RALEIGH - Wake County school administrators want an additional $20.4 million to buy land for new schools, with most of it for future sites that aren't needed in the short term.

Administrators want $15.8 million to buy land for at least three new schools that won't open until 2013. The remaining $4.6 million would cover extra costs anticipated to complete the purchase of land for 12 schools slated to open by 2012.

Administrators presented the request to the school board's facilities committee Tuesday. They plan to ask for the full board's approval Feb. 5.

Funding would come from unspent bond money that's part of the $970 million bond issue approved in 2006. The request would also require the approval of the county commissioners.

An advisory committee appointed by the commissioners and school board recommended last year that the school district do "land banking." This would involve buying land for schools now, even if they're not needed in the short term, before prices rise.