Cutting Costs -

Here's a letter that I sent out to all General Assembly members since they are working long and hard right now on the state budget. I still want to know if anyone in a leadership position in Wake County has bothered to find out if all of the year-round schools are absolutely necessary. The cost increases are incredible, and are, in my opinion justifiable only if no other viable option exists. In this letter I only refer to energy expenses, but as I've shared with you before, transportation, maintenance, and personnel costs increase as well with a year-round schedule.

 

Letter to General Assembly members:

First of all, I want to thank you for diligently working to come up with a budget that causes the least hardships for the citizens of our state. I know that is an overwhelming task, and one which I do not envy!

Like everyone else, I am concerned about waste and about where cuts will be made. As you discuss options, please keep in mind that holding classes during the hottest months of the year greatly increases expenditures. Below, you will find irrefutable data showing just one local example of how utility costs can soar. I have also included excerpts and a link to an extensive “Special Report”, by the Comptroller of the state of Texas. The findings in this detailed study are eye-opening, and are a “must-read” for all who are serious about putting politics aside in order to keep North Carolina on its feet economically, and to help ease the financial burdens of every citizen.

First, the utility increases – In 2007, Wake County converted 20 traditional schools to a year-round schedule, requiring them to be in full use during July and August. In 18 of those schools, according to Wake County Public School System data, the energy cost per pupil rose during the first year of conversion, in one case as high as 59.2%. Other schools showed increases of up to 54.8% and 49%. This percentage was figured in the fairest way, on a per student basis, since the cost per pupil is not affected by enrollment figures. Here is a link which shows, in a graph format, the energy cost comparisons per school and as a total: http://www.saveoursummers.com/pdfs/UtilitiesCostsForConvertedSchools.pdf

Secondly, the Comptroller’s report – I am providing you with a link to this all-inclusive study by Carole Keeton Strayhorn, in which she researches every cost-related area imaginable to find out how school calendar dates affect economy. In her opening statement, Ms. Strayhorn summarizes her findings by declaring that, “the benefits of stretching the school year have not been proved; what we do know—it’s costing Texans $790 million annually”. View the full report here: http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/schoolstart2004/

I thank you in advance for taking the time to not just read, but to intently study, this valuable information. I sincerely hope that it will help provide ways to prevent cuts that will place a strain on our students and teachers. That, we simply cannot afford. As I mentioned earlier, I realize what a daunting task you face as you develop a budget that impacts every citizen of this great state. I am confident, however, that you will weigh each and every factor fairly, and come up with a plan that will keep our children – our future – as a top priority.

With Much Appreciation,

Louise Lee

Finally back...

I know it has been forever since I posted anything here - I doubt that anyone even bothers to check anymore! I have had added responsibilities with an extended family member that have occupied a bulk of my time. Plus,  I have been working pretty much full-time trying to keep traditional summers as an option for North Carolina families. Thirteen bills were introduced at the General Assembly this year that pertained to the subject, but thanks to diligence on the part of many citizens, only two of those bills are still under consideration. For more information on this, you can visit www.saveoursummers.com

Speaking Before County Commissioners

Here's a copy of what I said to the County Commissioners at their meeting yesterday. No matter what anyone says, they can still act as the "checks and balances" group for the Wake County School Board. I've included links in the body of my speech to graphs which show capacity vs enrollment comparisons and energy cost comparisons in the converted MYR schools. VERY interesting!

 

I am Louise Lee, a resident of Wake County, a former teacher, and most importantly, a wife and a mother of a high school student.l Thank you for letting me speak today. I’m going to go fast, but this is one of the most important talks I will ever make to you. I beg you to please, please, listen carefully to every word I say, even though you have heard other versions of some of this before.

Gangs – According to WRAL news, just in Wake County’s schools, gang activity has increased 33% in the past year. Half of those were in middle schools – 49% to be exact!! As you know, in YR schools, there are 3-week track-out sessions every 8 weeks or so. The # of children that are home alone increases during those weeks, largely because high school siblings are still in school- on traditional schedules, and also because many parents that have to work, can’t afford childcare. Gangs are everywhere now – not just in certain areas of our county. These “latchkey” children are easy prey for gangs, and you better believe these groups know that - and they know where to look.

Here’s my point – I think it is unconscionable that Wake County forces any family into a school schedule that puts their children in grave danger-even life-threatening danger, and I am not exaggerating here. How that can ever be justified is beyond me. However, since mandatory YR school attendance already exists, our school leaders – our county leaders - owe it to theseparents to only resort to this when they see no other way to achieve academic excellence.And ladies and gentlemen, that’s why the citizens of Wake County are looking to you for help – pleading to you for help! Hundreds, arguably thousands, of our children are being placed in harm’s way needlessly! After a two-year trial period, there are schools that simply do not need to continue on a year-round schedule! This isn’t coming from me – the numbers are there to prove it!

Once again, I’m going to leave with you simple graphs [ graph #1,  graph #2 ] showing that yes, capacity has risen in those schools, but enrollment continues to drop. Tracks have been closed out, because they can’t be filled. Graphs #3 and #4 clearly show, in an easier-to-read format than what I’ve shared with you before, how energy money is being wasted – yet our leaders are talking of teacher cuts, of doing away with Community-In-Schools programs that provide one-on-one help to students who need it the most – students that will get it nowhere else. They threaten to slash programs that place long-term suspension students in a special classroom where they will be taught by a caring human being, and put them out on the streets – or expect all of them to sit in front of a computer screen and be motivated to get their lessons done. Does anyone see my point?

With each one of you, lies the last hope for many of our students – and I’m not trying to be melo-dramatic here – I’m dead serious. This is the only body left that can demand some straight answers from our school board members. I’m not asking that year-round schools be abolished. I only ask that you study the information that I will give you today – I mean really study it – and then find out the rationale behind keeping all of these schools year-round, especially in light of the budget crisis, and what I shared with you about latchkey children - the rationale behind converting Leesville Middle School to a year-round schedule when school board members themselves know that it is not at all necessary! These are legitimate questions that our school board has felt no obligation to answer for weeks!

In closing, I want to remind everyone listening here today, that we all need to step back and renew our perspective. This debate should not center on whether it will look like we are supporting the School Board or not, or whether someone might accuse us of being anti-diversity. It should have nothing to do with political parties, or how Wake County looks in the eyes of the nation. This is about the lives of our children – our future! Isn’t it time for some accountability, even for admitting mistakes if necessary? We keep hearing, "it’s too late, it’s too late". Who in this room can say to my face that it is too late to save even one child’s future – or life? Just by asking some questions and demanding some answers, you can make the difference. Please don't let our children down! Thank you.

IMPORTANT DATA, INCLUDING WHERE MONEY IS BEING SPENT

Due to a serious, on-going extended family health commitment, I have been unable to dedicate the time and energy needed to organize pertinent information relating to the mandating of year-round schools in Wake County. I realize that the Wake County Board of Education will vote on their budget today(Tuesday). I am sending this email primarily to pass on fact-based material that the public needs to know.

I hope that some of you will receive this letter in time to use all or any part of it to back-up assertions that the School Board needs to take another look at expenditures, etc., before proceeding with plans to cut certain programs or to continue the massive mandating of year-round school attendance in Wake County.

· For at least 4 or 5 years, the School Board, as a whole, has been given (over and over) irrefutable data on the historic failure, repercussions, etc, of mandatory school attendance

· They chose to basically ignore a petition three years ago that gathered, in less than a two–month period, over 3,000 signatures and comments from citizens opposed to the massive mandating of year-round schools.

