Growth Management in Area C (Apex/Cary/Morrisville)
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Click here for a PowerPoint presentation. (Final Jan. 27, 2003) |
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Results of Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2002 Board of Education Meeting: |
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*After serving as a ninth-grade center, Carpenter Elementary will open as a new year-round in 2006-2007. |
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*Highcroft Elementary will open as a traditional school in 2004-2005. |
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*East Cary Middle moves to Reedy Creek Middle in 2003-2004 on a permanent basis. |
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*East Cary Middle will serve as the ninth-grade center for Cary High School for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 and then the middle school campus will open as a year-round in 2006. |
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Results of the Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2002 Board of Education Meeting: |
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*Carpenter Elementary was named as the ninth-grade center for Green Hope High School for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. |
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*Delayed decision on where the ninth-grade center will be for Cary High School to allow more time for public input. A community meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 7:00 p.m. at East Cary Middle. |
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*Designated Turner Creek Road Elementary as a year-round that will open in 2004 with grades K through 4. |
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*Approved opening a year-round elementary and middle school in Area C (Apex/Cary/Morrisville) at a time and location to be named later. |
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*Deferred consideration of Highcroft Drive Elementary's construction documents until the Dec. 3 meeting. (The project cannot go to bid until the construction documents are approved by the Board.) |
GROWTH MANAGEMENT RETREAT
On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Board of Education held a growth
management retreat to discuss the rapidly increasing number
of high school students in Western Wake County, the impact
it will have on Apex, Cary and Green Hope high schools over
the next few years, and options to handle this growth until
a new high school can open in 2006.
Prior to the retreat, WCPSS staff studied various options - such as adding mobiles, capping school enrollment, reassigning students, and double shifts - for handling this growth. Because maintaining as much stability as possible is a major concern, staff presented a ninth-grade center as part of a possible solution to parents and faculty for feedback. Community meetings were held at Green Hope High on Oct. 28, at Cary High on Oct. 29, and at Apex High on Oct. 30.
Staff reviewed the comments, considerations and suggestions from the community, and modified their proposal. The Board discussed the revisions, rationale and community feedback at the retreat, and may vote on the proposal at the Monday, Nov. 18 meeting.
BACKGROUND
Based on the 2000 Census data, Wake County Government revised
its original enrollment projections for Wake County schools
to reflect tremendous growth in Area C (Apex, Cary and Morrisville)
high schools over the next few years. The 20th day enrollment
for Apex, Cary and Green Hope high schools is 5,912 and current
capacity is 5,868. Enrollment is expected to reach 7,290 students
in 2005/2006 - an increase of approximately 1,400 students
at three schools.
The PLAN 2000 building program includes building five elementary and two middle schools in Area C, but no high schools. WCPSS will not be able to open a new high school in southwestern Wake until 2006, pending future funding.
ORIGINAL PROPOSAL
The original proposal WCPSS presented to parents and faculty
included:
· Adding up to three modular complexes (at eight classrooms
each) to Apex High,
· Adding up to three modular complexes (at eight classrooms
each) to Cary High or creating a ninth-grade center for CHS
at Salem Middle,
· Creating a ninth-grade center at Highcroft Drive Elementary
(2004-2006) for Green Hope High, and
· Opening two new high schools in 2006, subject to timely
site acquisition and future funding.
DISCUSSION LEADS TO REVISIONS
The Facilities staff held three community meetings to discuss
growth in Area C (Apex, Cary and Morrisville) and how to best
handle the influx of high school students. Staff sent meeting
notices to area newspapers and to Morrisville, Cary and Apex
area elementary and middle school principals to share with
their faculty and parents. Approximately 6,000 letters were
mailed to all Green Hope, Cary and Apex high school parents.
Meetings were held at Green Hope High on Oct. 28, at Cary
High on Oct. 29, and at Apex High on Oct. 30.
Staff reviewed comments, considerations, and suggestions
from the community and modified their proposal for Cary High.
The revised proposal includes:
· Creating a ninth-grade center at East Cary Middle (2004-2006)
for Cary High by allowing the East Cary Middle School program
to stay at Reedy Creek Middle after their year of renovation
and opening a year-round middle school in 2006 when high school
crowding should see relief.
FUTURE MEETINGS & COMMUNICATIONS
· Community meetings have been scheduled at East Cary Middle
for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, and at Davis Drive Middle
for 7:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 27.
· Town Council presentations have been scheduled for Cary,
Nov. 21, Morrisville, Dec. 9, and Apex, Jan. 7.