The magnet school program could become even more of a wedge issue between Wake County school board candidates Cynthia Matson and Jim Martin in the District 5 race.
In an interview last week on the Rick & Donna Martinez Show on WPTF, Matson said the biggest difference between her and Martin is their views on "equity from district to district in terms of program offerings." She said "we need to focus on equity across the board, from district to district, so students don't have be to bused to the other side of the county to get something they can not get in their own district."
"Right now If you look at the map and you look at where magnet schools are, and you look at outlying areas, you'll see that certain individuals have to travel a very, very far distance in order too benefit from some of the magnet programs," Matson said.
I have no problem with magnets. My kids have attended magnets. But I do believe that there should be more equity from district to district in terms of what's offered.
So as they come out with this choice plan, are these choices that are fair and equitable from district to district? Is it really right that a school can have five foreign languages when some are just getting their first foreign language this year. I don't believe that is, and I'd like to see more equity across the board for all children."
Matson said another difference between her and Martin is his focus on diversity. Matson, as you guys may recall, was a critic of the diversity policy as far back as a decade ago when she formed Assignment By Choice.
"There needs to be less of a focus on the diversity, the diversity, the diversity," Matson said. "Again as I mentioned earlier, we have more minorities in the system than non-minorities.
We need to focus on how we're going to help these students achieve: what programs we're going to put in place, how we can support these teachers and how we can cut spending in other areas and channel that money into the classroom so that the students are getting the best education they can."
Martin, whose children attend Enloe High, has been an outspoken supporter of the magnet school program and for having a diversity policy.
Also during the interview, Matson talked about how she's finally coming to see to fruition all the changes in student assignment she had fought for many years ago with ABC. She said she wants to be on the board to help implement the changes, saying a lot of work still has to be done.
Matson praised the board majority and Superintendent Tony Tata, pointing to decreases in the dropout rate and increases in test scores.
"I completely support the decisions that have been made by the current administration," Matson said.
Matson said she wants to strengthen vocational programs to help students who aren't destined for college.
Matson also extensively praised the KIPP Schools, saying she's "a huge advocate for the model." She said she wants Wake to be able to brag about the same graduation rates as the KIPP Schools.
Matson closed out the interview touting her endorsement from U.S. Senator Richard Burr, saying she "was very humbled and honored by that."
"We have a lot of similarities in how we feel about education," Matson said of the Republican senator. "We both are strong advocates for vocational technical. We both recognize the demands, just in our region, for more skilled workers, and we're both very concerned about the fiscal health of our economy on a local and national level.
And quite honestly I'd like to emulate him because he's extremely knowledgeable, very approachable and very genuine. And I look to represent the people in a very similar fashion."
Comments
Here is the main difference:
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 12:59 — woodstockHere is the main difference: Matson is a smart, rational and accomplished individual who understands the issues facing Wake Couny schools and Martin is an egomanaical far left-wing nutjob. The choice is clear - Cynthia Matson
Did anyone check out...
Tue, 09/13/2011 - 16:25 — bpuli9999the list of "achievements" Cynthia Chiklis Matson has on her website? She listed 11 laughable ones. Her definition of achievements is probably a good omen - she supports achievement based assignments.
--- Typical republican - hates Roosevelt but loves Social Security, hates LBJ but loves Medicare. Actually believes Fox News.
I sat side by side with
Tue, 09/13/2011 - 18:00 — jeffrey1I sat side by side with Cynthia for most, if not all of those achievements. Please tell me which ones are laughable and why, and give me a chance to respond.
Hre goes....
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 07:21 — bpuli9999I am happy that you were able to sit next to her. But here goes:
1. Founding a 501c3 is an achievement. You can set one up in twenty minutes without getting out of your chair.
2 & 3 - Many other people "influenced" those issues. Not just her. What did she do specifically?
8. Setting up "engagement meetings" 7 years ago is an achievement? Does she have any achievements after 2005?
Don't have the time to type about the other points in her list.
