Recall Margiotta! Good riddance to Burns! Gold Medal in Arrogance!

We've gotten far more letters today on the Wake County schools situation than we can possibly print. Look for others on tomorrow's Editorial and Other Opinion pages. In the meantime, here are 18.

Will the new school board members ever realize they are the “minority majority”? I know that is an oxymoron, but the new board members do not represent the majority of the citizens in Wake County.

The foundation of one of the best school systems in the nation is crumbling before our eyes. The moronic actions of the new board members can be likened only to that of a bull in a china shop.

What a testament Del Burns’ resignation has made to his conviction as a leader to make decisions based on data, research and a broad vision of what is in the best interest of students as a whole, rather than to be a part of the self-serving tunnel vision decisions being made by the new board members.

I applaud Burns for his strength of character.

Scarlett Bryant, Ed.D.
Washington, NC

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Superintendent Del Burns had no sooner resigned than the new school board members and their supporters began counting the days until they can fill the seat. Their rallying cry is not for someone who understands schools; they want someone who has experience in business because, after all, a school system is a business.

First, the WCPSS has business perspective on its executive team. His name is David Neter (Chief Business Officer), and he is a CPA with a Duke MBA.

Second, any CEO must know the business he is in. You don’t place a CEO in a manufacturing company if he doesn’t know manufacturing. Why would you put someone in a leadership position in our schools who does not know public schools and education? (Public schools being very different from private schools. Public schools serve every child, not just the ones who are fortunate enough to pay to attend.)

Most important, schools are not businesses. In business, you can pick and choose what ingredients you put into production. In a school system, you work with all children.

Does the new board really think this is a business? These are children, not widgets!

Brenda Berg
Raleigh

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For years I believed that Brown v. Board of Education was a sound decision. But after looking at the imbroglio in Wake County, I have my doubts. If our society is to be integrated, why do we foist our ideals on children when it is the adults who are the real problem? Unless we integrate neighborhoods – and churches – the task will remain perhaps forever.

I see Europe facing the same problems and realize that being a Turk in Germany, an Algerian in France or a Romanian in Italy is no different from what has been a problem here for more than 200 years.

Can you imagine a society in which poor and rich live next to each other? No more gated communities? Or are we another society that brags about democracy and denies it to so many?
Color, gender, sexual orientation, wealth – will the United States ever outgrow its shame?

Not when children are used as pawns in power struggles.

Stanley Friedman
Durham

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While saddened by Del Burns’ decision, I am proud that he is modeling integrity for students. Ironically, at a time when WCPSS is training teachers in dealing with bullying, the superintendent is facing his own battle against bullies. As the students are being taught, we must stand up for him and say “stop.”

WCPSS Board of Education ethics code requires that members “Work with other Board members to establish effective Board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent,” yet John Tedesco threatens to have Burns removed even sooner if he doesn’t go along with their board policy.

In the same Code of Ethics, board members are required to “Learn about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed information, such as those sponsored by the State and National School Boards Associations.” There is no evidence that the board has considered mainstream research in decision making.

I wonder how many of the Best School Districts in the U.S. are not run by a Doctor of Education? It seems educational leadership understanding is needed to lead our children’s education.

Katie de Cardenas
Garner

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I wish Del Burns luck in finding a new job, although I am not sure how other school boards will view his bad-mouthing the policies of his current board. I can respect his issues of conscience concerning the new board’s diversity policies; those are his personal beliefs. I agree that if he feels he cannot effectively support these policies, he should step down and leave the job for someone else.

As a retired school administrator from another state, I worked as a substitute teacher for Principal Burns at Millbrook High School. I viewed him as the ultimate school administrator; a leader who was respected by his teachers, students and noninstructional staff – and by me. But his remarks upon leaving have diminished the respect and admiration that I had felt for him.

To disagree, and leave, over an issue is one thing; this happens often in public life. It is a sign of character the way that you leave. The honorable thing is not to assign blame but, instead, make it a personal choice, i.e. to “spend more time with family,” “wish to pursue other interests” etc. It may not be entirely honest, but it is fair. Why stir up the pot, create animosities and more division, and add fuel to the “Diversity Wars”?

Obviously the majority of Wake voters wanted a “change.” Whether the change will be good or bad for our society is still an open question. I would have felt better if Dr. Burns accepted the new challenge, rolled up his sleeves, and given it a working chance.

