the two new Northern Wake high schools.
There are probably far more moves in the plan that will get reaction, good and bad. We'll see how this goes over the next 2 1/2 months.
UPDATE
Click here for the link to the plan.
Comments
Yes we can!
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 07:17 — g88ky07Yes we can and yes we will!
DEFEAT YOUR NEXT BOND EVEN IF IT MAKES THE BOE ILL!
Vigorous bleating followed by the Silence of the Lambs
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 19:18 — Its_the_parents...Well...well...Happy Holidays to y'all from the WCPSS!
So far my prediction (made last week and reprinted below) is coming true...
Prediction on sequence of events, starting Sat, Nov 15th 2008, around 9am in Wake County households with children trapped in the WCPSS meatgrinder:
1) Parents get upset at county-wide reassignment of children like cattle;
2) Much gnashing of teeth and wailing: parents take time off from work, attend public hearings, compose and deliver impassioned speeches to the Mt. Dumbmore BoE who sit stonefaced through it all;
3) WCPSS goes through with the cattlecar plan anyways;
"Let the parents eat cake";
4) A whole new set of "activist" websites are launched as parents try to organize in complete futility;
5) New season of 'American Idol" is launched - most people drift away, and mundane existence resumes.
6) BoE and the entrenched bureaucrats heartily congratulate each other for sticking it to the common man for another year....
7) A few lonely voices in the wilderness try to keep the outrage alive to effect REAL change in this dysfunctional system.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!!!
To all the parents out there who feel completely powerless against the incompetence and corruption of the WCPSS, take a page from Barack Obama's successful campaign - Can we force change into this deeply dysfunctional system? YES WE CAN! and YES WE WILL!!!
If you are fed up and want to organize, instead of starting a new activist group, consider one that has been fighting this battle for some time now: keeplocalschools.org
Lacy and MYR
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 16:21 — EqualtreatmentSince there are no planned major changes to Lacy's base nodes in the next three years and projections show a dramatic increase on top of the overcrowding that currently exists, I have to believe that Lacy is on the list to become year round. I doubt that they can house that many students, even in the new school and with trailers, on a traditional calendar. Lacy was dropped off the old MYR list because of the pending construction. Now there isn't going to be that excuse.
H6/Heritage High
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 12:45 — For_The_ChildrenI know I've been reading that the high school reassignments wer
I know I've been reading that the high school reassignments were based on moving with "peer groups". However, I live in node 233.9 and we are currently assigned to Heritage middle school for YR and Wake Forest Rolesville middle for traditional. Instead of being reassigned from Wakefield to Heritage, we were reassigned to the H6 school which doesn't make any sense to me. I have freinds who live near Millbrook high who were reassigned to Heritage! So they will be passing my development, and passing H6, traveling to the opposite side of town instead of staying at Millbrook which is a hop, skip & jump from their homes! To top it off, all of my daughters "peer group" was reassigned to Heritage high so none of her "peer group" is moving with her. Kieu, if H6 facility is not ready in 2011, will they leave the H6 kids at the Heritage facility? With the H6 student at the Heritage facility, will these two sets of students be broken up per school assignment or will all freshman be together etc... I'm so very upset that the Freshmen in 09 who will be assigned to H6 will be moving every year for the next 3 years - this is not healthy, and as a parent, I feel sooo helpless. Of all the reassignments made thus far, this one just makes no sense at all to me...Peer groups are not staying together in all instances, and alot of nodes are being moved farther from home.....
e based on moving with "peer groups". However, I live in node 233.9 and we are currently assigned to Heritage middle school for YR and Wake Forest Rolesville middle for traditional. Instead of being reassigned from Wakefield to Heritage, we were reassigned to the H6 school which doesn't make any sense to me. I have freinds who live near Millbrook high who were reassigned to Heritage! So they will be passing my development, and passing H6, traveling to the opposite side of town instead of staying at Millbrook which is a hop, skip & jump from their homes! To top it off, all of my daughters "peer group" was reassigned to Heritage high so none of her "peer group" is moving with her. Kieu, if H6 facility is not ready in 2011, will they leave the H6 kids at the Heritage facility? With the H6 student at the Heritage facility, will these two sets of students be broken up per school assignment or will all freshman be together etc... I'm so very upset that the Freshmen in 09 who will be assigned to H6 will be moving every year for the next 3 years - this is not healthy, and as a parent, I feel sooo helpless. Of all the reassignments made thus far, this one just makes no sense at all to me...Peer groups are not staying together in all instances, and alot of nodes are being moved farther from home.....
