One million dollars of costs for employees previously employed through this grant have been shifted to the local base budget. Funds have been built into the expansion budget to begin these programs if the new grant is not approved. Wake's Magnet schools benefit our entire system. The magnet schools fill seats on older campuses in downtown Raleigh schools that would probably be closed if only a neighborhood were assigned to attend there. By using these older schools, the magnet program saves millions in construction costs.
Traditional schools are less crowded because of the students who opt to attend magnet schools.
Magnet schools help provide parents choices about where their children can attend school, and this is very important to many Wake County parents. Superintendent McNeal delivered a balanced budget March 19 to the Board of Education. The board will hold a public hearing April 2 and work sessions on the budget proposal during April. The board will submit a budget to the county commissioners no later than May 15. The Board of Education will adopt a budget resolution by June 30.