We're reaching what could be a case of put up or shut up about year-round schools.
As noted in today's article, voters can choose between a slate of school board candidates who support or oppose the current practice of assigning students to year-round schools. A sweep by critics could lead to more reversed conversions and even a return to having mostly voluntary applications into year-round schools.
But for those who claim that parents and voters accept year-round schools as they are, the election results could prove their case as well.
It will be especially telling in District 7, where the rhetoric over year-round schools has been especially heated. A win for Deborah Prickett would help show that groups such as Concerned and Commtted Leesville Parents are right about opposition to year-round assignment being the will of the majority.
"Mandatory year-round schools are an issue for District 7,” said Prickett, a former guidance counselor at Leesville Middle. “The greatest majority of parents in this area didn’t want Leesville Elementary and Leesville Middle to go year-round.”
But a win by Karen Simon would help show that groups such as BiggerPicture4Wake are right about most parents and taxpayers preferring the greater use of year-round schools.
Simon says that the conversions have helped put Wake in a good position when growth resumes at its old pace.
“I just hope that parents can understand the need for year-round,” Simon said. “While growth has slowed down due to the economy, we don’t just want to make decisions for the time being.”
Comments
DING DING DING DING! WINNER
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 14:46 — loriacExactly! It makes ZERO sense! That's part of the beauty of it from Chuck's perspective - only he understands all the data, and can snow the BOE and unsuspecting parents.
It's taken me almost a year since the reassignment plan came out year to dig into this and understand what really goes on.
Seriously? My example is hardly complicated, but it's a good example if you think it is.
*sigh* don't you SEE?,
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 13:46 — AngelaW*sigh* don't you SEE?, don't you GET IT??? this situation of schools is but ONE example of the failed SES Diversity policy.....that's what is behind all these schools being crowded, under-enrolled, and kids bussed away from a school less than a mile to one 8 miles away....
and you continue to question why parents are upset?!
Oh yes and...
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 00:01 — SDR256Then there are all those other examples - F&R students assigned away from schools who 'adopted' them and had the best services for them - empty tracks - schools in a community that hold no students from that community - - and on and on and on. NONE OF IT MAKES SENSE.
** I secretly suspect that the fact that there are so many inquisative (ied: educated) parents out there now completely disrupts their normal bureaucratic procedure for assignments, etc.
hey LES (MYR) most crowded @
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 16:27 — AngelaWhey LES (MYR) most crowded @ 1075, Sycamore Creek (built FOR YR)(less than 2 miles) @ 700 and Brier Creek (built for YR)@ 700, LES become the ONLY application MYR in the area....why is that? oh yeah, Patti Head!!!
D2 candidates on WPTF right
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 16:23 — AngelaWD2 candidates on WPTF right now
Then put up or shut up!
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:06 — g88ky07NO Karen Simon, we don't understand the need! We were lied to about it from the beginning and you are lying about it now!
It's a MAJOR issue for district 2 and the other 2 districts as well!
Parents don't understand the 11,000+ in missed growth projections, the collapsed tracks and forced track changes because of being under capacity, Rita Rakestraw, tink tink, and we don't understand why candidates like you are so THICK headed, lacking of a single original thought and will stand there and defend the status-quo's failed policies at all cost!
Or, do we?
Who the heck is bigger
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 09:32 — changewcpssWho the heck is bigger picture? We know about the huge CCLP group and their factual case against MYR. Why continue to bring up an amateur website designer who calls herself Bigger Picture and beautifies WCPSS' deceptive rhetoric?, Why even pretend that there is any substance to 4 bored Moms who support failing policies and want to be considered a player? Whenever I see that gaggle mentioned I know it is a slow news day. Really. Aunt Suzy and her knitting group believe in neighborhood schools. How 'bout a shout out to their endorsements too.
"Never doubt that a small
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 09:47 — jeannie84"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
The smallest minority on
Wed, 09/30/2009 - 09:54 — AngelaW...
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:21 — SideburnsAnd one of those "4 bored Moms" wanted Leesville Middle to convert to MYR so bad that she opted-out to a magnet school. MYR is so beneficial but she left.
Hmm....
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:19 — supportwcpssInteresting comment. Going to the CCLP page there hasn't been any recent updat esince May, no blog posting since last year, and no list of members. Also at least three links I found were broken. Who is amateur and lacking support? I keep hearing 'big', 'large' and so on. Show it. Prove it.
