2006-07 Growth Management Proposal Fills Seven New Schools
December 12, 2005 - The 2006-07 growth management proposal was published today for a two-week comment period. Comments from the public will be used by the Growth Management staff to prepare a proposal to present to the Board of Education in February.
The proposal fills two new high schools and five new year-round elementary schools, two of which will be started early in temporary facilities.
The new schools are adding space as student enrollment growth has exploded. Since 2000, student enrollment leaped by 22,924 students. The 20th day enrollment for 2005-06 is 120,504.
Growth requires new schools
Wake County schools are expected to gain more than 7,000 new students next year, bringing total enrollment to 127,513. Estimates show Wake gaining 40,000 students by the year 2010 and 72,000 students by 2015, for a total of 192,748 students.
"Many people are moving to Wake County to enjoy the benefits of living in our community. This growth requires additional schools where these students can be educated," said Superintendent Bill McNeal. "The growth management proposal fills the new schools opening next year. It is part of a continuing community discussion. The Growth Management staff held a dozen meetings from which they heard citizen concerns used in drafting this proposal to solicit additional input from the community. In February, the updated proposal will be presented to the Board of Education and there will be more opportunities for comment."
The proposal involves 11,495 students and is the largest the school system has made. The proposal includes 10,389 students who have a change in base assignment and 1,106 students who have a change in year-round transportation area. Growth management proposals in 2004-05 affected more than 6,400 students and in 1999-2000 more than 5,000 students. Both plans filled seven new schools.
Proposal fills new schools
This is the first time WCPSS has opened two new high schools at the same time. The next high school on the drawing board is Heritage High. Its construction would be funded through the next school construction program and it may not open until 2009. The proposal takes into consideration the future opening of Heritage High and three years of growth before additional high school seats will be available.
The proposal fills Panther Creek High in Cary and Holly Springs High in Holly Springs. Both schools will open with ninth- and tenth-grade students only. As parents attending the community engagement meetings recommended, rising high school juniors are not included in the proposal.
The five year-round elementary schools include Barwell Road Elementary in Southeast Raleigh, Brier Creek Elementary in North Raleigh, Carpenter Elementary in Cary, as well as two early start schools: Holly Grove Elementary and E19. Holly Grove will start in an unused wing of the new Holly Springs High while the new permanent school is built on adjacent property. E19 will move into the temporary modular campus on Spring Forest Road in North Raleigh. Harris Creek Elementary will leave the modular campus and move into its permanent building on Forestville Road near Mitchell Mill Road. All of these schools are opening as multi-track, year-round schools, which provide space for more students.
Community engagement meetings began process
The growth management proposal was developed after a series of 12 community engagement meetings held across the county last fall. The meetings explained the dramatic growth in enrollment, the impact of opening the new high schools and elementary schools and the need to provide early start for two of the schools. The meetings gave the public a chance to weigh in on these concerns. School officials heard the community's priorities: not moving rising juniors, stability, distance, alleviate crowding, keep neighborhoods together and provide grandfathering.
The proposal includes a recommendation to continue grandfathering. Of the 11,495 students in this proposal, 3,096 could exercise the grandfathering option of staying at their current school and providing their own transportation. If all parents exercised the grandfathering option, the current proposal would include 8,399 students.
The public input will help the Office of Growth Management revise the proposal
for presentation to the Board of Education in February. The board will hold
works sessions to review the proposal and public hearings for comment from
the community before approving the final plan in late March or early April.
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