School board votes for $1.4M in road work around Panther Creek

Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake County schools Tuesday agreed to pay $1.4 million for required road improvements around Panther Creek High School in Cary, where modular classrooms will increase student capacity and therefore traffic.

Cary's Town Council had asked the school system to pay the money to widen part of N.C. Highway 55 near the school, where the district wants to use three modular units to provide 22 extra classrooms.

The school board approved the payment.

The school is more than 500 students over its 1,663-student capacity, and since the fall, students have been attending classes in the school library and cafeteria and other alternatives to classrooms.

It's unclear when the modular units will open.

The decision ends an impasse between the school system and the Town Council. Each wanted the other to pay for the improvements, and each argued it did not have the money.

Cary leaders said they were not willing to pay for any of the road improvements, partly because of a tight budget and partly because the town has donated $64 million to the school system since 2000 in cash, land and infrastructure improvements.

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Just what difference does it make what pocket the money comes out of? We going to have to pay for it anyway. Cary taxes or Wake County taxes. Where you think they getting the money--Japan-China-Russia. If you find something that is really free-- be sure to let me know. It seems that the parents and students in Cary will receive the benefit? The school board is not spending this money for their personal benefit. If they dont do the work on the road-- you think the members of the school board will suffer?

superman
February 18, 2009 11:04 a.m.

Students that are already at the school and are only being shifted to the modulars do not justify the need for WCPSS to construct an additional through lane along NC 55. The Town of Cary is stepping way beyond their rights with this.

jhamilton
February 18, 2009 10:51 a.m.

Good job Cary for not blinking against the "all powerful WCSB"

WHEEL
February 18, 2009 9:18 a.m.

The additional students and traffic are already there and the modulars are just taking up space. Hundreds of students are being redistricted out of PCHS. It would be cheaper to just get rid of the modulars.

yeah
February 18, 2009 8:00 a.m.

Amen DA....and don't forget the new high school at the other end of Forestville, Heritage High scheduled to open this fall. That road is dangerous with no shoulders and a very high volume of traffic. I hate to say it but I see many flower memorials popping up on the side of that road in the future if something is not done to widen that particular road from Rogers to 401. What is that total? Maybe 3 miles? These concerns were presented to the planning board for the school and were ignored because safety of the roads around the schools did not fit their criteria for planning schools and reassigning students. Can't wait til the kids graduate.