Please respond with exactly what was ACHIEVED by her.
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Typical republican - hates Roosevelt but loves Social Security, hates LBJ but loves Medicare. Actually believes Fox News.
1. Founding a 501c3 is an
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 22:33 — jeffrey11. Founding a 501c3 is an achievement. You can set one up in twenty minutes without getting out of your chair.
You act like she just filed a couple of forms to set up a nonprofit. She founded the organization. She's the reason ABC existed. ABC was a county wide organization committed to reforming the student assignment policy. She set up countless meetings all over the county to help parents understand student assignment. As president of the organization, she regularly appeared on radio and television (both local and national). She regularly opened her own home to hundreds of parents to meet and discuss student assignment. The organization regularly received access to the top people in WCPSS administration, including Bill McNeal. She was instrumental in bringing Mayor Glen Lang of Cary, Mayor Sam Bridges of Garner, and Mayor Keith Weatherly of Apex into the organization. She convinced those towns to form the Mayor's Task Force, which spent over $60,000 to design a student assignment plan that was presented to WCPSS administrators. She herself helped ABC to raise thousands of dollars.
At the time, she did not work outside the home, and easily spent 40+ hours per week with the organization.
3. Under pressure from ABC, WCPSS revoked their policy of excluding some children from the magnet program and abolished that practice for the future.
This has to do with a very specific policy that WCPSS set in place after the reassignments of 2002. In those reassignments, WCPSS (for the first time) began to assign middle class families to high poverty schools using spot nodes. As part of that reassignment, WCPSS banned parents from applying to magnet schools in an effort to force them to attend the high poverty schools. I can assure you that ABC, under Cynthia Matson, was alone in getting that ban overturned.
8. Setting up "engagement meetings" 7 years ago is an achievement? Does she have any achievements after 2005?
You do realize that there were no such thing as community engagement meetings prior to Assignment By Choice, under the leadership of Cynthia Matson, don't you? Do you understand just how big an accomplishment that was? Reassignments came out in December, and were regularly approved in January with no opportunity for communities to learn, understand, and engage administrators regarding those reassignments. The fact that WCPSS has been holding community engagement meetings regarding Superintendent Tata's reassignment plan is directly attributable to Cynthia Matson.
Look, Cynthia was the driving force behind ABC for several years, before passing the torch onto other organizations like Wake Cares, Stop Mandatory Year Round, and Wake County Schools Alliance. She put more effort into running that organization than most people put into their full time jobs. For you to call her achievements laughable is more a reflection on your ignorance than anything else.
If you find the time to address any other points on the list, I'll be happy to respond.
Uh...
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 11:59 — Bob_SconceAs somebody who has formed 501(c)(3)s, that process is a whole lot more complicated that what you make out. For example, the Form 1023 that you file with the IRS is 26 pages long, and that doesn't include all the information that has to be attached. And, that's only the form -- there's a lot of planning that goes into it before you get to the form.
But, you're missing the point -- the thing isn't the technical job of filling in paperwork and doing filings to form a 501(c)(3); it's being involved enough to go through that effort.
Then you have more achievements...
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 12:28 — bpuli9999than Ms. Williams!
The point though is - is the act forming a non-profit in itself an achievement great enough to be trumpeted?
The entire list on the website reads like a padded resume - trying hard to make achievements out of nothing. And yet she has people willing to vote for her - which speaks volumes about those who are willing to vote for her.
BTW, I have formed one also and I think you overstate what is involved.
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Typical republican - hates Roosevelt but loves Social Security, hates LBJ but loves Medicare. Actually believes Fox News.
I Agree
Tue, 09/13/2011 - 21:37 — lawyerjohnShe's got my vote. Dedicated and hard-working without the pretense of Der Proffesor. That guy reminds me why I hated chemistry so much!
Dup
Tue, 09/13/2011 - 16:31 — bpuli9999Deleted duplicate