November 2004 CEM Questions and Answers
Public participants in the second round (November) of the 2004 Community Engagement Meetings asked the following questions. The questions and their answers are reproduced below.
You are spending $100, thousands for modular buildings, why can't you spend it on septic system for schools? Cowards.
We appreciate the involvement of the Brassfield parents who are helping to determine a solution to this complex issue involving the modular unit.
You suggested that school construction/growth is dependent on bonds. I see new developments popping up all over North Raleigh, at home prices above $700,000. Plus, all of the existing homes assessment values increased substantially during the last few years. Why does this tax revenue not satisfy school needs?
The construction of new homes increases the county's tax base, but not as much as does the construction of new industrial or commercial facilities. The additional tax revenue increases the amount available to pay debt service on bonds and therefore the total amount of bonds that may be sold without a tax increase.
For modular schools, where will the staff come from? Question 2 - Will they be all new teachers or transplants from other schools?
Each principal selects the faculty for the school. When the principal(s) for these schools are identified, they will have the opportunity to staff their school.
The mobile units clearly tax the core facility such as cafeteria and restroom facilities. Will you draw a line to the number of students to the size of the cafeteria, multipurpose room and restroom facilities?
Thank you for pointing out this fact! Yes, the load on these support facilities is monitored.
Will modular schools have playgrounds and all facilities that a traditional elementary school would have? I am in E-9 Wildwood Forest.
Yes
What are the proposed sites for "modular" schools, specifically Harris Creek Elementary?
The first site under consideration is the DuBois property in Wake Forest (the site of the previous Wake Forest Middle School).
How much land is used to build a modular campus?
About five acres.
How much relief will the modular campus make on the overall overcrowding of our schools?
Each one would provide space for about 500 students.
Are total pre-cast schools being considered? Pre-cast schools are constructed faster than conventional brick and block construction, long-term pre-cast schools are cheaper to operate and maintain.
Yes, our design and construction staff is exploring both pre-cast and tilt-up concrete construction.
Why are there no bond issues on the table?
Because funds within the current bond program that the voters approved one year ago have not been expended yet.
If we need additional funds, bond issues will be passed, how can citizens help?
By making friends and neighbors aware of the school systems' needs for construction of new schools and the renovation of existing schools.
Why don't you consider impact fees on builders to help pay for new schools and renovations?
This will be discussed with Wake county staff.
If growth is a constant issue - why are we not building multi-level elementary and middle schools?
Most new schools under design or construction are multi-level.
Why is the city allowing more homes to be built if there is no room in the schools?
There are currently no restrictions on construction of new homes based on the capacity of schools.
How will you ever get ahead of the curve? It seems every ounce of energy is going toward stopgap measures. Question 2 - Will we be back here in five-seven years talking about a crisis in middle and high school?
We will unless there are funds to help the school district catch up and move into the already identified list of needs.
Have you looked for land north of 98 and east of 50? This would off load Brassfield, Wakefield and Wake Forest Elementary.
Staff is looking for a site for a new elementary school along US 1 north of highway 98.
Why no plans for middle schools? In order for this to be long-term, this must be planned for now - based on elementary numbers.
New middle schools will be included in the next bond program; planning is in progress. Heritage Middle School was opened this summer.
Several schools in the Falls Lake watershed are prevented from growing. Why is this limitation in place, potential pollution?
Protection of drinking water quality.
Does this keep growth down? Question 3 - Is this sewage concerns?
The number of residential lots per acre in the watershed is restricted.
Since many schools in area B have attendance areas in the watershed and no circles are in the watershed, when you consider reassignment do you consider the entire base area? Question 2 - Do you consider only the circle area?
We begin with the circle but we also look outside the circle because we have to monitor all growth in relation to new school availability.
Are schools going to be built larger?
About 1/3 of the new elementary schools in the Plan 2004 bond program were increased in capacity from 650 to 795 students.
What about the two schools in the watershed adding a floor? No more watershed schools will be built - this seems to be the solution for the continuing growth in the watershed, with less reassignment.
Staff considered this but do not consider it to be a viable alternative.
