Monday, August 13, 2007

Time To Discuss Reassignment for 2008-09

The session is scheduled for September 6, and from what I’ve heard it’s open to the public.  However, this is one of their “work sessions”, so no public comments will be allowed.  Community engagement meetings will be scheduled at a later date.

Families are still trying to come to grips with the current school year.  Considering the fact that the MYR plan hasn’t even come close to accomplishing what it was supposed to do, there is still a great deal of uncertainty.

There are 3 new elementary schools slated to open under a year-round schedule in July 2008.  So many of the converted schools are now extremely under-enrolled.

Will the new schools now open on a traditional schedule?  With such a great demand for traditional schools, will some of the schools that were forced to convert this school year be allowed to revert back to traditional for 2008-09?  Will all VYR families be allowed to finally get into a YR school?

One thing’s for certain.  The School Board members have their work cut out for them, and I don’t envy their position at all.

I am really wondering how they can plan for 2008-2009 when the appeal decision regarding whether they can assign students to MYR schools has not been decided.  Does anyone know when the appeal will be heard/decided?  Seems like that is such a huge piece of the puzzle that is needed so they make further plans.

Hi Andrea:

From what I’ve been told, there is not a “decision date” regarding the appeal.  It could come through soon, or maybe not for months.  Considering how everything has gone since Judge Manning’s original decision, the School Board probably needs to plan as though the appeal will be overturned.  I’m pretty sure that’s the direction they’ll decide to take.  (I hope so!)

The numbers just aren’t here according the Growth Management’s projections, which is what the MYR plan was based on.  On top of that, there have been many families move away to avoid YR schools.  In speaking with realtors, families have chosen NOT to move into Wake County due to the MYR school mess.  I know several families who have taken their children out of WCPSS schools and enrolled them in private schools or opted for homeschooling.  All of this was done to avoid MYR. 

The “Growth Crisis” we heard about last year at this time never came to fruition, and considering the decline we’ve seen so far I’m hoping they’ll revert some of the schools (including the school my children attend-Leesville Elementary) back to traditional for the 2008-09 school year.

I believe we’ll hear “day 10 numbers” sometime this week, since Friday 8/10 was the 10th day of school for track 4.  That will be a difficult time for principals at the converted schools, because if enrollment is low enough I’ve been told that they may have to make some staffing changes and shuffle students around to different tracks.  Since we were a full and “thriving” school last fall, I hate to hear that we may lose more teachers over this.  I guess we’ll know about that very soon, but since we’ve got such an AWESOME staff it’s sure not a positive thing to think about right now.

My hope is that the title of your entry is correct - DISCUSS.  Last year, there was no discussion.  Judge Manning, in his decision, said that conversion was a predetermined outcome.  I went to a so-called “community engagement meeting” and WCPSS personnel told the audience that the Board and staff would listen to all comments, but only small changes would be made.

We need real community engagement.  Dr. Burns put that as one of his focus points when he became Superintendent.  So far, I have seen none.  How about Dr. Burns, can you show us that your goals were more than words?

I think that is why they have an open position for a spin machine…er sorry….PR person.  I think it was for $70,000.00 per year.  That should fetch a good spinner. We need another Community meeting so that Lori can check out her manicure and Dr Burns can nudge ole Rosa awake.  Discussion Yeah right!Oh and Rich can you tell us how Dr Burns review is going?  Will he make over the $250,000.00 per year he is being paid now along with all the other perks,for doing such a great job?

About 40 of us sent a letter to the Dr. Burns requesting the dismissal of Chuck Dulaney. That would be a step in the right direction, but I highly doubt it will happen.

My husband’s new boss just moved here and they specifically chose to live in Chapel Hill to avoid Wake County schools, so Lisa is right: people are factoring in the school situation when trying to decide what part of the Triangle the live in.

I’m really curious if the new school off Leesville will really be open for next year (whatever schedule they choose) and if they’ll keep opening all new schools on a year round schedule.  Can you “picture” an under enrolled elementary surround by two other under enrolled elementary schools?  Cause that’s what I’m seeing.  What a waste.

Hi Lisa:

The new school on Leesville Road (called E-17 or Sycamore Creek) is supposed to open July 2008 as a year-round elementary school.

The latest I heard was that they’re NOT planning to have it finished when school starts next year, so they’re planning to have the Sycamore Creek students utilize Hilburn Elementary when their school year starts beginning in July. 

They’re HOPING to have Sycamore Creek open by late August so their students can attend the new school.  I also heard yesterday that if Sycamore Creek isn’t completed when Hilburn begins school in late August they’re already talking about “split sessions” at Hilburn. (Hilburn students use Hilburn classrooms in AM, Sycamore Creek students use Hilburn classrooms in PM) This has NOT been “officially confirmed”, but I did hear it from a few different unrelated people, so at this point I believe it’s just an option being considered.

I’ve also heard that they’re considering opening the 3 new elementary schools as traditional instead of YR, but that too is just “talk” right now.

Hopefully some of this will be discussed at the September 6 work session.

With traditional calendar starting up, it is now very much the time to start talking about the plan for next year.  If on nothing else we can agree, we must make it clear that the school system needs to make a conscientious effort to determine demand for each calendar before setting the supply.  That is the root of all the problems we see today.

Traditional schedules means? what are you meaning to say?
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In speaking with realtors, families have chosen NOT to move into Wake County due to the MYR school mess.  I know several families who have taken their children out of WCPSS schools and enrolled them in private schools or opted for homeschooling.  All of this was done to avoid MYR.
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