The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system. How much will the new Democratic majority on the school board do to undo the changes made by Republicans since 2009? Will the new student assignment plan be a hybrid of the last two models or primarily be a return to the use of busing for diversity? Who will replace Tony Tata as the new superintendent of the state's largest district? How will voters react to a likely request in 2013 to borrow potentially more than $1 billion to build and renovate schools?
WakeEd is maintained by The News & Observer's Wake schools reporter, T. Keung Hui. While Keung posts information and analysis on the issues, keep us posted on your suggestions, questions, tips and what you're doing to cope with the changes in Wake's schools.
The school district's senior administrators are getting some job security.
On Tuesday, the school board voted to extend the contracts of Superintendent Del Burns' leadership team through June 30, 2012. It matches Burns' contract status.
Click here to see the list.
Mike Burriss, assistant superintendent for facilities, is on that list. But he's leaving later this year to take a job in the private sector.
Comments
are their contracts public
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 16:36 — bigwinnieare their contracts public record?
Does Performance Even Matter?
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:59 — Lisa_BI personally haven't had any contact with the majority of this "leadership team" so I don't know how well any of them are doing their jobs. BUT I don't understand how a quick "sweeping decision" can be made and POOF, the contracts are all extended.
Shouldn't this be run more like a business where performance matters and one person who is "protected" can just "protect" his team?
WCPSS has MAJOR issues to deal with, and some MAJOR failures (MYR and our ineffective Diversity Plan to name a few) so how can they smile, pat each other on the back, and accept meaningless national awards knowing that what they're doing is NOT working for their customers (families)??
Can I see...
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:29 — RiversideRealist... these studies??
"that decades of research have proven to be critical for successful schools"
Please? Someone? Anyone? Bueller?
"This Roundtable discussion will present the position of the Partnership as published in “Striking a Balance: In Support of Diversity in the Wake County Public School System.”"
*YAWN*
Isn't this the Wake EDUCATION partnership?
Except for their name, that whole post lacks the word most important in schools -- EDUCATION.
Its been a while since you called me out...
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:41 — shearertwHI FERRIS
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:53 — Lisa_BWell, I should have known...HELLO FERRIS! I don't know why I didn't make the connection sooner, but I did know that what this "shearertw" person said made sense to me! I wondered where you had gone...
The change wasn't intentional...
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:55 — shearertwThe name change wasn’t intentional. It occurred when the site was re-done and I just stuck with it.
"our public school system
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 11:33 — bigwinnie"our public school system has actively sought to create and maintain the kind of enrollment balance "
this (NOT education) is their claim to fame and by god, they will STICK TO IT!
OT alert-but why not, already are anyway
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:57 — bigwinnieWake Education Partnership and the
Garner Chamber of Commerce
invite you to attend the next Wake Regional Education Roundtable.
Date: October 1, 2008
Time: Noon - 1:30 p.m., including lunch
Place: Eagle Ridge Golf Course
Topic: Socioeconomic Diversity in Public Schools
Register: Registration for this event is $10.00. Fee includes lunch. Follow this link to reserve your seat today.
For more than 30 years, students attending the Wake County Public School System have benefited from a demonstrated commitment by community leaders to schools that reflect the county’s diversity. First by race, and more recently by family income, our public school system has actively sought to create and maintain the kind of enrollment balance that decades of research have proven to be critical for successful schools, students, and communities.
This Roundtable discussion will present the position of the Partnership as published in “Striking a Balance: In Support of Diversity in the Wake County Public School System.” (Copies of the publication will be provided for all attendees.)
figures . . .
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:07 — Betty (not verified)It figures that Mike Burriss is leaving. He's the one with the most savvy and brains of the group. He'll be missed.
Mr. Burriss' departure
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 19:15 — HJ2ss2Savvy and brains. No wonder he is leaving. Those qualities are a definite deficit if you are employed in the Wake County School System. Anyone possessing those attributes is often disposed of quickly and quietly.
I'm certain he was a threat to the "status quo". Makes everyone else look bad. After all, just because they stress the importance of "character education" for the students doesn't mean the Administration should be held to those standards.
Thank Heavens!
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 09:25 — g88ky07No surprises
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 09:45 — Dadof3Animal Farm, anyone?
Required Viewing & Reading
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:26 — Voice_of_Reason_Animal Farm should required viewing in Middle School and read by all high school students.
To those of left leaning and don't know what we are talking about... watch the animated movie at least. Our country is headed this way because of those of you that don't understand. FREEDOM is not free !
I'll even give you a free link to watch it: Animal Farm, the movie (1999)
And even the book for free: E-Book Download
Thanks VoR
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 10:46 — Dadof3For clarifying. Even more poignant is that the author, George Orwell, was a man of the left but never so far left as to deny its excesses, hence, Animal Farm.