Explain the "capping" process? Brassfield Elementary at 93% capacity is capped, with no lift on the cap anticipated. Other schools, such as Wakefield Elementary, will have 70 mobiles by next year and they are 115% capacity. Question 1 - Why aren't caps used more liberally to stop unscheduled growth (and give relocating families fair warning) and redirect the "overflow" to less crowded surrounding schools? At least temporarily.
That is what capping is, moving new students to schools that are less crowded. However, there are very few schools that can handle their own students and the students from another school.
We have been capped out of Brassfield Elementary and are at Lynn Road - a school with at least 2 years of below EOG test minimums. Question 1 - Will we have priority for the Magellan Modular School? Question 2 - Will we have priority for the magnet selection?
The Magellan Modular School will serve the E9 circle. This may include some students from Brassfield. There are about 100 students capped out of Brassfield and some students at magnet and year round schools. Should the cap be removed, there are potentially 150 students who could want to come back to Brassfield and we can have no mobile units there (after we get the one there moved after next year).
The satellite nodes cause a lot of heartburn with parents, has WCPSS considered a process for allocating more resources (dollars and teachers) to schools that have a higher percent of needs? As a parent, I would be willing to contribute more through fundraising and volunteering in my own school.
There are formulas for the allocation of teachers and funds. The number of high needs students is one of the things that can change this formula.
The Dubois Center was mentioned as a possible school site. That area of Wake Forest has serious safety concerns (drugs/shootings). Question 1 - What would be done to ensure student safety?
This may be an unfortunate perception. As is true with all schools, WCPSS security department will work with the local police department to ensure a safe school environment.
What is being done to recruit above average educators to schools that have been rated less than a school of excellence, so that there is not such a great desire to go to schools such as Wakefield?
Recruitment involves multiple strategies that are aimed at finding the best match between a teacher and the needs of each school. For example, we host two major job fairs per year. A job fair involves bringing outstanding candidates to Wake County for a day and scheduling interviews with schools teams who participate in the job fair to find the best candidates for the openings that they have. Our fairs are well attended, typicalloy with over 2000 candidates who participate.
What other school systems in the state, or country facing similar issues have you reviewed? (Greeneville, SC).
Several Florida school systems as well as Las Vegas, Nev.
Why not consider using middle schools as future elementary schools?
There are no middle schools that can be spared.
What happened to E-9? Question 2 - What will happen if no land can be found in the next six months or year?
It is proposed that E9 open in 2005 on the Magellan property. Land will have to be found soon for a school to open in 2007.
What are the proposed sites for new schools E-9 and E-12 - or other possibilities?
E12 has not been identified for a modular site for 2005. E9 is scheduled for the Magellan property.
< class="question"p> Can we get a copy of the "New Elementary - Northern Wake County Area" map? (Showing current school assignments and future E-9 and E-12 school circles).The circle maps used in the Power Point are now on our web site and can be copied. We do not produce colored maps for distribution.
Can the transfer policy be adjusted to allow siblings of students who elect to take advantage of the grandfather clause be given preferential treatment in order to keep family impact of reassignment to minimum?
That has been discussed but not accepted by the school board or staff.
The schools that affect my child span two areas: A and B, I came to this meeting expecting information about both, but the meeting was only for Area B, how do I obtain information about Area A?
The information about planning area A is now on our web site (wcpss.net) and can be viewed, copied, etc. from there.
Why are the next three Plan Area B Elementary schools helping roughly the same schools? None are helping Baileywick and all are helping Wakefield.
The sites are placed to help the most crowded areas where there is the greatest amount of growth. Baileywick will get a serious look for relief in this plan.
As a solution, I for one want to open a charter school, however, there are only 100 charter schools with 99 already assigned. I do not want to go through major effort for only a minimum chance. Question 1 - Do you see increasing the 100 ceiling?
This is not something that we have any control over nor decision making for. You should contact the State Department of Instruction.
You use ESL percentages to evaluate a school's population, because it affects the function of a school. Last year you stated you did not track ESL population by nodes. Question 1 - Have you started tracking the ESL population by node? Question 2 - If not, do you plan to before this reassignment?
We do have the ESL population by node.
WCPSS needs to do more research (polls) to see how many students would be interested in voluntary year-round schools. Question 1 - Will you consider making Harris Creek Elementary a year-round school?
That is not currently being considered by the school board.
Why don't you keep the year-round option on the table? Take a survey or poll (1) year-round, (2) reassignment, (3) modular, you may be surprised.