It depends on when they
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 12:58 — KeungHui (author)It depends on when they determine that H-6's permanent building won't be ready. It sounds like they'd know before the start of the 2010-11 school year. If the Wake Forest-Rolesville HS renovations are also delayed, Dulaney says they may just leave the students at Heritage. This would delay H6 and Heritage. If WFRHS's renovations are largely done but H6 won't be ready, they may decide for 2010 to only house the Heritage studetns at the school. The H-6 moves would be delayed.
Now if H-6 is delayed after the start of the 2010-11 school hear when they'v got students now at Heritage, that would be a real mess. It's unlikely Wake would wait that long to mae the call on H-6's readiness for 2011.
Crazy
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 14:46 — For_The_ChildrenThis is so unreal, and so unfair to our kids. There has got to be better planning! Even if the HHS/H6 kids are housed at the Heritage facility - what kind of high school experience is that to not have all classes there and a lack of programs/events/activities available to them. This should not occur. Why should these children be placed on "suspense", so the Board can figure out if a school will open or not - this is just pain and simple - not fair to our children and parents of this county......
Once again....
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:43 — WuptdoThis is exactly why the WCPSS needs to be broken up. To many schools for "social engineers" to play with.
1) Give the City of Raleigh their schools back;
2) Western Wake School District
3) East Wake School District
4) North Wake School District
Tax money is not mixed within the districts in Wake County, and after 3 years, give each School Board "taxing authority" with voter approval.
Yup...
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 12:41 — Bob_SconceExcept that much of North Wake County is Raleigh -- the city limit ends just a couple miles south of the county line. Living there, I'd prefer not to have the ITB folks in control of my kids' schools.
As for Patti Head being the
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 09:36 — jenmanAs for Patti Head being the one to push conversion on Leesville Middle, I think Chuck Dulaney is very much behind it. He was the first person to bring it up at the work session--even before they had turned to the year round part of the discussion.
Beverley Clark might be convinced that it is a bad idea--she expressed concern that she didn't know enough about the situation to make an informed decision. She asked for more discussion time and to delay the vote, but was shot down.
vtorsiello--Get vocal.
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 09:32 — jenmanvtorsiello--Get vocal. Speak at any meetings that you can, write letters to all the Board members and to the newspaper. According to Chuck Dulaney (head of Growth Management), distance doesn't matter when it comes to parental involvement, especially that of low income parents.
I am really sorry for your node getting assigned that far away. :-(
new to all of this
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 09:17 — vtorsielloMy oldest child won't be in school until 2011 so there are many things that can (and probably will) change between now and then. But I checked out the draft plan and they have our node moving from Dillard drive (about 2 miles away) to Alston Ridge which is almost 19 miles away. Somehow their stats say the average distance is about 9 miles, but driving distance is 19 miles. I cannot fathom sending a 5 year old on what would be an hour bus ride twice a day when there are numerous options much closer.
It appears that our node was lumped in with 3 or 4 others from Dillard..the others having higher F&R rates than mine. So basically busing kids to Alston to make the numbers work. Of course one asks...does this really help these kids when you factor in the distance? I plan on being a volunteer in my childs school but that sort of distance would make a difference.
So for those of us who are very new to all of this, who don't even have a child in the school system yet, what should we do? I can of course put a comment in but what would make the most difference? I will not have my child going that far to school.
(Seriously) Consider moving out of Wake County...
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 19:43 — Its_the_parents......while you still can. The rest of us will end up slaves to the Burns & Dulaney Mediocritic Unitarianist education machine. Kinda like Tammany Hall (obscure reference, but I was lucky enough not to be educated by the WCPSS...
Enough with the Unitarian
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 20:42 — vsheehanEnough with the Unitarian jokes. If he was catholic or jewish you wouldn't go there.
