WakeEd

The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system. How much will the new Democratic majority on the school board do to undo the changes made by Republicans since 2009? Will the new student assignment plan be a hybrid of the last two models or primarily be a return to the use of busing for diversity? Who will replace Tony Tata as the new superintendent of the state's largest district? How will voters react to a likely request in 2013 to borrow potentially more than $1 billion to build and renovate schools?

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.

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Weighing early start middle schools

Submitted by KeungHui on 08/21/2008 - 09:00

School administrators are still weighing whether to recommend delaying the opening of two new elementary schools.

Chuck Dulaney, assistant superintendent for growth and planning, told school board members on Tuesday that Herbert Akins Road Elementary in Fuquay-Varina and Alston Road Elementary in Cary might open in 2010 instead of 2009.

It all depends on whether both schools are needed more for middle school students as part of the multi-year assignment plan.

Dulaney explained that while elementary school growth is slowing, it hasn't slacked off at middle schools.

To help, Dulaney said that Herbert Akins could serve as an "early start" middle school in 2009, temporarily housing Holly Grove Middle School students. in 2010, Holly Grove's building would open and Herbet Akins would get elementary students.

For Alston Ridge, it could spend 2009 as the early start location for Mills Park Middle, whose building would open in 2010.

Dulaney acknowledged that delaying the opening of Alston Ridge would mean having to leave the enrollment cap at Cedar Fork Elementary on until 2010.

Dulaney stressed that these potential delays are different from the ones previously agreed to by the school board. In the case of Bryan Road Elementary and E-25, their funding was redirected toward the Wake Forest-Rolesville High renovations so it's uncertain when they'll open.

Click here for the handout of the multi-year assignment plan presentation.

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