It looks like new leadership on the Wake County Board of Commissioners and school board is putting things on track for a fall 2013 school bond issue.

As noted in today's article, the leadership of both boards will meet Dec. 21 to schedule dates for four joint meetings of the full boards in early 2013 to discuss the bond.

The joint meetings have been on hold since Paul Coble, former chairman of the commissioners, canceled them following the firing of Superintendent Tony Tata.

Unlike recent Wake County school board chairs, Keith Sutton steps into the job while juggling the duties of having a full-time day job and also being the parent of a school-age child.

As noted in today's article, it's been a long time since a school board chair has had to deal with those situations. Not since Susan Parry, who was chair from 2003 to 2005, has the chair been a K-12 parent at the same time.

It's also been awhile since the chair has had a full-time position. Chairs in recent years have tended to be retirees while Sutton is 42.

In case you didn't get the hint Tuesday, Wake County school board members repeatedly said they're listening to parents and trying to provide stability by making changes to the draft 2013-14 student assignment plan.

As noted in today's article, the board preliminarily agreed Tuesday to some assignment plan changes requested by families. Board members said they're listening to parents who've attended the public hearing and provided feedback in other formats.

"I’m hoping for folks who spent their day inside watching TV as opposed to being outside in the pretty weather, I think if anything we’ve shown — staff has shown and the board with their interaction today — that folks at the public hearings and emails are being listened to and their issues and concerns are being addressed," said outgoing board chairman Kevin Hill at the work session. "Some changes are being made.”

Joe Bryan talked about restoring the relationship with the Wake County school board fresh off his election today as the new chairman of the Wake County Board of Commissioners,

Bryan was elected chairman in a 4-3 party line vote with all the Republicans voting for him and all the Democrats voting for Betty Lou Ward. In a similar 4-3 vote, Phil Matthews was re-elected vice chairman over James West.

Bryan acknowledged how strained relations have become between the school board and commissioners in the past year. He'll likely be working with Keith Sutton, who is expected to be elected the new school board chairman on Tuesday by the Democratic majority.

"I see the biggest challenge that we face personally is trying to reestablish, to restore our partnership wit the Wake County Board of Education and to in fact bring about a successful school bond issue for this coming year," Bryan said during his acceptance remarks.

You can also look for new leadership next week on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

It's expected that Joe Bryan will take over Monday for Paul Coble as chairman of the board of commissioners while Phil Matthews would remain vice chairman. Barring any repeat of the 2009 restroom incident, Bryan will likely be elected by his fellow Republican commissioners.

Bryan says he has contacted both Republican and Democratic commissioners for their support.

Is it possible that the next Wake County school construction bond issue might not go on the ballot until 2015?

As noted in today's article by Thomas Goldsmith, Wake County Commissioners Chairman Paul Coble said Monday he couldn't promise that a bond issue will be on the 2013 ballot. He said it would be a mistake to put a bond before the public until the school board resolves uncertainty about student assignment and who will take over permanently for fired Superintendent Tony Tata.

“There are things that have to happen before we move forward,” Coble said during an interview after his state of the county address. “The voters are not happy with the school board.”

In case you didn't get the message today, Wake County Commissioners haven't raised the property-tax rate in four years.

It's a message that Commissioners Chairman Paul Coble repeatedly referred to during his 2012 State of the County Address. That message was often co-mingled with his discussion about education unding.

"In January of each year, the board of commissioners creates goals for the upcoming year," Coble said. "Our number-one goal was maintaining the property tax rate at 53.4 cents. "

Much of today's Wake County Commissioners meeting will be focused on school issues.

Commissioners will vote on an amendment that will give them until Dec. 5 to work out the construction details for the new career and technical education high school. Instead of a lease-purchase, the plan being considered now is to outright purchase the former Coca-Cola bottling facility on South Wilmington Street.

Commissioners will also have second readings on purchasing the former YWCA building for a school site and reallocating money for renovations for the two single-sex leadership academies. Commissioners raised issues at the last meeting.

You've also got the 2012 State of the County Address, where school issues will likely be an element. You could hear talk about school funding and the school bond issue.

Bedford families who had complained about being reassigned to Abbotts Creek Elementary School got their wishes answered when Wake County school administrators recommended Tuesday delaying the opening of the modular campus to the 2014-15 school year.

Families in the Bedford community had lobbied for a delay in the opening of the modular school, including forming the "Fund it First" Facebook group. The parents argued that the school system should first secure funding for Abbotts Creek's permanent building before assigning students to the modular campus.

Laura Evans, senior director of growth and planning, acknowledged that concern.

Today's election for seats on the Wake County Board of Commissioners and the bids for state office by three school board members will have both short-term and long-term implications for the school system.

If Republican school board members Debra Goldman, Chris Malone and John Tedesco win their respective state campaigns today, they'll have to resign with the board's Democratic majority filling the vacancies.

The chance to potentially increase the majority to 8-1 after today would allow the Democratic board members more latitude, such as waiving policies or rules that require a two-thirds vote. It would also give the new board members a heads up for next year's election.