The GOP members of the Wake County school board sure love new Superintendent Anthony Tata's military background.

As noted in today's article, board members who supported Tata repeatedly argued Thursday that his 28 years in the U.S. Army were a good match for the school district's needs. In contrast, Tata's critics on and off the school board said being a retired brigadier general wasn't enough to offset his relatively limited experience in the education system.

"Mr. Tata's experience as a military strategist will complement our focus on academic achievement and encourage the implementation of new initiatives for the betterment of the education of our students," said school board chairman Ron Margiotta.

Readers of this blog will definitely be interested in what former Superintendent Bill McNeal and former school board member Tom Oxholm have to say in their new book.

"A School District's Journey to Excellence: Lessons From Business and Education" is primarily geared toward school administrators. But as noted in today's article, Wake residents will be interested in what they say about topics such as diversity, reassignment, the school transportation fraud case and the value of the business community.

For instance, McNeal and Oxholm credit the business community with getting the bond passed in 2006.