More to come later, but the new Democratic majority on the Wake County school board exerted its muscle today by electing Keith Sutton as vice chairman.
The vote ends John Tedesco's tenure as vice chair six months earlier than it was supposed to finish. But the 2009 decision by Republicans to replace Kevin Hill early as board chair set the precedent for today.
During the vice chair's vote, Sutton got five votes. Debra Goldman got three votes. Deborah Prickett got one vote. I'll check the ballots later.
UPDATE
At the start of the organizational meeting, Jim Martin called for them to reaffirm Kevin Hill's earlier vote as chairman. Martin said that votes on chair and vice chair typically occur at the organizational meeting.
John Tedesco said it would be "futile" to have a second vote.
Chris Malone asked if they could hold the organizational meeting after having already elected a chairman. Board attorney Ann Majestic answered yes.
Hill asked if it was to vote again on chair. Majestic answered yes.
Deborah Prickett said they may as well follow procedure even if takes a few more minutes.
Keith Sutton moved for a voice vote of acclimation for Hill to be chairman. But that died because only five of the nine, all Democrats, voted yes. Acclimation votes have to be unanimous.
This meant they went back to a second round of voting.
Sutton nominated Hill. Then Malone, just like the first vote, nominated Sutton. But just as before, Sutton turned down the nomination.
But as earlier noted by Majestic, board members aren't limited to only the people who are nominated.
Before the vote, Prickett said that the board chair should respect that there's now a majority of members who have a full-time day job. She said the chair should be cognizant of that.
The vote was 5-4 with All the Democrats backing Hill. All the Republicans voted for Sutton.
The board then moved to vote on vice chair.
Christine Kushner nominated Sutton. Malone nominated Debra Goldman.
All five Democrats voted for Sutton. Prickett voted for herself. The other three Republicans voted for Goldman.
Afterward, Tedesco was accusing the new Democratic majority of acting like the way they complained the Republicans did in 2009. Tedesco said "they did an amazing job as a partisan bloc." He added "they probably did a better job than we did."
"It's the same thing," Tedesco said of the Democrats' move. "I am not saying it's not OK, just don't go out to the public and say it's all going to be 'Kumbaya.'"
Hill said they were following best practices of most other North Carolina school districts and the Wake County Board of Commissioners who elect officers right after elections.
Outgoing school boaes Ron Margiotta said he had been contacted by Hill to amend today's agenda to include an organzational meeting. Margiotta said he refused after talking with Majestic and determining he didn't have the authority to add it.
Comments
Keung
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 15:29 — Dove314Any chance to get a thread on the discussion regarding the budget from yesterday's meeting? WCPSS apparently has some unspent funds accrued from cost saving measures which is over and above the required fund balance of the 6%. At the same time, there was a suggestion that per pupil funding levels are at approximately the 2007 level.
I'll put it on my list.
Thu, 12/08/2011 - 13:11 — KeungHui (author)I'll put it on my list.
Thanks
Thu, 12/08/2011 - 18:45 — Dove314Just seems like it was useful information in helping understand what may or may not be plausible with regards to achievement, assignment, and more to understand the $28 million shortful and the magnitude of how per pupil spending has declined back to 2007 levels (along with understanding just how complex it is to sort out per pupil spending). Certainly more useful than a BoE members' religious beliefs.
Foxes guarding the hen house...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:02 — concerned2So, the only two members to vote against the recent assignment plan are now the leaders in the Chair and Vice-Chair slots? Do you suppose that's an indication of where the true heart of the democrats are in this whole process?
It's so heart-warming also to see the same ol' cast of characters here in the comments section being hypocrites (on all sides).
I'm fine with a newly elected board selecting new leadership. The reason they never did it until June before 2009 was Democrats always had control of the Board, so there were not ideological changes. I can understand them doing it now (as Reps did in '09), but it's interesting they choose the only two people who voted against a bipartisan supported assignment plan. We'll see how long they take to dismantle it and get back to the old way of doing things.
I wonder if Willie Barber will "cut a shine" at School Board meetings now when this archaic bunch of social-engineering types perpetuate the type of school leadership that has resulted in half of blacks not graduating?
Will any of you foaming-at-the-mouth liberals decry the poor academic performance that these board members support, or is it okay as long as we have diversity?
It's okay as long as we have diversity
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:59 — FSandYOUThat's all that's ever mattered for the lazy and complacent people.
I guess expereince doesn't matter
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:20 — EBDarcyThey wisely elected the two who had experience rather than three who were new to the table.
Take A Hint
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:00 — jgegbgmgTedesco just can't get it - I would think the votes last night show that not a single member of either party wants him in a leadership position (and possibly that the Republican Party is ready for him to get out of the picture before he harms them any further). And to think he has visions of running for State Superintendent of Schools when he can't even get leadership votes from his own party on the current board. Can't wait to see what names he will call those who didn't vote for him.
It is time to make some...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:45 — bpuli9999changes. Including possibly replacing Ann Majestic as counsel/attorney, imo.