· There have been claims that minorities have not expressed opinions on the MYR issue, yet in a News and Observer/ WRAL poll, conducted in May, 2006, 52% of Black respondents and 52% of Latino respondents indicated that they either opposed MYR schools altogether, or thought they should be optional.

· If you will recall, it was in 2007 that the massive conversion from traditional to MYR schools took place. Here are transportation cost comparisons from before conversion and after:

From Associate Superintendent Don Haydon (Spring, 2008) : “Transportation Department staff compared the monthly cost for July & August 2006 with the same months in 2007 to estimate a difference in cost for transportation of year-round students.  For July & August 2006, the average cost for each of the 2 months was $232,000 and for 2007, $472,000.” 

Additionally, “Ms Lee, my understanding is that the costs were the actual costs for system-wide transportation for the two months.  Thus, the data would show the cost for transportation for the schools in session in July/August 2006 as compared with those in 2007; those months were selected because most of the buses would be for multi-track schools.”
Unless I’m figuring something wrong, the system-wide transportation expenses just during the combined two months of July and August more than doubled, rising from close to half a million dollars ($464,000) in 2006 to close to a million ($944,000) in 2007.
*According to data from the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the monthly average diesel price in N.C. was actually less in the summer of 2007 than in the summer of 2006.

· Utility costs per student have increased in the converted MYR schools, while the majority of those schools have experienced a drop in enrollment: Here are graphs (see pages 2 and 3) comparing utility costs per pupil prior to and after conversion of 17 elementary schools. Leesville Rd. Elementary is not included because cost figures for Leesville schools are figured as one entire campus.  Also, the graph on page 1 of this link shows the membership figures prior to and after conversions.  All of these schools fell short of projected membership figures for the 2008-2009 school year.

· Gang activity in Wake County is rising. WRAL reported in an August news story, that our school system has seen a 33% increase in gang activity since last year.  That’s in the schools! The same article pointed out that 49% of gang-related incidents last year occurred in middle schools.  Ruth Sheehan wrote an article in the News and Observer referring to a gang-related murder that involved testimony on the part of 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders. Officials in L.A. drew a parallel between an increase in gang activity and an increase in "latch-key" children due to a year-round schedule.

OPINION TIME:

To think of mandating more middle schools to a year-round schedule is unconscionable to me in light of this information. In fact, maybe board members should consider cutting back on the current number of year-round middle schools.

Think about it - these “latch-key” children are easy prey. Home alone for weeks at a time during every track-out period. Lots of these families have older students who can watch over their younger siblings when all are on the same schedule, but now siblings have been split between different calendars

Claims that it is “too late” to convert schools back to a traditional school schedule and/or to drop plans to add MYR schools hold little weight when I consider issues such as the one just mentioned. Is there ever a time when we say, ”sorry – too late” when it concerns a child’s education, and even, potentially, a child’s very life? It’s a valid assumption to think that there are plenty of latch-key elementary children around as well. Even if skepticism exists over findings like those in L.A., dare we take a chance, especially if a conversion is not necessary? The least that our school board can do is to go back and explore that very question.

Too late they say? The Virginia Beach School Board just voted to convert back to a traditional schedule four year-round schools. They cited a savings of about $792,000, and claimed that,”most of the schools struggled to fill classrooms and [struggled to] show academic gains greater than schools on traditional calendars.”

I have already sent an email to School board members, asking that they delay a final vote on the budget. Too much is at stake. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to get this out sooner.

Thanks Everyone…   Louise

Excellent Letter on MYR Costs

 

Here's a press release well worth reading. It was written by Lisa Boneham, a parent of Leesville students:

 

WCPSS Is Planning To Cheat Taxpayers Out Of $350,000 by Operating Leesville Elementary and Leesville Middle on the Year-Round School Calendar

Raleigh, North Carolina, March 25, 2009. The Leesville school community experienced a destructive and divisive year round school conversion at Leesville Elementary School in 2007. At that time, WCPSS claimed that the conversion was necessary in order to keep up with “explosive growth”. Eventually, the School Board studied the facts surrounding that conversion. They realized that converting Leesville Elementary to the year-round calendar was indeed unnecessary and would be a mistake. Unfortunately, by that time, all they could say to the Leesville families was “sorry, it’s too late in the process so we cannot change our minds now”.

Many current Leesville families vividly remember that negative experience, and they are not about to let it happen in their community again. Last fall, WCPSS proposed converting Leesville Middle School to the year-round calendar. The reason given for this conversion was “excessive growth in the area with no relief in sight”. Upon studying the growth projections, WCPSS realized that growth in the Leesville area was not at all excessive. In fact, based on WCPSS staff projections, it was determined that growth in the Leesville area is very flat and will be that way for many years to come.

What was initially a desire to keep families together has grown into a fact based mission proving that the Leesville schools should be operating on the less expensive and highly desired traditional calendar. During the past 3 years, this group of 1200+ Concerned and Committed Leesville parents has come together like no other grassroots organization of its’ type, and it looks like their efforts to stay informed and involved in school assignment issues should finally be paying off.

But after yesterday’s Budget Work Session, with an informal vote of 5-4, it appears that WCPSS still plans to operate Leesville Elementary and Leesville Elementary on the year round calendar, even after knowing that this will unnecessarily waste $350,000 of taxpayer funds. ($250,000 at Leesville Middle and $100,000 at Leesville Elementary) The excuse given by those voting to continue with the wasteful MYR conversions is “it is too late now to make the changes…” When the school system should be looking for ways to cut unnecessary spending, operating Leesville Middle and Leesville Elementary on the traditional calendar would instantly and painlessly cut $350,000 out of the budget. CCLP is hopeful that the School Board will take more time to study the facts and will formally vote on making these changes very soon.

“They used the ‘it’s too late because families have already made plans…’ excuse on us with our Elementary School, and this time they know they are completely wrong”, said Lisa Boneham, founder of CCLP. “It is not too late. The fact is, families and teachers have not even been given their track assignments, so no one has been able to make future plans. I especially feel for those who have to rely on childcare and track-out camps, because they are truly in limbo. They cannot confirm any of those things until track assignments are made. People cannot even make summer vacation plans yet. Besides the fact that the overwhelming majority of our families and teachers desperately want to keep Leesville Middle on the traditional calendar, we are still ‘up in the air’ waiting for track assignments. Saying that they have to go through with the year-round conversion, knowing that they will waste $250,000 at the Middle school alone ‘because they cannot upset the families who have already made plans’ is unacceptable. Plans have NOT been made. Making the decision to keep the desired traditional calendar will not upset us. Forcing a year-round conversion when it is not justified is what is upsetting.”

While converting a school to the multi-track year-round calendar does increase the capacity of a school, that additional capacity is not needed in Northwest Raleigh for many years to come. There is currently an overabundance of space at several area schools that is not being utilized, and according to Growth Management, there are no plans to utilize that excess space during the next 3-5 years. CCLP sees this as a waste as well.

“There is absolutely no reason to waste $350,000 by operating these 2 schools on the year-round calendar. Leesville Elementary and Leesville Middle can both operate on the traditional calendar, and can comfortably hold all base students who are assigned to the schools---and there will still be space available for future growth. Leesville Elementary will have 693 base students attending the school with a traditional capacity of 860, while Leesville Middle expects 1095 base students with a traditional capacity of 1222. Knowing the facts, but making the conscious choice to operate those schools for 12 months during the year (when they can educate all of their current base students in a 10 month school year) is completely irresponsible” said Angela Davis-Williams, a founding member of CCLP.