The board is talking about a survey regarding year-round.
How about making all schools in WCPSS year-round until we have enough schools built to house all students? Make them with only two tracks to allow families to take vacations.
Unless you go with four tracks, there is no gain in capacity.
Our children will be in elementary school and high school for 2005/2006. In recognition that year-round might be the most cost effective solution to the situation, how would you resolve the schedule conflict between grade levels?
There is no year-round high school so there will always be a calendar conflict between high school and younger students. If year round were to be mandated for all students, there would also be conflict for most students.
Why cannot year-round be brought up as an option with middle school and all its feeder elementary schools converted to year-round?
This is certainly something that could be considered by the school board. In many cases, not all students from an elementary school feed the same middle school because of location and transportation patterns.
Are you going to revisit the possibility of year-round school for Wakefield Elementary for 2005/2006 - vs. rezoning some of the neighborhood out?
There is no plan to make Wakefield Elementary year round for 2005 that I know of.
Since Brassfield is capped, why wasn't it considered for year-round?
All crowded schools could be considered for year-round if the board moved in that direction.
Is it possible to avoid reassignment when the mobiles are removed in two years?
To eliminate the cap and lose the mobiles will require some reassignment.
What are you going to do to reduce class size to meet the state laws at K-3 at Durant and other year-round schools? Out of 27 - K-3rd grade classes at Durant less than 6 are in compliance with state law.
The number of accepted applicants will have to be reduced and any vacancies that occur will not be filled.
Are walk-zone/neighborhood schools given consideration in growth management objectives?
When reassignments are made for existing or new schools, proximity to the school is one of the considerations.
Why not transfer/bus high F&R students into schools with low F&R and low capacity - such as Brassfield and Pleasant Union?
That is now done but at present there are no available seats at most of these schools.
Someone asked why couldn't Wakefield residents attend Wakefield Schools? The answer was that because we don't have enough seats. Question 2 - Would there be enough seats if we stopped bussing in students not from Wakefield?
Even if only students who live in "Wakefield" attended the Wakefield campus, there would not be enough seats.
The people in Wakefield have chosen to live here because of the school. They are the ones providing their support to raise monies for the school, not the parent of the kids that are bussed in. When are you going to stop bussing kids in from 15 miles away, instead of bussing out kids that live right here in Wakefield?
I am sure the parents who live in Wakefield help raise money to support their school. All parents do not have equal opportunity or ability to raise money, etc. The schools in Wake County are Wake County Schools and not schools identified or belonging to some area of the county.
The numbers do not add up for Wakefield Elementary for next year. If you are anticipating 200 more students, will six new modular handle them? Question 2 - Will the board please revisit the year-round?
The board has the information on year-round schools and can visit it at any time.
My daughter attends Wakefield Middle and is doing very, very well. A/B student from 6, 7 and 8th grade, she would like to attend Wakefield High to continue with all the programs that she is in. Question 1 - I would like to know if the assignment will change her high school from Millbrook to Wakefield since she attends Wakefield Middle?
Not all students who attend Wakefield Middle School attend Wakefield High School.
Can the school system create a guideline or rule by which, if you live within (x mile or fraction of a mile) to a school, you will not be reassigned?
If the board chose to make such a rule, they can do that.
Is it possible to have a two (2) school campus, 2 principals - instead of one school with 20 plus trailers? Keeping playground intact. Wakefield Elementary - largest population (larger than year-round) and not getting better, but on plans to address this until 2007. Question 2 - Houses and neighborhoods being built all around us - where will those students attend school, Wakefield?
This could a plan that the board considers if they choose. Growth cannot continue to be accommodated at the Wakefield campus.
Where in Wakefield school district can I buy a home to keep my children, during the next 10 years, in the Wakefield schools? Would like the stability of having them attend the same schools.
As the growth continues in Wake County, I would not attempt to suggest where you could buy a house and know that you would remain in the same school zone for ten years.
I have heard a little about a parent proposal to add modular K-1st building on campus and get rid of "cottages" is this plausible solution?
Yes, it is certainly possible, but funds are not available to do this.
Why can't we spend more monies on schools with high concentrations of F&R rather thin shipping nodes to satellite schools with long bus time and environmental air pollution?
