Details are still being worked out on how to accommodate the families who still want to stay on the year-round calendar now that the Wake County school board has changed schedules for four schools for the 2010-11 school year.
The school board unanimously agreed Tuesday to convert Leesville Road elementary and middle schools and Mills Park Elementary to a traditional calendar and to open Mills Park MIddle on that same calendar.
The plan is to allow families at those four schools to apply to a year-round calendar if they don't want to stay after conversion. But the mechanism for allowing families to apply still is being worked out.
The calendar application period ended Sunday. Staff may reopen the application period for parents at the four schools or use some other means.
The plan now is to let Leesville Elementary families go to Sycamore Creek Elementary. Leesville Middle families could choose Durant Road Middle.
Mills Park Elementary families could go to Alston Ridge or Highcroft Drive elementary schools depending on where they live.
Mills Park Middle families could go to East Cary or Salem middle schools depending on where they live.
Comments
How many will stay year round?
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 12:50 — garnergradCome next school year, I would love to know how many families leave these schools to stay on year round, and what tracks those families are on. Based on the survey results, we'd expect the track 2 &3 families to stay traditional because they don't like their tracks, and the track 1 & 4 families to keep year round because they like their track. However, we'd expect track 1 and 4 to be full at the year-round options. These conversions are the perfect petrie dish to find out how good the survey was in predicting behaviors. Who liked year round enough to change to track 2 or 3? I'm looking forward to finding out!
Other changes? Salem Middle?
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:04 — morrisville_parentDear Mr. Hui,
It looks like some of the kids assigned to Mills Park Middle and want YR will go to Salem Middle. What about Salem Middle students who want traditional? - Are they still going to go to Apex Middle? or maybe to Mills Park Middle?
Thanks.
That will come up March 23
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:48 — KeungHui (author)That will come up March 23 when the staff comes back with potential changes of calendar appliation schools based on the applications. That's why Laura Evana told the board Tuesday they might not be able to place all the Heritage Middle applicants.
Survey data on MP Middle
Tue, 03/09/2010 - 16:48 — MPEparentMr. Hui, Can you tell me where I can find the survey response data on Mills Park Middle school? It is not contained in the large document on the WCPSS website. I assume the data that were used to make a decision on converting MPM to traditional included all potential rising 6, 7 and 8th graders from all of the nodes that would feed into MPM. Is that correct? I also wondered if a similar analysis was done for any other new schools opening next year. What prompted the staff to do such an analysis for MP Middle? Thank you.
I'm a Mills Park parent,
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 12:29 — florida68I'm a Mills Park parent, thus the question. Do you know if the Mills Park schools are going to be application traditional schools for the upcoming year.. If allowed, hopefully they are going to put a cap on it so our school will not suddenly become overcrowded.... The way our current traditioanl school is of Weatherstone.
Also, on the March 23 BOE meeting, would it be worth MP school parents to voice this? Already emailed all the board members and zero response, so starting to get a little concerned.
It will likely come up March
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 14:03 — KeungHui (author)It will likely come up March 23.
florida--it can never hurt
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 12:41 — jenmanflorida--it can never hurt to voice your opinion. I do know that the board members (all of them) are getting lots and lots of emails. Make sure you put Mills Park questions or something like that in your subject line.
The only problem with speaking at the March 23rd meeting is that if this item isn't on the agenda, you'll have to wait until all the speakers who are commenting on agenda items are done. I think the next meeting will be even more of a circus than this week's.
Maybe call some of the board members?
another question
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 11:27 — morrisville_parentMr. Hui,
How does this work with the information on WCPSS site. It says: "Families will be able to check online to find their student’s calendar or magnet school assignment on March 18". From your reply - they might not have assignments at least until March 23.
Thanks.
There will have to be some
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 14:02 — KeungHui (author)There will have to be some adjustments made, especially for people who applied for year-round to get into Leesville. It's one of the things that will probably be discussed and voted on during the March 23 meeting.
Interesting.... those
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:29 — allkidsfirstInteresting.... those options are not exactly "neighborhood" schools! Some are not even close. And how many school/calendar changes will it be for these kids?
And next year
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:35 — croaswifeWe are supposed to be moved from Leesville HS to Broughton...wondering if that plan could get scrapped in light of the new boards direction...we are 3 miles from LHS and 10+ miles to Broughton.
