Even though it doesn't look like the school board will make the Graduation Project a districtwide requirement anytime soon, some students are pushing forward on their own.

As noted in today's article, 482 rising seniors have returned a form to their school saying they intend to complete the project before graduating in 2010. If senioritis doesn't get in the way, they'll get to wear a cord on their gown and receive a notation on their transcript near year.

There are also four students who are graduating a year early who will have a cord on their gowns this month.

There's a war of words between some school board members over Wake's diversity policy.

School board member Ron Margiotta and four community members fired the initial shot in February with an open letter calling for an end to the diversity policy in favor of neighborhood schools. As evidence, the letter cites Charlotte-Mecklenburg's academic performance compared to Wake.

Kevin Hill, vice chairman of the school board, has responded with his defense of the diversity policy. While Hill stresses it's only his personal opinion, he shared his letter with other board members before attending last week's UNC Conference.

It looks like the school board has agreed to make at least one more change to the reassignment plan.

During today's work session, Kevin Hill, the board vice chairman, asked that they not move nodes 233.4 and 233.5 from Fox Road Elementary to Wakefield Elementary.

None of the board members objected. But rather than voting during the work session, Rosa Gill, the board chairwoman, said they might as well do it this afternoon during the vote on the full plan.

School and Cary leaders will meet Monday to try to resolve the impasse over road improvements near Panther Creek High School that have blocked the use of 22 needed modular classrooms.

Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board, and Kevin Hill, vice chairman of the school board, will have a private meeting with Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. They'll discuss Cary's requirement that Wake construct an additional northbound through lane on N.C. 55 from McCrimmon Parkway through the intersections of the ramps at N.C. 540.

The problem is that it doesn't look like either side will give in on the road work, which Cary is requiring before Wake can use the modulars.

The Node 325 people have been more successsful, it seems, at getting dropped from the reassigment plan than other bigger groups.

At the urging of Kevin Hill, the school board agreed to not reassign Node 325 from Wakefield middle and high schools over to Wake Forest-Rolesville. The people in that node had been concerned they'd be overlooked because of the larger groups pushing for change in the area.

In contrast, the Bedford folks are still slated to go from Wakefield to Heritage High.

UPDATE

The board has finished reviewing the reassignment plan. Thursday's work session has been cancelled. Next up is the final vote on Tuesday.

The high school moves may be wrapped up tonight.

Kevin Hill, vice chairman of the board, juggled his schedule to attend tonight to discuss the high school changes. He's not going to be here tomorrow due to a prior conflict.

If Hill couldn't attend tonight, the board might have held off until Thursday on the remaining high school review.

UPDATE

Due to the large crowd, the work session has been moved to the main board room. There's plenty of space left. 

Some Broughton High parents are worried about a December surprise today on the school's magnet program.

The school board could add at the table a request to vote on Broughton's magnet status. It would take a two-thirds vote of those present to get on the agenda.

While none of the board members I talked with yesterday say they'd make the motion to put it on the agenda, they all said they'd back the request.

See update at end of story.

Will the school board have to cut $5.7 million due to the county's revenue shortfall?

As noted in today's article by Michael Biesecker, County Manager David Cooke suggested Monday that all county departments take a 1.8 percent funding cut. If implemented, it would mean the school system would have to cut $5.7 million to make up for a projected county revenue shortfall of at least $17 million.

If the school system is spared any cuts, other county departments — including such key operations as the sheriff’s office, EMS, and the 911 call center — will have to make deeper cuts of 4 percent.

You can tell a lot about candidates from who gives them money.

As noted in today's article by Michael Biesecker, there are pretty noticeable patterns in the people giving money to County Commissioner Kenn Gardner and challenger Stan Norwalk.

Gardner's getting a lot of money from developers and the housing industry. Norwalk is getting a lot of money from slow-growth advocates and educators.

Will the school board pull the plug on Broughton High School's magnet program today?

As noted in today's article, Broughton will get some scrutiny when the board reviews the magnet middle and high schools. On the district's magnet reviews, Broughton has a low ranking when it comes to accomplishing the magnet goals of reducing high concentrations of poverty and promoting student diversity.

But options other than demagnetization are also expected to be discussed.