Two years later, the arguments are the same but those who are in control are different as the Wake County school board decides on who will be the next schools superintendent.

As noted in today's article, members of the Democratic board majority say they'd prefer to hire a superintendent with education experience. Republican board members say the search should include looking at non-educators as well, although they can't do much about it being in the minority.

“It’s really going to depend on how much experience they want in the educational field and how much experience in the corporate or military field they can tolerate,” said outgoing Republican board member Chris Malone.

Wake County school board member Chris Malone has his swan song from the board this week before moving over to the state House to take his new seat.

During Tuesday's board meeting, Malone looked back at his tenure on the board, gave some advice to his colleagues and thanked them and staff for their help. He also acknowledged the members of the audience who've often come to the meetings in the past three years to criticize his positions.

"It’s been three good and, I think, largely productive years, tumultuous years," Malone said. "If you remember when I first got on the board, during my very initial speech during swearing in, I said that we’d live in interesting times. And I think this time that I’ve spent on the board has been very interesting."

Keith Sutton was channeling Matthew McConaughey from the "We Are Marshall" movie when he gave his speech Tuesday on being the new Wake County school board chairman.

Sutton said that the school system's "reputation has been a bit tarnished" in the last few "tumultuous" years and that the board "must accept responsibility for our part." He said it's the board's job to restore Wake's "luster" and "regain the trust of this community."

Sutton urged his board colleagues to "provide the kind of exemplary leadership that is expected of us by this community" for "we are Wake County."

There is a reason why Wake County school board member Debra Goldman has brought rubber ducks with her to the last two board meetings.

At the Dec. 3 public hearing, Paula King, a Cary parent, brought a duck with her to the podium as she urged the board to change the student assignment plan. She talked to the board about lining up their ducks in a row.

"All we're asking is that you give a duck or two," King said to laughs from the audience.

The Wake County school board unanimously voted tonight to name Stephen Gainey the interim superintendent until a permanent hire is made.

Gainey has been acting superintendent since the board majority fired Tony Tata on Sept. 25. Gainey's contract as acting superintendent was set to expire Dec. 31.

Gainey will get paid an additional $5,000 a month in salary, plus $750 a month in travel expenses, starting Jan. 1. This is on top of his $120,000 a year salary as assistant superintendent for human resources. He was getting an additional $3,000 a month in salary and $750 a month in travel expenses as acting superintendent.

School board chairman Keith Sutton said he'll appoint the members of the school board's superintendent search committee in the next seven to 10 days. The goal is to have a permanent superintendent in place by July 1.

It looks like new leadership on the Wake County Board of Commissioners and school board is putting things on track for a fall 2013 school bond issue.

As noted in today's article, the leadership of both boards will meet Dec. 21 to schedule dates for four joint meetings of the full boards in early 2013 to discuss the bond.

The joint meetings have been on hold since Paul Coble, former chairman of the commissioners, canceled them following the firing of Superintendent Tony Tata.

Unlike recent Wake County school board chairs, Keith Sutton steps into the job while juggling the duties of having a full-time day job and also being the parent of a school-age child.

As noted in today's article, it's been a long time since a school board chair has had to deal with those situations. Not since Susan Parry, who was chair from 2003 to 2005, has the chair been a K-12 parent at the same time.

It's also been awhile since the chair has had a full-time position. Chairs in recent years have tended to be retirees while Sutton is 42.

The search for a successor to outgoing Wake County school board member Chris Malone is expected to start Tuesday.

New school board chairman Keith Sutton said the board will discuss Tuesday the process involved in filling a vacancy. Malone has announced he will resign Dec. 31 to take the seat he won the state House of Representatives.

Sutton said the board may decide Tuesday to begin advertising before the holidays for people to apply. But Sutton said they wouldn't actually start the process of reviewing the applicants and making the selection until after Malone leaves.

In case you didn't get the hint Tuesday, Wake County school board members repeatedly said they're listening to parents and trying to provide stability by making changes to the draft 2013-14 student assignment plan.

As noted in today's article, the board preliminarily agreed Tuesday to some assignment plan changes requested by families. Board members said they're listening to parents who've attended the public hearing and provided feedback in other formats.

"I’m hoping for folks who spent their day inside watching TV as opposed to being outside in the pretty weather, I think if anything we’ve shown — staff has shown and the board with their interaction today — that folks at the public hearings and emails are being listened to and their issues and concerns are being addressed," said outgoing board chairman Kevin Hill at the work session. "Some changes are being made.”

Wake County school board member Deborah Prickett accused fellow member of assaulting her when she yanked a microphone out of Prickett's hands at last week's student assignment public hearing.

During the board comments section of tonight's meeting, Prickett charged that board meetings have become "hostile work environments" where board members are engaging in bullying and harassment. Prickett said that board members who don't change their behavior should resign.

Evans declined comment after Prickett's speech.