Parents who want to have their say at tonight's community engagement meeting at Broughton High School should really consider showing up early.
People can begin signing up to speak at 6 p.m., 30 minutes before the meeting starts. Based on the prior meetings, there's about enough time for 40 speakers at three minutes apiece.
Parents on both sides of the Broughton magnet issue are expected to grab several spots. Supporters of keeping the IB program at Broughton have begun mobilizing in the past week to counter those who want the program gone.
Tonight could become a preview of Wednesday's fight before the school board when the vote is held on Broughton.
There should also be parents who speak about not wanting to be reassigned out of Leesville Road High School's base.
Another reason to show up early could be parking. Unless parking is allowed on the grass, you might have to do some walking to get near the school tonight.
Comments
We Keep Getting Split
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 13:49 — Lisa_BUntil the draft was released if you would read "Leesville Group" you would know what group you were referring to. We truly do consider our close-knit community to be a big "Leesville Family".
Unfortunately, that group has now been fractured to the point that everyone seems to think they need to "fight for themselves". While it is understandable, it is really sad.
Keeping our 3-school campus on the traditional calendar used to be the sole focus of our efforts, since it has always made sense. While we are still very focused on that objective, suddenly the draft is proposing moving families OUT of our assignment area, to schools much further from their homes, causing more disruption to our established community.
Someone who was concerned 2 weeks ago with keeping their family together on the same calendar NOW has to worry about keeping their kids at the school they have always attended FIRST.
NOW, people are faced with prioritizing what they need to "fight for" in order of importance. It is just such a shame.
If your kids are now being moved out of the school community, priority #1 is going to be to get them BACK into that community. It's hard to fight to keep a school from being forced to MYR if that is not technically even "your school" anymore.
While I didn't attend the meeting last night, I was at WF-Rolesville and I heard the groups speaking about Brier Creek. My impression was that they felt they should be allowed to stay at their established school, and they were encouraging WCPSS to build new schools in the Brier Creek area. It sounded like they were proposing that WCPSS move the Brier Creek families to the other middle and high schools while they awaited the new Brier Creek area schools?
I even think someone mentioned that WCPSS already owns land in Brier Creek for these schools---is that true? I don't think funding to build these schools has been approved yet??
It really is sad, and during this happy Holiday Season it is just bringing more undue stress to families. UGH !
Any changes announced?
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 12:02 — Eric_BAt the Cary and WFR CEMs, Chuck announced changes that staff had accepted into their draft assignment proposal. Did he do anything similar at the meeting last night?
Yep. They were smaller in
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 12:12 — KeungHui (author)Yep. They were smaller in scope last night. Chuck has promised he'll get me the slides from last week's meetings by today. At this point it seems to make more sense to package the last three meetings into one post.
Winners and losers in the neighbor vs neighbor game
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 17:49 — SDR256It will be interesting who King Charles deems the winner in this losing race. He stated that both Broughton and Cary requests could not be satisfied, someone would lose. Its outrageous that he could get up in front of these parents and not make that clear up front. Instead he lead Cary to believe he would grant their wishes. Even now some are unaware that he is still deciding their fate. Maybe all should consider sending him offerings to ensure he is favorable to their 'side' and throws their neighbor under the bus instead.
You guys are being a bit
Wed, 12/10/2008 - 08:41 — KeungHui (author)You guys are being a bit unfair here. Chuck announced that Monday to the Cary parents what he was planning to recommend. Then the following day the school board schedules the special meeeting to revote on Broughton. That revote meant anything staff was looking at for high schools was now subject to revision based on the board's final decision.
Thanks
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 13:25 — Eric_BThanks for following up with Chuck on this, Keung.
Who wqs there last night?
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 10:45 — shank56I heard that the Leesville parents outnumbered those at Broughton and that the Broughton parents were very respectful with their comments. (unlike what Wuptdo predicted)
What 's the deal with Brier Creek? Reports are that while Leesville parents spoke to keep their neighborhoods at Leesville and attending the school closest to them, they suggested that the Brier Creek nighborhood be assigned to Millbrook instead of them.
That the BC parents chose to live in an Arnold Palmer golf community with a big clubhouse and that they could make the long commute b/c the Leesville people were there first.
Is that what was said at the meeting?
Leesville Parent
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 11:31 — wornoutparentI am a Leesville parent. I was not at the meeting last night, however I was at the CEM at Wake Forest-Rolesville on 12/1. I believe the Leesville folks have 2 issues regarding Brier Creek (1) Why should current Leesville kids be displaced by Brier Creek kids when the transport time to Millbrook is essentially the same (Brier Creek is a longer distance to Millbrook but a more direct route than most of the Leesville communities) and (2) since the growth issues appear to be with Brier Creek, why not reassign the Brier Creek kids rather than the kids located in the Leesville area since the Leevile ares is not really a high growth area.
One speaker made reference
Tue, 12/09/2008 - 11:13 — KeungHui (author)One speaker made reference to the upscale housing at Brier Creek.
The Leesville contingent did propose moving the Brier Creek families to Millbrook instead of them.
Wuptdo
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 23:11 — JGSMore than 600 of Broughton's kids are magnet students, which means they are NOT the "Elitist ITB" types. That is the whole point of the IB program - these students come from all over Wake County, not from ITB. AND...I would add, just because a family lives ITB does not make them wealthy or elitist. You wouldn't believe some of the homes that Broughton families live in - ITB. So, you know...PULL YOUR HEAD OUT.
Glad it's the last!
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 12:00 — g88ky07I'm glad tonight is the last "let 'em whine we'll play nintendo under the table and go back to doing what WE want as soon as this last meeting is over and these clueless parents leave us alone" joke session.
For tomorrow they can make 212 more changes to an over 27,000+ reassignment fiasco list, that will change 12 times in the next 3 years, and a few parents can feel like they've conquered the globe.
Until they end up on the list again in 2 or 3 years!
I hope the anti IB program debaters read
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 09:56 — Voice_of_Reason_The information that was presented by an outsider(NYObserver) on this blog is eye opening. I wonder if this school board really knows. JonesSausage indicated that the BoE was very ignorant on the IB program. But then there is Stan Norwalk who is a big IB supporter, I wonder if he will get involved. Yes it might get interesting, especially since the argument to de-Magnetize is so good. Hope Mr.Hui takes good notes (I'm sure he will).
Should be fun.....
Mon, 12/08/2008 - 09:41 — WuptdoI think tonight will be the best "show" of the season. Elitist "inside-the-beltline" types fighting amongst themselves over an IB program -- priceless. What is the BoE(eR) to do when their "own" turn on each other?
Remember folks, these are the same people that will throw OTB and F&R children under a bus in a heartbeat.