The Wake Education Partnership is offering its assessment of this week's colorful Wake County school board meeting.

In this week's issue of In Context, the WEP's e-newsletter, the group noted Thursday the series of 5-4 board votes during the meeting. The WEP says the votes show "any fledgling efforts at compromise between majority and minority members of the school board appeared to fall apart this week."

You had the 5-4 votes over reelection of Ron Margiotta to be chairman and Debra Goldman to be vice chairwoman.

In another pair of 5-4 votes, the Wake County school board majority got the firm it wanted tonight for the superintendent search and gave initial approval to dropping requirements that the new schools chief be an educator.

The board hired Heidrick & Struggles to do the search at $82,500 plus expenses. It was the most expensive of the four firms that were interviewed by the board's superintendent search committee.

Hazard Young, Attea & Associates, who had been suggested by the minority members as an alternative to Heidrick & Struggles, offered to do it for $35,000. They also wanted $4,500 for consultant expenses.

SEE UPDATE AT END OF POST FOR HANDOUTS FROM TUESDAY'S MEETING

The Wake County school board's superintendent search committee has backed hiring Chicago-based Heidrick & Struggles to help conduct the search for a new search.

Heidrick & Struggles was backed Monday night over three cheaper firms. Heidrick is offering to do the search for $82,500 plus expenses while the N.C. School Boards Association was the cheapest at $15,000 plus expenses.

Debra Goldman, chairwoman of the board's superintendent search committee, said they were impressed by Heidrick & Struggles' expertise. Heidrick has been involved in superintendent searches such as Houston and Philadelphia.