Claude Pope wrote in his July 24 Point of View article "A school mandate, indeed" that "it was forced busing that caused the voters of the county to demand change." Neither Pope nor the voters did their homework. There is abundant data on the WCPSS and NCDPI websites to show that:
Busing to achieve socioeconomic balance is a tiny part (2-3 percent) of the reason students are bused to school in Wake County
Growth is the No. 1 reason students are moved to different schools. When a new school is opened, it must be filled.
In the last 10 years, 1999-2009, WCPSS had an increase of 45,275 students.
Since the year 2000, WCPSS has opened 48 schools.
91 percent of Wake elementary students and 82 percent of middle and high school students attend school within 5 miles of their homes.
99 percent of all Wake students attend school within 10 miles of their homes.
Wake's busing is efficient: Wake spends $60 less per student per year than the state average on busing costs.
Perhaps in the next election, voters will demand that the Board of Education focus on student achievement.
P.E. Nixon Jr., Cary
