Some Wake County parents still unsatisfied about proposed changes to school assignments
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) -- Parents in the Bridgewater neighborhood are sounding off a day following a contentious meeting inside Apex High School's cafeteria, and accusing Wake County school board members of not answering any of their questions about a new student assignment proposal.
"We were pawns. We didn't have a voice," said Chris Deshazor, who attended the meeting with his wife, Heather, Tuesday night.
The couple has a ninth grade son at Holly Springs High School, who the second draft of the latest assignment proposal would require to transfer to Apex Friendship High next year.
At the meeting, about 300 parents were instructed to write down questions for school board members to address. A small group of parents told ABC11 that, instead of answers, they got inconsistencies, contradicting facts, and were shown slides that had nothing to do with Holly Springs.
"We want them to just explain to us. Give us a fair understanding of why they are choosing which neighborhoods," explained Chris Deshazor.
The assignment plan proposal reduces student population at several schools in western Wake County through a total of three new schools slated to open in the 2015-16 year. Scott Ridge Elementary and Apex Friendship High will open in Apex. Abbotts Creek Elementary will open in North Raleigh.
Heather Deshazor said a transfer would make baseball practices and other after school activities a challenge and more than double her son's commute.
"At 5:45 a.m. to get on a school bus for a high school student.. when would they sleep," she asked. "Moving those students from Holly Springs High School, who don't live within Holly Springs, back to Apex or back to Fuquay -- that would help to alleviate the overcrowding."
David Blair said his family has experienced numerous re-assignment plans, and worries moving his daughter again will hurt her socially and academically.
"We keep on changing the path. We're tearing apart neighborhoods. We're tearing apart communities," said Blair.
School officials say they're using feedback from their public meetings to help them make adjustments to their proposal.
The next meeting is Thursday at Millbrook High School.
A final draft is expected in November, with the school board voting in December.
