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5:06 a.m. • 2-10-12

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Changes to Wake reassignment plan upset parents


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reassignment
reassignment

The massive student shuffle in Wake County was up for discussion again Wednesday evening as school board members met.

For weeks, members have heard from parents upset over a reassignment plan that could affect more than 25,000 students over the next three years.

The proposal will fill 10 new schools. Under the initial proposal, 9,801 students would have been reassigned for the 2009-2010 school year; another 11,008 in 2010-2011; and 4,677 in 2011-2012.

Changes were made to the proposal after a series of public input meetings at which more than 1,000 parents showed up and more than 200 spoke on the matter. More than 1,400 people also submitted comments through the school system's Web site.

"We do listen ... (and) try to put everything in a balance,” board member Patti Head said.

Parents upset over recent changes lined up again to speak Wednesday evening during the session at the school system's central office, 3600 Wake Forest Road, in Raleigh.

Daphne Wright says her children have been reassigned from a school three miles from home.

"This move would break that down for our neighborhood and our children,” Wright said.

Eric and Mary Hartshorn's children were not included in the initial reassignments, but are now part of the shuffle.

"Another change was made, and we were directly impacted,” Mary Hartshorn said.

The couple says the proposal would split their family in two.

We would "eventually have two different children at two different high schools,” Mary Hartshorn said.

Now, board members must decide whether to make more changes, but those could affect more families.

"I do not know that everybody will be happy,” school board Chairwoman Rosa Gill said.

"And that is really, really hard,” Head said.

School board members say concerns heard Wednesday evening are important. After the meeting, the board made another handful of changes to the plan.

There will be a public hearing Feb. 3 at noon. The same day, school board members are expected to finally vote on the plan.

  • Reporter:
  • Photographer: Anthony Shepherd
  • Web Editor: Minnie Bridgers

RELATED TOPICS: Wake County, Raleigh, Wake Forest

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78 Comments


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Latest Comments
EscapedFromWake -

I am with you all the way! I too, unfortunately, lived in NC for a number of years and had my kids in that mess! I love reading this site and laughing at all of the nonsense!

Wuff_Pack -

You went to multiple schools and turned out fine? You have no idea of what you missed! I suggest reading some books on child psychology!

Private schools??? -

Yeah, okay..so let's see you pay local school taxes and private school tuition. Do you pay double for everything??

It all boils down to a lack of common sense.

Anyone that allows their kids to be bused and reassigned is denying their kids of many, many, many, many things! Strong community based schools are what kids need. MOVE! You are in the middle of no where with nothing to do, lots of violent crime, and ridiculous schools! Do you really not know that much better exists?!!! Wow! I feel sorry for you!!!

THEY MAY BE DOING IT PEACEFULLY, BUT IT IS STILL LOOKING LIKE MOB RULE. COMMON, DO YOUR JOB, AND STICK BY YOUR PLAN. I WAS BROUGHT UP IN BROOKLYN AND WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL IN MANHATTAN. I TOOK A TRANSIT BUS TO SUBWAY, THEN TWO TRAINS TO MY FINAL DESTINATION, JUST UNDER 2 HOURS EACH WAY. I WORKED PART TIME IN MANHATTAN. MY TRIP STARTED AT 6AM, GOT HOME ABOUT 10 PM PRETTY MUCH THE SAME SCHEDULE, GOING TO A PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ONLY WORKED DURING THE DAY AND COLLEGE AT NIGHT. I HAD A SUCCESSFUL CAREER FOR FORTY YEARS, WITH NO REGRETS ABOUT MY TRAVEL TIME. I DID A LOT OF MY HOMEWORK & READING ASSIGNMENTS WHILE TRAVELING

"Just ask Mecklenberg County how not doing that is working out for them. Their schools are terrible!"

WHAT? WH WH WHAT???? Try again!!!! Charlotte was smart enough to see how much money was being wasted on busing to keep dumb Johnny "balanced" and no amount of diversity/racial shuffling is going to keep dumb Johnny from being dumb!

Your kids will get enough diversity shopping with you at Mal-Wart, so trying to play God and keep Johnny balanced with Shaneetra is not your call!

Bottom line, the school board is about to get a HUGE dose of reality and take a positive turn for the better because several of them are about to be replaced with people who can think on their own and don't have "Chucky Vision" and might be able to actually focus on E D U C A T I N G the kids!

When is the last time ANY OF YOU have heard one thing out of the current school board about actual education??? All we hear is about diversity balancing and reassignments! We're done with that!!!

What I like best about these discussion boards is the fact that people are talking about various subjects and not just hiding out. I have my opinion and others have theirs. The ones I don't exactly agree with, always give me things to think about.

wuff_pack --you are right on target

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