You've got a mix of school board politics and catcalling between Rolesville Mayor Frank Eagles and school administrators over the Forest Ridge High School site.
On Monday, District 1 candidate Debbie Vair was planning to present to Wake County Commissioners her alternative to using the Forest Ridge location. But Vair wasn't allowed to make the presentation because Commissioner Betty Lou Ward objected to letting a candidate speak.
Rolesville Mayor Frank Eagles stepped in for Vair and made the presentation for acquiring a site on U.S. 401 near Louisbury Road. It's about a mile or so from the Forest Ridge site on Forestville Road near U.S. 401.
Eagles said it would have made more sense to let Vair speak because she had done all the research on the alternative site.
On Tuesday, school administrators told school board members why they felt the Forest Ridge site was still superior even thought they're still facing $5.8 million in additional road improvement costs.
Administrators said the 52-acre parcel proposed by Eagles was too small. It's about 60 acres for the Forest Ridge site.
Administrators also said there would be significant access issues for the alternative site because of its close proximity to the proposed Rolesville Bypass. They said the access issues are why they had not recommended that site when they looked at it before.
Eagles said administrators misrepresented the property to board members.
But what might have been the winning argument for board members is that staff told them that abandoning the Forest Ridge site would delay the opening of a new high school in that area by another two years to 2014.
But it commissioners reject providing additional funds for Forest Ridge, the school district could lose even more time having to then start finding an alternative site.
Comments
I'm with Bob--there's got to
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 11:57 — jenmanI'm with Bob--there's got to be some middle ground here. I'm also not confident in that $350M number.
At that same meeting I referenced earlier (work session where they demag'ed Daniels & converted Leesville Middle), Beverley Clark said "MYR is a DRAIN on the system".
http://www.wcpss.net/faqs/57
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 19:17 — user12345http://www.wcpss.net/faqs/576.html
A: The new building program, mainly financed through the November 2006 bond, will provide classrooms for thousands of additional children moving into Wake County by 2010. The Wake County Public School System is expected to gain 7,000 new students in 2006-07 ( actual 121k-114k=7k). This is more than every man, woman and child in the Town of Knightdale. Estimates show WCPSS gaining 40,000 students by the year 2010, bringing total enrollment to more than 160,000 (actual 140k in 2009). In addition, WCPSS's older schools need renovation to ensure they are quality places for children to learn.
=========================
Note there are another 26k kids in charter, home and private schools (same 16% for the last ten years) who can fill a seat at anytime ...
They were planning on:
ES: 9 schools + 9 sites
MS: 4 schools + 4 sites
HS: 2 schools + 2 sites
======================
15 schools and 15 sites
They have completed 4 new schools, 11 are in the pipeline, 7 sites TBD, and 3 sites in land bank.
Looks like 2013 vs. 2010 is when they will reach 160k.
I voted against the last
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 18:29 — jenmanI voted against the last bond solely because of the MYR. I was of the opinion that they should have converted everybody or nobody. (Now that I know the conversions weren't about capacity, I say we shouldn't force anybody) Anyway, I knew that they would use the bond passing as their 'proof' that everybody wanted MYR. Of course I was right and all we heard was how voters wanted YR--if they didn't want it the bond wouldn't have passed. I especially loved how Bev Clark said she was hearing from her constituents who were overwhelmingly in favor of YR. Of course they were--none of their kids was forced to attend one!
No more bonds for me either unless things change.
Jen
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:01 — WhalerCaneI would support a bond to eliminate MYR and have more parental choice, but that would cost at least $350 million, and I wouldn't hold my breath it would pass.
Be careful...
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 11:29 — Bob_SconceIIRC, $350M was the public estimate for "savings" from going to year-round schools. But, (1) at the time, there was a huge incentive to inflate this number, and (2) it's clear that nowhere near $350M in savings has actually been realized. Numbers posted to this blog comparing the pre-conversion enrollments at those schools to the post-conversion enrollments show that the enrollment gain hasn't been anywhere close to what was predicted.
Anyway, there is plenty of middle-ground here. For example, there are still some parents who want to put their kids in year-round schools, but who haven't won the year-round lottery. In addition, there are other parents who are ambivalent and would not mind a year-round assignment. The district could switch to a much more family-friendly system and still get most of any actual gains from conversion.
There's Perry's tube socks again
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:34 — g88ky07$350 million or fresh socks, hmmmmmmmm, hard choice.
