Pitt County Schools board approves lottery for limited seats at non–open-enrollment schools

The Pitt County Schools Board of Education voted to adopt a lottery procedure to allocate a limited number of seats at schools not on the district—s open-enrollment list, the board decided after a lengthy discussion on staff—s two proposed options.

District staff presented two choices: (1) retain the existing reassignment process under Policy 41-50 (reassignments handled by superintendent/designee with the option to appeal to a board panel) or (2) add a district-run lottery for a limited number of seats at non–open-enrollment schools. Sarah English, presenting the proposal, said the lottery registration would open March 1 at 8 a.m. and close March 15 at 5 p.m. and that the district initially proposed five lottery seats per non–open-enrollment school.

The board—s discussion centered on fairness, administrative burden and school capacity. Supporters said the lottery creates a clear, time-limited pathway and removes reliance on appeals handled by a three-member board panel; others, including several principals consulted by staff, had questioned whether an additional procedure would add confusion for families and create extra work for school offices.

Under the procedure described by English, a random lottery (not first-come, first-served) would be conducted no later than March 31, applicants not selected would be placed on a waiting list, and parents would have a short window to accept an offered seat (three school days after initial lottery notification; five school days for a seat offered during the school year). Students offered a seat through lottery must continue to meet eligibility criteria or risk losing the seat. Eligibility criteria presented by staff included: good academic standing through March 1, fewer than eight unexcused absences through March 1, no disciplinary incidents rated level 4 or 5 through March 1 and no more than three level 1–3 disciplinary offenses through March 1; families must be able to provide transportation to the school of choice. English also noted a state athletic rule would bar students in grades 10–12 who transfer for non-bona fide address changes from athletic participation for 365 days.

Board members suggested modifications and clarifications. Several members favored limiting the lottery to specific grade levels that actually have open seats (for example, opening a grade with capacity while leaving other grades closed). Staff indicated principals could report grade-level availability and that the district would publish a chart of non–open-enrollment schools listing grades marked open or closed for lottery purposes. After debate, a motion to adopt the lottery procedure with an amendment limiting lottery openings to grade levels with available seats passed. The motion included the requirement that staff implement language and communications so parents can understand the process.

The board—s action adds the lottery procedure as an administrative mechanism layered onto the district—s existing reassignment policy; parents will still be able to pursue reassignment under Policy 41-50 and, where applicable, the reassignment appeal process.

Board members emphasized that the number of lottery seats (initially proposed as five per eligible school) could be adjusted by grade level based on principals— reports of capacity. Staff said they would revise the language to reflect grade-level availability and work to reduce confusion for families before launching the registration window.

Votes at a glance: the board adopted the lottery procedure (option 2) with the amendment to limit openings to grades with open seats. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or the names of the motion maker and seconder on the record.

What changes: parents retain the option to apply under existing reassignment policy between March 1 and June 1; the lottery provides an additional, time-limited route to access seats at some non–open-enrollment schools.

What happens next: staff will finalize procedure language with the superintendent—s office and principals, prepare a grade-by-grade open/closed chart for non–open-enrollment schools, and implement the registration and lottery timeline if and when the district publishes dates.