2 elementary schools' openings delayed
Published: Mon, Jun. 16, 2008 05:16PM
Modified Mon, Jun. 16, 2008 05:23PM
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closeRALEIGH — A divided Wake County board of commissioners voted 4-3 today to delay the opening of two new elementary schools in order to pay for renovations at Wake Forest-Rolesville High School.
Delaying the new schools, coupled with other savings, will provide the $62.8 million to renovate Wake Forest-Rolesville High. It will mean that a new elementary school in Garner and one in Wake Forest, both approved as part of a 2006 bond issue, are on hold until more money can be found in a future bond issue.
School leaders said they needed to reallocate the money because of a tight timetable they're under to do the renovations. They said having the money means they can more quickly do the renovations at Wake Forest-Rolesville by emptying the campus and sending students to the new Heritage High for the 2009-10 school year.
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School officials also said that growth was slowing down among younger students so the two new elementary schools weren't needed so soon.
At the insistence of Joe Bryan, chairman of the board of commissioners, the resolution was modified to say that the school board was consciously changing what had been part of the 2006 bond issue.
But some commissioners said they couldn't support changing what voters had approved.
Bryan joined the three Democrats, Lindy Brown, Betty Lou Ward and Harold Webb, in supporting the school system's request. It was opposed by the other Republicans, Paul Coble, Kenn Gardner and Tony Gurley.
keung.hui@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-4534
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