Should critics of the Wake County school board majority be focusing more on changing municipal zone laws than on trying to mandate diversity in the school system?
In a blog post today, the N.C. Social Justice Project argues they can work on both issues with winning the school fight the short-term goal. The blog post comes amid questions whether the ongoing fight with the school board is the right way to promote diversity in Wake.
"So,while it is true that by fully balancing the socio-economic profile of our communities we may solve our educational integration issue, we certainly realize that balancing the socio-economic profile of a school system is much easier, not mention actually achievable," according to the blog post.
"Therefore, we are forced to address each problem separately, because we have a greater likelihood of quickly addressing one problem, while the other will likely languish for quite some time, despite our best efforts," the post continues.
The NCSJP says that they have to work everywhere.
"We will continue to press the Wake County School Board to develop policies that promote educational excellence for every child, no matter their address, and then fight to make that home address the best possible place to live," the NCSJP writes. "One goal is achievable in the short term, the other in the longer term."
School board member John Tedesco has repeatedly contended that the opposition has largely been silent about zoning laws even as they fight for the old diversity policy. One area he points to is Southeast Raleigh, where he says city leaders have backed policies that have led to the area having so much low-income housing.
Comments
I guess they are "getting
Mon, 08/02/2010 - 14:12 — HJ2ss2I guess they are "getting serious" about zoning to support their "cause". Unfortunately, the only ones hurt by this are the children. Meanwhile the conflict continues to take on a life of its own.
What zoning?
Mon, 08/02/2010 - 12:19 — nancyncThroughout Wake County you see very little zoning, and what I mean by that is that within a 1 mile radius, you see trailer parks, half million dollar homes, subsidized apartment dwellings and the occassional field of tobacco or soybeans.
Compared to other areas of the country, where zoning takes on a very strong control over what one finds within walking distance of their area, such is not the case in Wake County.
It would seem that each little parcel of land that has been sold off by past generations of farmers has turned into piecemeal zoning. What else could explain a one street "subdivision" where there are perhaps 10 houses and beside those you find business or an ongoing farm or even a church.
A good example is a drive down Sunset Lake Road north of Fuquay Varina. The lack of zoning is clearly obvious because the mix is constant and no transition seen.
Diversity is up to those who decide to live where they live. You cannot force diversity by zoning, especially when the greater Wake County area is already a plethora of mixed zoning with no transition between business, farm, housing, apartments, trailer parks, churchs and so forth.