By Wendy Gragg

Tribune-Herald staff writer

With just a week left before school starts, Waco school administrators are trying to see that the staff and students of the closed G. L. Wiley Middle School have a smooth transition to their new campuses.

The Waco Independent School District board of trustees made the controversial decision Aug. 7 to shut down Wiley, due mostly to low enrollment, officials said. Since then, district officials have been scrambling to work out the logistics of the closure by the start of school, Aug. 25.

Wiley’s former principal, Kermit Ward, who oversaw the students’ leaps and bounds in state test scores over the past few years, has been reassigned to Waco High School as an assistant principal.

More coverage

• Group taps attorneys to consider challenges to Wiley's closure
• East Waco leaders plan to hire legal help over Wiley's closing
• Q&A: Waco ISD school board chief looks past G.L. Wiley furor
• WISD seeks healing while East Waco leaders mull future amid frustration
• What next? Advice for Wiley Middle School parents on the start of classes
• Mayor voices optimism for East Waco, Wiley students

» More coverage

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Photos: East Waco residents speak out at packed board meeting

Video: Watch what the community had to say

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G.L. Wiley coverage

04-29-09  Waco ISD students displaced by construction project to move into old Wiley Middle School 
10-18-08  Waco ISD officials pledge G.L. Wiley, Doris Miller school campuses won't go empty 
09-03-08  G.L. Wiley group ends lawsuit 
08-30-08  Judge backs Waco school board's controversial closure of Wiley Middle School 
08-29-08  Judge to rule on Wiley injunction this morning 
08-28-08  Talk of racial discrimination again surfaces in G.L. Wiley hearings 
08-27-08  Waco ISD trustee, G.L. Wiley principal among witnesses in court hearing on injunction to keep school open 
08-26-08  Wiley reopens as Waco ISD trustees vote again to close its doors 
08-23-08  Waco ISD administrators to helm Wiley classes on Monday 
08-22-08  Judge approves restraining order reopening Wiley for first day of class Monday 
08-21-08  Racial discrimination lawsuit and injunction filed to stop Wiley's closure 
08-18-08  Waco ISD officials trying to ease Wiley students' move to their new schools 
08-12-08  Group taps attorneys to consider challenges to Wiley's closure 
08-11-08  East Waco leaders announce effort to hire legal help over Wiley's closing 
08-10-08  Interview: Waco ISD school board chief looks past G.L. Wiley furor 
08-09-08  WISD seeks healing while East Waco leaders mull future amid frustration over Wiley closing 
08-09-08  Mayor voices optimism for East Waco, Wiley students 
08-09-08  What next: Advice for Wiley Middle School parents on the start of classes 
08-08-08  Waco ISD school board votes to close G.L. Wiley Middle School 
08-02-08  Education leaders question value, impact of Texas' school-rating system 
08-01-08  Waco ISD state ratings offer mixed bag of successes, frustration 
07-25-08  WISD unveils options for G.L. Wiley's future 
07-24-08  Meeting tonight to discuss G.L. Wiley's future has been cancelled 
07-22-08  WISD board meeting Thursday on options for G.L. Wiley's future, including potential closure 
06-13-08  Despite continued low rating, G.L. Wiley gets another chance 
05-31-08  Waco ISD officials see improvement in TAKS scores 
04-14-08  TAKS scores could decide whether G.L. Wiley Middle School remains open 

Opinion
08-30-08  Editorial: Beyond G.L. Wiley's court ruling 
08-23-08  Editorial: G.L. Wiley turmoil 
08-17-08  Letters: G.L. Wiley closing 
08-17-08  Jean Laster, guest column: Waco ISD selective about whom it invites to table 
08-13-08  Editorial: Future for Wiley? 
08-09-08  Editorial: G.L. Wiley closure mishandled 
08-07-08  Editorial: Rush job on G.L Wiley 
08-06-08  Editorial: Accountability system failing Texas 
08-06-08  Nikka Davis, guest column: Waco, don't fail us now 
08-03-08  Pat Atkins, guest column: Walls vs. equal opportunities in WISD 
07-23-08  Editorial: Future of Wiley 
06-15-08  Editorial: Effort at GL Wiley 

As of Friday, all of Wiley’s teachers had been placed at new schools, mostly following the migration of Wiley’s students, said Marsha Ridlehuber, WISD assistant superintendent for instruction and accountability. She said if Wiley students have a familiar face at their new schools, it may help them with the transition.

“If they know one of the teachers, even if they’re not going to have them for class, it can be a reassuring thing,” Ridlehuber said.

Alfredo Loredo, principal at Cesar Chavez Middle School, said some rooms had to be cleared out to make additional classroom space for Wiley teachers.

Loredo said his teachers team-teach and so there also was some reorganizing to fold the new teachers into the existing teams, rather than have a separate team of just Wiley transfer teachers.

As for Wiley students, 40 to 50 will attend G. W. Carver Academy, and about 50 will be spread among Lake Air, University and Tennyson middle schools. The remaining Wiley students will attend either Brazos or Cesar Chavez middle schools, based on where they live.

Henri Lewis, the new Brazos principal, said she expects to gain about 100 students. She said they have been coming in with their parents to check out their new school since the school board made its decision.

“I really haven’t had any negative interactions with parents or students,” she said. “Even though I would understand if I did.”

Lewis said Brazos’ dress code has been one of the biggest concerns of the Wiley parents. But Brazos intends to honor the Wiley dress code so parents don’t have to shell out more money for new uniforms. Lewis also is putting any parents who need help buying appropriate clothes in touch with the local outreach program for students and their families, Communities in Schools.

Lewis also has been able to quell parents’ concerns by showing them the new bus routes for their children.

The Brazos campus has been the beneficiary of items such as desks and library books from Wiley.

“They’ll have the items they need to be successful, just like the rest of the students,” Lewis said.

Administrators said they hope Wiley parents and students will come out to their new schools from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday for Meet the Teacher Night, to get a better feel for their new surroundings before the first day of school.

wgragg@wacotrib.com

757-6901