Paul Kretzschmar
Raleigh

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I would like to commend Wake Forest Commissioner Peter Thibodeau for his comments to the Wake County Board of Education at last week’s meeting. Only a “fraction of the constituents are dissatisfied with Wake County School System” is more than accurate if you use the data from 800 letters that responded concerning the school calendars. If you compare that number to the total population of students enrolled in our school system, you will find quite a discrepancy. I did read most of the letters, mainly because I wanted to see how many represented my school’s ZIP code. The statistic might be 1 percent.

As a parent of two children who attended magnet and year-round schools and as an itinerant teacher, I represent how most parents/teachers and staff feel about our schools. I chose to work at one of the highest minority schools. Our parents and children are appreciative for their education. When parents feel entitled to always have their way, it makes their children become self-centered adults.

Thank you Dr. Burns for standing up for the children and teachers in Wake County Schools.

Jan Johnson
Raleigh

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I clearly side with the Wake Schools Community Alliance as it has it correct. If Del Burns is so beside himself that he doesn’t feel right doing his job as instructed to by the school board, then he should be made to leave immediately and a temporary replacement installed until a qualified permanent superintendent can be hired.

Diversified schools are going to be a thing of the past, and our students will rightfully attend their own neighborhood schools  Notice that it is the liberals that disagree with this plan. They lost, and they can’t get over it. No one told parents to stay home and not vote on Election Day. In fact, I have never heard of any election in my lifetime that promoted something like that. There has always been a get out the vote campaign and not vice versa.

Burns seems like a decent fellow, but if he can’t follow policies as set by the school board then he must go and go now! I am very proud of our new board majority, and I wish them well as they go about their business of getting their campaign promises fulfilled.

Philip Stork
Apex

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Remember Howard Jarvis who led a pack of pitchfork-wielding Californians on the aptly numbered Proposition 13 bandwagon in the mid-’80s? They succeeded in slashing property taxes by 57 percent, and look at California now, paint peeling, issuing IOUs instead of checks.

The N&O, in its stream of articles covering the Wake County Public Schools, regularly applies the term school board majority to refer to the bloc currently throwing its weight around on Six Forks Road, doppelgangers for Howard Jarvis.  They plow ahead, justifying their actions by claiming they are only doing what the voters sent them to do, indifferent to other points of view.  

Authors of the U.S. Constitution devised a brilliant system of electing thoughtful people to serve in Congress, legislatures and local councils and school boards; people with wisdom, statesmanship, and diplomacy. We elect people for their good judgment because once in office they may gain possession of additional information.

This school board majority chooses to ignore the circumstances of its rise to power, citing majority rule, call it mob rule. Mob rule is when an energized cadre of vocal citizens gets the upper hand in a poorly subscribed election, and their champions don’t recognize the customary obligations long practiced by their predecessors under our beloved constitution.

Andrew  Leager
Raleigh

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And the Gold Medal goes to ... the new Wake County School Board majority for “The Greatest Number of Bad Ideas in the Shortest Amount of Time!” Extra points awarded for “Extreme Arrogance” and the elusive “Startling Disconnect With Reality.” Congratulations! We all just can’t wait to hear what comes next.

Sue Creaser
Holly Springs

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The resignation of Wake schools superintendent Del Burns is proof positive that the bullies have moved from the schoolyard to the school board. It’s a shame that the “know-nothing” paranoia that is oozing to the surface throughout our land is manifesting its ignorance in such an Orwellian fashion in Wake County.

Stephen Fortlouis
Raleigh

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As a 1998 graduate of the Wake County school system and a student of East Wake High School when Dr. Del Burns was principal, I can say with certainty that the resignation of Dr. Burns will be an enormous loss for Wake County.

With Dr. Burns as superintendent, there was still some hope that the system would focus on education and the students, not on money and politics. Isn’t that what a superintendent of a school system should be focused on, what is best for the students?

Instead, the Wake County Board of Education has been overtaken by political agendas and business maneuvers. New board members are proposing eliminating the diversity policy and, if we are to be honest, creating what journalist Rich Benjamin refers to as a “whitopia” in his book, “Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America.” This demographic shift is not necessarily race-driven, but it promotes segregation. This type of thinking pulls people with affluent lifestyles and who live in certain neighborhoods together and drives “others” out.

Should public education be determined by money, race, lifestyle or where a person lives? This is what the Wake County Board of Education believes should happen, and Dr. Burns was Wake County’s last hope for promoting diversity and an equal education for all people, regardless of their income level or social status.

Shame on you, Wake County Board of Education. And shame on you, voters, for putting these politicians in their seats. You let the best thing that ever happened to Wake County schools, and to your children’s educations, walk out the door.

