Hows Garner school system to work in? (Raleigh, Durham: apartment, how much)

[EllaG]

Quick. I have a job interview tomorrow for a position in Garner schools (maybe Rand Road). How is it to work here? I read other posts about Garner and Garner is not looking good to me right now. I don't know where I will live. Just got the interview appt. on yesterday so I've had very little time to research. I really would like to move to the Raleigh area but don't want to go to the wrong places. Tell me how bad is it?

[VickiR]

Garner is part of Wake County Public School System.

Working in Garner doesn't mean you must live in Garner.

You can check out all school scores on Wake County Public School System's website. I'm not sure if that will help but you have to start somewhere!

Vicki

[DJKB]

My kids used to go to Rand Road and it's a good school.

[GarnerMama]

I love in Garner and have a kindergartner that just started at East Garner Elementary. It's a great school, but the teachers seem a little overwhelmed. That may be common place for Wake County because of the over crowding. They told me that they have to share TA's and really encouraged parents in the classroom. I'm sure it's the same way throughout the county though. As far as the posts about Garner. It's a great place to live. I don't get why people say it's not. Maybe they haven't been here? I have a young family. I feel safe and love the community.

[Francois]

As others have said, there's no such "Garner School System"--it's Wake County, which has an enormous reputation as somewhere that moves the kids around frequently, due to skyrocketing population growth in recent years and not enough schools to keep up. So you could work there for a year and then perhaps transfer to anotehr Wake School, or even ask at the interview what other Wake schools might have openings.

[VickiR]

Originally Posted by Francois

As others have said, there's no such "Garner School System"--it's Wake County, which has an enormous reputation as somewhere that moves the kids around frequently, due to skyrocketing population growth in recent years and not enough schools to keep up. So you could work there for a year and then perhaps transfer to anotehr Wake School, or even ask at the interview what other Wake schools might have openings.

True! I have clients that are Wake County teachers and I think (please doublecheck this as my memory is going...going...) that you can ask to be transferred to another school after 1 year at the school you were assigned to. Doesn't mean you'll get the transfer but you could be working in Garner and ask to transfer to Wake Forest.

And I don't know if Wake County transfers their teachers that much??? That is really a 2 part question...Does Wake County allow teacher to transfer when requested and Does Wake County transfer teachers when necessary and how often is that typically?

Vicki

[capt chill]

Hope you nail the the interview because there are not many openings in the county. Good luck. Oh and working in Garner? Not an issue, its about teaching here in North Carolina.... Not what I would call worth it. Money stinks benefits are poor work related issues are a daily issue.

[Lisalrenee]

Originally Posted by VickiR

That is really a 2 part question...Does Wake County allow teacher to transfer when requested and Does Wake County transfer teachers when necessary and how often is that typically?

Vicki

WCPSS does allow teachers to transfer w/in certain parameters - the transfer period runs from mid-Jan to early May. Teachers have sign up to be eligible to transfer, and that list is then generated and all principals have access, which can cause a bit of an issue at work, but you deal.

If/when the transfer period expires, teachers have to ask permission of their principals to even interview for another teaching position elsewhere in the county. Again - depends on the principal as to whether that permission will be granted.

As for how often teachers are involuntarily transferred, I'm not sure. Not frequently, as normally the #s at a school are pretty steady; as others have noted, it's the kids who fulfill those #s that tend to change. This year, w/ cuts and such, there's been more transfers than during other years, just because of all of the spring chaos.

[freshjiv]

I think my wife's benefits are pretty good (teacher in Durham) given that she doesn't have to pay a penny for it and copays are $10, dr visits are $25, and the max out of pocket (i.e. when we have a kid) in a year that you can pay is $3,000. I will take paying no more than $3,000 no matter how many complications a pregnancy may have.

[EllaG]

OK, had to cancel my interview today due to sinus infection complications. Was told to call back to rescedule next week. Just wondering though, I'm single in early 40's (not gay or anything)but wondering if Garner would be a good fit for me. I know that Raleigh is nearby, but my work place means alot to me. I gotta be happy there. Anybody who works in the school system there can answer this?

Also, about how much is a 2 bedroom apartment in Raleigh?