It'll look hypocritical if
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:43 — allkidsfirstIt'll look hypocritical if they do. They are now telling Mills Park Families that want Year Round that it's fine for them to travel FURTHER to a year round application school, than people who wanted traditional had to go.
But Deborah Prickett's son is in the same boat, so I guess you "get to" stay at Leesville. Wonder how crowded it will be?
What are you talking about
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 18:40 — local23For Mills Park? Salem is about 2.5 miles and East Cary is 8.5 miles..these are the only two MS in Cary and close promity for Apex/Cary that will be YR..Davis, Reedy Creek, West Cary and Mills Park will be TR - those will be the designated schools for our z/area..We get a choice in a YR or TR..when Alston MS get's built the following as a TR, that will be about 1.5 miles
Alston Ridge Middle School
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 09:15 — LiveInWestCaryLocal23--
Are there plans to build an Alston Ridge Middle School? I had not heard this. When is it expected to be completed?
Thanks!
On the wcpss web site for CIP Bond 2006
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 19:19 — local23Blueprint for Excellence 2006 Maps, site acquisition as of January 2009
M16 - Land Bank sites - it's pretty much next to Alston ES
Also, H7 - Property has been acquired - High School
I tried posting the link..but not such luck..really weird..go to the demographics reports, pg.132
Deborah Prickett's child is
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 18:00 — AngelaWDeborah Prickett's child is NOT at LRHS.
I figured the changes at
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:50 — danofncI figured the changes at Leesville impacted Ms. Prickett personally.
I wonder if Margiotta's family attends Mills Park.
I heard that Margiotta's
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:05 — allkidsfirstI heard that Margiotta's grandkids go to private school. I don't have that option.
So, is that a crime?
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:38 — Voice_of_Reason_Most of the political class in this country send their children to private school too. Anyway, doesn't that send a message that public schools need improvement. Some people like Ron actually are trying to improve them. If he didn't care, why in hell would he be sitting on the board and taking all the heat? It's not like he gets paid a lot, gets many perks, or even gets that much power. Perhaps he cares more than most.
Hmmm
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 22:00 — twogirldad"cares more than most" or carries the water for people who truly beleive that the private market should be educating our children..
Yes VOR
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:59 — choice4allLets not forget that Obama's children attend a private school.
Yes and let's not forget
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 13:39 — Voice_of_Reason_Who helped cut the money from the voucher program working so well within DC. It was actually helping some lower income kids, go figure.
Does your father tell you
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:20 — trollwatcherDoes your father tell you where to send your kids to school ? Don't be so ignorant.
Odds are that their father
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:50 — danofncOdds are that their father also isn't on the board of directors of a private school, either.
Once Margiotta gets his system in place, I think it would be very hypocritical to have his family opt out of that system.
I'd like to see a poll of the WEP Board's children
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 21:50 — raleighlauraand see where board members with school age kids send them.
Yes! Let's see,
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 22:57 — jenmanYes! Let's see, Ravenscroft, OLL, St. Davids, St. Timothy's, Cary Academy. . . .
Interesting. So she
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:02 — Dove314Interesting. So she effectively used her vote to get her son in the school she most wanted for him?
Wrong
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:05 — JanisTangoWrong...Mrs. Prickett's son doesn't go to Leesville!
Thanks, it's actually
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 11:00 — Dove314Thanks, it's kind of you to provide the correct information.
I think he actually went to
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:07 — allkidsfirstI think he actually went to Panther Creek, which is even more crowded. I thought all Briar Creek kids were being moved from their "neighborhood" schools to Broughton.
Brier Creek also
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:12 — croaswifeis supposed to change from Panther Creek to Broughton next year along with my node which is in NW Raleigh.
That makes no sense.
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 21:51 — raleighlauraMoving those kids to Broughton is just crazy. I don't know why they don't keep them at one of the closer schools. That commute is terrible on adults, let alone kids.
Too many kids in Western
Fri, 03/05/2010 - 12:53 — user12345Too many kids in Western Wake as it is now ... until another HS is build in Apex (H7?) everyone has to crowd into PCHS ...