Boneham believes that everyone deserves transparency, not constant spin and hidden truths. “What they won’t admit to the general public is that Leesville Middle will now have 176 fewer base students assigned to the school for 2009-10. Our enrollment is decreasing drastically, so wasting money to create additional capacity that is not needed now and will not be needed for at least 4-5 years is insane. Now that the facts have been released, it is obvious that there is no justification for forcing another unwanted, unnecessary, and wasteful conversion on the Leesville community.”

“We have provided clear data and alternative options showing that converting LRMS to a year-round calendar is the wrong thing to do for so many reasons. The recent updated enrollment numbers are the icing on the cake. A year-round conversion at Leesville Middle would unnecessarily waste taxpayer dollars when we should all be looking for ways to cut expenses instead. WCPSS plans to fund the conversion, and will also increase annual operational expenses by over 20% while decreasing the number of students attending the school. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what a poor decision that would be” said Eric Blau, parent of 2 children in the Leesville community. “The facts have been given to the School Board many times during the past several months. For the School Board to continue ignoring the facts and blindly proceed with this unjustified change would be very irresponsible.”

If the community’s overwhelming desire to keep their families together wasn’t enough to convince the School Board to stop Mandatory Year Round, the undeniable facts appear to be exactly what is needed in order to bring positive change to the Leesville campus. One thing is for sure…CCLP and their mission of ”One Campus One Traditional Calendar For Leesville” will continue to insist on transparency and honesty, and they are here to stay.

UNTHINKABLE AND UNCONSCIONABLE

Well, here's the latest in the "challenge the school law" saga. I share this with you because the final outcome of all of this could be a precedent-setting decision for every school system in NC. As my last post explains, the Department of Public Instruction recently sent a letter informing Guilford County that they were not adhering to the law by setting make-up days as late as June 15th. That is indeed the case. Well... the Guilford County school board members voted to ignore that "ruling".

In steps the newly appointed head of the State Board of Education, William Harrison - the man who Governor Perdue tapped to take charge of education in NC, thus making June Atkinson's elected position as Superintendent of Public Instruction an office "in name" only. Mr. Harrison referred to DPI's sending of their letter as "an error", and stated that local boards could indeed revise the ending date of school if they deemed it "necessary". Whoa - big can of worms opened there!

Anyway, here's a link to Mr. Harrison's letter to the Guilford County School Board.

Here's a link to a letter I wrote that was published in last week's Rhino Times in Greensboro (before Harrison's decision)

http://greensboro.rhinotimes.com/Letters-15991.112113_School_snow_days.html

Here are copies of letters to the editor of the Greensboro News and Record

The school board models wrong kind of behavior

Your article, “Vote defies state on snow days” (March 11), fails to point out the unintended message sent to schoolchildren throughout the county: Guilford County Schools can pick and choose which law to follow.

Schoolchildren aren’t necessarily going to understand Jill Wilson’s argument that the state law is too vague. I do not believe the law is vague. I was part of the grass-roots “Save Our Summers” movement to contain the impact of the school calendar on family life. It is a shame there has to be a law to give families and children time to live free of the rat race of school. It is a crime to not follow that law. If Guilford County Schools does not have consequences, children will be taught that following a law is not really important. Education is about actions as much as it is about words.

Libby Thompson
Greensboro

Posted at the News & Record on March 16, 2009 3:00 AM Permalink

School board's defiance presents a poor example

Congratulations to the Guilford County school board. What a wonderful example you are making to your students, staff and the community at large. We don’t like the state rules; therefore, we will ignore them. The date of June 10 for the last day of school was set in state law by the Legislature. Saying the law does not apply to us is like telling the highway patrolman, “Sure I was doing 80 in a 65, but so were others; therefore, it’s OK.”
Shame, shame, shame.
Richard Schroer
Oak Ridge

Posted at the News & Record on March 13, 2009 3:00 AM Permalink

A Law is a Law!

  The Guilford County School Board has gone off the deep end! In a nutshell, I warned them weeks ago that their plans to make up snow days on June 11th, 12, and 15th were against the law that sets June 10th as the last day of school for traditional calendars. Nothing they didn't already know, of course. Well, when they received a letter from the NC Department of Public Instruction informing them of their non-compliance with the law, they voted (Tuesday night) to defy DPI - thus defying the law. What an example for a school board to set for our children!! Unbelievable! Below you will find a link to the article in the Greensboro Record, and a copy of an op-ed piece that I submitted to the Winston-Salem Journal (their system also listed make-up days after June 10).

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/03/10/article/state_takes_issue_with_school_make_up_days

 

A “Heads Up” for Public School Parents

If you have a student in a Winston-Salem/Forsyth or Guilford County school district, please sit up and take notice. Your spring break might not be as long as you think.

Over the past few months, I have observed with interest the dates that various school systems have set for weather-related make-up days. Many weeks ago, when I found out that Guilford County had announced June 11^th as their second snow-day, I promptly contacted an administrator to remind him that such an action is against the law. Now, I understand that Winston-Salem/Forsyth has done the same thing.

Some of you will recall the 2004 “School Calendar Law” that sets August 25^th and June 10^th as parameters within which local school boards can establish their own school calendars. This law includes waiver provisions for qualifying school systems that typically have a large number of weather-related make-up days. A waiver can also be granted if it meets certain criteria, is deemed “reasonable” and “necessary”, and is “not an attempt to circumvent the opening and closing dates set forth [in the law]”¹. All other traditional schools are required, by law, to use days prior to June 10^th for making up those days.

I find it inexcusable that certain school districts are still leading parents to believe that June 11^th, June 12^th, etc. will be used to make up days missed because of recent snows. They have been well aware of the tenets of the calendar law since 2004. I realize that the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system has already cut into spring break, and to lose even more days that week would be a hardship on parents, students, and teachers alike. As a parent and former teacher myself, I empathize with those families; however, because of the way the local school board set up the calendar to begin with, they now have few options left.

No matter how the school calendar is laid out, make-up days will be established. For some families, a break in the spring might be most important; for others, it is a hardship to have days added on to the end of the school year. Who’s to say which is more important? Some year-round schools have their make-up days on Saturdays. Many parents are flinging a fit about that, and those schools are exempt altogether from the 2004 law!

Let’s face it - this has been an unusual year for us, weather-wise. Even so, creative and forward thinking from the beginning on the part of school board members could have prevented the situation that now exists. Other school systems are dealing with make-up days as well, and are carefully adhering to the law. Yes, the law limits options, but since it also (among other things) prevents traditional schools from opening in late July or early August, many think that it is well worth the trade-off. But… that’s a discussion for another day!

For now, suffice it to say that if I were a parent in the Guilford or Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school systems, I would be livid that, even after being reminded, leaders have still not let the public know that the June make-up days will not be allowed. On March 10^th, the Guilford County school board voted to ignore a letter from the Department of Public Instruction informing them that their plan was not in compliance with the law. This is nothing less than a blatant attempt to “test” the law, and to incite parents to blame the law for last-minute schedule changes.

At least some of us in other systems were forewarned more than a year in advance of the possibility of losing some of our spring break or weekend time. For this to drop as a “bombshell” now is unconscionable. Parents and teachers, I hope you will question your school board members about this. I would love to know how they respond.