?
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:20 — Bob_SconceWhy? Majestic is highly regarded as an excellent lawyer.
The AdvancED drama...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:30 — bpuli9999was in part exacerbated by her confrontational attitude. And gained WCPSS nothing. That whole thing could have been resolved amicably if RM had curbed his ego and not dragged in AM. That should have been counsel to the BOE, in the first place.
don't know what happened
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 14:16 — turnerk1We have no idea what Ann Majestic's advice was to RM about the Advance Ed situation. Once the client (in this case the BOE) has made a decision, she has to carry it out.
She's not going anywhere
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:00 — FSandYOUunless she quits.
?
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:43 — Bob_SconceI don't understand your last sentence.
The board counsel's job is to represent the board's positions, whether she agrees with them or not. She is not an independent actor in the AdvancEd situation.
What game was Debra "Rubber Stamp"...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:35 — bpuli9999Prickett playing? And did she just get a full time job? Don't remember her complaining about meeting times over the past two years.
Actually, I think I remember
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:02 — jenmanActually, I think I remember Keung reporting that both Sutton and Prickett have had trouble with meeting times because they work full time jobs.
Obligation
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 09:45 — jgegbgmgThe old saying that if you can't do your job just get off the bus might be what Prickett needs to do - If she doesn't have the time to fulfill her obligation to the children of Wake County then she should ask to be replaced with someone who can do the job. Another idiotic comment from the "Thank You Republican Party" lady.
Prickett has done just fine for schools in D7.
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 23:33 — raleighlauraShe is has been involved in plans to help our school and others (Hilburn, the Jefferys Grove feeder pattern, etc.) and still held a full time job at DPI. I never thought the school board was supposed to be a board member's full time job, anyway. Are you suggesting that only independently wealthy people make good board members?
NO
Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:58 — jgegbgmgI'm just suggesting that she does the job she was elected to do - I'm sorry her employment is interfering with her ability to perform her school board requirements - She should have thought of that before running for office!
Eh...
Thu, 12/08/2011 - 13:09 — Bob_SconceI think it's reasonable to expect the school board to make reasonable accommodations for the schedules of its members. It's difficult enough to get good people to run for that office -- it doesn't make sense to further limit the candidate pool. Sure, it'd be impossible to do if you didn't have flexibility. But, it'd be a bad thing if the only people who could be on the board were retirees and stay-at-home parents.
It's difficult enough to get good people to run
Thu, 12/08/2011 - 13:48 — FSandYOUApparently.
Look at the loons they elected this time around! LOL.
Keung - Is it possible...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:23 — bpuli9999to turn off HTML formatting for posts? Some old fogeys have figured out how to increase text size. It is very distracting especially when there is no useful content. It also messes up formatting on phones.
That's not my call. The
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:59 — KeungHui (author)That's not my call. The operation and maintenance of the blog software is handled by the corporate folks in California.
I for one appreciate FS's new approach....
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:34 — mom2teens....it .makes it very easy to glide right over his "woodstock-esque" contributions without wasting a second reading any of them.
Maybe you should actually leave your cave
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:57 — FSandYOUonce a day for fresh air. HTML has nothing to do with it, it's called
CLICK HERE!
Eh....
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 11:02 — Bob_SconceI agree with him -- that is a bit annoying. I don't want HTML formatting turned off, though -- it's a convenient way to italicize or underline or whatever.
apparently NO ONE wanted JT to remain as vice-chair
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 23:32 — changewcpss1Apparently it was a very good thing they voted on a new-vice chair. Since NO ONE nominated nor voted for Tedesco, they all wanted someone else to do the job.
...
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 22:26 — SideburnsWell organized and obviously planned in advance. Hypocrites.
They learned from the...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:19 — bpuli9999best (at being hypocrites) over the past two years.
I am glad you see the new
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:35 — starsonoursI am glad you see the new majority as hypocrites also.
I am glad...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 08:46 — bpuli9999you see the "old majority" as hypocrites too.
I don't recall the old
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 09:01 — starsonoursI don't recall the old majority running on a platform of civility. The current majority said they would not govern in the way the old majority did, but on day one they forget what they said.
I would consider hypocrisy...
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:21 — bpuli9999to be the least of the character flaws of the old majority (or new one). Did not realize you were hung up on that. And at the same time, you were not worried that they would turn the schools into a segregated system? You had JT going around saying that he would like to concentrate all the ED students into certain schools so he could solve their problems? You were not worried about that? And he did do that, right? At least you've got your priorities right.
The "segregated system"
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:53 — starsonoursThe "segregated system" talking point. We were not going to a segregated system, that was just a good way to sensationalize the topic.
Concentrating....