Just looked at a website
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 23:06 — changewcpssJust looked at a website www.1Campus1Calendar.com and right on the home page there is a July 25 update discussing D. Prickett and WSCA. Glad you peaked my curiousity tho. After surfing their links I was reminded of why CCLP received so much support and attention. MYR at the Leesville schools was 100% unjustified. Also clearly found information to get in touch with a real person on that site LBoneham@aol.com She used to be active here as Lisa B. (real person, real name) Probably got tired of dealing with blog BS and focused her energy on real change instead. After what they were dealt by vindictive P. Head, having D. Prickett in their district must be a dream.
Well...
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 09:14 — supportwcpssShouldn't the website be rename 1Person1website then? So basically what you are saying is that they were a 1 trick pony with only one issue that they are addressing which was MYR at Leesville.
I suggest you ask them, not
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:47 — changewcpssI suggest you ask them, not me. I provided you with a contact. You really are desperate and grasping. You have been trolling around long enough to know as much as most of us do about Leesville's targeted abuse. Fess up. Are you actually Patty Head? I can't speak for that group but when someone coordinates a group of 2000 parents and school employees to pull together for the good of their community it is awe inspiring. Does it matter whether they have united over 1 main issue or 10 different ones? Not to me. Their support of D Prickett tells me they want positive changes in WCPSS like the other realists in the county.
I dunno. Ask them
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 21:50 — changewcpssI dunno. Ask them yourself. They proved their size at many venues these past few years and I assume they'll show us all their power at the polls too. The founders of that group have not ever had qualms explaining who they are and what they represent. If you have been around awhile you know exactly who they are too. Their main spokesperson/founder has been very active and informative for multiple years in WCPSS circles, meetings, forums. I have not visited their site for awhile but if you say May I believe you. I don't think much has changed in their area since they made their case and still got scr**ed by P. Head. Other than her clear superiority in the race my guess is they are behind D. Prickett because out of all areas in Wake County they deserve someone who understands their unique situation and will stand up for their families. What they have now is someone who puts personal ego above the truth and despises those she is supposed to serve.
Again, who is Biggerpicture anyway?
RE: Who is Biggerpicture
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 15:21 — jeannie84dear changewcpss:
go to www.biggerpicture4wake.com -- and rest assured there are more than four people involved
If there are so many of you
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 23:24 — SDR256You would think one of you would have noticed that Rita's last name is misspelled on your site. DOH.
The link is appreciated but
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 23:07 — changewcpssThe link is appreciated but I have seen the site. Someone did a nice job regurgitating WCPSS' lies and spin. Plain and simple. The website was obviously created by a WCPSS puppet. There is no substance and nothing innovative or new. Some of the claims are so incorrect they actually made me laugh out loud. Operating as true cowards there is no one listed to answer disputes to their lies. I rest comfortably knowing that there are only a handful of fools who believe that nonsense and the rest of us are going to bring positive changes for all.
Bigger Picture Not Big!
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 20:54 — rainforestFrom what I've heard this is a group that has about 4- 5 members plus Stan Norwalk. Not Big At All! They sure try to "hide" the membership. If you're so proud, reveal yourself.
Shouldn't have posted an endorsement here. Let's see, next we'll have the garden clubs and the book clubs posting their endorsements of the candidates. Please....
Agree. An endorsement
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 23:09 — changewcpssAgree. An endorsement from Beula's Bridge Group would mean more.
Don't expect an answer.
Sat, 09/26/2009 - 00:47 — Big_PictureDon't expect an answer. There is no substance to that so called group. As mentioned, out of 4 members 1 has bailed on MYR at Leesville MS and you will not be able to find anyone who knows the other 3 members. No kids at Leesville MS but those miserable folks proudly claim support for the waste and hurt thrust on others. They are 4 Patti Head puppets who know their favors are numbered as Patti Heads personal mission to destroy Leesville is rapidly coming to an end. They will kiss up to Karen Simons now in hopes that she will continue Patti's legacy and keep the Leesville families in chaos. As long as they get what they want they do not care what happens to others in their community. Just like Patti Head. That is who they are. See the connection? 'nuff said. Disgusting.
Just Answer This
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:33 — JanisTangoIf the year round capacity was needed at Leesville ES, why is there 450 open seats at Sycamore Creek which is less than a mile away. Everyone seems to want to avoid answering that question! And please don't insult me by saying it's down because of A) the change in kindergarden requirements B) all the kids that opted out or C) it's overflow for another under utilized YR at Brier Creek!
