Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake County Board of Education has collected nearly 41,000 responses to a survey about how students are assigned and calendars planned for the county’s public schools.

The board opted to seek public input on the two contentious issues as they plan policy changes.

Parents had until noon Monday to respond to an online survey. (Read the survey questions.)

Wake County residents who do not have students enrolled in the school system could also leave comments until that time on the school system's Web site.

The school board has also announced four community meetings scheduled for next month on the matter.

• Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Holly Springs High School, 5329 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs
• Thursday, Feb. 18 at Heritage High School, 1150 Forestville Road, Wake Forest
• Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Leesville Road High School, 8409 Leesville Road, Raleigh
• Thursday, Feb. 25 at Panther Creek High School, 6770 McCrimmon Parkway, Cary

Each meeting runs from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. in the schools' auditoriums.

The Board of Education voted 5-4 last week to end mandatory assignment to year-round schools beginning with the 2010-2011 school year and to allow parents to choose whether their child attends a school with a year-round or traditional calendar.

Two years ago, the district converted 22 elementary and middle schools to year-round schedules.

At the time, administrators defended the controversial moves by saying it would help the district keep up with enrollment growth and save money on school construction since year-round schools can accommodate more students than traditional-calendar schools.

Opponents argue that year-round schools have not eased overcrowding and that they create a hardship for families.