The new school board majority is flexing its muscles today.

Just one day after Tuesday's election win by John Tedesco, the new board majority sent a letter today urging Wake to immediately stop work on Forest Ridge High. The letter is signed by Tedesco, Chris Malone, Debra Goldman, Deborah Prickett and Ron Margiotta.

The four new board members don't take office until Dec. 1 so it's up to the current board whether to honor the request. The current board and staff have warned that any delays to Forest Ridge High will push back the opening of the school.

Here's the joint letter:

Love it or hate it, Tuesday's election win by John Tedesco capped what's arguably the most important school board contest in the 33 years of the merged school system.

As noted in today's article, there's now a majority in place on the school board that backs neighborhood schools. It's something that even a few years ago wasn't something that most people thought would happen.

"We did it," said new school board member Deborah Prickett. "I can hardly believe it myself. The parents just had enough. The public has spoken."

Don't be surprised if you see pictures of school board candidate Cathy Truitt shaking hands with new board member John Tedesco.

Truitt unexpectedly crashed Tedesco's post-election gathering at the Heather Hills clubhouse. Tedesco was looking at the results outside the polling place when he unexpectedly got a start from Truitt, who tapped him from behind.

Compared to the Wake Schools Community Alliance, campaign finance reports show that Take Wake Schools Back wasn't nearly as big a monetary player.

In its runoff election report, Take Wake Schools Back said it had raised $2,083.25 as of Oct. 19. In contrast, the WSCA had raised $36,919.44.

This month's school board election in District 7 pretty much has shown that more people opposed mandatory year-round schools and the calendar conversions than supported them.

Concerned and Committed Lessville Parents and BiggerPicture4Wake had both claimed they represented the silent majority. But as noted in today's North Raleigh News article, CCLP's side prevailed and now the question is when Leesville Road elementary and middle schools will go back to a traditional calendar.

The signs seem to be pointing to both schools abandoning the year-round calendar for the 2010-11 school year.

The Wake Schools Community Alliance has continued to raise more money for the runoff.

In this campaign report received today, the WSCA reported having raised $36,919.44 as of Oct. 19. The group had spent most of the money, leaving $2,650.54 available.

The biggest new donor was conservative businessman Robert Luddy, who gave $4,000. School board member Ron Margiotta gave $1,650.

SEE CORRECTION AT END OF POST

School board candidate John Tedesco has overtaken Cathy Truitt for the fundraising lead in District 2.

In this campaign report received today, Tedesco reported having raised $20,065.96 as of Oct. 19. Through that same time period, Truitt had reported raising $19,425.31.

Tedesco also has a lot more money than Truitt available for spending in the final week. He reported having spent $12,936.07 and having $6,100.40 on hand.

The question on the minds of a lot of people is whether the new school board will live up to campaign promises about neighborhood schools, year-round schools and ending the diversity policy.

Some people are anxiously hoping for the changes to come while others are dreading the future. But as noted in today's article, the new board members aren't sure yet how they'll turn their promises into reality so they're urging parents to give them some time.

"We haven't had neighborhood schools in such a long time that we have to see what we have in our neighborhoods," said new board member Deborah Prickett.

The anger among supporers of the diversity policy over Tuesday's school board election results is hard not to notice.

Check this post on the liberal Stinging Nettle blog called "Forward to 1948!"

"Tuesday the voters of Wake County decided to urinate all over Harold Webb's legacy and soundly rejected socioeconomic diversity as a goal in education," according to the blog. "In so doing, they handed the reins of the best school system in North Carolina over to the anti-busing, anti-magnet school, anti-diversity, anti-year round, anti-sex ed, anti-science, anti-arts, anti-tax right wing. Let's hear it for Topeka!"

A new television ad appearing on WRAL is attacking three of the school board candidates, warning that backing neighborhood schools will lead to higher property taxes.

The ad, from a group called Wake Citizens for Good Government, attacks three of the four candidates backed by the Wake Schools Community Alliance: Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and Debra Goldman. But it doesn't go after John Tedesco, who is also backed by the WSCA but isn't facing a Democratic Party endorsed opponent.

Here's the text of the ad:

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST ON WHO'S BEHIND THE AD