It doesn't take a economist to figure out that is NOT an efficient use of that facility! Please answer...I'm dying for someone to give us their insight for the savings there! My guess is because NO one will answer that question, there is no savings!
Keep Up The Fight!
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 09:21 — JanisTangoI had a conversation the other night with a 'F&R' mom who is single and raising 2 boys. She had some concerns with the direction of WCPSS that I thought I would share! She has an older child that has struggled ever since kindergarden. He was in a magnet school because of a base assignment and after the 2nd year he started making good progress. She said she worked with his teachers and principal together to set up a IEP for him and she was happy to see the steady progress he was making. She really wants the foundation set for him prior to middle school. She knows how much tougher it's going get when he's in the upper grade! Guess what.....he got reassigned so they could 'open' up some seats in this magnet school for non-F&R kids! Big surprise! She went to the community engagement meetings, wrote and called the board members, went to three board meetings to plead for her child to stay where he was at. She had to take unpaid days off to do this! She was denied, denied, denied as she put it! She packed up her family and moved them to a neighborhood that would keep him in this school! She said she will continue to move so he can finish his education at this school!
She like me just wants stability for her family and child! She was obviously a wonderful mom and yes she is F&R and yes she cares about her child's education! She even took some handouts from me because she is going to start getting the word out to other parents she knows that are dealing with the same thing! She will be at the polls on October 6th!
....
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:16 — SideburnsThis really blows holes into user1-10's theory that the rich, uncaring people of Western Wake are just searching for their "golden" node.
All parents want their child to have stability, connectivity to their school and staff, and the ability to confidently purchase a school t-shirt knowing they will attend there the next year.
Everyone wants stability in
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:43 — user12345Everyone wants stability in their lives ... I think the lesson here is why doesn't the BOE have an exception process to address these issue ... probably another 100 parents could careless which school their kids go to ... some even looking forward to a change ... why can't theire be a better acception process for some ... ironic that Non-F&Rs who complain about not getting into magnet schools displaced this kid ...
You got that wrong
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 01:58 — TrailerParkGirl"ironic that Non-F&Rs who complain about not getting into magnet schools displaced this kid"
1) WCPSS Growth Management displaced this kid who they then replaced with an NED kid.
2) That NED kid would likely NOT be one who complains about being essentially shut out of the magnet programs because their base school is probably still a "not the right" Tier IV school in the lottery process, so they still are not getting in.
Remember there were NED students from "not the right" base schools that applied to magnets that did not have enough applicants and yet those students were still denied. Then WCPSS went back to families from nodes assigned to the "right" base schools and gave them the opportunity to apply to those seats.
Why can't there be a better acception process and exception process? Because oh what tangled webs WCPSS weaves when they conspire to deceive... and for like the 1000th time, THEIR POLICIES ARE NOT ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR STUDENTS. Remember Kevin Hill? The policy is about SCHOOLS, not students. They don't care about this student or family. He is simply just another chess piece in just another ED node to be mixed with just some other NED nodes to create the appearance of a healthy school where he will be warehoused quite nicely in the "diverse" school just like many others in the system, so why would they make an exception? You think just because you are now aware of this case that it is an exception? How about exceptions for the entire group of ESL kids they booted out of Combs? That's the problem, these are NOT exceptions. This is STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE in WCPSS GM. That is why people are fighting for change and it didn't just start.
Some have been trying to raise awareness for years about various issues. Thank you all. I'm guessing they were wondering if and when the rest of us would wake up and smell the coffee. More began to wake up maybe because they were reassigned and saw something in the plan that made no sense or maybe they talked to a Mom like the one to who's story you are reacting. The status quo has a large propaganda machine, but through grassroots efforts more people have started to wake up every day and make connections.
BOE Still Makes The Decisions
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:59 — JanisTangoRegardless of parents complaining about getting into Magnets, it's still the BOE that makes these decisions! They ignore parents and it's tragic! This mom was convinced that her son would go backwards if moved. How many other children do you think actually do go backwards because of being shuffled around!
"I think the lesson here
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 10:50 — SideburnsThey do and this parent apparently tried. One can apply for a transfer and then an appeal but unless you meet the right demographics (for both the school you are leaving and the school you are applying to), you can forget it. And that's what current policies do. They are so entrenched in demographics and meeting quotas and percentages that they completely dismiss the individual child's needs. Sad, isn't it?
