Things didn't go as planned for the school board on Thursday.
The board held a lengthy closed-session discussion on the ongoing dispute with Cary over road improvements near Panther Creek High. It's holding up the approval needed to use modular classrooms on campus.
The board's plan was to return to open session for an explanation on television of the school district's side of the case. There was only one problem.
The board walked back into the main board room to find the lights and sound off. The crew from Raleigh Television, which records and broadcasts the meeting, had left for the night.
Jumping back a bit, here's a quick recap on the issue.
Cary has required the school system to construct an additional northbound through lane on N.C. 55 from McCrimmon Parkway through the intersections of the ramps at N.C. 540 because of the installation of the modular classrooms. It’s expected to cost $1.4 million.
The school system asked for a waiver from doing the work. Cary Town Council members said in November that they couldn’t legally grant an exemption.
Town staff was told not to approve the site plan for certificates of occupancy for the modular units until the school system committed to do the road work.
Amid the growing complaints from the school system, the Town Council extended an oliver branch two weeks ago. The Town Council agreed to give the school system up to three years to start the work and four years to complete the project.
It still wasn't enough for the school board.
After Thursday's closed session, school board members said they want to meet with the Town Council to resolve the fight.
School board members said they want to at least mitigate the cost. For instance, Lori Millberg asked if they could get some kind of break by allowing only seniors to drive on campus.
(That suggestion was met with a laugh from Cary Town Councilman Don Frantz in an interview after the school board meeting. He said the school system can use the modulars once they sign the bond to start the work.)
Unless it's resolved soon, the modulars might not be ready at all this school year. They were originally supposed to be ready before classes started in August.
Comments
I'd like to thank Mr.
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 14:24 — WendyADarlingI'd like to thank Mr. Frantz as well for explaining this situation from the TOC standpoint. It is nice to have a council member willing to be involved in the issues revolving around the WCPSS, AND willing to speak out publically.
IMHO the WCPSS will always play the "blame game" for their own screw ups...
Question Mr. Frantz
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 13:40 — supportwcpssA question for you Mr. Frantz.
Why don't you have those same rigorous rules when approving developments. Why is school capacity ignored when reviewing developments. I was told years ago during a battle against a development that staff/council is told they can't even bring those numbers up during the discussion. This is just wrong.
I know you, as well as the rest of the new council is much more interested in helping this area but my question is what is being done to control the development.
Ernie McAlister threw open
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 13:51 — CaryCurmudgeonErnie McAlister threw open the doors to unbridled development, and there is nothing we can do to go back in time to fix that. This council has raised impact fees (and no, 1234, ordinance prevents them from just giving this money to wcpss), and are tightening up the LDO.
Stan Norwalk campaigned on a promise to support a county-wide APFO and impact fee for schools. My guess is that in today's economy, the Democratic majority won't have the guts to propose such a thing.
BTW, Cary parents were very frustrated with Mayor McAlister's not listening to their concerns, and he was voted out of office in '07. Any of the 4 BoE members who choose to run again face the same fate from this county.
County wide APFO
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 15:57 — supportwcpssDoes not apply to individual towns. He along with the others would have to get all 12 towns to agree and we know that won't happen.
Really? Then why was he
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 16:14 — CaryCurmudgeonReally? Then why was he campaigning on a promise which could never occur? Guess you could ask him that question.
Show me the facts
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 16:39 — supportwcpssHe never promised to implement it. HE said he supported it. Ask your leaders to step up and support it.
Blame it on Ernie
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 15:39 — user1234Hmm … that is convenient … the Town of Cary lays a turd on the WCPSS by allowing uncheck growth during the Ernie years … the citizens get fed up with the traffic and water restrictions unplanned growth brings and they oust Ernie leaving a tsunami of kids headed at the WCPSS time delayed by years .. Then the current administration blames the previous administration which absolves them of their sins and they sit back playing the good guys, showing up at public meetings fighting the evil WCPSS. Reminds my of a little child who breaks something and steps back hoping someone else will be blamed. Maybe the citizens of Cary and the Town should not get off the hook so easily for this disaster by ousting the bad guy and they should apologize and make retribution for those bad years and all the grief it is causing … just because you realize a mistake and get a new leader does not remove the liability you caused and your responsiblity to make it right.
