Wake's school board election results have gotten some national attention.

In an article in today's USA Today, it's noted how more school districts are using socioeconomic diversity with Wake as the national model. But the backlash in Wake was also noted as well.

"They take these poor kids who are struggling and do their very best to spread them around and create the appearance of healthy schools," said Joe Ciulla of the Wake Schools Community Alliance, in the article.

The Wake Education Partnership is offering its assessment of the school board election results and the SAS report.

In this week's issue of In Context, the WEP's newsletter notes the small turnout and the unhappiness of voters with student assignment policies. You also get an interesting analysis of the precinct results in each race, such as how Horace Tart missed the runoff by not doing well in Fuquay-Varina.

On the SAS report, the WEP says that Asst. Supt. David Holdzkom will discuss the report with the school board on Oct. 20.

So what factors led to what all sides will agree was a historic school board election on Tuesday?

As noted in today's articles, it seems to depend on who you ask. Supporters of the current board blamed voter apathy while critics argued that change was on people's minds.

"Hunger for change was so great that no matter how much money the opposition was willing to spend, they weren’t going to stop that change from happening,” said victorious school board candidate Chris Malone in an article.

Perry Woods has filed a new complaint today with the state Board of Elections accusing the Wake Schools Community Alliance of violating campaign finance laws.

In the complaint, Woods accuses the WSCA of violating the $4,000 per candidate contribution limit. He argues that the direct financial contributions, more than $2,500 apiece to three candidates, plus the campaign mailers exceed the $4,000 amount.

"It is unfortunate the WSCA apparently wants to win so badly, they are willing to skirt campaign finance rules,” Woods said in a written statement.

School board candidate Cathy Truitt is standing by her assertion that board member Ron Margiotta asked her if she would support a motion to fire Wake Supt. Del Burns.

Truitt orginally made the statements during a Thursday school board candidate forum on WPTF, prompting Margiotta to call her remarks "an outright lie." But Truitt told N&O reporter Ray Martin that she has a witness.

Did school board member Ron Margiotta ask candidates if they'd support firing Supt. Del Burns?

That's an assertion made by Cathy Truitt during this afternoon's forum on WPTF for District 2 school board candidates. She said that Margiotta asked if she'd support a motion to fire the superintendent during a candidate vetting interview.

Contacted later, Margiotta called "it an outright lie" by Truitt.

Did the Wake Education Partnership cross the line in its latest newsletter and inappropriately influence the school board elections?

As noted in today's article, that's alleged in the complaint filed late Friday with the state Board of Elections by Joe Ciulla. He alleges that the statements in the Partnership's newsletter, In Context, violate the group's non-profit status.

"It's far beyond their place to make false statements in support of their candidates," Ciulla said

The Wake Schools Community Alliance apparently has a lot of money that can be spent in the final month before the school board election.

According to the WSCA's latest report, the group has raised $18,741 and still had $14,046 on hand as of Sept. 1.

Among the WSCA's latest contributors are Wake County Commissioner Tony Gurley, Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly, Holly Springs Town Councilman Vincent DeBenedetto and Morrisville Town Councilman Tom Murry.

You've got a member of a George Soros-backed group and a Carolina Hurricanes hockey player among the donors in the District 1 Wake school board race.

Rita Rakestraw's donors include Gene Guerrero, a senior policy analyst for the Open Society Institute, who gave $250. The institute's founder and president is liberal billionaire George Soros, who is not exactly a favorite of conservatives.

Chris Malone has got some star power, namely a $250 contribution from Rod Brind'Amour, the team captain for the Hurricanes. Brind'Amour's ex-wife lives just outside Wake Forest with their three young children.

UPDATE

The Board of Elections says Karen Simon doesn't have to file until Sept. 28 because she hasn't spent more than $3,000 yet.

Are there too many critics vying for seats on the school board this fall?

As noted in today's article, you've got multiple critics running in all four board seats. In contrast, supporters of board policies have largely been able to keep it to one candidate in each race.

All these extra candidates, especially the critics, could make it easier for board supporters to retain control this year.