WakeEd

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.

Choose a blog

Joe Bryan expected to be elected new chairman of Wake County Board of Commissioners

Bookmark and Share

You can also look for new leadership next week on the Wake County Board of Commissioners.

It's expected that Joe Bryan will take over Monday for Paul Coble as chairman of the board of commissioners while Phil Matthews would remain vice chairman. Barring any repeat of the 2009 restroom incident, Bryan will likely be elected by his fellow Republican commissioners.

Bryan says he has contacted both Republican and Democratic commissioners for their support.

If, Bryan said Friday, he wins the vote for chairman, his priority will be reestablishing a partnership with the Wake County school board. He wants to get a bond issue for school construction not only on the ballot, but also approved by voters.

"As far as other goals, they are not going be as high a priority for me," said Bryan, of Knightdale, who served as chair in 2005 and 2008.

Asked directly, he said that means putting a proposed sales tax increase for mass transit on the ballot is lower on his list than supporting a school bond issue.

Historically, Bryan has been more willing to break with Republicans to side with Democrats on school issues. But in the last few years he's stuck firmly with Republicans on school funding.

Relations between the school board and commissioners have been strained since Democrats retook the school board last year.

Cars View All
Find a Car
Go
Jobs View All
Find a Job
Go
Homes View All
Find a Home
Go

Want to post a comment?

In order to join the conversation, you must be a member of newsobserver.com. Click here to register or to log in.

About the blogger

T. Keung Hui covers Wake schools.
Advertisements