Bingo Side! Whenever you
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 12:37 — rr77rr99Bingo Side! Whenever you hear one of the WCPSS Koolaiders say "choice" ... I just laugh. The only choice you have in this system is the "choice" to "apply" .. after that... they choose for you.
MYR...it's a mess. A big big big mess. The money keeps eroding away. The extra help sessions between trackouts went away at our school, so all those struggling kids, heck, they get to struggle even more! Oh, and they get to be jam smack packed into trailers with no assistants, kids "pushing in" with no one on one help, and teachers pulling their hair out. I still don't get how MYR helped. There was obviously not enough money to fund Del's baby when they did the conversions, and now there's really no money, and I've been told... wait until next year when there's even LESS money. So, yeah. This is all going down in flames. The entire system. Something has to give and soon.
On another note....
Saw an article today that Thales Academy tripled enrollment! Yeah, keep pulling those high scorers out of WCPSS.. lol... ruins their EOG numbers for sure. LoL.
You are right on, MYR is a MASSIVE mess!
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 14:16 — g88ky07You, and others, are stuffed in trailers, or classes are large, but we and many others are quite the opposite. Some have had to undergo more mandates with forced track changes to somewhat balance the LACK of students! I believe it was Eric who posted the before conversions against this years current #'s. Maybe someone could point me towards which blog has that chart, or maybe it can be posted again, and then we can send it over to Rita's camp to see if she can show us where it's saving us 33%!
That'd be the one!
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 15:28 — g88ky07Thanks AW. I tried to post this below the chart, but the "reply" link doesn't work.
Rita, do you see a 33% savings based on those #'s?
tink, tink, tink...
here you might enjoy
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 18:11 — AngelaWhere you might enjoy this:
http://news14.com/content/politics/614990/wake-education-board-district-1---rita-rakestraw/?RegionCookie=30
News 14 Carolina's Heather Moore sits down with Wake Education Board District 1 candidate Rita Rakestraw to talk about her support of the school board's mandatory year-round school assignments and busing policy.
Definitely not her best
Fri, 09/25/2009 - 00:19 — CaryCurmudgeonDefinitely not her best appearance. She omits the fact that today we have 51 of our 152 schools which are already above the "magic" 40% F&R mark. If she truly supports the diversity policy, then thousands more students will need to be bused in order to comply. If she supports leaving those schools alone, they we are already dealing with whatever tax consequences she is imagining.
She is such a non factor in
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 21:52 — changewcpssShe is such a non factor in this group. What an embarassment.
Perry, Stan, want to defend Rita on this one?
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 21:14 — g88ky07Thanks again AW! Here is Rita in her own stumbling words saying she doesn't have a clue what's going on!
"There's not that many kids that have to go mandatory"? What the ...
She's clueless, absolutely clueless, and it's appalling that she is even allowed to run for something as important as school board!
...
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 19:25 — SideburnsHonestly, is she OK? She didn't even understand the 1st two questions.
She seems to have back-pedaled a bit on the MYR issue. Previously, she stated "There is no MYR in Wake County" now she just pretends she doesn't understand the question yet acknowledges that "There's actually not that many kids that have to go to the year round schools mandatory".
Everyone in D1 should watch this. Heather Moore appears to know more than Rakestraw does.
...
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 15:33 — AngelaWnot a prob :) a lot of "stuff" on this new site doesn't "work"
love to hear the "spin" on savings from ANYONE....Perry? Stan? Karen?? Rita?
WEP is full of it when
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 14:44 — AngelaWWEP is full of it when it comes to year-round. Here is a table showing the 22 schools converted to year-round with their enrollment before year-round conversion, their enrollment afterwards, and the net change:
School
20th
Day Membership 06-07
10th
Day Membership 09-10
Change
in number of students
Ballentine ES
757
668
-89
Baucom ES
904
704
-200
Brassfield ES
687
770
83
Green Hope ES
837
856
19
Highcroft ES
862
744
-118
Hodge Rd ES
663
752
89
Holly Springs ES
818
1068
250
Harris Creek ES
832
845
13
Knightdale ES
676
523
-153
Leesville Rd ES
902
1045
143
Lockhart ES
759
734
-25
Middle Creek ES
980
944
-36
Olive Chapel ES
925
1031
106
Pleasant Union ES
693
670
-23
Rand Rd ES
737
606
-131
Salem ES
769
943
174
Vance ES
452
611
159
Wakefield ES
1109
813
-296
Willow Springs ES
897
882
-15
East Wake MS
949
976
27
North Garner MS
873
1251
378
Salem MS
1050
1318
268
While the 3 middle schools are serving more students after the YR conversion, the elementary schools that were converted are now serving a net total of 50 students less!
