2 Wake schools to end year-round schedule

RALEIGH -- The Wake County school board today tentatively agreed to switch Baucom and Green Hope elementary schools from a year-round schedule to a traditional calendar.

At the same time, school administrators recommended converting Leesville Road Middle School in North Raleigh to a year-round calendar. The board agreed to do so on a 7-1 vote, with only member Ron Margiotta in opposition.

Baucom and Green Hope were among 22 schools converted to the year-round calendar last year to keep up with increasing enrollment. School board members said today they can return the two schools to the traditional calendar because the economy has slowed enrollment growth.

Baucom Elementary, located in Apex, will switch to the traditional calendar for the 2009-10 school year. Green Hope Elementary, in western Cary, won't switch until at least the 2010-11 school year when the nearby Alston Ridge Elementary School opens.

Wake greatly expanded the use of year-round schools as part of a $970 million bond issue approved by voters in 2006. Year-round schools can handle more students than traditional schools by putting buildings in constant use.

But for two years in a row, enrollment has come in more than 2,000 students below projections.

The board voted unanimously to approve Green Hope's switch.

The vote on Baucom was 6-2 with Patti Head and Lori Millberg both in opposition. They said they support putting Baucom on a traditional calendar but wanted a guarantee that Baucom students will be able to attend a traditional-calendar middle school.

The board voted 6-2 against converting Salem Elementary School in Apex from a year-round to the traditional calendar, with Margiotta and Horace Tart in support of the proposal.