The initial list of Wake County school construction needs is out for consideration in the next school capital improvement program and bond issue.

As noted in today's article, staff will lay out at today's school board facilities committee meeting that 24 new schools are needed over the next four years. That includes 14 new elementary schools, three middle schools, five regular high schools, the CTE high school and an alternative school.

They've also listed 12 whole campus renovations that will essentially mean rebuilding those schools, 16 partial campus school renovations, various life-cycle projects and assorted support and athletic facilities.

Are you ready for a Wake County school construction bond referendum in May?

The school board's facilities committee recommended today going with a timetable that would have a May 2013 bond referendum instead of an October 2013 referendum. The reason is that school staff says the earlier referendum would let them get money for projects in July 2013 compared to July 2014 if the wait until an October 2013 referendum.

“We can’t afford to fall a year behind on capital projects,” said school board member Jim Martin.

It's not official, but it's looking pretty clear that the Wake County school system will not get an $8.8 million increase from county commissioners this year.

As noted in today's article, members of the Republican majority on the board of commissioners are talking about how hard it would be to give the $8.8 million when the total increase in county revenue is less than that amount.

"Realistically, it going to be awfully tough to come up with the money," said Phil Mathews, vice chairman of the board of commissioners. "I’m really hoping they can tighten things up so it doesn’t come to it."

Is the Wake County school system only postponing the layoffs of hundreds of teachers and other school employees for one more year?

As noted in today's article, Superintendent Tony Tata's proposal to use $29 million out of the $34.6 million in the undesignated fund balance effectively replaces the $28 million in one-time federal dollars that saved more than 500 teaching jobs this school year.

If the school board goes with Tata's recommendation, they'll be able to keep those positions funded for the 2012-13 school year. But it's iffy at best that the money can be found again for the 2013-14 school year.

As the Wake County commissioners move toward a vote in May or June on whether to put a transit tax on the November ballot, Knightdale Republican Joe Bryan could turn out to be the swing vote.

Bryan says Wake voters have the right to decide whether to levy a half-cent local sales tax to pay for transit investments, but he hasn’t figured out whether 2012 should be the year for them to vote on it.

By all appearances, he is agonizing over his decision. ... [MORE]

Get ready for what looks to be a rocky budget season between the Wake County Board of Commissioners and the Wake County school board.

As noted in today's article by Thomas Goldsmith, the commissioners will vote today on appointing Republicans Joe Bryan, Paul Coble and Tony Gurley to the budget, finance and education committee. Click here to view the committee assignments. The document mistakenly says 2011 and not 2012.

Bryan, nominated to chair the committee, says the GOP majority on the board of commissioners will likely stick with its pay-as-you-go philosophy of maintaining services based on the lowered revenue streams of recession years. The county is projecting slow revenue growth for the upcoming fiscal year.

School board chairman Ron Margiotta is promoting how "a bi-partisan group of Wake County leaders are speaking out in support of (his) leadership of the Wake County Public School System."

In a press release today, Margiotta says the statements show that he "is being recognized and commended for his commitment to Wake County schools as well as his continued focus on raising achievement for each student." Some of the names are who'd you expect, such as Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly, Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears, Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams, Rolesville Mayor Frank Eagles and County Commissioners, Joe Bryan, Paul Coble and Tony Gurley.

But would you expect a statement from Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen? Killen spoke at the Friends of Diversity press conference just before the 2009 school board elections. He's also a member of the same law firm as Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker.

“Chairman Margiotta has taken an active interest in Knightdale schools, and I appreciate all of the time and effort he has devoted to understanding and improving the schools in our area," Killen says in the press release.

Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta is promoting a new campaign website that includes statements from supporters.

In a press release today, Margiotta's campaign said the new www.isupportron.com site was created "in reaction to the strong support he has received from citizens throughout Wake County." You can send an email to ronmargiotta@gmail.com if you want to submit your own statement in support.

The website includes written and video statements from a variety of people, including several elected officials. For instance, state Sen. Neal Hunt says he supports Margiotta in his District 8 run because "we need education, not diversity."

Wake County school board candidate Heather Losurdo announced Friday that she had been endorsed by the four Republican members of the Wake board of commissioners.

In her press release, Losurdo said her "campaign is proud to announce the endorsement by these majority members of the Wake County Commission: Chairman Paul Coble, Vice Chairman Phil Matthews, Joe Bryan and Tony Gurley."

Losurdo has already been endorsed by GOP school board members Chris Malone, Ron Margiotta, Deborah Prickett and John Tedesco in her bid to win the District 3 seat from incumbent Kevin Hill. Jennifer Mansfield is also running for the seat.

The new Republican majority on the Wake County Board of Commissioners is planning on making a major splash at their first meeting on Monday.

As noted in today's article, commissioners are planning on reversing some decisions made by the prior Democratic majority. Two revotes that affect the school system will be rescinding the resolution on school resegregation and restoring greater oversight over the school budget.

Tony Gurley, who will likely be replaced by Paul Coble on Monday as the new chairman, said they're correcting the "mistakes" made by Democrats who've been in the majority since 2009.