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Published: May 14, 2007 12:30 AM
Modified: May 16, 2007 11:17 AM

Your school questions answered

The recent legal ruling on Wake County's year-round schools plan has left much of the district's reassignment plan up in the air. You've got questions, and we'll try to answer one of them daily. Send your question to education@newsobserver.com or call Wake editor Holly Stepp at 829-4792. You may also send questions or discuss the situation at www.newsobserver.com on the WakeEd blog and on http://share.triangle.com

Q: For parents who opt out of the year-round calendar, will transportation be provided to the new traditional calendar school?

A: Yes. The school district will provide transportation for students who opt to attend a traditional-calendar school and also those who opt to stay at a year-round school.

Q: Is it true that families staying at the year-round schools who have already gotten their track assignments might have to switch tracks? — Pleasant Union Elementary School parent Laura Hill

A: The district is going to try to allow families who choose to stay at year-round schools to keep their assignment. But track assignments could change if massive numbers of families choose traditional-calendar schools.

Q: If I chose a traditional-calendar option, but don't like the option, can I come back to the year-round school? — Leesville Elementary School parent Melanie Tilley

A: Parents can request a transfer back to the year-round school or another traditional-calendar school. However, there is no guarantee that parents will receive their original track assignment.

Q: How will the parents of students on Track 2 at year-round schools get the consent forms the district will distribute Friday? Year-round students on Track 2 are out of school that day.

A: Wake school leaders plan to mail the letters to families of Track 2 students with a postage-paid return envelope. Parents worried about missing the May 18 deadline can drop off the letter at the school. Any Track 2 families that the district has not heard from, as well as others, will be contacted during the week of May 21.

Q: What about teachers hired for year-round schools?

A: Because the school board is going forward with year-round conversions, there is no change in the teacher hires. However, if re-enrollment drops, based on the parents who opt out of the year-round calendar, those teachers could be asked to work at a traditional-calendar school.

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