The New York Times is coming to Raleigh to follow the fight over the diversity policy and the saga over Wake County Schools Superintendent Del Burns' resignation.

A Times reporter is supposed to be at today's special closed-session school board meeting on Burns and tomorrow's policy committee discussion on changes to the student assignment policy. The next few days could provide plenty of fodder.

Wake's national recognition for the diversity policy and the melodrama surrounding Burns' resignation has made the national media attention inevitable.

Speakers at tonight's community engagement meeting at Leesville Road High School should be prepared to speak live to only part of the Wake County school board.

As of last week, more than 60 people had signed up to speak tonight. That number is expected to be significantly much higher by the time the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Speakers could be split into two groups with one staying in the auditorium and the other probably going to the gym.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST FOR NUMBER OF SPEAKERS SO FAR TONIGHT AT LEESVILLE AND THURSDAY AT PANTHER CREEK. ALSO UPDATED TO INCLUDE INFO FROM JOHN TEDESCO.

If Wake County Schools Superintendent Del Burns is ousted early tonight, it won't be because his supporters stayed silent.

As noted in today's article, there's been an active lobbying effort over the past few days by people who want the school board to allow Burns to stay on through his June 30 resignation date. Del's Army, a Facebook group organized by the son of former school board candidate Carlene Lucas, has become a central point for Burns' backers.

"Other parents like myself need to stand up and speak out," Lucas said. "We hope they listen to us and not the elite few."

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children and two local chapters of the NAACP are blasting the Wake County school board majority for its "act of retaliation" for Tuesday's meeting on ousting Superintendent Del Burns.

In a Sunday night press release, the South Central NAACP, Eastern Wake NAACP and the CCCAAC say Burns has the First Amendment right to have criticized the board majority last week. They're also saying the board is wasting money by hiring attorney Thomas Farr and potentially paying Burns more than $100,000 to leave ahead of his June 30 resignation date.

"The parents and citizens of local NAACP and the CCCAAC request if you are committed to ensuring equity/equality for all children that you leave the diversity policy intact and allow Superintendent Del Burns to finish out his contract," according to the press release.

The Great Schools in Wake Coalition, which doesn't want Wake County Schools Superintendent Del Burns to be removed before June 30, is urging people to e-mail school board members.

The Coalition says on its web site that "politically conservative groups, including the John Locke Foundation, the Wake Schools Community Alliance and the Americans for Prosperity, have called for Dr. Burns' dismissal. Is the Board responding to these groups?"

Of the trio cited, the WSCA would argue it's not conservative or any other political viewpoint. But liberal groups such as the Great Schools in Wake Coalition don't believe that.

If the Wake County school board does remove Del Burns earlier than June 30, someone needs to step in soon as interim superintendent.

As noted in Saturday's article, there's no obvious choice like a deputy superintendent to step in because Burns eliminated that position in 2006 when he converted it to the new slot of chief business officer.

While it's not a guarantee, three potential internal choices for interim superintendent could be Chief Area Superintendent Danny Barnes, Chief Academic Officer Donna Hargens and Chief Business Officer David Neter. Of the trio, only Neter is a non-educator.

It would be an understatement to say that relations are strained between the new Wake County school board majority and the Wake Education Partnership.

As noted in today's article, school board members are questioning such recent WEP publications as the school assignment analysis and the assessment of Del Burns' resignation as superintendent. It's a departure from when the WEP worked closely with the old school board majority.

“They seem to be going against everything we want to do," said school board member Deborah Prickett. "I feel like a salmon swimming upstream against them.”

Wake County Schools Superintendent Del Burns is getting some online help to be able to stay on through his June 30 resignation notice.

Del's Army has formed on Facebook to aid Burns now that the school board will meet Tuesday to decide whether to remove him before June 30. According to the page, it's a "group of students, parents, educators, citizens and community leaders who support Superintendent Del Burns and his principles."

"We believe that Dr. Burns should be able to serve as Superintendent until June 30," according to the group's description. "This [sic] is group is our way of thanking Dr. Burns for over 30 years of service to the children and community of Wake County."

Money issues could mark the potential end of Del Burns' tenure as superintendent of Wake County schools.

As noted in today's article, the Wake County school board could force Burns out ahead of his June 30 resignation date by paying him around $100,000. But some are questioning whether Burns should ask for the money if he's saying it's a case of him needing to leave because of his personal integrity.

"He's been well compensated for his time," said school board member John Tedesco. "If it's truly about his integrity, he won't ask for the dollars."

The Wake County Taxpayers Association is also on the list of supporters of the new school board majority who want action taken now against Superintendent Del Burns for his statements to the media on Thursday.

Russell Capps, president of the WCTA, questioned Burns' ability to be of any value as superintendent for the next four months. He also accused Burns of disrespecting the voters by criticizing the board majority's agenda.