RALEIGH - Another miscalculation in the enrollment at Wake County's year-round schools is forcing teachers to change schools and students to switch classes.

New figures show that Wake's 49 year-round schools are 1,591 students below their projected enrollment for this school year. Since staffing is based on enrollment, the shortfall means year-round schools are breaking up classes and losing teachers after the school year has started.

"It's always unfortunate when we have to move students" said Ve-Lecia Council, principal of Baucom Elementary School in Apex. "Children become used to things quicker than adults."

Parents, children cope

It has been a tough adjustment for Sherry Storms' daughter, Sarah, whose teacher left Baucom. She said Sarah came home crying when she realized that most of her friends would now be on different tracks, as schedules are known.

"She was getting used to her class when the rug was pulled out from under her," Storms said. "I don't think that's a good process."

Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board, said the board will discuss the year-round enrollment figures Tuesday.

This is the second year in a row in which enrollment appears likely to fall short of projections. Enrollment for all the district's schools was 2,084 fewer students than projected last school year.

School officials' most recent projection has Wake, the state's largest district, growing by 5,245 students this fall, down from the official projection of 6,441 new students. Wake is projected to have 139,247 students this fall.

Chuck Dulaney, assistant superintendent for growth and planning, did not immediately return calls Thursday.

Wake's year-round schools had 40,385 students on the 10th day of classes. They are projected to have 41,976 students by the 20th day of classes, the date used to determine official enrollment.

It's unlikely that enough new students will be added to year-round schools to make the projected target. Last year, year-round enrollment went up 81 students between the 10th and 20th days.

"The numbers are only going to get worse," said school board member Ron Margiotta, a critic of Wake's year-round school policy.

The 10th-day numbers are significant because they are used to determine school staffing.

At a recent school board meeting, Danny Barnes, Wake's chief area superintendent, said that year-round principals are contacting other schools to help find jobs for displaced teachers.

According to school district policy, the employees who were last hired are the first to be let go. But school officials say they have always been able to find jobs for displaced teachers and staff.

At Baucom, Council helped a teacher and teacher assistant find new schools. The school is 67 students below projected enrollment.

The change, three weeks into the school year, meant 11 first-grade students got a new teacher. Some students had to change their schedules as well.

At Wilburn Elementary School in North Raleigh, the principal, Jennifer Carnes, said the school lost four teachers after enrollment fell short about 100 students and that the school had had to combine two fifth-grade classrooms.These changes mean that Julie Patrick's daughter has had three first-grade teachers at Wilburn since July. But she blames the changes more on the families who refuse to send their children to year-round schools than faulty district projections.

Wake's ability to assign students has been hindered by a court order requiring parental permission to assign students to year-round schools.

The state Supreme Court could announce Aug. 27 whether it will hear a lawsuit on Wake's use of year-round schools. The court has stayed an appellate ruling saying that consent is not needed.

"They're doing the best they can," Patrick said. "I wish parents would give year-round a try."

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