 

A Fellow Public School Parent,

Louise Lee

 

1.Session Law 2004-180

Section 1, 115c – 84.2, (d)

The Truth of the Matter

Wake County is using two days of Spring Break to make up days missed because of snow. Keung Hui wrote an article in today's News and Observer pointing out that some people are blaming the 2004 "School Calendar Law" for the loss of those two days. Below, you will find a copy of a response I posted on Mr. Hui's blog.

 

I could sit here all day defending the merits of the 2004 school calendar law, but I doubt I would change any minds at this point. I'll share the following points/observations for those who care, then I'm off...

1) Do I think a spring break is important? Absolutely – I used to teach, so I know that teachers need a break, as well as students, and even parents. Do I think it is worth doing away with a law so that a spring break can be more secure? Absolutely not! We need to look beyond our own doorstep and consider the thousands (arguably, tens of thousands) of families across NC for whom a traditional summer schedule is a necessity, not just a preference. That’s why the law was supported by citizens across every gender, racial, socio-economic, political, etc. line you can think of. Not many laws can boast that. Why a necessity? For summer youth jobs to put food on tables and pay for clothes, college, etc.; for scholarships to camps, etc., that offer life-changing opportunities, and the list goes on … (see http://www.saveoursummers.com/quickref.asp)

Besides, based on research and experience, I believe that most NC parents would forego an entire spring break if it meant not starting school in late July or early August. That's what the 2004 law changed, remember?????!!!!!!!

 2) No matter what the school calendar is, make-up days will be established. For some, a break in the spring might be most important; for others, it is a hardship to have days added on to the end of the school year. Who’s to say which is more important?? Year-round schools have their make-up days on Saturdays. Some parents are flinging a fit about that, and those schools are exempt altogether from the 2004 law! Also, the law, to be fair and reasonable, includes waiver provisions for school systems that habitually miss a lot of school due to inclement weather.

 3) As of right now, Wake County still has a 6-day spring break from school. Have we gotten spoiled into expecting 7-10 days?

4) As I mentioned in Keung's article, I empathize with families who made plans beginning April 6th. I'm not trying to sound callous here, but I must mention that we have known about these make-up days for well over a year, maybe even 2 years. We knew that if we made "set-in-stone" plans, we were gambling on Wake County not having much snow - probably a good gamble considering our past history - but surely we realize that no one “owes” us those days now.

5) Perhaps MOST IMPORTANT to some are the results of a statewide poll which show that an overwhelming majority of North Carolina voters support the state’s August 25th school start date.

A random-sample survey conducted in the fall by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh showed 71 percent of likely NC voters support the existing law passed in 2004 establishing a statewide school start date no earlier than August 25th. Furthermore, when given a choice between starting school in late July/early August or in late August, 80 percent of respondents prefer a late August start date.

In the Triangle area specifically, 78% supported the 2004 school calendar law, and 80% favored a late August start date as opposed to late July/early August. 

I strongly encourage you to study the entire poll results, especially the crosstabs that break results down into almost every sub-category you can think of. Here's where you go:

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/SchoolCalendarMemo1.pdf

Believe me, over the past 5 years, I have heard the law blamed for just about anything you can think of – it works to the advantage of those who see the law as a threat to their power and control, to tout it as a tourism scheme, and to stir up parental opposition to it. And what better opportunity than now? The 2004 school calendar law is so misunderstood, and has been so distorted, that it provides an easy and convenient “scape-goat”.

I find it ironic, in a humorous sort of way, that some of the parents (present company and those mentioned in Keung's write-up excluded) who are lamenting lost vacation time in April are the very ones who accused Save Our Summers - NC supporters of catering to the summer vacation crowd. Human nature is so interesting.

There you have it...have a great day everyone. I certainly intend to... Louise

Here It Is...

 

According to a recent press release:

Tonight, the Wake County Board of Education approved an assignment plan that includes filling 10 new schools opening over the next three years.

The plan includes 24,654 students, 2,117 less than the original Nov. 2008 staff proposal and 832 less than the Dec. 16 recommendations. Grandfathering opportunities provide the option for more than 11,000 students to remain at their current school as long as families provide their own transportation to school.

Here's the WCPSS website if you want the details. I can hardly stand to read them myself...

http://www.wcpss.net/news/2009_feb3_assignment/

I'll not slow down for a second as I continue to fight against the forcing of year-round school attendance. This just fires me up to do more! 

Important School Board Meeting on Tuesday (Feb.3)

Tuesday is the big day when the Wake County School Board is to "finalize" plans for reassigning thousands of school students across the county. The meeting starts at 3:00, but if you want to hear preliminary discussion, come at 1:00. I have an idea it might be crowded...

Supreme Court Hears WakeCARES case

I was out-of-state caring for a loved one, so didn't get to attend the hearing today concerning WCPSS forcing students to go to year-round schools without parental permission. From what I heard, lots of detailed questions were asked, and it could take months for a ruling to be announced. Here's what ABC local news reported: 

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6558290

One Campus One Calendar

Leesville parents have formed a group called 1Campus1Calendar. Their mission is "To maintain STABILITY for families and bring true CALENDAR CONTINUITY to the Leesville campus by ensuring that all 3 of the Leesville Schools operate on the traditional calendar."

Please visit their site, it is quite extensive and persuasive.

Community Engagement Meetings This Week

Tonight, December 1, the second community engagement meeting on Wake County Public School System's proposed student assignment plan is scheduled at Cary High School.

These meetings provide parents, teachers, and other citizens a chance to voice their opinions to WCPSS staff about a multi-year draft, which assigns students to schools for the next three school years.

Under the proposed plan, close to 27,000 students are to be reassigned.

The meeting is scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Cary High School auditorium.

The remaining community engagement meetings are:

Dec. 3 at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School

Dec. 4 at Holly Springs High School

Dec. 8 at Broughton High School

 

Find the draft of the multi-year student assignment plan here.

To My Teacher Friends, and to All Who Have "Touched" My Life---I Am Thankful

 The Daily Encourager
David Langerfeld
Nov 25, 2008

THE HAND

Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment -- to draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.
Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art. And they were.

But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.

Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an empty hand.
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys. Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so the discussion went -- until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.

When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was.
The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher."

She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas, we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show you how to hold your pencil."  Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.

The story speaks of more than thankfulness. It says something about teachers teaching and parents parenting and friends showing friendship, and how much it means to the Douglases of the world. They might not always say thanks, but they'll remember the hand that reaches out.

"Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:24

"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

Quite a Crowd!

Wow! It was standing room only tonight as parents and other concerned citizens gathered in the Leesville Rd. High School auditorium to discuss Wake County's decision to mandate a year-round schedule for Leesville Rd. Middle School. Chuck Dulaney and Patti Head were there, and Mr. Dulaney shared a short power point presentation detailing the plan. That was followed by over an hour's worth of 3-minute talks by at least 35 attendees. The majority of the speakers opposed the conversion, but there was definitely a vocal group who favored the idea. Many questions were posed, some of which were answered by Mr. Dulaney or by two year-round school principals he had brought to the meeting.