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:27 — Bob_SconceI don't know about 'concentrating' ED students into a handful of schools, but let's recognize that spreading them to the four corners of the district can make education harder. Consider, for example, ESL instruction -- the district does not have enough ESL teachers for every school to have one. As a result, an individual ESL teacher has to travel to multiple schools. The result is that no student gets the level of attention that they really need. It would be far better to have a full ESL class with a dedicated teacher than have that teacher split his/her time among small groups of 3-5 students a couple of times a week.
Don't bother trying to
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 10:44 — loriacDon't bother trying to explain - he gets his information from Stephen Colbert.
So...
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 21:58 — Bob_SconceOfficers should be elected right after elections -- there was absolutely nothing wrong with deposing Hill in December '09, despite the complaints at the time, and there's nothing wrong with electing Sutton this time. It is curious, though, that the people who complained so voraciously about deposing Hill in '09 are copasetic with doing the same thing to Tedesco this year.
And It's Curious That Those
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 22:23 — chaboard....who supported it then aren't giving the new board any credit for adopting one of the last board's controversial policies unchanged.
except the new majority said
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 22:28 — starsonoursexcept the new majority said they would not act as the old majority did....I guess the new majority has decided that honesty isn't important.
Not exactly
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 09:24 — Dove314Not exactly. Just watched the meeting. Unlike in December 2009, yesterday's meeting involved broad consensus on the agenda items beyond who would be chair or vice-chair. There were civil and constructive discussions on the fund balance, Athen's drive improvements, and more. Ms. Goldman was supported in her quest to get finance to provide the desired level of detail on per pupil spending by school and by special program status both by other BoE members and by Supt. Tata. Effectively, they did indeed find a third way, electing Hill (as a chair had to be elected) and replacing Tedesco (who didn't even vote for himself) with Sutton but otherwise finding agreement across the 9 members on all other issues with voice votes.
The way the elections were
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 09:30 — starsonoursThe way the elections were held was the same as in 09. In 09 the Dem's were up in arms at the way it was done and said they would not act that way. In 11 they acted the same way. The agenda items were from the "old board". Lets see what happens when assignment becomes the agenda item.
Honesty wasn't important during the campaign
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 22:35 — FSandYOUBetween the Key Club lies from Martin and the I'm a CPA from Evans it was clear they were not interested in honesty from day one.
Let me get this one, TOLD YOU SO!
Nice night!
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 21:19 — logosisdeadWell done Dems! Certainly handled with more class and professionalism than that of the majority from 2 years ago!
While I am not surprised, it
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 21:12 — finalfrontierWhile I am not surprised, it is disappointing we have elected individuals who have opted to remain mired in the past. A poor start indeed.
Complain about the way the
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 19:55 — starsonoursComplain about the way the board handled things in 09 and then in 11 do the same....
Not even close
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 23:16 — Solon77The ousting of Hill two years ago certainly raised some eyebrows, but that was the least of it. It was the 8 or so motions that followed immediately thereafter with no notice. This board made organizational changes as would be expected. There were no motions to appoint interim special legal counsel, no motions to change the assignment policy, no motions to end funding for school sites and seek alternatives, no motions to alter PLTs and change the calendar.
With regards to changing of the vice chair - heck JT couldn't even get the support of his Republican colleagues.
And the motions they had
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 23:27 — starsonoursAnd the motions they had were the things they campaigned on and said they would do if elected. Most were time sensitive and required action as soon as possible. Lets see what "tweaks" are made to the assignment plan. I have a feeling that after the "tweaks" are made the new plan will look almost identical to the plan that was in place 2 years ago.
Time sensitive
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 23:47 — Solon77Give me a break. The only urgency was for the then new majority to flex their muscles to announce they were in charge and it was going to be their way. It was all a political statement. Heck look at all of the time wasted on assignment by JT trying to do it himself versus handing it off to experts and focus on other things. One year wasted.
With regards to the assignment plan tweaks - JT has consistency supported allowing low achieving students the opportunity to go to an achievement school - but he has never said how he would implement this. If there were plenty of seats to go around, this would not be an issue. However since most of our schools are full how would he make room. I think a good assignment for JT would be to make sure that every low achieving student that wants to go to an achievement school is placed and provided transportation.
Sure they could have kept
Tue, 12/06/2011 - 23:59 — starsonoursSure they could have kept spending money on a site that they were not going to build a school on. They also had to have time to change all the school signs once "wacky Wednesdays'" were ended. Both are time sensitive. They made it clear during their campaigns what they would do if elected. And they did what they said they would do.
Henny Penny
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 13:50 — Solon77I guess to some the was falling two years ago and therefore the need for swift and immediate action. Like a few days or a couple of weeks delay would have made any difference at all. Just like the assignment plan right ? No need for discussion to work out the details because everyone is happy with it ? No wrinkles to be ironed out here - just steam roll ahead.
Your right, we have been
Wed, 12/07/2011 - 15:38 — starsonoursYour right, we have been discussing assignment plans for 2 years. 2 years = steam rolling? So what should it take to work the wrinkles out 10-20 years? It doesn't matter now we have the "green" board. They are going to recycle the assignment plan from the past.