It looks we've got some ominous budget news coming Thursday from Superintendent Del Burns.

The school district sent out a press release this afternoon that Burns will hold a media briefing on Thursday to make an "announcement" on the 2010-11 fiscal year budget. The press release doesn't give details but it's not likely going to be good news.

State revenue collections are down, fueling fears that cuts will be ordered.

Kevin Hill, chairman of the school board, said the briefing was arranged by staff and not the board. While he didn't know what Burns will say, he expects him to announce what preparations are being made for the next fiscal year.

The outgoing school board members left without throwing any real verbal bombs today as they were showered with awards and praise.

The outgoing board members spent much of their final comments thanking their families and school administrators. They also stood behind the decisions they made.

"Parents haven’t really liked what was done," said school board vice chairman Horace Tart. "But we always did what we did with the children in mind. That was the big picture."

How innocent is it that school board chairman Kevin Hill is proposing canceling the Dec. 15 board meeting?

Hill has discussed dropping the second December meeting with current and new board members. He says there's not much going on then that there needs to be a meeting so close to the holidays.

Hill also points out that the board doesn't always meet twice in December.

In a moment loaded with symbolism, school board chairman Kevin Hill took the unusual step of briefly turning the gavel over today to vice chairman Horace Tart to present the CUBE award to the school board.

Hill traveled to Texas earlier this month, just days after the board election, to accept the award from the National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). Wake got the award for its diversity efforts.

Hill, from the speakers' podium, called the receipt of the award one of the proudest moments in his time on the school board.

Cathy Truitt's decision to concede the election on Monday puts the likely new school board majority in good shape to run the show for four years.

As noted in today's article, the school board's approach of electing members by district instead of countywide will make it hard for the other side to regain control in 2011. It's ironic considering that supporters of current board polices have been the ones who most fought against at-large elections.

As it now stands, three of the board seats in 2011 are held by supporters of the diversity policy. The only one that they could pick up to flip the board is the District 8 seat held by Ron Margiotta.

While there's been some talk about Ron Margiotta becoming the new school board chairman, it probably won't happen quite that soon.

Kevin Hill said he's planning to stay on as chairman until at least June when his term expires. He said he feels he can work with the new board members.

But what could happen is Margiotta being elected vice chairman in December when Horace Tart, who lost his reelection bid, leaves the board. The new vice chairman would sit in on board agenda meetings with Supt. Del Burns and in leadership meetings with the county commissioners.

The question on the minds of a lot of people is whether the new school board will live up to campaign promises about neighborhood schools, year-round schools and ending the diversity policy.

Some people are anxiously hoping for the changes to come while others are dreading the future. But as noted in today's article, the new board members aren't sure yet how they'll turn their promises into reality so they're urging parents to give them some time.

"We haven't had neighborhood schools in such a long time that we have to see what we have in our neighborhoods," said new board member Deborah Prickett.

The Wake school system is getting a fresh round of national recognition for its diversity efforts.

Wake learned this week it will receive a special recognition award from the National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). Wake got the recognition for its "outstanding achievements and continued progress" after being nominated for CUBE's Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence.

"The judges felt the (Wake} school board's commitment to diversity should be really recognized," said Katrina Kelley, director of the CUBE program.

At her final regular meeting, school board members lavished Beverley Clark with praise.

While Clark will stay on through Aug. 14, Tuesday was her last regular meeting after 9 1/2 years on the board. One after another, board members and Supt. Del Burns praised Clark for her service.

"You have always sought consensus where possible, but you have also always held to your vision of what our schools and school system should aspire to become," said school board chairman Kevin Hill as he read from a letter written by the board members to Clark. "That clarity has benefitted our board, our schools, and our children well. It is a voice that will be missed."

For what could be the only time in his/her life, the new school board member for District 4 could see what it's like to speak to board members while under the clock.

Board members agreed Tuesday to give each of the nine applicants 30 minutes to answer questions at today's meeting. The plan is to put the applicants on the same timer in the board room that measures how long people have to speak during public comment sessions.

That was one of the things that came up during a fairly lengthy discussion about the ground rules that would be used during the interview and selection process.

UPDATE: INTERVIEW SCHEDULE AT END OF POST