Discussing Knightdale High and the school budget today

Ann Denlinger and budget issues will be on the agenda of today's joint meeting of the Wake County school board and county commissioners.

Denlinger, president of the Wake Education Partnership, will give an abbreviated version of the January presentation about Knightdale High School she had made to the Knightdale 100. It had so impressed County Commissioner Joe Bryan that he wants both boards to hear it.

The school board will then discuss the budget it adopted Tuesday, especially the request for $313.5 million from commissioners. It's the same amount as was requested last year.

Some school board members had argued Tuesday they should have asked for more money from commissioners this year.

"If we want to make a second-class school system, we’ll make these cuts," said school board member Kevin Hill.

School board member Anne McLaurin said they need to be willing to ask commissioners for an amount that has "vision" and high expectations.

But school board chairman Ron Margiotta said they need to ask for a "realistic" amount in light of the economic times.

After the school budget is presented, County Manager David Cooke will give an update on the county budget picture. Except for schools, Cooke has called on county departments to identify 7 percent of their budget that can be cut if needed.

The meeting environment should also be interesting considering that the commissioners had voted Monday for the resolution objecting to the school board's abandonment of the diversity policy.

Today's joint meeting will be held starting at 9 a.m. in the cramped school board conference room at 3600 Wake Forest Road in Raleigh. The school district is hoping WRAL will stream the meeting so they can show it in the main board room.

UPDATE

School board chairman Ron Margiotta opened today's joint meeting by saying that he recognizes that the commissioners' resolution can be in conflict with the school board's new assignment plans. He said they'll meet to discuss it later but need to focus today on the agenda topics.