QUESTION: The State of NC has been playing around with NC Wise now for what, 4 or 5 years? When the state fired IBM because they could not make the system work--NC had already paid them $240 Million. That was a couple of years ago. The NC Wise system still is not working right--how much, in total, has NC paid for this thing so far?
— Joseph L. Shepard, Spring Lake

ANSWER: The total cost of the program is estimated to be $253.9 million from the initial pilot phase to complete implementation in all school districts, schools and public charter schools, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Vanessa Jeter, communications director for DPI, provided the following information about the program:

It is important to recognize that through the NC WISE project, North Carolina local school districts and NC DPI access the data required to leverage approximately $10

Q: Are teachers in WCPSS (Wake County Public School System) allowed to physically restrain students who are fighting?
- Bobbi Mantz, Holly Springs

A: Yes, but teachers and other school staff must follow certain guidelines.

The school system’s “Use of Seclusion and Restraint” policy includes the following about physical restraint:

School personnel may physically restrain a student to ensure the safety of the student or others as outlined below. Physical restraint means the use of physical force to restrict the free movement of all or a portion of the student's body. Physical restraint may only be used in the following circumstances:

1) as reasonably needed to obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous objects on a person or within the control of a person;

2)

Q: How many students are currently enrolled at Holly Ridge Middle School and what is the average teacher-to student classroom ratio in regular education core classrooms? How do these numbers compare to other middle schools in the county and in the state?
- Robert E. O'Dwyer, Holly Springs

A: Holly Ridge Middle School has 1,232 students enrolled for the 2007-08 school year.

Grades 4-9 in North Carolina can have an average maximum of 26 students per teacher. However, individual classes are allowed to have up to 29 students as long as the grade level average stays at 26, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. Physical education and band classes are exempt from the policy.

Data from the 2006-07 school year show that Holly Ridge Middle had a higher average class size than the district and state.

Q: I am currently a high school student in Wake County and I was wondering why there are no year-round high schools. I attended year round schools K-8 and I know that Southeast Raleigh High School has a "modified" schedule, but I was wondering why there are not any true year-round, multi-track high schools.
- Jennifer Prince, Fuquay-Varina

A: Michael Evans, Wake County Public Schools’ chief communications officer, provided this explanation:

“It has been determined that it would be not be practical or cost effective to offer a multi-track year round calendar at the high school level. Just a few of the issues would be with Advance Placement courses. They are tested once a year in early May, there would be students who were on a track that wouldn't end until early June. There is the issue of athletics and extra curricular activities and offering them so that all students could take advantage of them

Q: Who checks the special needs transportation companies who are contracted by the county for legal compliance and safety issues? Our daughter's bus company has violated many DMV regulations while the county looked the other way.
- Trishia Fortuner, Raleigh

A: Alvin McNeill, Wake County Schools’ director of operations for the transportation department, suggests you try the following:

“Our Transportation Department has an Exceptional Children (EC) Transportation office that oversees the contractors. A parent may call their office at 919-831-3812 and their concerns will be addressed.”
- Kelly

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