Over two dozen parents spoke out against a plan to move about 3,000 students within Wake County schools.
The Wake County Board of Education held a public hearing Tuesday night to receive feedback on the second draft of the reassignment proposal.
Other WRAL Top Stories
Most of the students affected would be sent to one of three new schools. The goal is to relieve the overcrowded schools and fill the underused ones.
Most of the schools where enrollment would rise or fall are on the outer edges of Wake County, outside of Raleigh. Next year, WCPSS will open Apex Friendship Elementary School, Barton Pond Elementary School in north Raleigh and Hebert Akins Road Middle School in Fuquay-Varina.
One of the issues parents brought up on Tuesday was the proximity of the schools to the families' neighborhoods.
"My biggest concern with this move is safety. After having two teenage drivers and an accident with one of them, moving them this far is a big concern," said Katherine Banks.
Parents also brought up mental health concerns and the coronavirus pandemic.
"The pandemic has been difficult in so many ways, but the negative impact that it has silently had on our children is often overlooked," said parent Katie Dunkin. "It breaks my heart to even consider having to tell my children that they can no longer attend the school that has made them feel loved and secure while everything else in this world feels uncertain."
The vast majority of students, around 98%, would not be affected by the reassignment plan.
School board members are expected to vote on a final draft Dec. 7.