When Wake County high schools opened last week, Panther Creek students had the opportunity to connect with more peers than ever before: 2,099 students attended the first day of school in a building designed to hold 1,663. By day four, 2,167 students filled the halls.

Despite the record numbers, “It’s gone smoothly,” said Panther Creek Principal Rodney C. Nelson. “Very smoothly. It’s not the optimum or ideal, but we created a culture from the beginning knowing that we would grow. We have always had a vision and big picture in mind, and we set high expectations.”

As early as November 2007, Wake County Public School System administrators identified the need for additional modular classrooms at Panther Creek and made plans for purchasing the classrooms. In May 2008, plans were submitted to the Town of Cary.

Mike Burriss, WCPSS assistant superintendent of facilities, said “aggressive” construction of the 14 mobile units would take approximately 12 weeks.

Students at Panther Creek did not start the year with access to those classrooms. The construction could not begin because of revisions to the site plans over the summer and a traffic study required by the Town of Cary, which will not be complete until Sept. 10.

On Aug. 27, Burriss received word that WCPSS could move forward with the mobile unit construction with the understanding that specific details, including any traffic improvements, will need to be worked out over the coming year. They will be ready no earlier than December.

“We appreciate and welcome the town’s involvement in expediting this issue,” Burriss said.

Tim Bailey, the Town of Cary’s director of engineering, said the town will meet with WCPSS officials after the traffic study results are published. “We like to do all we can to work with the school system,” Bailey said.

Over the summer, Panther Creek administrators worked out plans for classes that include using every available classroom every class period.

“Four classes are being taught in the corner of the media center, but only one at a time. All are senior English classes, and they are equipped with a TV monitor and smart board,” Nelson said. He said all other classes are being taught in classrooms, which requires teachers to “float.” Teachers must spend planning periods in the seven teacher workrooms instead of classrooms.

At times the growth in Wake County public school attendance has led to controversial redistricting plans. While Panther Creek opened 2008-09 over capacity, Cary High School is down approximately 300 students.

Chuck Dulaney, WCPSS assistant superintendent for growth and planning, said Cary High’s recently completed renovations, which expanded the school’s capacity by 600 students, led to the disparity in numbers. The Growth and Planning office wanted to make sure the renovations were complete before assigning additional students to the school. In the future, “we will probably be moving students from Panther Creek to Cary High School, but that will be up to the Board [of Education],” Dulaney said.

Also in the works are plans for H7, a new high school that may relieve some of the pressure on Panther Creek, Apex and Holly Springs high schools along the N.C. 55 corridor.

Tenative plans put the location southwest of Apex High near N.C. 55.

Dulaney said WCPSS will make decisions about the next building program — which includes multiple schools in different areas of the county — in 2009 so that building can begin.

High schools typically take about three years to complete, and Dulaney said that the earliest H7 will be ready is 2013.