...
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 17:37 — AngelaWmake of this what you will (frankly I don't care) but this was "budget stuff" from BoE minutes;
YEAR 2009 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY
Staff will present Year 2009 Legislative Summary from the North Carolina General
Assembly. Fiscal Implications: None. Recommendation for Action: This is for
information only.
Susan Harrison presented information to the Board. Ms. Harrison shared that the State budget was ratified on August 5th and the Governor signed the budget on August 7th.
Both the House and the Senate adjourned on August 12th.
Ms. Harrison began her State Budget overview by sharing that last year’s budget was approximately $2.3 billion more than this year’s. The public schools budget was approximately $346 million less this year.
State-wide budget cuts for this year includes a flexibility reduction of $225 million, next year the cuts are listed as $304.8 million. Ms. Harrison noted that until July 31st, the flexibility reduction was noted as a class-size increase for grades 4 -12 and cutting third grade teacher assistants.
Ms. Harrison shared that this year textbooks were cut $48 million with no appropriation for textbooks in the budget next year. Other cuts include central office administration;LEA’s with more than 30,000 ADM’s received a larger cut than smaller LEA’s; staff development was eliminated, Improving Student Accountability serving level I and II students was eliminated, a $10 million cut to non-instructional support personnel, $9.4 million cut to school technology, a $2 million cut to Limited English Proficiency, $2 million cut to teacher mentors, and a $125 million corporate tax cut for school construction. Ms. Harrison shared further that public school employees did not receive a salary increase.
Statewide expansion items included Dropout Prevention Grants of $13 million, Learn and Earn Early College of $3.7 million, North Carolina Virtual Public School of $10 million, and District and School Transformation of $2.5 million dollars. This year,there is a one-time Technology Fund allotment of $18,183,251 from Fines, Civil Penalties and Forfeitures that were held by the UNC Campuses.
Ms. Harrison highlighted Special Provisions which include flexibility and funding to allow the State Board of Education to develop procedures and guidelines for allowing LEAs to move money around, certain tests will be eliminated, local boards will be required to inform the public about school report cards, National Board application costs are now a loan program, a task force has been formed to consolidate Early Childhood Programs, an increase in Sales and Use Tax by one percent will become effective on September 1,2009 raising the tax to 7.75% and a local sales tax decrease will become effective on October 1 by ¼ % in the Medicaid swap agreement with the state.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Board members shared that at the end of August that there were funds restored by the Governor that came from the lottery for some construction- approximately $3.8 million coming to schools. Board members inquired as to when the funds would be allocated.
Ms. Harrison shared that the $37 million that the Governor had put aside and put on hold to ensure that the budget was balanced throughout the rest of the year has been released which included the lottery school construction funds. Dr. Burns stated that the funds would be distributed to the Wake County staff as a part of the Capital Improvement Plan.
News14
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:50 — g88ky07is now running their brief interviews with candidates. I saw D1's with Malone, Vair and Rakestraw and I'd like to ask candidate Rakestraw to prove that MYR schools are saving us 33%! Can you do that Rita? Can you point to a single piece of proof that backs up your claim of that savings?
Was that a "tink" I heard?
...
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:04 — AngelaWdidn't you know? pixie dust makes these numbers just *poof* appear!
...
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 14:20 — SideburnsSee? Debbie Vair is all about that high school. All she wants is to move that school out of her backyard. She's even willing to spend the little time she has speaking in front of the Commissioners rather than speaking to parents. She is a one-issue candidate that is only motivated by the placement of this high school.
I'm pretty sure the site for
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 13:23 — CaryCurmudgeonI'm pretty sure the site for Forest Ridge was selected less than a year ago ?? So, how does changing sites delay the school for two years?
They approved the land
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 14:57 — KeungHui (author)They approved the land deal last year. The argument is that switching to a new site now would take several months of negotitations and due dilligence, pushing the opening of the school back 18 months to at least midde of 2013-14 school year. That basically would mean it couldn't open until 2014. As is, staff says they're under the gun to get Forest Ridge open in 2012.
Sounds to me like the
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:50 — CaryCurmudgeonSounds to me like the school will probably open in 2013 (provided they come up with the money for road improvements).
