Fewer Students In Proposed Growth Management Plan

March 2, 2004 - The proposed growth management plan that will fill seven new schools opening next year was presented to the Wake County Board of Education today. After listening to community input from a two-week comment period, WCPSS staff presented a proposed plan to the board that included 550 fewer students.

Growth=New Schools

108,970 - enrollment for 2003-2004

113,150 - projected enrollment for 2004-2005

7 new schools open in 2004-2005

Proposal based on:

11 community engagement meetings in the fall led to Jan. 21 growth management proposal

1,800 comments through e-mail, letter and phone calls led to March 2 proposed growth management plan.

Public can comment at public hearings March 17, or by e-mail, letter or call.

"We continue to listen to suggestions we receive from parents as we refine plans for opening new schools next year," said Superintendent Bill McNeal. "This proposed plan is the latest step in a long conversation we're having with the community to fill the new schools our growing county requires."

The Board of Education will hold public hearings on this proposal March 17 to receive public comments. Persons wishing to speak at the public hearings can sign up to speak beginning tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. or can offer comments to the board through the WCPSS website, e-mail or mail.

The school system received more than 1,800 comments via e-mail, letters and phone messages during the comment period Jan. 21 to Feb. 9. Each was reviewed by the WCPSS Growth Management staff. The suggestions led to a number of changes.

The proposed plan now recommends that 6,493 students be reassigned and 1,345 students be moved for year-round transportation changes, for a total of 7,838 students.

his is 550 students fewer than the number included in the Jan. 21 proposal.

The Jan. 21 proposal was developed after a series of 11 community engagement meetings held last fall. The first meetings were in September. The WCPSS Growth Management Office held meetings across the county to discuss the growth management process and listen to parents' concerns.

Current enrollment for 2003-2004 is 108,970. The Wake County Planning Department projects enrollment will reach 113,150 next year. Seven new schools will open for 2004-2005 including Forestville Road Elementary, Jones Dairy Elementary, Heritage Middle and Knightdale High in eastern Wake County and Highcroft Drive Elementary, Turner Creek elementary and Salem Middle in western Wake County. Jones Dairy Elementary, Turner Creek Elementary and Heritage Middle will operate on the year-round calendar.

The proposed growth management plan will be available online at 7 tonight on www.wcpss.net.

The proposed plan will continue to be shaped by public input as the Board of Education receives comments, holds public hearings March 17 and a work session March 23. The board is expected to approve a plan in late March.

-wcpss-