(Not to mention that Leesville Middle is now serving 36 students less this year than last year after the YR conversion and 71 students less than the enrollment high of 1317 in 2007-08).
We are spending an extra $1.9 million per year for the increased operating costs of these 19 elementary schools when enrollment has declined overall!
How does this save $500 million or any money at all?
Sources:
http://www.wcpss.net/bond/downloads/quick_reference_guide.pdf
and 10th day enrollment figures for 2009-10 just released by WCPSS.
and the ONLY reason LES
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 11:22 — AngelaW
and the ONLY reason LES shows a positive of 143 is the 200 applications students WCPSS allowed despite staff cuts.
Yeah, I should have
Fri, 09/18/2009 - 11:35 — Eric_B
Yeah, I should have mentioned that. For 2008-09, Leesville ES only had 712 base students attending, according to this:
http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/enrollment/tbl08AssignIndicator.pdf
Did you know that of the 19 elementary schools converted to YR, Leesville Elementary is the only school with YR application students sent to it to bump up the enrollment numbers!? (Well, not quite true, Knightdale had 3 YR application students last year compared to 177 for Leesville.) This despite the fact that Sycamore Creek is YR and has 400 open seats less than 2 miles away!
yes I did know that ....(thanks to Chucky and Patti)
New Fri, 09/18/2009 - 12:15 — AngelaW
also Brier Creek is underenrolled @ about 700 and some of the application students WCPSS "accepted" @ LES are from Brier Creek!!
and thus, ANYONE who keeps INSISTING that MYR, (FYR whatever you want to refer to it as), is about GROWTH shall be convinced that it is not only a foolish assertion, but idiotic and a LIE and saves NO money by having underenrolled schools that ALWAYS operate 12 months (another truly "DUH" statement by WEP)
and BTW, this wasteful use of taxpayer's money is nothing new, I've been screaming about it for years now, WEP's decision to address it now and in the manner shows something.
Sideburn ... this is like
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 11:17 — user12345Sideburn ... this is like the health debate ... everyone has access to doctors but unfortunatately they can not afford to go ... the BOE has a process but I am guessing 99.9% of the time the answer is "no" ... which is a process in name only ...
....
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 11:20 — SideburnsI can't tell. Are you agreeing that this process is useless because the guidelines do not address academic or famliy needs? A process for transfer or appeal should not be based on F&R percentages.
BTW, I support healthcare reform but let's not let this thread go there. :>)
I think I am agree with you
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 12:19 — user12345I think I am agree with you ... they need a process .... they have a process ... but from the way people talk ... rarely are exceptions made .... which in my mind is no process or in name only ... in a big system like this someone is going to fall between the cracks and an exception process is needed to deal it ... if the woman can show that her child was improving at one school becasue of some unique characteristic that is one less F&R WCPPS has to worry about failing their EOGs ...
...
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 13:36 — SideburnsSometimes that "unique characteristic" is simply the stability of their assignment. I am one of those parents whose child would have been attending their 3rd school in 4 years had I not had the ability to grandfather. I can't imagine what another move in her elementary school years would have done to her. Sadly, many of the friends she made last year were unable to grandfather and are now attending the school down the street from where we live. Go figure.
I think the problem is with
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 14:19 — user12345I think the problem is with 15 new schools coming online someone has to move some where ... I think we have discussed that maybe leaving the new schools empty until they natural fill and the old school overcrowded might be less disruptive ...
....
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 14:46 — SideburnsI don't argue that students need to move in order to fill new schools. That's not what this discussion is about. This woman's child was being moved for percentages -- not because a new school was being opened. Nice distraction though.
Sorry ... referring to your
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 15:02 — user12345Sorry ... referring to your comment ...
"I am one of those parents whose child would have been attending their 3rd school in 4 years had I not had the ability to grandfather. "
....
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 19:08 — SideburnsNo, no, no. No new schools for us. Simply opting-out of YR, and having that opt-out change. We played the MYR game and came out fairly clean. Others didn't fair so well.
Now, we face the game again for our middle school assignment which changed with this reassignment plan. And once again, not to a new school. What was that about new schools and growth again? :>)