You would have been disappointed if you had gone to Wednesday night's forum hoping the candidates for the board of commissioners would talk about Wake County's student assignment fight.

As noted in today's article by Thomas Goldsmith, the Wake Schools Community Alliance stayed clear of student assignment questions at the forum the group sponsored. While discussing other school issues, candidates from both political parties blamed the other for the economic woes facing the nation and county.

Some differences emerged with Democrats Jack Nichols and Steve Rao both saying the county will have to consider impact fees or other means to meet school construction and renovation demands that could easily run to $2 billion in the next 20 years.

The Wake Education Partnership is providing its perspective on the hiring of Michael Alves and the accreditation fight between the Wake County school system and AdvancED.

In the latest issue of In Context, the WEP's twice a month e-newsletter, the group stressed on Thursday that Alves will be developing a "school choice plan" and that student achievement is just one element. The WEP says that "student achievement is considered when confirming a family’s choice to ensure no school is overwhelmed with students who are struggling academically."

"Given that students of every background struggle and excel in the classroom, the plan will not focus on family income when assigning children," the WEP writes of the plan that Alves will develop. "The goal, leaders from both groups said, is to use an approach different from the past that ensures stability in the future while providing all students access to a wide range of high-performing schools."

Wake CARES is going right after the Wake Education Partnership's pocketbook.

In a press release today, Wake CARES blasts the WEP for not supporting the new school boar majority's student assignment changes. Wake CARES says people should donate to groups such as Read and Feed and Communities in Schools of Wake County instead of to today's WEP's 24-hour online Money Drop fundraiser.

"Rather than support a group that is perpetuating a deceptive and controlling approach to education, we ask that you make a donation to a local organization that more clearly focuses on benefiting students’ educational needs," according to the Wake CARES press release.

UPDATE

The WEP ended up raising $8,931 from more than 90 contributors.

Is factoring student achievement into the mix for student assignment in Wake County another way by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Education Partnership to at least partially maintain the old diversity policy?

As noted in today's article, there's a strong correlation with lower test scores, poverty and race. Balancing achievement levels in the new plan being developed by Michael Alves would likely result in zones that are more racially and socioeconomic ally diverse than those being considered by the school board.

Alves said Thursday it's his goal to make the new zones reflect the demographics of the county by using student achievement. For instance, he said he wouldn't put all of Southeast Raleigh in one zone.

The big news out of today's press conference is that the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Education Partnership are hiring Michael Alves to develop his own student assignment plan for Wake County.

Alves, the leading proponent for controlled choice, will develop a plan using most of the same criteria that the school board is using such as stability, choice and proximity. But they're asking him to also balance student achievement at schools as a fourth criteria for the new map.

"We believe this is important because a plan that balances student achievement makes it more likely that every school can attract and retain good principals and teachers," said Jim Beck, chairman of the Chamber's education committee.

The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Education Partnership will speak out Thursday about the draft student assignment map being reviewed by the Wake County school board' student assignment committee.

In a press release this afternoon, both groups said they'd "address issues related to a proposed student assignment plan for Wake County's public schools." They say they're holding the media briefing in response to the student assignment committee's request for input on the map.

Considering how both groups aren't exactly fans of the elimination of the diversity policy, the tone could be less than positive Thursday. Don't be surprised if they note the sharp demographic differences among the 16 zones.

Ann Denlinger, president of the Wake Education Partnership, is giving a thank-you message as she retires from the position later this month.

In an e-mail message today to WEP supporters, Denlinger said the group "re-examined its mission, purpose and goals" during her tenure. She said that "our mission has not wavered and the review has left us more focused and relevant than ever before."

Denlinger is also asking people to donate to the WEP in next Wednesday's Money Drop fundraiser.

Will the tense relationship between the Wake County school board majority and the Wake Education Partnership become more relaxed now?

As noted in today's article, members of the board majority are saying that the hiring of Steve Parrott to be the WEP's new president is a good sign. The traditionally good relationship between the board and the WEP has been strained over the elimination of the diversity policy.

“Our relationship hasn’t recently been the best,” said school board chairman Ron Margiotta. “It’s been strained. Hopefully we have someone now who will look at all the facts and not blindly support the past practices that were in place.”

The Wake Education Partnership has turned to a businessman to be the group's next president.

It was announced today that Steve Parrott, a former telecommunications executive who now runs an investment company, will replace Ann Denlinger as the WEP's president. Denlinger is retiring from the position.

While Denlinger was a retired educator, Parrott had climbed the ladder at Sprint, and later Embarq, from the late 1970s to 2009. Earlier this year, Parrott formed Summerset Investment Group, a residential real estate investment and property management company focused on the Raleigh and Wilmington markets.

UPDATE

Click here for the WEP press release.

The Wake Education Partnership is looking to raise some money to support its programs.

The WEP sent out a press release Wednesday announcing that it will hold its first 24-hour "Money Drop" fundraiser on Sept. 22. The group's goal is to have 200 people donate online that day.

Prizes will be offered throughout the day at key points and email updates will be offered to keep donors up to date.