The revamping of the Wake County school board District 8 board advisory council continued tonight with the appointment of three new at-large members.

New District 8 school board member Susan Evans nominated Patty Williams, communications director for the Great Schools in Wake Coalition. Williams is the parent of a student at Athens Drive High.

Evans also nominated Hardin Engelhardt, a magnet parent and former teacher. Like Williams, Engelhardt spoke out at board meetings against the change in the diversity policy.

Speaking of Wake County school board advisory councils, don't be surprised if you see some turnover, especially in District 8.

Hank Dickson submitted his resignation letter last week as District 8 BAC co-chair and representative for Holly Springs High. In the letter to new school board member Susan Evans, Dickson alludes to Evans' involvement with protesters who disrupted school board meetings.

"My appreciation of proper conduct and decorum during open meetings makes my continued service on your BAC very difficult," Dickson, a former Holly Springs Town Councilman, writes in the letter. "I regret that I must submit my resignation for both positions."

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST

Ron Margiotta has become only the third person to have raised more than $50,000 in a Wake County school board race.

A new campaign finance report filed this week shows that the incumbent board chairman had raised $52,748.31 as of Sept. 26. He has $31,915.55 on hand in the District 8 race.

Margiotta leads Susan Evans, who had raised $37,524.69 as of Sept. 26 with $21,770.23 on hand. But you also have to keep in mind the thousands of dollars spent by outside groups urging people to support Evans or vote against Margiotta.

Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta and Susan Evans are both pulling in substantial amounts of cash in the District 8 race, including money from the Popes, Bob Luddy and the Campbells.

The new campaign report filed today by Margiotta shows he had raised $40,367.33 as of Aug. 30 with $34,111.23 on hand. The new report for Evans shows she had raised $26,406.43 as of Aug. 30 with $21,405.30 on hand.

The biggest donors for Margiotta in his new report are the $4,000 apiece from conservative businessman Art Pope, his wife Katherine Pope and conservative businessman Bob Luddy.

Businessmen Art Pope and Jim Goodmon are out in the financial forefront when it comes to backing candidates for Wake County Board of Commissioners.

As noted in today's article, the latest round of campaign reports show that  Pope and his family have given at least $32,000 to Republican candidates for commissioner. Campaign reports also show that Goodmon and his wife have given at least $13,000 to Democratic candidates for commissioner.

“It’s a contributor referendum on the school board,” said Democratic candidate Jack Nichols.

The money was flying in last fall's historic Wake County school board elections.

As noted in today's article, campaign finance reports showed that more than $340,000 in hard and soft money was spent during the school board campaign. Conservative businessmen Bob Luddy and Art Pope were easily the biggest contributors, providing $38,000 that either went directly to candidates or to the Wake County Republican Party's campaign efforts.

Critics of the new board are saying it confirms their fears that those who are hostile to public education are behind the new board majority. Luddy said it's "laughable" to say he's directing the board while Pope said it's ridiculous for the other side to make him a "right wing boogeyman."

Critics of the new Wake County school board majority are in an uproar over Tuesday's meeting.

In a Wednesday column, Chris Fitzsimon, executive director of the liberal N.C. Policy Watch, says Tuesday's meeting shows the new majority is "committed to resegregating the schools as fast as possible."

In another Wednesday column, Bob Geary of the liberal Independent weekly says the new majority acted like "bullies." What's also interesting is he includes a conversation he had with new board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman, former board member Carol Parker and former board candidate Curt Stangler.