Religion vs. Ideology
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 09:58 — Voice_of_Reason_I don't think that was meant as a joke. But I am not sure Dr. Burns is a member of UUE either.
The UUE is more an meeting place for people with an ideology (Liberalism or humanism), than a religion. That is, if a faith in of a higher being that created mankind is a prerequisite for a religion. I think that was what the reference was about. Yes the Wickenism and Satanism ( both accepted by the UUE Church) are religion too in a sense, but at what point to you draw the line. This country was founded on Judea/Christian values. I personally do not subscribe to the UUE belief that all of mankind's problems can be solved through education.
Education the Answer to Liberalism? - How Ironic
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 18:29 — Voice_of_Reason_See this: LINK TO ZOGBY POST ELECTION POLL
Actually I think psychiatry is more of an answer to the problem.
The Gnostic Heresies of the 4th century
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 10:17 — Dadof3No, education alone won't reform a person, but then, reform towards what end? And again, I thought St. Augustine dealt decisively with the whole business of gnosticism (in fatal summary - knowledge makes a superior or meta-person) in the 4th century, but, hey, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it (that quote is from an agnostic, btw)
Besides
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 14:12 — Voice_of_Reason_If you have evil in your soul and wish to become criminal, I would rather that person be stupid rather than smart. It makes policing a lot easier. ;^)
A critical distinction
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 15:03 — Dadof3Therein your post lies the critical distinction between wisdom and smarts, something lost on the modern world.
Point conceded...
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 23:30 — Its_the_parents...Won't bring it up again
I think there is something
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:13 — CaryMomof4I think there is something wrong with the Dillard Drive plan. Swift Creek is over-crowded and Dillard Drive and Yates Mill just down the street are under-capacity. This plan shows the 2011-12 Projected Membership with Proposed Changes to be 391 with a Capacity of 715 at Dillard Drive, yet Swift Creek's Projected Membership with Proposed Changes to be 587 with a capacity of 515. Doesn't it make since to reassign some of Swift Creek's nodes to Dillard Drive? Since Yates Mill is not affected it's projections are not shown but I would like to see their projections. Is projection information available for schools not affected? Since I believe the schools all feed to Dillard Drive Middle & Athens Drive High this would not affect the feeder patterns and would help all three schools be better utilized.
Rather be a little crowded than reassigned
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 20:56 — FalcI was relieved to see no impact to Swift Creek. Some of the Swift Creek nodes had their YR option impacted by the 2008-09 reassignment plan. Having just been impacted by reassignment, I'll take overcrowding to having to switch schools again.
According to summary data shared on this site, only 63% of students attending SCES are base students (compared to 86% for DDES and 94% for YMES), 9% are applicants, 8% are transfers and 20% are other. If only base students were attending SCES, it would not be overcapacity. Therefore, reassigning base nodes out of SCES does not make as much sense as it may seem.
The draft plan has about 10 YMES base nodes having their YR option reassigned from Oak Grove to Adams. Those nodes, while relatively close to OG, are a LONG way from Adams, so more families from those nodes may opt to go to YMES in the future, thereby, better utilizing that school.
No Reason To Convert LRMS
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 07:13 — Lisa_BHi Blog Friends:
It looks like it's been a busy week since I went "MIA". Thanks for all of the offline e-mails and phone calls. The combination of needing a mental break from the online attacks and spending a few days downtown in Jury Duty kept me away, but now I'm back and ready to move forward again.
I do want to make a few comments. Thanks to Angela for supplying so many FACTS. I see that no one has come forward to dispute them, as I too believe those to be accurate. I appreciate you keeping this a very factual effort, since that is what we need to show that MYR is NOT needed at LRMS.
Making the emotional plea to "think about keeping families together" sure didn't work for anyone---hopefully the facts will. Reading the blog entries is encouraging, since people are becoming more educated and THE TRUTH IS BECOMING EXPOSED.
It is my hope that people can move away from "us vs. them" and "who is the majority/minority" to strictly considering the facts. When FACTS are involved, they cannot be disputed.
