It looks like protesters were wrong if they were hoping that the new Democratic majority on the Wake County school board would be more sympathetic that the Republicans were on the issue of mediation instead of prosecution.

As noted in today's article, the school board met in closed session last week and agreed to stick with the decision made by the former majority to recommend that the protesters who disrupted board meetings in 2010 go to trial.

Since it was discussed in closed session, neither the board members or board attorney Ann Majestic are saying why the board decided not to go with mediation.

There's really not much doubt that if the new Wake County student assignment plan is implemented for the 2012-13 school year that it will be changed from what was adopted in October.

But, as noted in today's article, the jury is out on how extensive the changes would be. The starting point will be the Jan. 3 work session in which board members will go through their concerns in detail with staff.

"We’ve got one chance to make it right and for everyone to feel a strong level of comfort,” said Democratic board vice chairman Keith Sutton. “The problem is we’re not getting that comfort level. To raise that level of comfort will require some give and take.”

Departing Wake County school board member Carolyn Morrison has prepared a "last testament" in which she thanks her colleagues and offers advice for the newly elected board members.

Morrison thanks the Republican board members "for helping me grow personally and professionally while becoming a sharper board member."

She tells Superintendent Tony Tata that "I depart with a fuller understanding of the words once written: 'Those who came to scoff, remained to pray.' I will continue to pray!"

Outgoing Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta had some advice to give to the incoming board members and those who will remain on the board after his Dec. 6 departure.

During his final meeting as chairman on Tuesday, Margiotta urged the new board members to work well with county commissioners, Superintendent Tony Tata and staff. Margiotta also urged the new members to not meddle in the operation and affairs of schools.

Margiotta also urged the new Democratic members who knocked him and the Republican majority out of power, to think outside the box and "not simply rely on old solutions."

The anti-Junior ROTC movement appears to be out at tonight's Wake County school board meeting.

Five of the 11 speakers have signed up to speak about a proposal to add an Army JROTC unit at Knightdale High. The board is also set to ratify the prior agreement to set up an Army JROTC program at Garner High.

"JROTC is part of the military industrial complex that promotes and profits from war," said Sandy Irving.

UPDATE

The JROTC program was approved as part of the consent agenda. Only school board member Anne McLaurin voted against the consent agenda. She didn't give a reason.

Did Wake County school board member Kevin Hill make a political mistake by voting against the student assignment plan on Tuesday?

The no vote has given Heather Losurdo, who announced this week that she supported the plan now, something to campaign on against Hill in the Nov. 8 runoff. In a column Tuesday for the liberal Independent weekly, Bob Geary writes that "a yes vote was the better choice for Hill politically."

"But Hill, like his fellow Democrats, is not a politician and he doesn't think like one," Geary writes. "(Sutton is the exception, and he was thinking like a politician; unfortunately, Morrison and McLaurin either didn't get it that he was giving them a good reason to vote no — with Hill — or they simply couldn't bring themselves to cast a political vote.)"

Geary adds that "sure enough, John Tedesco started Facebooking and Tweeting immediately that Hill's vote was partisan, and naysaying." Geary accuses Tedesco of spreading around a "fictitious campaign"  that a new Democratic board majority would fire Superintendent Tony Tata.

Wake County school board candidate Heather Losurdo is praising Democratic school board members Carolyn Morrison and Anne McLaurin for joining with the Republicans to pass the new student assignment plan.

In a press release today, Losurdo says "their courageous action represents a commitment to public service of the highest order." She says she regrets that McLaurin and Morrison are leaving and adds that they need more leaders like them "who follow their conscience and work for the public good instead of making everything a partisan matter."

"The new assignment policy is our chance to put the bickering and squabbling of the past four or five years behind us, and get to work on improving our schools," Losurdo says in the press release. "I salute Carolyn and Anne for helping make the process of moving from confrontation to cooperation easier."

Was Tuesday's adoption of a new Wake County student assignment plan the culmination of years of study and discussion or a rushed decision?

As noted in today's article, school board members and administrators defended the vote as being necessary to avoid delaying implementation of the plan. But critics, particularly during the public comment section, urged the board to hold off adoption until the newly elected members have their say on the plan.

"The voters spoke," said Robert Hyman. "You lost the election. In effect, the chair of this board has been fired. You owe it to the new board to discuss it with them before you completely lose your moral authority and your legitimacy.”

By a 6-2 vote, the Wake County school board has approved tonight the new student assignment plan.

“While the plan isn’t perfect, it’s a major step in the right direction,” said school board chairman Ron Margiotta. “There will no longer be assignments based on socioeconomics and race. Parents’ cries for stability have been answered.”

Republican board members Debra Goldman, Chris Malone, Deborah Prickett and John Tedesco and Democrats Anne McLaurin, Carolyn Morrison voted for the plan. Democratic board members Kevin Hill and Keith Sutton voted no.  Sutton had unsuccessfully suggested delaying the vote by 30 days.

Hill cited the lack of seats specifically set aside at high-performing schools for students applying from low-performing areas for his vote.

“I can’t negotiate on the issue of student achievement,” Hill said.

UPDATE

Click here to view the student assignment resolution approved tonight.

Click here to read the remarks from Superintendent Tony Tata.

Click here to view the adopted feeder patterns.

It looks like the Wake County school board still has enough votes to approve the new student assignment plan today.

The plan appears to have at least six yes votes, including all five Republicans and Democrat Carolyn Morrison. School board vice chairman John Tedesco said that, despite his recent concerns, he'll vote for the plan.

The question is how Morrison's fellow Democrats will vote. For instance, school board member Keith Sutton said he hadn't decided how he'd vote and quipped it would be a "game-time decision."

It's expected that board member Kevin Hill will vote no, or at least vociferously raise concerns about the process used. I haven't heard back yet from board member Anne McLaurin.