I will try to give you more advance notice on other meetings that will be occurring. I do know that the following dates and locations have been announced for feedback on the WCPSS 2009-2012 draft reassignment proposal (posted at www.wcpss.net):

Community Engagement Meetings to get public feedback on the plan are scheduled for:

• Nov. 20 at Knightdale High, 100 Bryan Chalk Lane, Knightdale, NC
• Dec. 1 at Cary High, 638 Walnut Street, Cary, NC
• Dec. 3 at Wake Forest-Rolesville High, 420 W. Stadium Drive, Wake Forest, NC
• Dec. 4 at Holly Springs High, 5329 Cass Holt Road, Holly Springs, NC
• Dec. 8 at Broughton High, 723 St. Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC

Meetings will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the auditorium of each high school. You can also submit comments online.

Read More...

IMPORTANT MEETING TONIGHT!

On Monday evening, November 17th, administrators from the WCPSS Growth and Planning Department are holding a community engagement meeting in the Leesville High School auditorium from 7 pm to 9 pm.  The purpose of the meeting is to explain draft staff recommendations for student assignment related to the change in calendar, to answer questions about those draft recommendations, and to listen to alternative proposals and ideas.

If you are opposed to the Wake County School Board's proposal to mandate a year-round schedule for Leesville Road Middle School, attendance at this meeting is a must. To access the website of "1Campus1Calendar", a group that is spearheading the initiative to keep Leesville families together on one traditional schedule, visit www.1campus1calendar.com

If You Haven't Voted Yet...

Although millions have already cast their ballot early, I personally like to wait until Election Day to vote. In case you're interested, WakeCARES has listed their endorsements for certain candidates, and has posted extensive and thought-provoking candidate replies to a survey they sent out with education-related questions. Well worth checking out, in my opinion...As for me? Well, sometimes I prefer not to disclose who I'm voting for until after I actually vote. This year, however, with local election results every bit as crucial as national ones, I'll share just a few.

 

Bill Daughtridge for Treasurer

John Miller for Judge

Neal Hunt for Senator

Kenn Gardner for County Commissioner

Vernita Peyton for County Commissioner

Nelson Dollar, Marilyn Avila, Paul Stam for NC House of Representatives

 

There are others, of course, but these are some that came right to mind. Whichever side you support, just make sure that you do take advantage of our precious right to vote here in America. There have been plenty of times in the past when Wake County races were won by very narrow margins - times when every single vote made a difference. Get to the polls on November 4th, and you can have a role in shaping the future of our great state and county!

FYI - Next Tuesday

Parents and Children First: A Forum for Equal Opportunities in Education

North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mayor Pat McCrory has confirmed to attend and speak.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.

King’s Park International Church—Durham, NC

Click here to register!

Please join us on Tuesday, October 28^th at 6 p.m. at King’s Park International Church in Durham, NC at Parents and Children First: A Forum for Equal Opportunities in Education.  Sponsored by Partners for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, this public forum will allow parents, children and leaders throughout the state to discuss how greater educational options would benefit us all.

That is why Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina is inviting you to join us on October 28^th.  Please take a stand with all of those who care about parental school choice and increased educational options for our children.

If you have not already registered, please do so today. Don’t miss this opportunity to help make a difference for our children!

This Was Sent to Me, So I'm Passing It On

WAKE COUNTY CANDIDATE RALLY

"We are all affected daily by the policies, decisions and actions of our local officials. As citizens of Wake County, we can have a positive impact on the future of our county by supporting candidates whose views support change and accountability, especially within our school system. Whatever your decision in the National Election, it is imperative to support local candidates who support the families and taxpayers of Wake County.

Please join us for a “Meet and Greet Rally” on:

Saturday, October 25^th

4:00pm to 6:00pm

at

Oak Ridge Farm

1025 White Oak Creek Drive

Apex, NC

Hotdogs and drinks will be served.

Please bring your whole family!

Rain or shine

Local Wake County Commissioner candidates, Kenn Gardner, Larry Tilley and Venita Peyton will be in attendance to discuss the issues facing Wake County. Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly, Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears and Sheriff Donnie Harrison will also be in attendance. This is not a fundraiser but simply a get-together with your local candidates in this important election."

DIRECTIONS:

Hwy 64 W - Right on Green Level Church Rd (1^st light after Hwy 55 exit)

1.5 miles – Turn left on Secluded Acres Road

Follow road to right at end – Turns into White Oak Creek

Farm on the right

Free Seminar on Saturday

Some of you night be interested in this:

According to the News and Observer, a seminar will be held on Saturday, October 18 to inform parents about Wake County Public Schools' grading practices, homework policies and math courses.

Parents will learn about elementary school grading, which is based on levels 1 - 4  instead of on letter grades. Middle and high school grading systems will also be discussed.

Parents will be informed as to how much homework is expected and how much time, on average, should be spent on homework each day.

The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to noon in the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh. It is sponsored by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children.

Guest speaker is Christy Falba, Wake's senior director of elementary education.

Call 231-9057 for more information.

HOT OFF THE PRESS: POLL SHOWS NC CITIZENS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT AUGUST 25th SCHOOL START DATE

A must see!! This poll, conducted by the well-respected Public Policy Polling firm, has pertinent questions concerning school start dates and summers. Here's one example:

 

Q2 If you had a choice between starting the school

year in late July-early August or starting it in

late August, which do you think would be the

better choice? If you think it’s better to start the

school year in late July-early August, press 1. If

you think it’s better to start the school year in

late August, press 2.

 

80% Late August..........  

20% Late July/Early August...................

 

PPP states that support is evident across all demographic subgroups, including race, gender, political party, region, age, and whether or not the respondent had school-aged children. Check out the entire poll here:

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/SchoolCalendarMemo1.pdf

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC

Do we dare start applauding? At yesterday's Wake County School Board meeting, it seems that members decided to at least consider the possibility of converting a few mandatory year-round schools back to traditional, and to revisit the plan to open all new schools as MYR. This comes after actual enrollment figures have been way off base - much lower - than projected. I'm not holding my breath, but I'm going to speak out strongly in support of these changes. I hope you will do the same!! Check out the media links below for more details.

My favorite quote is from Lori Millberg: " 'Our planning has assumed that every new school would be year-round, which means an increasingly large percentage of Wake Schools would be year-round. And we're not sure that's what families want,' School Board member Lori Millberg said." (emphasis added by me).

 

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6395265

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1221657.html

COURT DECISION - THIS IS HUGE

 

Today, the state Supreme Court decided to hear a case that will determine whether or not the Wake County Public School System will be required to obtain parental permission before assigning  students to a year-round school.

The court granted the request from the parent group, WakeCARES, which appealed in opposition to Wake County's claim that they do not have to seek parental consent. A previous ruling by the same court was left in place. That order blocked enforcement of an NC Court of Appeals decision that also claimed consent was not needed.

With the WCPSS being heavily criticized for under-enrolled MYR schools, the cancellation of numerous track offerings, off-the-mark enrollment projections, increased transportation and utility costs, etc., this decision will play a huge roll in what the future holds for our school system.

Here's a link to the News and Observer article:

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1196029.html

WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

And what happened to "safety first"?

Below, you will find an excerpt from a N&O article in today's paper, entitled "Heat Takes a Toll On Buses". You can view the entire article at: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1103708.html

 

"Meanwhile, some school buses lack air conditioning altogether.

Raleigh resident Colleen Hodges said her 6-year-old daughter sometimes comes home with a red face and matted hair after a half-hour ride on the school bus.

Alvin McNeill, director of operations for the Wake County Public Schools transportation department, said the school system does not have enough air-conditioned buses to transport all of the students in summer school and year-round schools. Of the system's 874 buses, 313 have air conditioning, he said.

