In the wake of the Waco school board’s decision Thursday night to close Wiley Middle School two weeks before the start of classes, the Tribune-Herald asked Waco Independent School District spokesman Dale Caffey to answer questions Wiley parents may have about their children and the beginning of school.

* Will the district let me pick the new middle school for my child?

To a certain extent, yes. Parents may request a transfer to any middle school in the district. Transfers will be granted based on space availability at the receiving campus. Parents of incoming seventh- and eighth-graders who would have attended G.L. Wiley may also apply for their child to attend G.W. Carver Academy. There are no additional sixth-grade spaces available at Carver this year. Deadline for transfer requests and Carver applications from Wiley students is Friday, Aug. 15.

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Video: Watch what the community had to say

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Reaction

» Blog: East Waco blogger Carol Dugat responds to the news on "What do you Want?"

» Editorial: Rush job on G.L. Wiley (8/7/08)

By the numbers

» Growth chart: G.L. Wiley TAKS scores, 2003-08

» Waco ISD: Middle school TAKS passing rates

* If I can’t choose the middle school I want, how does the district decide where my child will go and when will I find out?

Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders living in the J.H. Hines and Doris Miller elementary attendance zones will be assigned to Cesar Chavez Middle School. Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders living in the West Avenue Elementary attendance zone will be assigned to Brazos Middle School. Letters from the district to the parents of those students were mailed Friday. The mailing includes a transfer request form and an application to Carver Academy (for seventh- and- eighth graders).

* Will magnet schools be open to us at this late date? What’s the process for getting into a magnet school?

Carver Academy is accepting applications from seventh- and eighth-graders who previously attended Wiley. Deadline is Friday, Aug. 15. Student selection is determined by lottery.

* Will charter schools accept my application this late?

The prospective charter school will have to answer this question.

* My household has more than one child at Wiley. Will they all go to the same school?

To the extent possible, the district will allow siblings to attend the same campus whether it’s the assigned campus, the campus to which a transfer is granted or a magnet school.

* Will the district provide transportation?

Transportation will be provided for students who live two or more miles from their assigned school or would be subject to hazardous traffic conditions if they walked to school. Transportation isn’t provided if a parent-requested transfer is granted.

* If transportation is granted, where do they catch the bus? What’s the transportation schedule?

Bus routes and stops are determined once enrollment is complete.

* What’s the daily school schedule?

All middle schools in the district begin school at 8:30 a.m. and end school at 3:45 p.m.

* How do I register my child at the new school?

Parents whose children will attend the newly assigned campus (Brazos or Chavez) according to their attendance zone may take their registration materials to either G.L. Wiley or the assigned campus. If parents already have taken their registration packets to Wiley and will not be applying for a transfer to another campus, their registration materials will be forwarded to the appropriate school.

* If the new school requires uniforms, will I have extra time to acquire them?

All WISD middle schools have adopted standard mode of dress. Colors differ according to campus. Principals will allow Wiley students extra time to acquire the designated colors.

* Where can I purchase such uniforms and how much do they cost?

Generally, the khaki pants and polo shirts adopted by standard mode-of-dress campuses are available at Wal-Mart, Academy, Dollar General and Family Dollar stores.

* What after-school activities are available at the new school?

After-school activities are available at all middle school campuses. Activities may differ at each campus. Contact the receiving school for further information.

* How can I help my child adjust to the new school?

Have a positive attitude about the change in schools. Attend the Waco ISD “Meet the Teacher” night for middle schools from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Have high expectations of your child. Practice parental involvement. Join the PTA.

* Will my child be behind aca-demically at the new school?

No. Assessment scores at Wiley have been comparable to other Waco ISD middle schools in most subjects.

* If my child is behind academically, what do we need to do to catch him up?

Take advantage of tutorials, which are offered at all Waco ISD middle schools.

* Will Wiley students be offered extra services such as tutoring or TAKS prep?

Tutorials are offered at all Waco ISD middle schools.

* How will my child benefit from attending a different school?

Former Wiley students will have more opportunities to participate in co-curricular and extracurricular activities.

* What will the class size be at the new school?

The average class size at Waco ISD middle schools ranges from 17 to 25 students.

* Will there be courses available at the new school that weren’t offered at Wiley?

Yes, a wider range of electives and extracurricular activities will be available.

Compiled by Freida Jackson