Wayne County school officials have put the brakes on a cash for grades fundraising effort at a Goldsboro middle school.

The school district reacted to today's article by Lynn Bonner, in which she reported that a $20 donation to Rosewood Middle School would have gotten a student 20 test points — 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D.

Are any individual Wake schools following similar policies?

Today's article included a Raleigh parent who objected this year when her daughter's social studies teacher at Knightdale High School had students bring to school tissues and hand sanitizer. The supplies counted for 25 percent of a "supply check" grade.

It looks like you can add the Forest Ridge High site to the list of battles that will divide new and old school board members starting in December.

As noted in today's article, the current board members, with the exception of Ron Margiotta, told staff to go ahead with plans for using the Forest Ridge High site. But Chris Malone said Wake should be prepared for a change in that plan when he and other new board members take office.

"They should have stopped today," Malone said. "We're going to push ahead and make them stop it."

The Knights travel to East Wake this afternoon for their first match up of the year at 6:30.

A little background: East Wake was a serious state playoff contender last year (a 30-plus win team) that got dropped in the first round by Fuquay-Varina. Ever since the team has struggled with "knowing how good it is, but not playing to that level" as coach DeLane Hayes has stressed several times this season.

Knightdale, which was no show-stopper last year, had a rough start to the 2009 season, but the team impressively knocked off Wake Forest Rolesville in its first win and showed, even if only for a couple hours, it can contend when needed. 

Those that like soccer need to check this one out, especially in light of the rivalry. It will be interesting to see which team can hold off for the big W.  

Changes are looming for how students will be selected to fill Wake County's magnet schools.

Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney told board members on Tuesday that his staff will be working on a formal board policy on magnet schools. This would help formalize the year-to-year guidelines that his staff develops.

One of the goals of the new board policy would be to try to address how some non-magnet schools are being negatively impacted by magnet schools. In other words, you could see changes that make it harder for some students to get into the magnet program.

UPDATE: LINKS AT END OF POST NOW WORKING 

The question of who has the longest bus rides was also on the minds of school board members on Tuesday.

As noted in today's article, staff stressed that voluntary magnet kids account for a majority of the longest bus rides in the district. But students who are bused for diversity also are in the group with the longest rides.

Bob Snidemiller, senior director for transportation, explained that the longest 5 percent of bus ride times have an average one-way ride of 64 minutes.

Pinecrest wins 4-A East Regional golf championship.

Wilson Hunt and Nash Central advance to Knight Round Table baseball finals on Tuesday.

The numbers crunchers will be interested in the school-by-school look at the magnet/calendar applicants.

For instance, Brentwood Elementary School drew 261 applicants to the new engineering magnet theme that will start in August. There were questions how well it would draw in its first year.

"Brentwood did a fabulous job of going out there and selling the program," said Laura Evans, a senior director in Growth and Planning.

Highlights from the Knightdale vs West Johnston conference championship game.

The schedules for this week's Greater Neuse River 4-A Conference basketball tournaments:

Tonight's (Monday) Girls' Quarterfinals: 

(No. 8) West Johnston at (No. 1) Southeast Raleigh, 7

(No. 5) Smithfield-Selma at (No. 4) Clayton, 7

(No. 7) Knightdale at (No. 2) Holly Springs, 7

(No. 6) Garner at (No. 3) East Wake, 7 

Tuesday's Boys' Quarterfinals:

(No. 8) Smithfield-Selma at (No. 1) Garner, 7

(No.  5) Southeast Raleigh at (No. 4) West Johnston, 7

(No. 7) Holly Springs at (No. 2) Knightdale, 7

(No. 6) East Wake at (No. 3) Clayton, 7