Year-Round Schools Debate Heads to State Appeals Court

Raleigh, N.C. — The debate over whether year-round schools in Wake County remain voluntary goes before the North Carolina Court of Appeals on Wednesday.

Last May, Superior Court Judge Howard Manning forced the Wake County Board of Education to change its plan to convert 22 elementary and middle schools to a mandatory year-round schedule. He ruled the district must get parental permission before assigning students to them.

School leaders say most year-round schools are under-enrolled because of the ruling, and if the trend continues and if the school board loses its appeal, it could jeopardize their plan for all new elementary and middle schools to go year-round.

After Manning's ruling, 29 year-round schools in Wake County had 40 or more students opt out. Five of those schools had more than 100 students leave.

Hampered by increasing enrollment numbers and their commitment to keeping schools diverse, the majority of Wake County school board members say they will provide choices, but need the authority to assign children to certain schools.

"Year-round schools give us the capacity that we need," school board chairwoman Rosa Gill said. "The statute gives us the right to assign students, and we do give parents options."

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African-American Children is asking its supporters to be at the Jan. 9 court hearing to show support for the school board. The board will have "a much more difficult time integrating schools if their right to assign students is diminished," the group said.

The original lawsuit to block the conversion was filed by the Wake County parents' group WakeCARES, which contends that forcing students to switch schedules would be unfair and would disrupt family life.

Members said Monday they are hoping the three-member appeals court panel will agree with Manning's decision to keep year-round voluntary.

"I have faith in the process, and I feel like Judge Manning made a good, strong ruling," group member Kathleen Brennan said.

"I would like to see this whole thing resolved and get our school system on track and moving forward," she added.

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I think there is room for both year round and traditional. Year round is great for a lot of families but at the same time they do not work for all families. Some families have kids in both Elem and HS and this "forced YR" can create a hardship. In our area (Leesville) there are 2 year round schools-Brier Creek and Leesville Elem. Both are under capacity. However, Hilburn (traditional) is over capacity. They have added Sycamore as a YR school and will be relocating about 90% of Hilburn to Sycamore. Hilburn will be the base for those who want to stay traditional. What happens if 30% (just a number out of the air) of Hilburn decided to stay at Hilburn--it will still be over capacity and there will now be 3 YR schools under capacity. Let one of the 3 YR's remain traditional and then make it YR once it fills up.

momof2
January 8, 2008 4:41 p.m.

I appreciate year round schools. It gives us parents a chance to work in peace. I wish my kids would stay in school from 6 am until 12 midnight and when they get home go straight to bed. That would help me out a lot. Plus these kids need to learn. Most American kids are dumb as doorknobs. They also need common sense. I am so tired of stupid kids. I tell kids how dumb they are and they get mad. They don't even know the difference from a caucus and a carcass. Really stupid kids in America.

iamforjustice
January 8, 2008 10:17 a.m.

No, but when I am at my son's school I see and hear the things I am portraying.

poohperson2000
January 8, 2008 8:43 a.m.

Poohperson---are you on the school board? just curious

momof2
January 8, 2008 7:25 a.m.

Nope - I have 2 kids. My local school is great. I just chose year-round and that meant a long bus ride to middle school. Lower income parents do care, I think. Many times, the means are not available for them to show it in conventional ways and sometimes the education, knowledge, and role modeling is not there for them - just as in other segments of society. I just don't know of any parent choosing to put their child on a bus for an hour for day care - choosing to have them attend a school that they could not visit because of the distant - choosing to place their child in a school that was so far away that after-school activities are improbable and get togethers with friends are unlikely because of the miles between homes.