Wake County parents, students prepare for first day of traditional calendar

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — As families across Wake County prepare for the start of the traditional school year on Monday, ABC11 spoke with parents and students about the school year ahead. This week, thousands of students countywide will return from summer break as questions loom over the lack of a finalized state budget, and with new policies like North Carolina’s cell phone restrictions set to go into effect.

On Sunday, parents said they’re excited for the year ahead, but also shared concerns about familiar topics, including school safety.

“The primary concern, yes. And once you’ve lived through a child being locked down because of gun violence, then that will always be top of mind,” said Deanna Hamilton, the mother of a rising senior at Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

Hamilton has had three kids attend Wake County Public Schools, including rising senior Sidney.

“I want it to be a safe year for her and a focus year for her because this year is going to be her last year, and it’s going to actually be a forerunner to what’s to come next year,” she said.

For Sidney, this year is a culmination of a high school experience that began in the wake of COVID and started a transition back to in-person learning.

“It was pretty hard,” she said. “I didn’t really have any friends during COVID. I didn’t talk to anybody. So I had to kind of get acclimated to the world and like be more social and school for the most part.”

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Now, there are new changes in the district — and across the state. North Carolina is now one of 17 states with new restrictions on cell phone usage in the classroom this year, barring students from having their phones out during instructional time. It’s a change that sparked debate last year — including from Deanna.

“We just want to make sure that our school system abides by keeping our children safe as well,” she said.

Other parents like Tiffany Ashburn, who has two kids in Wake County Public Schools, like the change.

“I think school should be for school,” Ashburn said. “And I know that’s hard now with everything that happens in the schools. But I do think that if a situation like that occurred, obviously, children would probably pull out their phones and be reaching out to the parents.”

For Ashburn, the eve of a new school year is an exciting time. ABC11 asked her about the uncertainty around the lack of a finalized state budget and question marks over future federal education funding. She said she’s optimistic that those issues will be resolved.

“I like to think that people are doing what they can to make it better for our kids as far as their education. And we just try to make sure we’re doing our part at home,” she said.

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