Wake County has 46 year-round schools, including 26 added in the 2007-08 school year.

Hodges said she plans to start driving her two daughters to school, despite high gas prices.

"They're so little," she said. "We don't want to have to keep subjecting them to that."

(Staff writer Zo' Buck contributed to this report.)

sara.peach@newsobserver.com or (919) 932-8742"

 

Just another reason why massive, forced, year-round school conversions are not a good idea. Speak up, everyone. Speak up!

What I Said...

I spoke before the County Commissioners at their 7:00 public hearing Monday night -there was a 3-minute time limit. The large room was packed as people gave their opinions about the proposed budget. I spoke specifically on the subject of the budget requests that the Wake County School Board has made. I mentioned the transportation report I had given to the Co. Comm. (showing the dramatic increase during the summer months - according to WCPSS data), and brought up the increase in electricity expenses despite a decrease in membership for all except 6 of the 19 converted elementary schools.

I left with them a graph showing the projected 2007-'08 increases in membership for those 19 schools, and the actual increases (mostly decreases). It's slow-going, but I'm still figuring out, per school, the electricity increase during the summer months and comparing that with the enrollment decreases. One example I mentioned was Middle Creek Elem. that decreased in membership by 84, yet increased in electricity costs by over 60% per student (66% I think - I'm going by memory).

I know there are variables, etc., but I'm just tired of board members pretending like MYR conversions haven't been costly. Yes, I know it's cheaper than building new schools, but... well, that's a whole discussion that I won't dare get started on today!
Anyway - I did put in a quick plug for teacher salaries and the AG program. I also urged Co. Comm. or someone to look into specific requests on the budget, and find out what input the stakeholders had in deciding where to spend that money (one example - professional development days - is that where the teachers themselves want to pour that money? Will they be beneficial, or a waste of time like some are?)
I threw in the fact that the School Board has been warned for YEARS about the repercussions of implementing a plan that has an extensive, documented track record of failure. Added costs is always listed as one of the reasons for converting back to traditional calendars.

I did put in some positives, and stayed respectful, but ended up like this: I would love to support the entire budget, but until the School Board (Admin. too) can admit that they have made some mistakes (which I think they have with the forcing of YR school conversions) I just can't be on board.

I also spoke earlier at the 3:00 hearing downtown before the Wake County delegation to the General Assembly. My subject was MYR school conversions. I was hoping others would speak about the schools, but of the 17 people signed up to speak, no one else did. I had to leave early, so I guess someone could have decided to speak that wasn't signed up, but that's usually rare.

I hope lots of folks have called, emailed, and visited these General Assembly members. I can't stress enough how important it is to let these legislators know what is happening. I still think some key decisions will have to be made by them. PLEASE let them hear from you!

IMPORTANT MEETING ON MONDAY

The Wake County delegation to the General Assembly is holding a public comment meeting on Monday, June 2nd from 3:00 - 5:00. This provides a rare opportunity to speak at one time to all of the legislators who represent our county. There is a cut-off time of two minutes, which is short, but still - it doesn't always take a long speech to make an impact!

If you have ever wanted your voice to be heard, on school issues or any other matter, this is your chance. I would suggest calling ahead of time to ensure that you will be called upon to speak. You are allowed to sign up at the door, but if time runs out, that will be the list that is cut short. To sign up, contact Senator Richard Stevens' office at (919) 733-5653. Here are the details:

Wake Legislative Delegation
Monday, June 2nd
3pm to 5pm
Legislative Building
Jones Street
1st Floor - Room 1228

Please encourage everyone you know to show up and speak up!!

County Commissioners and School Board Members - What Happened at the Joint Meeting This Morning

The joint meeting today between the Wake County Commissioners and the School Board was packed, and covered a lot of topics. Of course the BOE budget requests were discussed at length, with commissioners wanting to know how certain line items directly correlated with students' academic growth.

Things didn't really heat up until around 11:45 when the issue of lost tax revenues due to tardiness on the School Board's part (having to do with recouped sales tax revenue) was brought up. There was a lot of discussion (arguing on the part of some) over exact dates decided upon for deadlines, etc.. Lori Millberg kept focusing on what was in-writing, basically closing the door to validity of verbal agreements on the part of both boards.

The person sitting beside me kept commenting that it didn't matter - what's a few thousand tax dollars anyway. While I agree that they need to move on now and focus on the future, it IS important in my opinion that this and other "lapses" be brought up. The School Board needs to know that yes, someone can finally hold them accountable for their mistakes. They need to admit that they "goofed", apologize, and promise to be more diligent from now on. Did that happen? Three guesses - first two don't count!

Tuesday Night - District Dialogue on Election of School Board Members - Everyone Is Invited

The following information is from Representative Ty Harrell's website. Should make for lively discussion!

May 16th, 2008

Ty Harrell will moderate a "District Dialogue" Tuesday, May 20, from 7:00-8:00 pm [probably more like 8:30] at the Herb Young Community Center in Cary (101 Wilkinson Avenue). Many constituents and Wake County residents have expressed varying opinions about how we vote for Wake County School Board members - this event will provide a forum for discussion. Special guests include Gale Adcock, Town of Cary Council Member and Alexis Kateron, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Representative Harrell did tell me that Joe Ciulla (champion of at-large School Board elections) was to have been a panel member, but found out he had family conflicts. Harrell is trying to "even the playing field", but I think he's having some difficulty because so many who share Joe's viewpoint are parents and have to be with children at night...

Court Ruling on MYR Just In

I just received this verdict from the Court of Appeals regarding the mandating of year-round schools. In a nutshell, they over-turned the decision of Judge Howard Manning (requiring parental consent). More later...

"Appeal by defendants from order entered 3 May 2008 by Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr. in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 9 January 2008.

GEER, Judge.
Defendant Wake County Board of Education ("the Board") appeals from the trial court's order concluding that the Board "lacks the statutory authority to convert traditional calendar schools to mandatory year round schools," but ruling that the Board "is authorized by law to operate, on a voluntary consensual basis, year round calendar schools," so long as it obtains "informed parental consent." (Emphasis original.) Based, however, upon our review of the controlling statutes, we hold that the Board is authorized by the General Assembly to establish year-round schools and to assign students to attend those schools without obtaining their parents' prior consent. We, therefore, reverse the decision below" [Manning's].

Transportation Costs - an Eye-Opener

I finally have data on the increase in transportation costs since the conversion of 22 Wake County public schools to a mandatory year-round schedule. I have been trying to get this information since February. I believe the school system has tried to obscure the fact that the massive reassignments (largely due to the MYR schools) have caused transportation costs to spiral upwards. Some of us warned them about this years ago, based on reports from other systems that had to abandon MYR school plans due, in part, to rising transportation expenses. The following information given to me by Mr. Don Haydon is a major eye-opener and should have been front and center long before now. I quote:

“Transportation Department staff compared the monthly cost for July & August 2006 with the same months in 2007 to estimate a difference in cost for transportation of year-round students.  For July & August 2006, the average cost for each of the 2 months was $232,000 and for 2007, $472,000.” 

Additionally,

“Ms Lee, my understanding is that the costs were the actual costs for system-wide transportation for the two months.  Thus, the data would show the cost for transportation for the schools in session in July/August 2006 as compared with those in 2007; those months were selected because most of the buses would be for multi-track schools.”