I agree with you. Those
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 16:17 — CaryCurmudgeonI agree with you. Those Cary people are a hindrance and don't deserve to be part of wcpss. Since Cary has caused so many problems, they should be kicked out of wcpss, start their own system, and see if they can do any better.
Nice! Apex out, too, please
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 17:25 — Dadof3Darn hypocritical mayor and small-minded citizens -- kick Apex out of WCPSS while you're at it.
Remember that Green Hope and
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 18:00 — user1234Remember that Green Hope and Panther Creek are in the Town of Cary System, so you would need to find another school if you live in Apex.
Oh yea, hadn't thought of that detail.
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 18:53 — Dadof3Whatever. Can we opt out, please?
That would be Apex High
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 18:30 — CaryCurmudgeonThat would be Apex High School, and I expect most Apex residents would be happy to send their children there. Any other towns you have decided should get the boot?
hey
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 14:47 — AngelaWus here in NW Raleigh, please please pick us too!!!
Better yet would have them
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 16:43 — user1234Better yet would have them all go to private schools so they get the "high touch" custom education they want and not burden other taxpayers in the town.
That's ok, we'd be happy to
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 17:09 — CaryCurmudgeonThat's ok, we'd be happy to keep our taxes and not be a burden on wcpss. Thanks for suggesting it.
Shouldn't we ALL expect to
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 17:03 — WendyADarlingShouldn't we ALL expect to get a "high touch" custom education within the WCPSS??? I know one of my schools used to do this very well but because of the policies of the school system it is now highly overcrowded this year with an F&R rate well above 40%...and it's a school in Cary.
“Shouldn't we ALL expect
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 18:07 — user1234“Shouldn't we ALL expect to get a "high touch" custom education within the WCPSS???”
It would be nice if they were not distracted with all the uncontrolled growth.
“I know one of my schools used to do this very well but because of the policies of the school system it is now highly overcrowded this year with an F&R rate well above 40%...and it's a school inCary
Thank the mayors (Ernie?) for the overcrowding from the Town's unplanned growth. ThankDavis Drive
Thank the mayors (Ernie?)
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 19:25 — gwaihirThank the mayors (Ernie?) for the overcrowding from the Town's unplanned growth.
===========
Can you supply the numbers of new schoolchildren produced by Raleigh growth compared to the numbers of new schoolchildren produced by Cary growth?
Last time, it was Apex vs Raleigh. This time, apparently Cary vs Raleigh. Please supply the numbers. Non-WCPSS sources, thanks.
And, please do not supply the locatons of new schools since we all know how close Cary is to Raleigh, we all know Cary land is cheaper than ITB land, and we all know that WCPSS busses and is therefore NOT limited to building schools only where the growth actually is occurring. I would just like to know the growth in the absolute numbers of schoolchildren in Raleigh and Cary.
Not the Mayors fault
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 19:05 — WendyADarling"Thank the mayors (Ernie?) for the overcrowding from the Town's unplanned growth. ThankDavis Drive
Nope, I don't thank either of the choices you presented. I can't blame it in unplanned growth in Cary since we are the in District 6 for which many of the kids are from Raleigh. I guess I could blame it on unchecked growth in Raleigh? I can't blame it on Davis Drive because we have always had a very high F&R rate since the school was built. That has to do with the WCPSS diversity policy period. The WCPSS is responsible for the percentages of F&R kids at the schools, not the individual schools such as Davis Drive. And I have never felt we were "carrying the load" for Davis. I think it's great for them to have a low percentage and do not play the "sour grapes" card. After this school year is over both my children will have completed a full 6 years at this school. I have loved it and they have gotten an incredible education. However, if my kids had to attend any more years here due to the issues it's facing now, I would strongly consider pulling them out. Not because of mayors or DD.
This school year I blame the over crowding and high F&R on the year round school fiasco. We are an opt out school for 2 (or 3...i'm sorry i can't remember) year round schools. These year round schools pull from other municipalities other than Cary. The majority of our overcrowding is from families who have opted out of year round. That cannot be blamed on Cary mayors or Davis Drive schools.
