Leaking sewage, splintering walls: Parents complain Wake County school is falling apart

A group of Wake County parents claim their students are learning in a school that's falling apart and in desperate need of repairs.

West Millbrook Middle School parents expressed their frustrations at Tuesday night's Wake County school board meeting. The complaints included sewage coming up from the floors, plaster coming off the ceiling, splintering walls and a concave courtyard.

The district plans to renovate the school by 2023, but many parents said they feel something must be done before then.

Parents said the school is old, so common issues like broken doors and windows are expected, but sewage and the stench of urine are unacceptable.

Jocelyn McGuinness-Hickey has a sixth-grader and an eighth-grader at the school.

“The physical buildings are falling apart. They’re crumbling every day," she said. "The kids’ instructional time is being disrupted on a regular basis because of them having to get re-shuffled around.”

She said she feels the teachers and administrators are impressive but that the school building needs to reflect that.

“We just wanted to be there to make sure that they know that this is a pressing need. It’s not something that can be delayed any longer,” McGuinness-Hickey said.

Wake County Public School System spokeswoman Lisa Luten said that, while many board members are aware of the school's issues and need for renovations, the Wake County Board of Education does not have taxing authority and relies on the county, state and federal governments to determine spending.

"The district's maintenance office is well aware of school needs, but it must rely on available funding," she said in an email.