Allison Moore
Wilson

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Russell Capps, president of the Wake County Taxpayers Association, has suggested that Del Burns’ successor should be a businessman. I would like to ask Mr. Capps if he would like an educator to run his bank? It is true that Wake County schools are a big business, but education decisions should be made by educators, not businessmen making “bottom line” decisions.

Mary McKeveny
Raleigh

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There you go again: implying that Art Pope and Bob Luddy did something improper by contributing to the winning Wake County school board candidates. Both Pope and Luddy are successful local businessmen who have the right to contribute to campaigns if they so choose. Furthermore, although their contributions were significant, they were not the difference in the school board races. For instance, Chris Malone was outspent by his opponent but won by a margin of 3 to 1.

These elections were about the voters of Wake County saying that they were tired of the same old failed policies and they sent a loud and clear message. If your paper chooses to ignore this message, then you will continue to lose readership.

Kimble Wattenbarger
Raleigh

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So, education is now “the biggest trophy in local government” (“Partisans relish Round 2,” Feb. 8 front-page article). The likely result will be elections and decisions driven by demagoguery rather than discussion, short-term special interests rather than the long-term common good and simplistic arguments rather than thoughtful analysis. Unfortunately, children deserve better.

Mark Pruett
Boone

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The next resignation coming from Wake County schools should be that of board chairman Ron Margiotta. Dr. Del Burns’ departure rests squarely on his shoulders and that of his newly elected “colleagues.”

The fields of education and medicine have much in common: “First do no harm.” It takes education, understanding, perspective and at least some wisdom to “do no harm.” This quintet has demonstrated no inclination toward a learning curve, but rather appear motivated by ego and an unhealthy concept of power.

With the current state of the board, I can’t imagine anyone of quality wanting to interview for the superintendent’s position. As an educator, I have no confidence in this board.

It’s time for Margiotta to step down and a new board chair be elected. Perhaps then, Dr. Burns might reconsider his resignation. Or we can continue down this road of ignorance and expend tremendous amounts of energy and money in the future digging ourselves out of this needless frolic into educational chaos.

This board doesn’t get it. With all due respect, we have some parents who don’t get it. When I was a child on the farm, some city folks built a house downwind from our pig pens. Farmers know better (i.e., know and understand the context)! Our new neighbors didn’t get it and even had the audacity to complain. They could have chosen to become informed before building their house, but didn’t – didn’t even think of it.

While there are certainly issues and problems in any organization, I hope most of our parents realize how fortunate their children are to attend Wake County schools. Some of our issues may feel huge, but they pale in comparison to problems in other school systems.

The situation with the board calls for a swift remedy and a remedy can be had.

Gwynne Robertson, B.M.Ed.,M.Div.,NBCT
Apex

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The resignation of WCPSS Superintendent Del Burns should not come as a surprise to anyone. It’s clearly evident the Gang of Five will be delighted by this; they can now fill the position with one of their own.

We now have a school board majority intent on remodeling WCPSS based on political ideology rather than on any honorable intention to provide the best possible education to all of Wake County’s schoolchildren. Furthermore, a stated willingness by the board to hire someone with potentially no background in education is worrisome. A successful business background is no indicator of the skills and knowledge required to fill this position; it clearly requires an individual with in-depth knowledge and experience within the education field.

One can only hope that whoever fills the position is selected based on knowledge and experience rather than on being a politically affiliated friend of the majority. WCPSS might have many issues, but dismantling what is currently working to satisfy a vehement minority is not in the interest of the children it’s meant to serve.

Alan Crighton
Apex

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The new school board members shouldn’t be surprised about the resignation of the superintendent. Their self-absorbed, and high-handed, parochial behavior regarding the site for the new high school, as well as others issues, pretty much threw him a vote of “no confidence.” Their “I’ll believe it when I see it!” attitude, regarding the $15 million lost, smacks of indifference and a disregard for his dedication to the students in the Wake County School System. I hope the search for a replacement won’t be difficult. Once word gets out about the behavior of our new board members to potential applicants, we may then find ourselves on the proverbial Titanic.

Leon DeBaer
Knightdale

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It is time that the majority of Wake County registered voters decide what is really best for our students. The national recognitions for our existing policies speak for themselves in terms of the quality of education in Wake County.

Folks, it is time for a recall election for at least one of the newly elected board members. We need a bright, moderate person in that seat who can look at both sides of the debates and decide for him/herself what to do.

This recall election needs to be done quickly in order to convince Del Burns that we as citizens want only to improve education, not rip the system apart. We can make changes but not in the heavy-handed manner now employed by a group elected my a (small) minority of registered voters.

Robert Bereman
Apex