I agree with the posting that referenced the justification for a MYR conversion. Patti Head DID say at the October work session that converting LRMS to the year-round calendar was NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH EXPLOSIVE GROWTH in the area. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, the growth in the area was so great that we NEEDED to convert to YR to handle the growth.
Ironically, we do NOT need the conversion to handle growth. Now, even Chuck has indicated that WITHOUT CHANGES, LRMS' enrollment in 2011-12 will only increase by 14 students. That is an increase of 14 students in 3 years!!! THERE IS NO GROWTH CRISIS IN THE LEESVILLE AREA. That should be all the justification necessary to keep LRMS on the traditional calendar. Fortunately, the decision makers have also become aware of this fact so keeping LRMS on the traditional calendar is still a possibility.
"Neighborhood Schools" and "Keeping Families Together" never mattered to WCPSS before. Why, all of a sudden, have they decided that "peer continuity" is so important---but Keeping Families together is NOT??? I'm all for "peer continuity", but I think Keeping Families Together is MORE important. I am puzzled as to why they are going to such extremes in order to justify MYR at LRMS? Wouldn't it be easier to admit that putting LRMS on the chopping block was a hasty decision, and is the WRONG thing to do after all??
Looking at the reassignment plan, they are actually moving 9 nodes OUT of LRMS and moving 101 nodes IN to LRMS. All of this is being done to increase the membership to the point that AFTER THESE CHANGES they have to say "OK---we're assigning 1488 kids to the school so we NOW need MYR after all."
We have a meeting tomorrow night at Leesville High School where Chuck Dulaney is going to explain his ideas for the Leesville community, and take questions from the audience. While I appreciate his effort, this is not considered an official "board hearing" so we are going to have to attend the other meetings to continue making our case. I believe that there will be many people attending with questions regarding the draft, and I hope everyone gets the chance to ask their questions. As Angela has referenced, we have a LOT of factual reasons to NOT convert LRMS, so we are encouraged.
I'm sorry to hear from so many people who are so upset about the changes their families will be facing during the next 3 years. My thoughts will be with you as you attempt to have revisions made to the draft during the coming month.
I don't think it is right
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 09:54 — Eric_BI don't think it is right to characterize the YR conversion in this way. LRMS was overcrowded for years now, so nodes that otherwise would have been assigned to LRMS were moved out. Now that the school is going YR these nodes can be moved back into the school. That's a good thing!
That said, the net change in the number of base nodes assigned to LRMS over the 3 year assignment plan still decreases by 2 even while the population goes from 1281 to 1488!
So, peer group continuity is
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 14:32 — Families_FirstSo, peer group continuity is more important to you than calendar continuity for families EB? Realizing this is not your draft, it sounds as though you've bought the spin. I suggest keeping families together as first consideration. Peer group concerns come in second place if and when space allows.
A Leesville Mom made that
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 15:21 — PinkSlipA Leesville Mom made that point very clear last night, to a rousing response of cheers. Parents are ignored and so are teachers.
Hilburn to LMS?
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 11:41 — jenmanI find it interesting that all of Hilburn is being assigned to LMS since Hilburn is trad and LMS is yr. At the work session where they voted on which schools to convert or unconvert, Lori Millberg made a big point out of saying that she wasn't interested in unconverting elem schools in a certain area because there were no trad middle schools for those kids to go to.
The kids would be going trad ES, yr MS, and then traditional again for HS. Millberg stated more than once that she couldn't do that to those families. I know that GM formed the plan and not the BOE, but that argument could be used by Hilburn parents if they don't want to go YR at Leesville.
Traditional Calendar Options?
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 09:56 — Eric_BI agree that this stinks for Hilburn. I was surprised not to see a traditional calendar opt-out for LRMS in the assignment plan.
A traditional calendar opt-out should be provided and the Hilburn and York kids given priority for the opt-out.
LRMS vs Carroll
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 10:40 — NWRaleighMomWell, Hilburn nodes are thrilled to be re-assigned to LRMS. It is a big improvement over going so far away to Carroll.
Ideally, they should give priority to younger siblings to attend YR.