The school board and administration strongly believe that high concentrations of F&R students present extra challenges for schools. Whenever possible, the school system works to prevent this from happening.
Is it a behavior issue?
I don't know of behavior being used as a reason for reassignment.
My fifth grader goes to Brassfield, will she go to Wakefield Middle? Question 2 - Where will she go to high school? Question 3 - Will it still be Wakefield High in 2008?
There is insufficient information to answer this question.
Wakefield Elementary is 304 seats over capacity for 2005-2006. There is no plan to address the overcrowding until 2007. Question 1 - What does this mean? Question 2 - Where do these 304 children go, assuming state mandates classroom size?
Seats will be provided. The problem with a school this much over capacity is that a major move would have to take place to "fix" the problem/over enrollment.
I am very concerned about the lack of planning for additional middle schools, which will become quite urgent as these elementary kids age. Question 1 - Can any of the proposed elementary schools over the next few years be converted to middle schools?
We will need all of the elementary schools for elementary students. In fact, there are enough elementary students in mobile classrooms to fill some of these schools now.
If it is difficult to find room for the elementary school, are you scouting for middle schools now, even without the funding?
As funds are made available from the county, we also look for middle school sites.
How will the assignment problem be solved when Node 247.0, 626.0 has been added to 233.6 and 233.9?
The assignment of the nodes may be the same but they are still separate nodes and can be moved in part or all together depending on the need and the availability of seats.
Why has our neighborhood been divided into two separate nodes? This defeats the concept of community and neighborhood. Question 2 - Why if Wildwood Forest has been closed out to us are newer subdivisions farther from the school are being assigned there?
When we do a node review each year, we target all nodes with 300 or more students. These are divided using some natural dividing line (major street, greenway, waterway, etc.)
Node 233.6 was just split to 233.9 as well, why didn't Growth Management notify the residents of this? It was discovered by a resident via the web, residents should be notified officially by mail.
Node assignment is a management tool of Growth Management. When a reassignment is announced, parents are notified at that time and are given the opportunity to provide input.
Has the reassignment process caught up with the system?
Not sure what this questions means.
What are the criteria for populating school and reassignment procedure (all within 1 mile) stays in the base school?
There are no guidelines for assigning students to a specific school that relates to distance from the school. It is hoped that students who live within a mile of a school attend that school but there are multiple examples where that does not happen. In fact, MANY people do not live within a mile of any school.
At the last meeting, it was said that we would see the redistricting at this meeting. We did not find out. We want to know exactly who will move and where?
At the last meeting, parents were told that they would see the possible changes for 2005 at this meeting. Since a part of this meeting's agenda was to get input from parents, it would have been premature to tell you were or if you were going to be moved. The first draft of the plan will be available on line near the end of December or the first of January.
Too many possible solutions and no real answers. Who are the commissioners? Question 2 - Where are they?
The Commissioners are elected by the voters of Wake County. You can get their names, etc. from Wake County Government.
Given the tremendous size and growth issues of WCPSS, have you considered dividing WCPSS into 4 quadrants (East, West, North and South) and having individual superintendents for each area? Clearly this is a large and overwhelming job for one person and apparently no one was able to predict the huge growth in the triangle. Isn't that what demographers do for a living?
The state is encouraging fewer school districts rather than more school districts. Having the projections for the growth does not provide the funding to respond to it. Our projections have been fairly close over the years. Some things cannot be planned for, even by demographers, because there is no way to know they are going to happen. This would include the number of students who returned to public schools from private, religious, charter, etc.
Any chance E9 can open earlier by setting up modular units and then moving into new school?
Yes, we hope that the E9 school will be opened for the 2005-06 school year in a leased or modular site.
How will you address our lack of facilities for the coming year(s) and the increase of students?
As the charts you saw regarding your school, crowding is a factor in most schools. There is no space for mobile units at Root. The only options are to remain crowded or to deal with reassignment. As staff moves forward with the reassignment process, these will be considered.
There is a tremendous interest in magnet schools, will you consider making some of the rim schools magnet schools to help attract non-F&R children? Or to help keep our neighborhood families from leaving.
In many of the rim schools the problem is space. We can't afford to put a magnet program in a school that is full. We will continue to examine this issue.
When will we be informed of changes in school assignment? Many of us who are happy where we are will be applying to magnet programs.
