Wake County year round schools start Tuesday. Here's what to know
Tuesday marks the first day of school for thousands of year round students in Wake County.
The Wake County Public School System has 32 multi-track year round schools serving more than 30,000 students.
Tracks 1, 2 and 3 begin the 2023-24 school on Tuesday, July 11. Track 4 students will begin July 31. Modified calendar schools start July 24, and traditional calendar schools start Aug. 28.
New security procedures in place
Visitors and parents will need to remember there are new security measures in place for all visitors on Wake County campuses. The changes come after numerous weapons were reported on Wake campuses last school year.
Visitors to Wake County's schools will use an iPad to enter some personal information, which will prompt a quick background check. The system will scan databases for abnormalities like recent custody orders, protection orders and sex offender registries. The change comes as more districts across the state make changes to improve security.
Some schools in surrounding counties have already installed weapons detections systems, with one such system catching a man impersonating a police officer at a Johnston County elementary school. Charlotte Mecklenburg schools, similar in size to Wake County, have scanners at all high schools and multiple middle schools. When asked if the state's largest school district was considering weapons detection systems, Wake County Superintendent Catty Moore said they haven't ruled anything out yet.
For school bus riders
Approximately 175 school buses will hit the roads Tuesday to deliver students to year round schools. Bus riders and families should have received their route information in June.
Parents and students can download the Here Comes the Bus app to track the status of their route.
Allison Hudson has two kids in year-round school at Brassfield Elementary School in Raleigh.
"I went to Wake County Public Schools and this was not a problem 30 years ago," Hudson said. "The bus showed up."
Hudson said getting her children home from school on the bus has been a struggle in the last calendar year. She said drop-off times range nearly an hour apart on any given day.
"We’ve also had the issue where halfway through the day, we just get a message that the bus isn’t running, and we need to make other arrangements," Hudson said.
Wake County Public Schools said it's an impact of a nationwide bus shortage.
In February, the district reported more than 32% of its driver positions were vacant. While it led to disrupted routes during the traditional school year, Wake Schools says that won't be the case right now.
"We don't have as much a problem obviously in the summer getting staff to drive for year-round schools," said Wake County Public School System Chief of Facilities and Operation Mark Strickland.
The district says it only runs 175 buses for year-round, compared nearly 680 in the fall.
On Tuesday, WRAL News spoke with several Wake County parents who said their child's bus came on time for the first day of summer term. WRAL News also asked second-grade student Charlie Munns what he was most excited about with the start of the summer term.
"Probably new teachers, new friends and a new hallway," Charlie said.
Hudson remains hopeful the bus bus runs every day.
"When that consistently is not the case, it makes it hard for me to plan," Hudson said.
For drivers
There will be more buses on the roads Tuesday. Drivers should use caution, allow extra time and review when to stop for buses (information provided by the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles).
- Two-lane roadway: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
- Two-lane roadway with a center turning lane: When school bus stops for passengers, all traffic from both directions must stop.
- Four-lane roadway without a median: All traffic from both directions must stop.
- Any divided highway with a median separation: Only traffic following the bus must stop.
- Roadway of four lanes or more with a center turning lane: Only traffic following the bus must stop.
School lunch prices increase
School lunch prices will increase by 25 cents this year, according to Wake County, to cover increased food and supplies costs.
Full-paid lunches will cost $3.25 at elementary schools and $3.50 at middle and high schools. Students out for the summer who need meal assistance can find a summer meal site here.