Ding Ding Ding we have a
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 12:53 — WhyNoChoiceDing Ding Ding we have a winner. You are correct Jen Man. Check with some Hilburn parents. If LRMS is YR Hilburn will transfer to YR option of Leesville, Sycamore or Brier. Sycamore already has Hilburn's previous Principal and most of their friends. Just imagine how that would kill Hilburn. F&R already at 50%. They were dealt a crappy hand last year. This could be the final straw.
They will not be allowed to transfer
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 09:45 — CaryMomof4You only get to chose your calendar option if you are assigned to YR. if you are assigned to traditional they will turn down your application. I've been turned down for YR every year.
Hilburn has been given no
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 07:27 — Families_FirstHilburn has been given no consideration. Correcting the Leesville MYR mistakes will do wonders for this school too.
Very True
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 21:15 — Lisa_BYes, WhyNoChoice, that is very true. If LRMS remains on the traditional calendar and LES receives a MYR reversal, it will only HELP Hilburn. They are suffering now, and deserve some ASSISTANCE.
Crazy
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 10:10 — Dadof3Sorry, this is naked emperor crazy. Arguing over projections misses the bigger point. We have to smash this behemoth into smaller pieces.
HOW?!?!?!? let's get it
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 10:36 — AngelaWHOW?!?!?!? let's get it started!!! with all these Dems in place though I'm thinking not gonna happen in this lifetime.....
Amen !!
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 11:27 — joeciullaAnyone on this board who bought into the Obama straight-party Democratic ticket "Change" train, and is now railing at this mess: Look in the mirror, you have yourself to blame. You voted for the same Democratic leaders in our state legislature who have been shielding the School Board and their policies for years. The NCGA Dems don't represent "Change," they represent "More of the Same," or better said "More of the Shame."
Look in the mirror, you have yourself to blame
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 13:04 — AngelaWsooo DO NOT! :+)
Valid point
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 12:48 — Dadof3I generally avoid partisan posts as they aren't persuasive to the undecideds BUT I agree with Joe, especial in the realm of education policy. This isn't bipoloar, that isn't to say that the Republican party is the answer but boy oh boy, the Democratic party is very much the party of "Big Law" "Big Union" "Big Government" none of which helps involved parents looking for a school that better reflects their goals. A response of "well, Republicans would..." is a non-sequitor here. It's simple cause and effect and we're enabling a bad situation with our actions.
Save me the "Southern Dems are more conservative" by the way. Southern Dems talk more "blue dog" but vote like the rest of the dem-leaning politicians. QED: look at how vilified center-left Lieberman is.
The pity here is that Wake
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 14:57 — joeciullaThe pity here is that Wake Dems have made this a partisan issue. These are not nodes, they are not numbers, they are not percentages... they are our children.
You're the one making it a partisan issue
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 16:56 — NCParentThis problem is bad enough without you assuming Liberal/Conservative labels onto people based on what they want. In my experience, politics has little to do with the YR/Traditional issue. My uber Conservative neighbor will fight to the death for YR, while the Bleeding Heart down the street can't stand it and wants the traditional calendar back at LES. So let's step off the political soapbox.
A volley of non-sequitors
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 20:30 — Dadof3I must assume you are talking about this thread only.
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 07:30 — Voice_of_Reason_NCParent got too excited when you made that comment. A definite "gotya" if you meant the WakeEd Blog in general.
Indefensible and irrelevant
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 08:48 — Dadof3There's a curious rhetorical ploy I'm seeing used increasingly, where "comments from the edge" as it where, are conflated by a provocateur to be representative of the mainstream or common sentiments. In our discussion here, Joe and I carefully raised (without collusion :)) the role Dems play in alienating parents from education policy. Then, out of nowhere, we're talking "liberal," "conservative" and "Fox News" which doesn't rationally flow from that discussion, though these are powder-keg words. Whether those terms are used elsewhere on this blog is novel at best, but remains the focus for some who have no good rationale otherwise. So, in summary, NCParent scores some pedantic points, whatever that's worth. I do enjoy making people laugh, so there's a perk, too.
Mr. Hui does a good job keeping us in line.
Now that I've stopped laughing
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 20:45 — NCParent"You're the first to use the "Liberal/Conservative" label on this blog."
