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"We basically don't want our kids to be bussed to Raleigh," said one parent.

At both schools, parents gave school board members a glimpse into their lives. One father broke down when describing how he would lose an hour with his daughter if she's bussed to a new school.

"An hour with Jasmine is like a gift from God Almighty to me," said the father.

Board members will consider everything the parents said, and may even tweak the reassignment plan.

"We received 2,000 letters, e-mails, and voice mails," said school board member Michael Evans. "We've made changes based on that. The board does come out to these meetings and they do listen."

But with the equivalent of a classroom and a half full of kids being added to the district every day, room for compromise may be as limited as a three-minute speech.

Even after board members vote on the plan on March 21, parents who still aren't satisfied can appeal -- an option that's had a 50 percent success rate in the past.