I reviewed the Wake County school board work session materials this past weekend. They are available online. The elementary school seat capacity charts are very discouraging. Michael Alves, the consultant who helped WCPSS develop this school choice plan, said that having adequate capacity was essential to a successful choice program. In much of Wake, we don't have capacity. Choice is an illusion.

Ten schools have zero seat openings except for kindergarten: Durant Road, Heritage, Wildwood Forest, Cedar Fork, Holly Springs, Brentwood, Brooks, Combs, Joyner and Washington. Grade 1-5 students have zero chance of getting in. That's no choice. These schools should be taken off all choice lists so parents don't think they have a chance of getting in.

Fourteen schools have 10 or fewer openings in grades 1-5 combined: Conn, Wiley, Knightdale, North Forest Pines, Wake Forest, Douglas, Lead Mine, Lynn Road, Yates Mill, Fuquay-Varina, Mills Park, Northwoods, Adams and Turner Creek. That's almost no choice.

I wish those pushing this plan had made sure the essential components were in place before moving forward. I'm not sure the current school board can clean up this assignment mess created for our county by the old board and others. It's a big one.

Heather Koons

Raleigh