WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — Wake County parents are bracing for big changes to how their child is assigned to school. Tuesday night Board Members made the move to a neighborhood based choice plan.

Parent Wendy Cutler believes the Wake County school board made the right decision in approving the new student assignment plan. Cutler wants to keep dropping off her children at the same school near her home.

"I would prefer more stability. My child has been redistricted twice,” said Cutler.

Cutler is not alone. Many parents were glad the board came to a decision after two years of contentious debate. The Republican-led majority received bi-partisan support as the board voted 6-2 to pass the plan. It offers parents a choice of schools near their home to choose from, with year-round and traditional calendar options, magnet schools, and specialty programs.

School administrators say now the goal is to get the word out to parents about what the assignment plan will mean for their students in the upcoming school year.

"We're going to be sending letters out to every single parent in the system explaining what to expect. We know we've got a lot of hard work to do,” said Superintendent Tony Tata.

School leaders said the plan had to be approved this week so staff can prepare for families to start selecting their schools in December and January. For the 2011-2012 school year, only incoming Kindergartners and students transferring into Wake County will have to make school choices.

Other students will be grandfathered into their current schools.

The new Board majority will come down to a runoff election between Democrat-backed incumbent Kevin Hill and Republican-backed newcomer Heather Losurdo.

Election day is Nov. 8.