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WakeEd
The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system: the reassignment of thousands of students, the conversion of traditional-calendar schools to a year-round schedule, the district's response to growth and the school construction program.
WakeEd is maintained by The News & Observer's Wake schools reporter, T. Keung Hui. While Keung posts information and analysis on the issues, keep us posted on your suggestions, questions, tips and what you're doing to cope with the changes in Wake's schools.
Unhappy with multi-year assignments
At least one school board member isn't happy with the school district's efforts to go with a multi-year student assignment plan.
During Tuesday's facilities committees meeting, board member Beverley Clark said it's wise to let parents know about Wake's long-range plans and what areas might be moved. She just isn't thrilled about guaranteeing years in advance the specific nodes that will be assigned to each school.
"To let people know where they'll be assigned three years out is the biggest mistake the school system can make," Clark said. "I hope I'm wrong."
Wake will release a multi-year plan in November or December. School administrators have said that the assignments for 2009-10 and 2010-11 should be pretty solid. The 2011-12 assignments are iffy because several new schools Wake would hope to open that year depend on a future bond issue.
The issue came up Tuesday because Michael Evans, Wake's chief communications officer, explained to the board how he intends to let parents know about the plan later this year.
T. Keung Hui
T. Keung Hui covers Wake schools.
Comments
Tired of WCPSS...
Sat, 08/23/2008 - 17:21 — deb (not verified)Mother of three...one "forced" into year-round elementary because alternative traditional for one year at far-away school so unattractive...
..one middle school...one high school.....
I have almost no hope that all the time and resources our family has invested in Apex Middle School and High School...and the bonds formed...will be shared by all three of our children.
All parents should demand that our children come first in stability.
I lived in Northern Virginia during its heyday of development...so I know school growth can be handled more responsibly...ask Fairfax County.
WOW
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 10:17 — Anonymous (not verified)What a disrespect! Food for thoughts for the next BoEd election.
question?
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 18:42 — bigwinnieI forget, does NC have this? I kind of remember some sort of flap over salaries being made public, was it the schools?
"Several months after school districts submitted detailed information about salaries and benefits for all nonunion employees earning at least $75,000, the DOE posted a spreadsheet summarizing the data for nearly 3,600 New Jersey administrators, including 252 in the Morris County region. Many districts already had posted the information on their Web sites, but this is the first time all district data are available in one place.
The compensation data, as well as several spreadsheets containing current district budget data, are available at: http://www.nj.gov/education/finance/fp/ufb/.
New Jersey Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said the posting of the data, required by a 2007 state law, is part of the state's efforts to hold school districts more accountable for how they spend taxpayers' money."
Big Mistake
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 17:38 — Anonymous (not verified)g88... you got it! :) Talk about your big mistakes!
The biggest mistake continues to be allowing the WCPSS to do whatever they want to make themselves look good! The heck with families, communities and the children... they are secondary to the goals of making themselves look great so they can write books about how great they are.
They must be taking lessons from Johnny Boy...but he's going down... soon they will too....
why
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 12:59 — Forget_not_the_...Why would Bev complain? her schools are rarely redistricted and the majority of her constinuents are base magnet students......
she is why we need at-large boe elections....
We need a list of the
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:43 — Anonymous (not verified)We need a list of the underenrolled schools. And it has to be truthful! Track 4 has to be in for 20 days before they can release the "20 day numbers" for the whole school, right? That should be end of next week... hopefully Keung or N&O get numbers in early Sept.
What is the latest...
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:31 — gunfam...on the calendar issue? Will they ever revist it? Do they have more MYR (in addition to the new schools) in this 3 yr plan? and if so WHY!!! Its illegal! Having a "choice" that is purposefully made unattractive is blackmail, which, again, is illegal.
Its all so frustrating.
Money may compel change
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:38 — CitizenmomIf the trend of underenrolled MYR schools continues the costs of operating them will negate the alleged benefits of having them. In a tougher economy wasted dollars will not be tolerated for long by taxpayers. People were promised greater efficiency and if that does not happen, it will all collapse of its own weight.
What about calendar?
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:27 — SideburnsSadly, WCPSS continues to ignore the calendar needs of families and a multi-year reassignment plan will still consist of forced calendar changes.
And, as Lisa B. said, a 3 year assignment is not stability. Besides, I don't trust them to honor it anyways.
Bob...
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:25 — gunfam..you speak too much sense! Granted, this area is growing faster than others, but in MOST OTHER PLACES there is consistancy in school assignments and also feeder patters for elementary, middle and high schools. This constant shuffling of kids is just crazy. A few years ago we almost got reassigned, not because of growth around our school, but rather it "tricked down" to Apex from other cities like Holly Springs and Raleigh.
Consistancy is NOT a mistake! Its the best thing for the CHILDREN!
Fix....
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:19 — Bob_SconceI suspect that most of the reassignment is happening because of growth in the county, and some small fraction is happening because of change in the demographics of neighborhoods. The big factor is new houses and subdivisions and the small factor is a bunch of people with elementary age kids moving into a neighborhood that previously held senior citizens.
If true, then the obvious solution is to keep assignment patterns constant and, when a new subdivision comes in, assign it to the nearest school that has extra space, planinng to work that subdivision back into closer schools. Of course, if the developer of that subdivision chooses to also donate a school, then the students from that subdivision could go to that school.
Word Choice
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 09:18 — shank56I do not read any "Unhappiness" in Clark's statement as quoted. A more accurate headline :
CONCERN with multi-year assignments.
Biggest Mistake?
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 09:05 — g88ky07"To let people know where they'll be assigned three years out is the biggest mistake the school system can make"
NOPE, wrong AGAIN!
One of the biggest mistakes they made was electing YOU!
But the BIGGEST was underestimating the TONS of parents who will stop at NOTHING to remove you ALL for what you have done to us, our families and what WAS a good education system AND who will defeat your need for any future bonds until you ALL are removed!!!
That includes Chuck And D d d d d d del too!
Multi Year School Assignment notification
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 08:13 — Nc Tech Mom (not verified)I understand Ms. Clark's concerng that probably is based on the fact that the school board could possibly find its numbers are higher in some areas than anticpated and have to go back on their word. That said though, I applaud the efforts of the board and the spirit behind this decision. There is nothing worse as a parent than to know that you have found a good school that is close by, you get involved with the PTA, and when the 2nd term of the school year comes around, you are holding your breath and wondering if you'll be reassigned. As a family that will probably move around the corner in order to stay at our current school, we are happy that the board realizes that especially in the elementary grades, kids need stability and consistency. Moving them every few years to a a new school (when their home address has not changed) isn't good for students, parents, or teachers. Thanks to the school board on this one - you seem to finally be listening to the parents of Wake county's kids.
If they listened to parents, there would be no MYR
Thu, 08/14/2008 - 10:07 — Lisa_BNot directed at you tech Mom, but if they truly listened to the parents, there would be no MYR, and children could be grandfathered into a school once they started.
You said "Moving them every few years to a a new school (when their home address has not changed) isn't good for students, parents, or teachers." and I agree 100%. They should NEVER force kids to move schools when their home address hasn't changed.
IMO, Knowing that you won't be moved for 3 years doesn't provide stability--is just lets you know that in 3 years you'd better be ready to be moved.
I can understand capping a school much more than I can understand forcing kids to constantly switch schools.
And on top of it all, our diversity plan is built on the "magic F&R percentages" which have been shown to be invalid. Didn't we just read that 65% of the people in Wake County who are receiving F&R services are either not eligible at all OR are receiving more than they qualify for??