A desire for neighborhood schools continues to be a hot topic during the Wake County Board of Education's public hearings on student reassignment.

Wednesday the board heard comments and complaints from about 60 people in the Fuquay-Varina High School auditorium, during the fourth of its five hearings.

The school board members scheduled the hearings to gather public input on its newest reassignment plan, which moves about 25,000 students over three years in an effort to fill ten new schools.

But many parents say the plan places too much emphasis on another of the goals of the school board-- busing students to create socioeconomic diversity in schools.

One mother couldn't hold back her tears when she approached the podium to speak about her son's reassignment out of the elementary school in their neighborhood.

"I have never experienced reassignment like this growing up," Tara Principe said. "Simply you should be able to go to the school closest to your home, where you shop and volunteer, with your neighborhood friends."

Parent Beverly Lineberger said a reassignment could have big impacts on travel times for the families in her neighborhood.

"What's so big about 3.5 miles? My answer is 24 minutes," Lineberger asked the board. "Do you commute an hour to work? If not, why are you asking that of our children?"

The final public hearing is scheduled from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at East Wake High School. You can see the whole proposal or comment online on the school system's website.