....http://wwwgis2.wcpss.net/prod/mapscript/WCMapscript.php?MainOption=FindNodes&NodeType=BASE&MagProg=&SchoolInfo=526+Panther+Creek+High&ProgramTitle=Base+Attendance+Area&MagName=&CalendarYear=2010-2011
And
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 18:49 — local23Green Hope HS (very close to Panther Creek), Cary HS and the new one to be built H7 (four years I believe) next Mill Rd.
Everyone who lives near
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:20 — WhalerCaneEveryone who lives near Panther Creek can't fit there, and Broughton is a terrific school. That is until we can get a plan to make it a high poverty school.
Perry, you're up on all the
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 13:26 — jenmanPerry, you're up on all the politics and know Meeker & McLaurin personally--what's the deal with Brier Creek? The city wants to funnel growth there but there already aren't enough schools to serve that area.
I feel bad for those residents because they get blasted by everybody for moving out there when there aren't any schools yet Meeker/the city wants to funnel more growth out there. It just doesn't make sense.
Broughton is definitely a
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 13:23 — jenmanBroughton is definitely a terrific school (and I don't think that will change), but wouldn't you agree that its a pretty long haul for Brier Creek residents?
Can you understand why some of them wouldn't consider Broughton to be 'their' school? People want to go to schools reasonably close to where they live their lives--shop, go to church, dance class, baseball league, etc. I can't imagine driving all that way to pick up kids from practice, tutoring or other after school activities. Especially since their elem and middle schools aren't down there too.
I do realize that area of the county is sorely lacking HS seats.
They Could Possibly Move Some People Out of Leesville
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:50 — JanisTangothat didn't want to be there in the first place. For example, the Miramar refugees begged to stay at Millbrook HS, primarily because their families didn't have cars to get to Leesville. There is one move that would make sense!
Shouldn't this have been
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:09 — danofncShouldn't this have been worked out prior to the conversion?
Along with the question in the first comment?
Like the 22 Converted
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 18:52 — local23schools - one being Green Hope from TR to MYR now back to TR all within the span of 3 years!
Many other schools were opened as MYR in 2006 with NO INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC!
you want the BOE to have a
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:51 — jeannie84you want the BOE to have a PLAN before they ACT; silly! they're into that cart before the horse thing, don't you know?
Yes. But the board
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:56 — Dove314Yes. But the board majority doesn't believe in careful, well-thought out planning. They prefer to assume there is no planning or risk/benefit exercises required before making sweeping decisions. Risky business strategy.
WCPSS does the planning
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:25 — Voice_of_Reason_Not the board. They don't have the expertise or the staff. They make policy, direct, and approve. You can hold their feet to the fire if the plan fails.
What constitutes
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:38 — Dove314What constitutes failure? If the price tag is too high? Comparable length of time on buses across all zones? Equitable facilities in all schools? Ratio of new facilities to old? If test scores for the most ED don't improve? If Algebra 1 isn't required and passed by all students?
curious to know...
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:07 — croaswifewhat they will do for people that want to stay at Leesville MS but have another traditional school as their base? Our neighborhood was reassigned this year from Leesville to Daniels as base but many children chose to stay at Leesville via the calendar option because Leesville is where they started.
my understanding is
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 10:50 — jeannie84my understanding is application students either go back to their base school, or apply to the new YR option; if they let you grandfather in to stay, consider that the Leesville schools will be much more crowded on a traditional calendar
I'd guess you would be
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:17 — shank56I'd guess you would be grandfathered if you are in 8th and entering 7th, but not sure.
What a mess
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:21 — TKDMomWhat a mess.
I agree.
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:34 — midtownmomIt's a shame that the previous board converted some of these schools in the first place. We have been through so much turmoil and I really do feel for everyone who applied to these schools as year round and now have to make a change again. They should have never made these schools application, esp. since they knew they might eventually be returned to the original calendar. Year round can be a wonderful choice for some families; mandatory year round is completely unfair unless the entire system converts to the same schedule.
There is a famous saying
Thu, 03/04/2010 - 09:59 — Dove314There is a famous saying --
The only constant is change.
This board will be no more reliable about changing students around under ever changing economic and population shifts than any previous board.
It is unrealistic to expect otherwise given this is a dynamic county.