There are some big question marks that could upend the new multi-year reassignment plan.
As noted in today's article, school administrators are assuming that funding will still come through for the 10 new schools slated to open by 2012. They're also assuming that the district will win the year-round lawsuit.
If either or both don't go as hoped, the plan will need a major rewrite.
County Manager David Cooke sent this memo to Supt. Del Burns stressing how tenuous the funding situation could be. For instance, Cooke references H-6 in the letter.
The campus of H-6, off Forestville Road in northeastern Wake, is scheduled to open in August 2011.
But under the draft plan, H-6 would open a year early in 2010 in Heritage High. Half the campus would be Heritage and the rest would be H-6.
If H-6 is delayed, Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney said it would seriously impact the high school reassignments in northern and western Wake that year.
The year-round lawsuit is the other wild card.
Dulaney said the plan assumes that the state Supreme Court will rule on Wake's behalf. He said there are no plans now for seeking consent for the 2009-10 school year for new people to opt out.
Dulaney said he expects the school board will continue to allow the current non-consenting students, about 2,000, to stay where they're at now. Eventually those seats would be reclaimed when people move to high school.
Now if Wake CARES wins the lawsuit, Dulaney said they'd have to redo the second and third years of the plan. (They'd probably also have to seek consent for next year as well.)
The high court will hear oral arguments on Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m. But no decision will be made that day.
While Dulaney said that the board could revise the future years of the plan after its adopted, he doesn't think that will be necessary provided the funding and year-round conditions are met.
Comments
On another thread, Chuck D
Sat, 11/15/2008 - 13:19 — Families_FirstOn another thread, Chuck D was quoted as saying that this plan would be scrapped if they lose the lawsuit. With a pending lawsuit, I see no reason to continue forcing MYR. Just another way to punish the majority who they have also admitted want traditional calendar schools.
Well, it can't get worse
Sat, 11/15/2008 - 10:28 — SideburnsI think WCPSS screwed up with releasing a 3-year assignment plan. As it was, they could continue to holding the funding aspect over parents' heads until the release of the next plan. "If we don't get funding, lord knows what could happen to you. Massive reassignments, split shifts, etc." Now that parents are semi-aware of what the future brings, we may not be so eager to approve the next bond. I already know that my middle school assignment is going to be MYR in 2 years -- it can't get much worse for me. No more bonds for me until they stop forcing and start listening.
Hurting Bond Support
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 23:40 — Lisa_BHey Sideburns:
I thought the same thing. If someone sees "negative changes" in their future, they will not vote to give the school system a penny.
I still don't understand why they're pushing through and assuming they'll win the court case. Is there a Plan B? (I actually know the answer without asking)
I also don't know why you put out a 3-year plan that is "subject to change". The 2 unknown variables are too big to ignore. Why not keep the 1 year plans until the court case is settled and a future bond is approved?
Why in their right mind
Sat, 11/15/2008 - 10:19 — WhyNoChoiceWhy in their right mind would an organization move forward in this haphazard fashion with a pending court case? Arrogantly assuming they will win? We all know what happens when we assume.
Arrogance?
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 16:52 — rr77rr99Arrogance?