Are you new to this blog? Because I most certainly cannot claim the dubious distinction you're attempting to bestow upon me. Sorry to disappoint. Would it have been better for you if I'd said Dem/Rep? Liberal/Conservative anymore to me means Dem/Rep. Been watching too much Fox News, I guess.
You're welcome
Mon, 11/17/2008 - 21:05 — Dadof3Glad you had a light moment. I meant on this particular post, not the whole blog, a point which remains. I'm not sure why what news station you watch matters?
You are correct - Not Liberal vs. Conservative issue
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 07:26 — Voice_of_Reason_This is one thing that both sides either oppose or want. The principles behind this is more a money issue than an ideological one. Love it or hate it. Most would just like the choice.
However, there is the point of authoritarian vs. "the people" (in this case the parents they serve. Yes, the school system serves all the public, but the parents are the most effected by the BoE's decisions.
Economically you could make an argument for year round . Socially, you would loose the manditority argument. That being said, the BoE has not made any good arguments because the economic one has been shot up pretty well.
http://www.wcpss.net/school-d
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 09:51 — JSBinNChttp://www.wcpss.net/school-directory/results/eog-608.html If this trend stays in place, then I guess we have 3 years to either move, or save for private.
What About Western Wake Cary - Mills Park Middle
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 09:30 — local23After 10 years we (HWY 55, Morrisville, David Dr., Carpenter Area) are finally getting a middle school and guess what..they are assigning us to East Cary Middle, almost an hour bus drive and we PASS every single Middle School in Cary - Every single one is actually closer...Please someone explain this unjust and unexcusable insanity from WCPSS?
numbers
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 11:22 — joeciullaIf enough of you band together and apply for F&R status you'll stand a good chance of staying put.
There is no explanation.
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 09:50 — JSBinNCnothing rational, anyway. They just need your "profile" somewhere else. :(
It's called a VENDETTA
Tue, 11/18/2008 - 00:03 — Its_the_parents...The megalomaniacs have a special place in hell reserved for this "affluent" area (even though the actual demographic is way more modest). Some parents/folks came over too strong during the valiant glory days ofthe BoE "listening sessions", so now this area is SKROOOD until divine intervention or the Feds/SCOTUS ram change into this entrenched curroptocracy.
Good Luck with that - my prediction is that the high-fertility demographic in Western Wake will bail as soon as the real-estate market and economy allow them to escape, and the future population will comprise of northeastern empty-nesters looking for a place to retire now that Florida is in the dumps.
Already in talks with realtors to plan my exit strategy from Wake County..am broadcasting to everyone who is planning to move to Wake to make a hard right onto I-40 (W) and look in the Chapel Hill area.
Sad that it had to end this way, beautiful, planned area, great weather, ...and all that poisoned by a clueless board most interested in distributing its urban problems across the suburban part of the county. It's as simple as that - If Burns and Dulaney aspire to BIG SCHOOL SYSTEMS jobs (think Joe Kline in NY) they need to build their resumes here - so busing increases, budgets swell (more money is more power, etc.)
Meeker and other "big-city wannabees" don't realize that along with the accoutrements of a world-class city (gleaming skyscrapers, etc) - one must also accomodate the tenements. Shipping underperforming students miles away from home to "rich" areas is not the answer, instead it is an ENRON-STYLE ACCOUNTING FRAUD being played out on the rest of the county. If they really aspire to be a big city, decency demands that they regain possession of their schools and let the rest of us suburbans go our way. No more using neighboring towns as dumping grounds for "less priviledged students" - If you wanna be a big city, then take both your Magnificient Mile and South Side as well. There's no picking and choosing allowed!
ENOUGH SAID...BUT HAVE YOU HAD ENOUGH YET??
If you are ready to act, please convene near Trader Joe's in Cary (Kildaire & Cary Parkway) this Saturday Nov 22 at 3pm to see if we can get momentum together and coordinate it with some other organizations that are advocating different approaches. We need multiple shots on the goal, kinda like that last scene in the first Star Wars, in their desperate attack against the Death Star!! (well, only in afigurative sense).