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Β INDIAN TRAIL, NC – Union County parents lost the redistricting fight; now they’re losing their tempers. Β
Social media exploded this week with stories of kids sitting on the floor in classrooms and parents waiting more than an hour in drop-off lines.Β
All year, families protested, put up signs and showed up by the thousands to stop redistricting.
But their efforts weren’t enough.
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Now, Union County families like the Hunts are forced into new schools.
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“Traffic is a whole lot worse, it’s a lot longer drive,” said Tonia Hunt.Β
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Hunt’s drive time has doubled and so has the time she has to wait in the drop-off and pick-up lines at Porter Ridge Middle School.
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“It’s hectic and crazy,” said Hunt.
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WCCB asked the principal about the long wait times.
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“Today we actually had all our cars out, we’re talking about over 200 cars, in 20 minutes,” said Lee Casey, principal at Porter Ridge.
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A blog created by an anonymous parent talks about a special needs student riding on a bus for three hours trying to get home this week. It also says kids from one neighborhood were left behind because the bus was too full. Β
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Parents from across the county are speaking out about overcrowding on Facebook.Β One parent said, “My three high school (MR) kids have 38 to 40 in most classes.”
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“There’s kids who don’t have desks, there are kids sitting on floors,” said Kim Hillegas, a Monroe resident.
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Hillegas was a plaintiff in the lawsuit to stop redistricting.Β For her, this week’s chaos is a big “I told you so” to the Union County School Board.
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“This is just inexcusable and unexplainable,” said Hillegas.
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After losing the court battle, Hillegas enrolled her daughter in a private school. Now that she’s seen the public school chaos this week, she’s happy with her decision.Β
