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.

We've got new principals tonight at Garner High, Ligon Middle, Fuquay-Varina Elementary and West Lake Elementary.

Drew Cook was promoted from assistant principal to principal of Garner High. He replaces Mike Holton, who cited medical reasons for his departure.

Cook, who has worked as a teacher and AP at Garner High since 1997, will receive $97,167 a year,

UPDATE

Bio sheets now at end of post. 

We've got new principals for Daniels Middle School and Swift Creek Elementary School.

The school board just approved Elizabeth Battle as the new principal of Daniels Middle School. She replaces Stephen Mares, who is now principal of Broughton High.

Battle has been an assistant principal at Sanderson High since 2004. Here's an interesting tidbit. She's a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

UPDATE

Bio sheets now at end of post. 

We've got some comings and goings among principals and senior administrators.

Here's one a lot of you guys have been waiting for. Scott Lyons will become principal of Leesville Road High School in North Raleigh, replacing Stephen Gainey, who became assistant superintendent for human resources.

Lyons has been principal of Ligon Middle School since 2005. He used to be a teacher and assistant principal at Enloe High.

UPDATE

Bio sheets now at end of post. 

Western Wake's loss could be Northern Wake's gain, at least when it comes to getting into an Academically Gifted or Gifted and Talented themed magnet middle school.

Magnet folks are heavily hyping the better odds that families will have this year getting a seat at Ligon Middle School. Ligon lost a chunk of its western wake draw area to Carnage Middle School.

The result is that Northern Wake applicants should have a much easier time in the process.