Making the Most of New High School Space

At its Committee of the Whole meeting Jan. 23, the Board of Education heard a staff proposal that allows WCPSS to get the most use out of its new high school buildings during a period of rapid enrollment growth.

The new building program, Blueprint for Excellence 2006, includes construction funding for two high schools (Heritage in Wake Forest and another location to be determined) and land and design funding for two future high schools. WCPSS has identified three circles -- H6 in northeastern Wake, H7 in southwestern Wake and H8 in southeastern Wake -- as areas of the county that need new high schools. The district does not have land for any of these sites yet.

Since new high schools typically only open with ninth- and 10th-grades, staff proposed opening Heritage High in 2010 as scheduled, with not only its own students, but with ninth- and 10th-graders for nearby H6 as well. The following year, H6's ninth- and 10th-graders would move to its permanent campus, joined by 11th-graders.

Bringing H6 online a year earlier allows both H6 and H7 to open in the same year as opposed to picking one over the other, helping provide much needed classroom seats.

However, for Heritage, H6 and H7 to open in 2010, and for H8 to open in 2011, the county would need additional capital funding in January 2009.

The school board asked staff for additional information and will continue this discussion on February 6.

Posted by Kristin Flenniken at 3:07 PM on January 24, 2007 | Leave Feedback

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