The state NAACP has released a copy of the opening statement from yesterday's meeting with Wake County Schools Superintendent Tony Tata.
In the press release today, the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, says they were "pleased to have this interchange" with Tata. But Barber also reiterates support for Wake's old socioeconomic diversity policy, which he calls a "nationally recognized, successful plan."
Here's his statement:
What do Wake County school board meetings and the Cartoon Network have in common?
The New York Times thinks both have a lot in common according to this article that was posted online Sunday night and will appear in Monday's print edition. The Times article notes the more recent developments in the Wake school diversity controversy and how the Wake School Choice Plan could be the solution.
"The (school) board is split five Republicans to four Democrats, and for the last 15 months meetings have looked like a Cartoon Network special, featuring in the lead role Mr. (John) Tedesco, 36, the most verbal member of the majority," according to the article. "He is single with no children and has lots of time on his hands to stir things up."
UPDATE
No front page this time. The article appeared on pg. 11 in the A section of Monday's New York Times.
Tuesday's Wake County school board meeting will include the swearing in of new Superintendent Tony Tata, a state of the system address by school board chairman Ron Margiotta and the vote on the 2011-12 student reassignment plan.
Things kick off at 4 p.m. with N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Doug McCullough giving the oath of office to Tata. The Rev. Marion Robinson, pastor of St. Matthew AME Church in Raleigh, will give the invocation.
Tata had met with African American leaders who support the diversity policy earlier this month at St. Matthew.
The Wake Community Network is accusing the Great Schools in Wake Coalition of making "dubious" claims in criticizing the way the Wake County school board hired Anthony Tata to be the new superintendent.
In a press release today, Joey Stansbury, director of the Wake Community Network, challenges the Dec. 23. claim from GSIW chairwoman Yevonne Brannon that the public met with prospective finalists in past searches.
This is a case where it may depend on what superintendent search you're discussing.
One question today is how much support will Anthony Tata get from the school board in being selected as Wake County's new superintendent.
It's likely Tata will get the support of all the Republican board members. Board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman has broken ranks at times but she's also the head of the search committee that recommended Tata.
Will any of the Democratic board members, who had all opposed efforts to let non-educators hold the job, vote for Tata? And what message will it send if the vote is divided?
UPDATE
The board is back after a 31-minute closed session. Keith Sutton is also not here so seven members are present.
Sutton, in an e-mail message, said he wasn't here because of the lack of ample notice about the meeting. The same reason was given by Anne McLaurin, who has medical duties today, why she couldn't attend.
The meeting was scheduled on Tuesday.
Even though Hill and Morrison voted against Tata, they said they'll throw 100 percent support behind him now that he's superintendent.
Wake County Commissioner candidate Jack Nichols is making a direct effort to link incumbent Paul Coble to the student assignment controversy on the school board.
In this new campaign mailer, Nichols calls Coble, the GOP candidate, "Commissioner NO!" One example he cites is on education.
Nichols, the Democrat, says Coble "supports School Board's rash approach to student assignment and opposes impact fees on new growth to pay for school construction so property taxes can be kept in existing classrooms."
Former Wake County Superintendent Del Burns is stepping back into the public eye to issue candidate endorsements and to speak out on the state of the school system.
In a press release today, Jack Nichols, a Democratic candidate for Wake County commissioner, announced he's been endorsed by three former Wake superintendents, including Burns. Nichols has been a harsh critic of the Republican majority on the school board and is running against Republican incumbent Paul Coble
"Jack Nichols is a consensus builder, and understands that when it comes to our children and our tax dollars, we must make decisions based on data and research, not ideologically driven agendas,” Burns said in the press release.
SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST
Here are some assorted issues raised in the NC SPIN show on Wake County's school diversity fight.
Was the socioeconomic diversity unpopular with the public, as maintained by John Hood, president of the conservative John Locke Foundation? He pointed to the higher turnout at last fall's elections and the unfavorable poll results from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling and the conservative-leaning Civitas Institute.
"The policy that the Wake County school board adopted a decade ago has never been popular," Hood said. "It has always been unpopular."
The hunt for Wake County's next superintendent could be a really secret search.
As noted in today's article, the school board's superintendent search committee agreed Thursday that no names would be publicly released before finalists are identified. But Debra Goldman, the chairwoman of the committee, said there are reasons why they might not want to release the name of anyone other that the person who is hired.
Goldman said a strong candidate might not want to be considered as a finalist if the person knew that his/her identity will be released to the public with the chance of not being hired.
The end of Wake County Superintendent's Del Burns tenure was quiet.
As noted in today's article, Burns left without any official recognition from the school board. It was only a group of former school board members who honored Burns for his more than 30 years of service with a dinner at Angus Barn on June 8.
In contrast, Bill McNeal was praised and feted on his way out by the old board in 2006.
