Wake superintendent: $8.2 million should go to 4 new schools

At Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, people voiced their input on the school system’s 2019-2020 budget.

WCPSS superintendent requests $48M funding increase in proposed 2019-2020 budget

Wake County Public Schools System superintendent Cathy Moore wants $1.7 billion for next school year, and she wants $8.2 million of that to operate the new school buildings.

"I am here in support of your proposed budget and to ask other parents to join me and many others to ask Wake County Commissioners to support this as well," one parent said.

For the 2018-2019 academic year, instead of 1,900 as planned, the district grew by 42 students. A school spokeswoman named a few reasons behind the slowdown, including fewer children being born in Wake County, the aging of the county's population and school choice.

Wake Schools planned for 1,900 new students this year. Instead, it was 42

But Moore says that dozens of schools in the district are overcrowded.

She says new schools, which are planned through 2025, are part of the solution.

The school board also discussed student assignment plans, the district's dress code and a General Assembly mandate about elementary school class sizes. The board also talked about how to conduct student searches, including pat-downs and the searches of vehicles, as well.

On Wednesday, the board will meet for the first time with Wake County Commissioners to go over some of these points.