Funding for Wake County magnet schools is a volatile topic.

Supporters of the magnet program say the $12 million spent annually, which doesn't include transportation costs, is only 1 percent of the district's budget. Critics say that money could be used to help the non-magnet schools.

The issue flared up during the school board's magnet review session earlier this month.

Wake County school officials announced today that 14 magnet schools have received national awards.

Combs, Douglas, Joyner, Washington and Wiley elementary schools and Southeast Raleigh High School received the School of Excellence Award from Magnet Schools of America, a trade organization. Those six schools are now in the running to win the Simpson Distinguished Merit Award, which goes to the top magnet school in the nation.

In addition, Conn, Farmington Woods, Hunter, Millbrook and Underwood elementary schools; Carnage and Ligon middle schools and Millbrook High School received the School of Distinction award.

"We're proud of all of the schools that Magnet Schools of America recognized this year," said Wake Superintendent Tony Tata in a statement. "Our magnet schools are a thriving, dynamic part of our school system, and their success is due to the hard work of students, teachers, and our supportive community."

The Mordecai families who attend Conn Elementary as their base school got what they wanted at tonight's Wake County student assignment meeting at Broughton High School.

Superintendent Tony Tata told the parents that he had made the decision today to recommend that Conn's base students not be placed in the new feeder pathway that will send the school's magnet students to Southeast Raleigh High. Instead, the base students will keep the historic feeder pattern that will let them stay at Broughton.

Tata is doing the same thing for the Conn base students as what he decided to do Monday for their peers at several other magnet schools.

Since Monday, the feeder pattern for Broughton has been adjusted for it to now include base students from Conn, Joyner, Underwood and Wiley elementary schools. How this impacts Broughton remains to be seen.

Wake County school administrators are dialing back their recommendations to have K-12 magnet feeders as part of the new student assignment plan.

As noted in today's article, the revised draft feeder plan list posted on Monday includes a number of changes requested by parents. Those parents mounted aggressive campaigns to keep their existing feeder patterns as opposed to being put in new ones that would have them go to magnet secondary schools.

Some of the most vocal opposition came from families at Brooks, Douglas and Joyner elementary schools. They wanted to keep their historic feeder patterns that had them going to closer non-magnet secondary schools.

The Wake County school board appointed five principals tonight while moving four principals to assistant principal posts.

Gregory Butler was named principal of North Garner Middle School with a salary of $92,707.68. He has been an assistant principal at Southeast Raleigh High since 2009.

Carmen Graf was named principal of Banks Road Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina with a salary of $73,803.68. Graf has been an assistant principal at Timber Drive Elementary since October.

UPDATE

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The Wake County Democratic Party has officially kicked off the campaign season with the goal of reclaiming the majority on the school board.

As reported today in the Raleigh Public Record, "the message from party leaders and members [at Saturday's Wake County Democratic Party annual convention] was clear: This year’s election is about schools."

"The convention began with a two-hour training called Take Back Our Schools — a primer on how to lead a successful grassroots campaign to victory in October," according to the article.

Gov. Bev Perdue is standing by her decision to give the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award to the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP.

Perdue, who was at Wiley Elementary School this afternoon, told WTVD she was "honored and privileged to give him the award." The award has been criticized by supporters of the Wake County school board majority.

“I think all of us understand the need to stand up for what we believe in, whether you agree or disagree with the person he's been a real agent for change in North Carolina in his role as the head of the NAACP and I admire that,” Perdue told WTVD.

Gov. Bev Perdue is getting into today's first day of school festivities.

Perdue's office has sent out a media advisory announcing that the governor will mark the day by visiting Wiley Elementary School in Raleigh at 3:30 p.m. She's hoping to ride a school bus that will be taking students home. She's only staying to the first stop.

Perdue will also be joined at Wiley by State Board of Education Chairman Bill Harrison.

Transfer appeal season is off and running.

As noted in today's article, the school board heard more than 200 appeals on Monday. It's the first of several hearings scheduled for this month.

The board is dealing with the first group of people whose transfer requests were rejected by staff.

It's will be even tougher getting a slot in some popular magnet schools this year.

As noted in today's article, plans are underway to raise the percentages of low-income students at some magnet schools. It's a two-step approach involving increasing the base by reassigning in more students and restricting the number of magnet applicants who are accepted.

So the acceptance rates should fall at Hunter, Underwood and Wiley elementary schools and Enloe High. It will also get tougher making it into Partnership Elementary, which Asst. Supt. Chuck Dulaney will recommend getting magnet status.