District to Use Reserve Money for Year-Round School Conversions

Raleigh, N.C. — A disagreement over money between Wake County commissioners and school board members will keep several year-round classrooms from opening in time for the start of next school year.

County commissioners withheld $4.7 million that school administrators said was needed to convert 22 traditional schools to year-round schedules and to move mobile classrooms to those schools.

School administrators said the year-round schools are needed to keep up with the district's booming enrollment.

The school board voted Tuesday to use money from its reserve fund to pay for the conversions and the mobile classrooms. But officials said the debate with the commissioners means that 22 of the 25 portable units won't be open in time for year-round classes to start in July.

The Board of Commissioners doesn't plan to block the district's attempt to shift funds to pay for the school conversions, Chairman Tony Gurley said.

"I would anticipate that we would not take action," Gurley said. "I'm not in favor of using taxpayer money to take legal action (against other boards)."

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The extra money needed is for the additional teachers and staff (Cafeteria, janitors, secretaries, administrators) as well as operating costs (lights, running the AC (when it works) in June, July, and August.

One factor never mentioned is the additional wear-and-tear that will occur with these schools. The renovation schedule will have to be ramped up for these schools and students more than likely reassigned for one year about every 8 to 10 years in order to do major repairs that could not be done since the schools are continuously occupied (except for Christmas and July 4th).

And plstockdale, for the record, I don't mind my kids going to school in a trailer if it means my family will be kept together. The BOE's tactic of removing existing trailers that provide seats and then saying that there are not enough seats is backhanded and stupid. That's like taking money out of your wallet and putting it in your pocket and saying you have no money! Talk about stubborness!

oceanchild71
February 14, 2007 10:55 a.m.

Just curious - why is money needed to "convert" a school to year-round? What is needed to allow an existing facility to be open for three more months per year?

I had three kids go through the year round program, but all are now in high school, so I no longer have "a dog is this fight".

nosmo_king58
February 14, 2007 7:46 a.m.

I have written the BOE and CC again and again urging a compromise. There is a way to set up more yr schools, but in a way that is equitable and assures every family in the county has a choice. Each node would be assigned to two local schools of which one is a traditional calendar and one is yr. If they did a thorough survey, they could find what the true wants and needs are of the families in the system and be able to tweak this idea even more. However, the BOE is now taking it personally and are being pigheaded thinking that if they "give in" and don't convert all 22 schools, then they have "lost."

Also, it is interesting the argument the BOE has used that they can do this conversion because it is a policy and the BOE does policy, the CC do the money thing. Policy in this case would be that yr increases student performance and that's why they are doing it. However, they have stated they must do it because of money. Can't have your cake and eat it too, BOE!!!

oceanchild71
February 13, 2007 6:24 p.m.

Sorry...I should clarify. I wish my kids could have gone year round also! I voted for it. Leave the ones that are already year-round as they are. But forget the rest...then see how much yelling is done when there is no more room.

Here kitty kitty
February 13, 2007 4:37 p.m.

Nthomas, I don't know to whom you were directing your comments, but the reserve is an operational reserve, not a capital improvement one. If you read how the BoE moved the money you can see they are very aware that they cannot transfer money between the two. However, the fact remains that they are using an operational reserve for what they have previously deemed a capital expenditure.

Also, the cost savings are illusory. 500 districts nationwide have found this to be the case and have abandoned the calendar. The theoretical enrollment at year round is almost impossible to reach, so you end up paying for 33% more school days but not having 33% more students.