In other words, the system-wide transportation expenses just during the combined two months of July and August more than doubled this school year, rising from close to half a million dollars ($464,000) in 2006 to

close to a million ($944,000) in 2007.

Ponder that...

Follow-Up Comments on the Joint Meeting

Here's a copy of an email I sent tonight to the School Board members, CC'ing the County Commissioners.

====

Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2008 10:02 PM
To: 'lmillberg@wcpss.net'; 'htart@wcpss.net'; 'coparker@wcpss.net'; 'rgill@wcpss.net'; 'skparry@wcpss.net'; 'bsclark@wcpss.net'; 'prhead@wcpss.net'; 'rmargiotta@wcpss.net'; 'egoettee@wcpss.net'
Cc: 'joe.bryan@co.wake.nc.us'; 'Tony.Gurley@co.wake.nc.us'; 'citizens4kenn@earthlink.net'; 'Harold.Webb@co.wake.nc.us'; 'lindy.brown@co.wake.nc.us'; 'paul.coble@co.wake.nc.us'
Subject: Follow-Up Comments on the Joint Meeting

Dear Members of the Wake County School Board,

I hope this letter finds you well-rested after an Easter break. I know that last week was a busy and intense time for you. As I’ve stated before, I do not envy your job, nor do I take your service for granted.

I wanted to follow up on a few points that came up during the meeting with the County Commissioners on Wednesday of last week. I warn you in advance that this email is extremely long. But my frustration with misleading and conflicting remarks has spilled way over the three-minute limit allowed at your board meetings. I am not just "sounding off" either. I am presenting facts that you need to be reminded of if you are to gain back the public's trust, and if you are going to make fair decisions. Knowing most of you, I place my trust in the fact that you will read every word of this very carefully. I beg you to do so. This is important.

First of all, take a look at some of the comments made last week about the 2006 bond. Not enough was asked for, the public wouldn’t have supported a larger amount, no one wanted taxes raised, we had no choice but to convert schools to mandatory year-round, etc., etc. While it is true that folks don’t jump for joy at the thought of a tax increase, there was, in fact, some support for doing just that if it meant no forced year-round school attendance. It was a “lesser of the evils” for many, many parents. You don’t have to just take my word for it. Remember the petition against MYR schools that gathered over 3,000 signatures in just a few weeks? The petition that seems to have been ignored, despite the large number of comments shared? I’ve gathered some here for you – and yes, I’m including them all even if it makes this email pages long! I hope you really will read every one. I promise I did not take these excerpts out of context. I quote:

· Please raise taxes

· Increasing taxes in this case is not a bad thing.

· Raise my Taxes Instead of Year Round!

· raise my taxes to support my services!!

· Taxes will need to be raised

· I am also in favor of raising taxes to provide for those schools

· Wake County residents do have the money to pay more taxes but you as the school board just want to push for this year round option

· I have some suggestions for the board to consider: Raise impact fees on new housing and development, approach large corporations for educational funding, and raise our taxes.

· It is a responsibility for every tax payer in the country to have ensure good schools…

· Let's take the high road and fix the capacity problem properly-my taxes are going up no matter what we do anyway. A band-aid solution does no good in the long run.

· Willing to pay higher taxes to keep schedule as is.

· TAX ME PLEASE

· And raise our taxes.

· Please Raise my taxes- No ST YR

· I strongly dissagree with year round and am willing to pay higher taxes to prevent it.

· Also, from what has been reported the amount of tax increase to fund the needed schools is not that big of an amount especially when you consider all the effects of mandatory year round.

· I will pay more taxes to keep my kids on the same schedule!

· Please just teach the children with my TAX dollars and leave the schedule alon[e] that IS NOT BROKEN!!

· I am willing to have my taxes increase…

· I would rather pay more for taxes and less for endless babysitting and track out camps. We moved here from Wisconsin where we had the BEST public schools in the state and we were HAPPY to pay more taxes because 1. our houses maintained their value due to the excellent schools and 2. our children were getting a fantastic education.

· Please raise my taxes--it will be cheaper for our family than to have my two teenagers lose their summer jobs!

· Raise my taxes instead. Year round schools are only a temporary fix, depriving our children of their summer experiences.

· raise my taxes instead !!!

· Pass bonds & increase taxes & BUILD

· No to year-rounds! Increase my taxes

· don't settle for a short-term fix---both the board and commissioners need to make the hard decision to raise taxes to pay for physical schools for all children present and future in the county

· I would be willing to raise my tax rates to avoid this year-round fiasco.

· I am willing to pay higher taxes to continue a traditional school calendar.

· [Our] taxes need to be raised to help provide the necessities with all the growth that is occurring

· Raise Taxes

· I favor a one-cent sales tax to raise funds for school construction

· There has got to be other solutions that do not anger and disrupt sooooo many families.. I would be willing to pay more taxes to keep my kid's summer longer..

· I would rather see higher taxes both to homeowners and businesses to support the needs of the community.

· Raise taxes and put the money to making Raleigh and Wake county sought after by individuals and businesses for our school system - not avoided because of it.

· a need for a tax increase in order to construct the schools necessary to provide for the current and projected growth of Wake County.

· Please consider raising tax rates to fully fund schools.

· My parents will pay more taxes to keep us [siblings] on the same schedule. Please pay attention to what people are saying.

· we know you get what you pay for, and are very willing to pay higher taxes to support the schools.

· I will be happy to pay the increase in taxes; the value of our educational system is worth the investment.

· I have no problem paying more taxes to maintain the traditional school calendar

· We need to be willing to pay higher taxes ourselves to invest in our future (our children) –

· It is time that we adjust taxes to keep up with the changing times.

· I'm opposed to year-round schools for many reasons and am willing to pay more sales tax, property tax, or other fees to retain year-round schools

· I am okay with higher property taxes,

· Also, there are many Wake County families that would happily pay more taxes to permanently end the possibilities of mandatory year round schools and constant threat of reassignments by building the proper number of schools.

· We need to raise taxes or pass a higher bond issue.

Oh, but the polls showed us differently, you say. Let’s take the time to examine those polls. The News & Observer / WRAL poll from May, 2006 did indeed show opposition to a large bond or to property tax increases. BUT, that same poll showed the following results:

What percentage opposed year-round schools altogether or thought that they should be optional?

ALL – 50%
BLACK – 52%
LATINO – 52%
WHITE – 49%

Did you point out those results? No, they would not have helped advance the MYR school cause. I did point them out to you, though. This was also the poll that showed the following results when respondents were asked to describe the quality of the Wake County public schools - “fair” or “poor” percentages were as follows:

ALL – 47%
BLACK – 56%
LATINO – 56%
WHITE – 45%

I could go on, but you get my point, I hope.

What about the Chamber of Commerce poll conducted in Feb./March of 2006? That’s another poll that you pointed to as proof that a larger bond would never pass. That poll focused on bond-related questions and questions about year-round schools. While support for larger bonds was low, it is important to examine the results more closely. How reliable were they? Well, for starters, 63% indicated that they had heard very little, if any, information about the bond issue. 53% said they had heard or read some, very little, or nothing at all about the idea of year-round schools. Yet they were the ones answering questions on those very subjects! And with 43% of participants saying that the Wake County Public school system has “gotten off onto the wrong track”, this poll is pointing out, once again, that citizens simply do not trust the school system to spend their money wisely. Also, the wording of certain questions was definitely leading. For example, when year-round schools were mentioned, it was pointed out that they would “conserve classroom space” and cause “less demand for more buildings”. Such words as “mandatory” or “forced to attend” were never uttered, of course, and negative aspects of year-round conversion were never mentioned.