I think it was mentioned before in this thread somewhere. There are no schools that are Cary, Apex, Raleigh, Knightdale, etc schools because kids are bussed ALL OVER Wake County.
Well said.
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 14:17 — WendyADarlingWell said.
“According to the school
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 13:44 — user1234“According to the school board's chair these are "county" schools and not "neighborhood" schools. Therefore the county should bear some of the responsibility for roadway improvements.”
Just because the state has given the authority for schools to the school board does not mean the Town should walk away from helping when ever they can. I am so thankful the TOC does not have to manage schools too.Cary
Don, after giving $64M to WCPSS why is this $1.4M the deal breaker? Is this retribution for all the reassignment hassle they have causedCary
“Cary
Don’t a lot of Morrisville and Apex kids go to Panther Creek so maybe they should be asked to chip in too? Finally, why didn’t they just postpone the auditorium or football field for a few years until they could pay for the roads?
Don, can you make a comment on why the TOC require new development to have sewer and road capacity but not school capacity? Given the 3-7 years it takes to put in a new school, why does the TOC allow growth to run wild?
Oh...cry WCPSS a river Mr.
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:53 — rr77rr99Oh...cry WCPSS a river Mr. Frantz! ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. YOU (you meaning CaryApex et al)OWES THEM that money and the cooperation because it is the evil municipalities that have allowed uncontrolled growth and sprawl that has left THEM in this situation.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are COUNTY schools, it is up to every municipality to fund those county schools and buy into their program of bussing and calendar changes and whatever else they think up.
It's a total put up and shut up situation. Oh, and don't EVER butt your (Meaning Cary/Apex et al town councils) nose into ever trying to name schools. They don't belong to YOU (et al).
Have you not gotten all these messages loud and clear from this Board (ER)?
I don't understand
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 11:18 — gunfamWhy does the school board have to add the lane? Especially for something that is designed to be temporary (k...I know they don't actually ever leave, but still). Were road improvements needed at any other schools?? I just don't understand the background on this. Can anyone explain it?
Wake may call it temporary
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:01 — KeungHui (author)Wake may call it temporary but as long as the modulars are there it increases the number of students who could attend. That's at least how the town sees things. From Wake's side, they're also trying to make a statement because they expect similiar requests for road work to be made in the future with other projects.
Thanks
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:23 — gunfamI guess I see all the modulars added to Apex HS, and never saw any road improvements, so I didn't get why this was such a big issue. As I read below, it seems to be a Cary requirement, which is why it may be different.
"I guess I see all the
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 15:03 — user1234"I guess I see all the modulars added to Apex HS, and never saw any road improvements, so I didn't get why this was such a big issue."
Sounds like town restrictions and I guess Apex is not as strict as Cary when it comes to traffic.
So much for Cary's
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 10:36 — user1234So much for Cary's commitment to schools. That mayor stuff is show.
"Town staff was told not to approve the site plan for certificates of occupancy for the modular units until the school system committed to do the road work."
Yet they approve COO without adequate school capacity. Where is the love and commitment to schools. This is "Town based" schooling at it's best.
You really should start
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:04 — CaryCurmudgeonYou really should start checking facts before you post, it is embarrassing. Cary has given $63M to Wake County Schools over the past eight years.
Cary's land ordinance does not allow the town council to forgive the $1.4M. Are you a lawyer, and in a position to offer a more informed opinion than Cary's town attorney?
First you say that the School Board should not be in the business of building schools. Now you say that Wake County municipalities should regulate their growth based on how good a job the School Board does building schools.
Maybe the Panther Creek
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 12:37 — user1234Maybe the Panther Creek parents should pass the hat.
I don't believe this issue
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 10:36 — CaryCurmudgeonI don't believe this issue has anything to do with funding at this point. This is nothing more than punishing Cary and it's government for speaking out about schools.
Well put, Sideburns... we are dealing with bullies and need to stand up to them.
Bawk, bawk
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 10:04 — SideburnsSounds like a game of chicken. It's about time Cary stood up to those bullies.