Schools, county scope out needs for growth

Managing a growing student population is among the biggest challenges that Wake County schools face. On Wednesday, school and county leaders met to plan where to put the almost 25,000 new students expected to enter county schools in the next four years.

More students means more school buildings, which likely means a bond proposal. "That's the way we have funded school construction in the past," Chuck Delaney, district assistant superintendent for growth and planning said.

"I would expect that would be part of the discussion – what level of funding can we provide for school construction and (can we) afford to do it with bonds?"

Eleven new schools are scheduled to open in Wake County in the next two years. The county and school board are looking even further into the future to outline a plan for school construction and land purchases.