Angry parents voice concerns over Wake County school assignments
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- Wake County School Board members say they are trying their best when it comes to the new student assignment plan.
"We're doing our best to get community feedback and make the best decision possible," said Christine Kushner, the board's chair.
Dozens of parents packed Tuesday night's school board meeting in a public hearing to speak out against the plan that will impact 2,734 students, which is about two-percent of the student body in Wake County.
"You guys sit up here. You talk about going to symposiums and board of advisories and eating well and making sausages," said Wake County parent Michael Pritt. "We've lived in our allotment for two years, two changes in that two years -- three in the last six. I have four kids that go to three different schools. We're talking to lawyers. We're talking to realtors. We're talking to private schools."
Pritt was one of about 20 parents who took to the podium to address the school board. The Wake County School Board has now been through three drafts of the assignment plan since August. Each revision was tweaked by parent input through comments online and from four community hearings.
Fewer than half of the students in the plan will be reassigned to one of the three new schools scheduled to open next school year. Those schools are Abbotts Creek and Scotts Ridge Elementary schools and Apex Friendship High School.
The rest of the students, about 1,600, will be reassigned to help align school calendars, reduce assignment of neighborhoods to multiple schools or to reduce overcrowding.
Wake County parent Kim Latzy argued her fourth grader is being moved from an under-crowded school.
"He loves Salem," said Latzy. "He's been there since kindergarten."
In her case, Latzy's son joins that group of 1,600 students with the choice to remain at their current schools, but they would not have access to school transportation.
"As a working mom, it's going to be difficult for me to provide transportation to and from school," said Latzy.
While on one side parents are angry, on the other side, so are school board members.
"I think we have tried hard to be really transparent with this plan and get feedback," said Kushner. "We are a growing county. We have a shortage of seats in certain parts of the county and that is frustrating the board. It's frustrating, but at the same time, we have to make sure we keep a strong system of schools -- that every school in Wake County stays strong."
The board will discuss the student assignment plan again during its work session on Nov. 25. It will take into account this latest feedback as well as suggestions from staff. A final vote on the plan will come on Dec. 2.
Until then, they will continue to take comments and concerns from the public. One way you can do that is visiting: http://envisionwake.mindmixer.com/.