How could you place so much stock in these surveys unless you didn’t take the time to examine every answer in depth?

Now I realize that you had education professionals, political leaders, business groups, etc. giving you “advice” and urging you to make this decision or that decision. I also know what inevitably goes on behind the scenes in cases like this. I am not saying that you make any of your decisions lightly, nor am I second-guessing your motives. Yes, you have to listen to all sides, but when it comes right down to it, the parents are the ones who know what is best for their children. They have simply not been listened to, and look what has happened…

Besides, the County Commissioners publicly stated, on more than one occasion, that they would agree to whatever amount you asked for in the bond. (See Commissioner Gurley’s quote in this WRAL piece.)

As for statements that you had no choice but to convert all of those schools to mandatory year-round (also stated at the joint meeting), well that is simply not true. I know for a fact that I, and others, presented you with other sound, less-intrusive scenarios to at least seriously explore. These options were not without drawbacks, but many of them would have, at the very least, cut back on the number of schools you converted, and arguably had the potential to prevent conversions altogether. I'm not referring to drastic measures, such as split sessions, etc., but to viable, sensible suggestions. You might have been told that you had no choice, and you might have agreed that the current plan was the best choice, but it was just that---your choice.

I also know that you were advised more than once that your predictions for enrollment increases were too high. That advice came from well-educated parents who presented convincing research results. I'm not saying you should have "bought in" to their advice, but according to them, they were quickly brushed aside.

As far as successfully passing a new bond? Good luck. In 2006, citizens were grossly misled to believe that a "yes" vote on the bond had nothing to do with year-round conversions. And yet, since the bond's passage, many bond supporters have been quick to point out that the public voted their support for MYR schools when they voted in favor of the bond. Someone even said as much in last week’s meeting. Here are some of the comments sent out to citizens prior to the bond’s passage, explaining what their "yes" vote would mean. The first is from a very active community leader, especially in education-related areas. She wrote: "Let's approve the funding for the schools - and then let's work with the appropriate authorities to ensure that our schools are built in the best possible way and parent's choice continues to be a valued aspect of the school system. We can have both." Really? Here's what Mrs. Goodnight and Mr. Atkinson wrote in the large color mailing that went out: "Bond monies cannot be used for administrative costs, but will be restricted to new construction, renovations and repairs, technology upgrades and land for future schools." If that’s the case, then how can you possibly say that approval of the bond signaled support for mandatory conversions??

Talk about enraged citizens! Many voiced their shock at finding out that the "just pass the bond and we'll work with you on the MYR issue" words were just that - words. They felt betrayed and lied to - and rightfully so. Now, I know plenty of supporters of the last bond referendum who will work diligently against new bond proposals. Biting off their nose to spite their face? Maybe so, but they were stabbed in the back one too many times.

For eight years now, I have patiently persevered in my fight against the forcing of year-round school attendance. This email is not meant to put you on the defensive, and believe me, I know what you’ve been up against. I simply cannot stay quiet, however, when comments are made that leave out vital facts.

I will leave you with a comment that was recently written on a survey conducted by the Chatham County Board of Education. That school system is in the process of searching for a new superintendent. At the beginning of the search, Board members sought input by releasing two surveys, one for teachers and staff and one for the community. All of the survey comments are worth skimming, but one in particular caught my eye (#43 here). It read, "Please do not consider anyone from Wake county schools. We have incorporated enough of their policies and procedures at this time. In addition, they are not a good example to follow in handling overcrowded schools." That is not an isolated case. I (and many others) continue to receive emails from out-of-town strangers who are thinking twice about moving to Wake County solely because of the school situation. I answer them as fairly as I can, but my response is hardly as positive as it would have been a couple of years ago.

The warnings that were ignored from months and years ago are being fulfilled even as I write this letter. Our county is slipping, and public school supporters are disillusioned to say the least. For the sake of the families who are barely hanging on, please, please turn away from more mandating of year-round schools! Things have not turned out as you imagined, and no, Judge Manning’s ruling is not to blame - you know I speak the truth when I say that you were duly warned about the repercussions of the decision you chose.

For the sake of the children, do not simply dig us into a deeper hole. It won’t be easy, but you can start us on the road to healing. You, not the administration, have the power to do so. Take the first step towards patching up broken trust.

As always, I thank you your time and consideration of this matter. Once again, I apologize for the length of this email, but I’ve needed to bring some of this information back to the forefront for a long time.

Sincerely,

Louise Lee

Important Meeting Today

At 9:00 this morning, the Wake County Board of County Commissioners and the Wake County Board of Education will meet jointly to discuss school issues - mainly as they relate to funding. I plan to attend the two-hour meeting, and will report back after the fact.

IS THIS THE WAKE COUNTY WE WANT?????

Well, so much for facts and parental pleas. Last night the Wake County School Board voted 6-1 (Ron Margiotta was the lone dissenter) to continue with plans to move 6,464 elementary school students for the 2008-2009 school year. Check any of the local media stations/newspapers for coverage of last night's meeting, or go to WCPSS's website for their version of what took place. Thousands of parents are heartbroken and/or angry this morning with the realization that their concerns once again fell on deaf ears.

As predicted long ago, Wake County is already seeing the adverse effects of the School Board's insistence upon forcing families into situations that are counter to their needs and wishes. Supportive public school parents are fleeing the system for charter or private schools. Some have even moved to neighboring counties. Teachers and administrators are leaving as well, fed up with suddenly being mandated into schedules that they did not choose. Neighborhoods are being pitted against neighborhoods, schools against schools, families against families - and tensions are increasing as more and more restrictions are placed upon parents' choices for their children.

Whether you are a parent, teacher, or a concerned citizen - if you believe that the Wake County School Board is wrong in forcing parents to go against what they know is best for their children; in splitting siblings up on different school calendars and, in some cases, into rival high schools; in completely ignoring hard facts and data showing why such a plan has failed year after year in other states; in placing families in situations where they have to compromise their child's after-school safety due to increased costs for childcare and/or the absence of older siblings who are now on a different schedule....IF you see the writing on the wall that these and many other repercussions will continue to chip away at the strong sense of "belonging" and the sturdy educational foundation that this area has always boasted...PLEASE waste no time in contacting the Wake County School Board, the County Commissioners, and the Wake County representation in the General Assembly. Many of you have already done this over and over, but don't give up. Keep calling and writing. Urge others to do the same. Write letters to the editor. Call local (and national, for that matter) TV and radio stations. History has proven that this is not the way that Wake County will improve. In my opinion, we have already started on a downward spiral which can only be stopped if enough people step forward and demand a stop to this unbelievable display of control.

Contact links for the aforementioned groups are listed in the panel to the right. Thank you!

Watch and Listen to the Court of Appeals Hearing on MYR Schools From This Afternoon

Go to http://www.wral.com/news/video/2277200/ to hear and see the tape from the Court of Appeals hearing today. This is the hearing where WCPSS appealed Judge Howard Manning's decision months ago that required parental consent before mandating year-round school attendance. Judge Manning ruled in favor of the parent organization, WakeCARES, at that time. Now it's a wait-and-see game as to what the ruling of the 3 Appeals Court judges will be. I attended the hearing today, but I would encourage all who are interested to listen to the proceedings for themselves.