The first draft will be made public in late December or early January. There will be a window of time for parents to review and provide input before the formal plan goes to the board in late January.
When will you re-align the low F&R downtown magnets to equal the rim school's F&R?
Each time reassignment occurs in an area, there is a review of all health factors regarding schools, including the F&R percentage.
Will you consider converting the rim schools to magnet schools?
We look at this issue each year but will not be able to add more magnet schools without adequate funds to support the theme. WE also must consider space for more students.
In figuring the capacity of schools, is that a square footage or could space be reorganized (like art on a cart) to add students and have a "new capacity" as opposed to having year-round?
Capacity is based on the number of teaching spaces, with a minimum size taken into consideration. Dining capacity is related to square footage. Capacities are based on board approved capacity models that identify each required space necessary to appropriately deliver the educational program.
How will overcrowding at Daniels Middle be handled, mobiles or reassignment?
The staff in Facilities is looking at all possibilities. These may include either or both of the above.
Is there room for more mobile classrooms at Daniels Middle?
Yes, but it would compromise the playfields.
What priority is given to meeting the objective of "neighborhood schools", i.e. schools with walk zone?
While we would like for students to attend a school in close proximity to their homes, this is not always possible. While there are certainly exceptions, most students who live within walking distance of a school are assigned to that school.
Is it more expensive to switch schools to year-round or add mobile classrooms?
Strictly from a facilities perspective, year-round would be less expensive.
Last spring WCPSS and the school board developed a great plan for Carroll Middle, part of that plan included facility renovations as part of making Carroll a technology enhancement pilot. Given the high growth this fall and projected growth for next year how will this impact plans for Carroll Middle?
Carroll is currently undergoing major renovations and will be utilizing mobile classrooms to accomplish this. When that is finished, a decision will have to be made concerning the size of Carroll and how best to utilize the space.
How will Baileywick Elementary be affected?
Baileywick is a school that will receive our attention once we start the assignment process. It is hoped that some adjustments can be made to their attendance area that will affect the enrollment and the school profile. This may be tied to the opening of another school at some time in the near future.
Baileywick Elementary has received spot nodes over the past three years to push us to the high % of overcrowding, with the additional added students next year. Could you not reassign additional spot nodes and allow the school management re-arrange class spaces, so children stay put?
Spot nodes are used to help control the placement of students in school, especially where the current school doesn't have space. Since most schools are in that crowded category now, reassignment of spot nodes is more difficult since there are few schools with empty classrooms.
I am in North Ridge subdivision, my kids go to North Ridge Elementary, would we be targeted for reassignment? (It would not make sense to me to be reassigned given that we are one of the few neighborhoods that actually have a community/neighborhood school.
No particular students/neighborhoods have been targeted even though we know which schools will be a priority for help. These decisions will be made after the Community Engagement Meetings have concluded and we have studied the additional facts that we have gathered.
How many children do you estimate will be reassigned from North Ridge Elementary to E9 modular site?
That decision will not be made until after the Community Engagement Meetings. I would not be willing to make that guess at this time.
Will you move low F&R kids to high F&R schools, such as Lead Mine Elementary?
The reassignment process looks at all areas in order to determine the best solution in relationship to the total picture.
If resources are not available to relieve schools carrying the burden of higher F&R rates (40%), when will you address the reassignment of nodes to more evenly distribute F&R students?
The reassignment plan for 2005 will initially address new schools. We try to include in those assignments changes that will impact other characteristics of schools, including the F&R rate. As these characteristics are reviewed, adjustments will be made where possible.
What can be done to bring neighborhood families back to these rim schools?
As the neighborhoods around schools change residents, the schools also change. Many families exercise options that are available to them to choose the school(s) they best feel will serve their child. Once these choices are made, most parents stay with that choice unless they find another choice that they perceive to be better. At this time there is concern over the status of rim schools but there are no definite plans for program changes, etc.
How do you plan to maintain the health of these rim schools, but at the same time, reconcile the over crowding issue?
These are complex issues because they do not necessarily work together. Growth and crowding are two of the overriding issues that are being faced in all of our schools. Providing stability for families and providing choices are two other issues that impact the health of schools as well as crowding. This broad issue continues to one that is studied but also one that is challenging.