Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta announced today the formation of his campaign committee in his bid to win re-election in District 8.

In today's press release, Margiotta said the initial committee members are former Holly Springs Town Councilman Hank Dickson, Fuquay-Varina community activists Jan and Art Wilson, Green Level businessman and activist Dan McMain and Apex Town Councilman Gene Schulze. He said more people are still being added.

The press release describes the committee members as coming "from all political leanings yet share a concern with the direction of the Wake County school system and the need for continued reform."

Not that it was a surprise, but Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta officially announced today that he's running for re-election in District 8 this fall.

Margiotta has said for months that he'll run but today's press release eliminates any doubt. In the press release, Margiotta is described as a board member who "has demonstrated a dedication to families and students and wishes to continue reforming the system to best serve the citizens of Wake County."

“Our school system has experienced great progress in the past two years but we must keep the momentum,” states Margiotta in the press release. “I am proud to have contributed to our many accomplishments yet I know my work is far from over.”

A couple of familiar names are involved in the campaign. State Rep. Paul Stam, the House Majority Leader, is Margiotta's honorary campaign chairman. Allison Backhouse is Margiotta's media contact.

Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata has determined that school board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman did not violate board policy when she got a paperwork-free transfer for her daughter.

As noted in today's article, Tata also said the investigation into Goldman's case and 14 other students who received administrative transfers shows that some changes are needed. In particular, Tata says Wake should have required Goldman to file paperwork and not just make a verbal request.

Going forward, Tata said he will require that all similar requests for administrative transfers, which bypass the normal transfer process, come with complete documentation. Tata said the onus is on the school system and not the parent, even when it’s a school board member, to make sure that paperwork is filed.

Did you know that you could bypass the normal paperwork and procedure for getting a student transfer in Wake County by appealing directly to the superintendent?

As noted in today's article, that's evidently what school board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman's family did to get their daughter transferred, with bus service provided. She's one of only 15 students in all of Wake County who are attending their current school based on an "administrative transfer" approved by the superintendent.

Michael Evans, Wake's chief communications officer, said that then-interim Superintendent Donna Hargens had approved in January a verbal request from the parent at Goldman's address in Cary to transfer to Davis Drive Middle School. (He worded it that way without saying Goldman's name due to privacy rules.)

Wake County school board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman got a mostly favorable response at Tuesday's night highly choreographed town hall forum in Cary.

As noted in today's article by Sadia Latifi, most speakers praised Goldman for slowing down the process by joining with the Democrats last week to kill the zone plan. The meeting, which drew about 150 people, took place amid a large police presence as officers guarded entrances and closed off the front section of seats.

"It’s important that I hear from my constituents about their thoughts and concerns, so I can best represent you in my role as a school board member,” Goldman said during the forum. “I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the board and figuring out what needs to happen in Wake County to further the goals we have set before us.”

Are Wake County parents ready to do away with the idea of having a specific school assigned to their address?

As noted in today's article, it's looking more likely that the student assignment committee will recommend a controlled-choice/cluster plan. Instead of one elementary school being assigned to a specific address, parents would pick from several schools in their zone or from countywide magnet schools with Wake using a computer program to assign the seats.

“You can’t have every child going to their neighborhood school or else you’d have schools over capacity and schools under capacity,” said school board member John Tedesco, chair of the student assignment committee. “But we can provide them four or five logical choices they can choose from.”

The Wake County school board majority is getting some online love to counter opposition from backers of the old diversity policy.

Local conservative activist Judy Keener started Monday an online "petition of appreciation" for the school board that thanks them for putting up with "relentless and unfair attacks & pressure." Among other things, the petition thanks the board for "keeping your word," "providing ALL FAMILIES choice in education,” "recognizing the importance of FAMILIES” and "willingness to abandon failed policies and practices.”

"Please keep up the good work," according to the petition. "Do not get discouraged. Remember that we support you and are deeply grateful."

CORRECTION

The petition website originally mistakenly listed the Wake County Taxpayers Association as being the creator. It was created by Judy Keener. The WCTA is only encouraging people to sign the petition.

Between the Enloe High School name-change proposal and Raleigh Mayor  Charles Meeker's talk of a lawsuit against the Wake County school board, letters about the school system are dominating the flow. Some of these you will see on the editorial page Saturday and Sunday. Others will appear on days later. Some are online-only.

Wake CARES is praising Judge Bill Pittman's decision to dismiss the lawsuit filed against the Wake County school board.

In a press release this evening, the groups says the ruling shows that the school board "has gone above and beyond reasonable measures to accommodate concerned citizens wishing to provide feedback."

The group also says those who filed the lawsuit have "drawn national attention to our school system and created negative perceptions of Wake County."

Here's the press release:

Wake CARES is praising the latest revisions in Wake County's student assignment policy, which makes proximity a priority while eliminating references to trying to balance poverty levels at schools.

In a press release today, Wake CARES commends the school board's policy committee for having passed an amended student assignment policy on Wednesday. The group says the amended policy provides families more stability and "opens the door for parents to have a more instrumental voice in their child’s school assignment."

“Every parent should have an equal opportunity to have a say in their child’s school assignment regardless of their income level or where they live” said Allison Backhouse, a leader of Wake CARES, in the press release. “This policy revision, which brings all parents into the decision-making process of assignment, will better serve children and families.”