Last week's election may have changed the playing field for the Wake County school board, but school administrators are moving forward with the old board's student assignment plan.
Starting today, school officials will hold the first of 12 sessions around the county to explain the new choice-based assignment plan slated to go into effect for the 2012-13 school year. The meetings are necessary because the new approach radically changes the way students have historically been assigned to schools in the state's largest school district.
Instead of being assigned to a specific school based on address, families will now be given options. The new plan requires greater community outreach before the application period begins in January.
Even before his re-election Nov. 8 created a new Democratic board majority, incumbent Kevin Hill worried the plan didn't do enough to make sure parents get full information about their choices and what each would mean for students. The administration proposes myriad means to get the word out, including the community sessions, PTAs, pediatricians and "traveling materials" sent into neighborhoods.
"We need permanent community outreach and staff to make this plan accessible to students and parents," Hill said. "I don't have faith in the registration bus."
School officials also will explain that students can stay at their current school next year and keep their transportation.
But even as the meetings take place, questions exist about how much the new plan will change before it begins.
Last week's school board election runoff in which Hill prevailed over Republican challenger Heather Losurdo gave the Democrats a new 5-4 majority. Members of the new majority say they will review in detail the plan passed by the outgoing Republican majority Oct. 18.
The new plan stresses proximity, choice, stability and student achievement as priorities. Democratic members are concerned it doesn't do enough to avoid creating low-achieving schools.
Hill said board members will look at making "some tweaks," such as setting aside seats at high-performing schools for applicants who might want to attend from historically low-performing areas.
"This is the plan the board voted on, and we need to work on it together as a board," Hill said.
However, Hill and other members-elect have said the plan needs a more thorough going-over.
"I'm not sure we're keeping a running tab on the promises we are making," he said.
For Republican board members who voted last year to eliminate socioeconomic diversity as a factor in student assignment, the proposed Democratic changes led to accusations of quotas and "forced busing."
"It means that we're going to go back to where we came from - to the old ways," said GOP school board member Chris Malone.
The new Democratic majority, which swept all five seats on this fall's ballot, will take office Dec. 6.
With the application period set to begin Jan. 17, the new majority has limited time to make an impact before families make choices for next year.
"We will take our time to make some good data-based decisions, make decisions that are best for the community," said Democratic school board member Keith Sutton, adding that he sees no obstacles to a fall 2012 startup for the plan.
Staff writer Matt Garfield contributed to this report.