This is an example of why we need more school board members with a backbone. No private sector executive would ever accept an answer like that. First, the executive would have given staff a stern reminder that they screwed up by picking the wrong site. The executive would ask rhetorically where staff thought the extra funding for road improvements was coming from. If staff told the executive that an error on THEIR part would require a 2-year delay to fix, they would have been thrown out on their behinds and told to come back when the answer was 1 year.
But this is not the private sector. School Board members still act like they work for staff. I see the same thing when they do reassignment plans. Staff (Chuck) presents the plan to the board, and when the board members do ask (note:"ask" not "order") for changes, staff goes off and builds a case for why those changes cannot be accomodated. In the real world, people like this get fired. In WCPSS, they get paid six-figure salaries and are immune from budget cuts.
....
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:06 — AngelaWso where was this again? and scheduled to open when?
"On a motion by Keith Sutton, seconded by Lori
Millberg, the Board voted to amend the agenda in order to add TERMINATION OF
CONTRACT AGREEMENT: DAVID M. MATTIS AND SPOUSE, MARGARET A
MATTIS (E-24) to the Action Agenda.
On January 6, 2009, the Board approved an Offer to purchase and contract for the
acquisition of land from David M. Mattis and Spouse, Margaret A. Mattis for the location of
an elementary school site (E-24). The Board is under contract to purchase the property
subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions at or prior to closing. Pursuant to Paragraph
3, the Board has the right to elect to waive the satisfaction of unsatisfied condition and
proceed to closing, or to rescind the contract and recover all of its earnest money deposit.
Staff recommends that the Board elect to rescind the contract pursuant to its terms.
On a motion by Horace Tart, seconded by Anne McLaurin, the Board voted to rescind the
contract for the acquisition of land from David M. Mattis and Spouse, Margaret A. Mattis
for the location of an elementary school site (E-24)."
Last time I checked, the
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:14 — KeungHui (author)Last time I checked, the commissioners hadn't signed off on the deal yet. The school system isn't rushing because funding for construction would come from a future bond issue.
Future bond issues
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:29 — g88ky07As I drool with thoughts of how data, agendas and lies can be used against them, future bond passage as things currently stand with the mass of disenfranchised parents and voters is almost an absolute NOT gonna happen. As the matter of fact, I'll go right out on that limb and say that if the board isn't drastically changed in 2 weeks, they won't pass another bond here until current first graders graduate in a decade +!
Hopefully, your kids enjoy
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:26 — user12345Hopefully, your kids enjoy being in a trailer with their 40 classmates ... you only hurt yourself by doing these stupid things thinking you are punishing the BOE by not passing a school bond ... so they overcrowd the classrooms ... no sweat ... that is what the public wanted .. less teacher pay , fewer teachers to move to funds to contruction ... that is what the public wanted .. they don't get paid by the school ... ultimately, some court would step in and force a solution ....
They "enjoy" their under capacity forced year round
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:31 — g88ky07as much as one can, and never step foot in a trailer because they are so far under capacity, but thanks for asking! We have 21 in our class and it's growing smaller by the week.
You can be one of the Goodnight whiners that tell us how it's "for the kids", how it "hurts the kids not to vote yes", how the "board will work with us", but when it comes up again you can bet a WHOLE LOT LESS people will be snowed the next go 'round.
...
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:51 — AngelaWscary thing is, I used to agree with YOU *shudder*, and voted for EVERY stinkin' bond believing that it was "for the children" ....
we are ALREADY in trailers with overcrowded classes and less staff, NO TEXTBOOKS (you forgot THAT one) and UNDERUTILIZED MYR schools that cost $250,000 more to operate although not fully used and a $5M PR budget and no administrator cuts.
when will you WAKE UP?? We've been there done that for too long....
So...
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 16:46 — Bob_SconceWith some misgivings, I supported the last school bond. But, at some point, you can't keep handing the car keys to the town drunk.
A bond referendum should include only money for new schools, economically rational renovations to mechanical systems at older schools, capital expenditures to fix health and safety issues and as feasible to increase capacities at older schools. The current board spent about 1/3 of the last bond on things that did none of those. We've already swapped out two members of the last board, and I hope their replacements will be more responsible. The election of reform candidates this fall can only improve the situation.
Through the 08/09 school
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 17:07 — CaryCurmudgeonThrough the 08/09 school year, growth has been only half of what was planned when the bond was passed. This isn't Washington DC, where a billion dollars is a rounding error. If they really are talking about another bond, I sure hope they can provide a good explanation of where the first billion went.