StanN
10-21-2004, 12:02 PM
Here is the latest stop-gap measure from the Wake County Commissioners. Remember when they said that giving the WCPSS the full $15M increase for the operating suppliment would break the bank? Then they found $2M to influence the vote when the hyper-growth #'s hit the fan. Now they found another $10M. Their credibility is plunging. And they still don't have a plan that works. If they can use $192 M in COP's to fund the crystal palace and the 4-star Marriott - why not enough COP's to build the schools they promised - and keep the existing old schools maintained and renovated. They have the authority to issue them. Their excuse for using COP's for the convention center is that it would have delayed its construction to hold a referendum and issue bonds. Now they need to act fast but are in paralysis - at least till after the election.
www.news14.com
Funding approved to ease overcrowding
10/21/2004 10:12 AM
By: Brett Tackett & Web Staff
Wake County's expecting more than 5,000 new students next year
On Wednesday, Wake County school officials and the Board of Commissioners agreed to use almost $10 million to ease school overcrowding. But this will only pay for part of the overcrowding solution and school officials may have to break a multimillion dollar promise to pay for the rest.
Stephen Ammons lives in Wendell and has two children in elementary school there.
"Eastern Wake County has been overlooked for a long time and the people out there are tired of it,” Ammons said. “And we just want our fair share of the education money."
That may not happen. The Wake County School Board is considering delaying the construction of three schools including a Wendell middle school to help pay for modular classrooms needed to ease overcrowding. These schools were promised in the 2000 school bond.
School district officials stress that these three schools are just as important as any other project in the county. They say the only reason they may be delayed is because of timing.
“The school that were talked about were ones that were required later time wise, in other words, 2008 openings,” said Don Haydon of Wake County Schools.
The problem is the county's expecting more than 5,000 new students next year and it needs a place for them. The reason they're considering the delayed openings is they can't build the schools fast enough and they don't have enough freed money to buy the mobile classrooms.
According to Wake County School Board member Ron Margiotta, "We have to find $32 million."
Officials say the delayed openings aren't definite and they're trying everything they can to open them on time.
"The county commission is very concerned about this issue and they are working trying to identify more find that they could make available to complete the building program,” explained Carol Parker of the Wake County School Board.
“I think what's necessary is we move forward with another bond issue,” Margiotta added. “The needs are there and I believe we can justify it.”
Ammons says another bond could prove problematic. “The school board promised items or schools to come out our way and they've always taken away our funds,” he said. “Yes, it will be a hard thing."
Another big pressure school officials are under is time. The district is already seven weeks behind schedule and must order all the modular schools and mobile classrooms soon to have them here by the start of next school year.
Copyright © 2004 TWEAN d.b.a. News 14 Carolina
www.news14.com
Funding approved to ease overcrowding
10/21/2004 10:12 AM
By: Brett Tackett & Web Staff
Wake County's expecting more than 5,000 new students next year
On Wednesday, Wake County school officials and the Board of Commissioners agreed to use almost $10 million to ease school overcrowding. But this will only pay for part of the overcrowding solution and school officials may have to break a multimillion dollar promise to pay for the rest.
Stephen Ammons lives in Wendell and has two children in elementary school there.
"Eastern Wake County has been overlooked for a long time and the people out there are tired of it,” Ammons said. “And we just want our fair share of the education money."
That may not happen. The Wake County School Board is considering delaying the construction of three schools including a Wendell middle school to help pay for modular classrooms needed to ease overcrowding. These schools were promised in the 2000 school bond.
School district officials stress that these three schools are just as important as any other project in the county. They say the only reason they may be delayed is because of timing.
“The school that were talked about were ones that were required later time wise, in other words, 2008 openings,” said Don Haydon of Wake County Schools.
The problem is the county's expecting more than 5,000 new students next year and it needs a place for them. The reason they're considering the delayed openings is they can't build the schools fast enough and they don't have enough freed money to buy the mobile classrooms.
According to Wake County School Board member Ron Margiotta, "We have to find $32 million."
Officials say the delayed openings aren't definite and they're trying everything they can to open them on time.
"The county commission is very concerned about this issue and they are working trying to identify more find that they could make available to complete the building program,” explained Carol Parker of the Wake County School Board.
“I think what's necessary is we move forward with another bond issue,” Margiotta added. “The needs are there and I believe we can justify it.”
Ammons says another bond could prove problematic. “The school board promised items or schools to come out our way and they've always taken away our funds,” he said. “Yes, it will be a hard thing."
Another big pressure school officials are under is time. The district is already seven weeks behind schedule and must order all the modular schools and mobile classrooms soon to have them here by the start of next school year.
Copyright © 2004 TWEAN d.b.a. News 14 Carolina