It's not an understatement to say that Tuesday's Wake County school board elections hang on the outcome of the District 8 battle between board chairman Ron Margiotta and challenger Susan Evans.
As noted in today's article, Margiotta is proud of the actions the board has taken in the past two years on issues such as ending the diversity policy while Evans says he's ruined Wake's national reputation. The fact that Democrats have to oust Margiotta to have any chance of regaining control is why so much money and attention has been poured into District 8 by critics of the board majority.
"If they get rid of me, they have control of the school board," Margiotta said.
Margiotta says his goals are to implement neighborhood schools and expand program offerings at non-magnet schools. Once he's done that, he said he'll be ready to "go ride off into the sunset."
in addition to opposing the actual changes, Evans sharply criticizes the way Margiotta and the board majority went about implementing them.
“He’s been polarizing, bullying, and not well informed on matters,” Evans said.
But Margiotta said he wanted to avoid a repeat of his first six years in the board minority when he said they talked and talked but didn't accomplish anything.
“Somebody could criticize our process, which is justified,” Margiotta said. “But if we hadn’t approached it in that manner, things would never have happened. We took action. I’m proud of that fact.”
Evans says that the board majority in 2009 tapped into justified anger about issues such as reassignment and lack of stability. But she says they've gone too far.
“Families didn’t want to see this kind of extreme change,” Evans said. “They wanted to see relief from being moved around. They didn’t want the board to bring in a political agenda.”
Evans said she wants to make sure Wake is ready to deal with the growth that's coming and that the district will have adequate funding.
Evans said another priority is to provide stability in student assignment while still promoting balanced schools. She said that balance could include some mixture of socioeconomic diversity and/or student achievement diversity.
“They gave the message that if you want stability, you can’t have diversity in assignment,” Evans said. “That’s not true.”
Margiotta charges that electing Evans would turn back the clock in a negative way.
“If the majority changed, we would go back to the old assignment plan that created busing for diversity,” Margiotta said.
Margiotta says he supports the magnet school program. But he wants more of a balance in programming between the "whipped cream" offered at magnet schools inside the Raleigh Beltline and the "broccoli" provided to schools in other parts of the county.
Evans agrees that school leaders should look at improving academic offerings in non-magnet schools. But the parent of two magnet school graduates warns that weakening the magnet program would mean “shooting ourselves in the foot.”
“We need to find a delicate balance,” Evans said. “The people who are promoting this agenda are looking out for the benefit of a few people instead of the needs of the school system."
Comments
The past is important
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 12:37 — louiselee44Whether you're for or against Ron Margiotta, one fact is certain - he is the only current School Board member who knows first-hand how this school system got to where it is today.
If you weren't intimately involved with the workings of this school system and with what was going on 5-10 years ago, it's much easier to throw stones. There's a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation out there because many (I would argue most) of the vocal critics are fairly new to the picture (they have said so themselves). Attempts to get some facts out in the open have been smothered by more sensational "news". What a shame.
As I pointed out at the School Board meeting Tuesday night, the cry for changes in how students are assigned goes back at least 5 or 6 years. That's when thousands of parents let it be known in writing that they opposed being forced into a school that didn't meet the needs - not preferences, but needs - of their family.
That's when a WRAL/N&O poll showed that over half of the "Black" and "Hispanic" parents who were polled were totally against the mandating of YR school attendance.
That's when I attended a meeting in SE Raleigh where minority parents were instructed to gather on stage in a show of support for the school board back then. Some parents weren't even sure why they were going up there - but it was a great photo-op, you can be sure! Parents that were considering opting out for a school more to their liking were actually told by one leader that if they did so, they were essentially choosing to return to the days of segregated schools. These parents were treated as if they couldn't even think for themselves. I was shocked.
I ended my talk Tuesday evening by saying that when I hear the word "change" negatively associated with a particular party or school board member, or with racism or any number of stereotypes, I want to ask that person where he/she was when some of us were trying our best, years ago, to stand up for those whose voices were being ignored. We didn't discriminate on the basis of skin color or party affiliation or income levels either.
So - discussions and research about changing Wake County's assignment policies have been taking place for years. This isn't something, as some have claimed, that Superintendent Tata and our School Board suddenly just rushed into without thought. Changes have been a long time coming. Could it be, just maybe, that these leaders are finally listening to that diverse group that rallied together years ago in an effort to ensure that they had a say-so in the education of their children? I don't have the answer to that, but I do know that this is the first group that has even come close to addressing those early concerns (although there were one or two individual members who always did listen and did try to right some wrongs).
I haven't studied the new assignment plan in enough depth to state my opinion of it. As with any other policy, it has its pros and cons. But I commend Superintendent Tata and the School Board for realizing that change was needed and for taking some action.
The real Evans before she started campaigning
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 09:49 — prettyintensestuffyoutube.com/watch?v=TeJB2U7-pNU
youtube.com/watch?v=EecjKLu-yJM
youtube.com/watch?v=VpLw8dNQ2bM
wral.com/news/education/video/7791023/#/vid7791023
21 minute mark
Looks Like Ron's Role in this was Intense Too.
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 07:18 — lovingpenelopeDoesn't it concern you at all that it seems---based on recent reports from Wake County Communications officials---that Margiotta may have abused his position as an elected official to get a hold of these videos in the first place?
Is there REALLY another reason that he requested and received DVD copies of school board open comment periods?
Are you certain he was just adding to his personal DVD collection instead of planning to get clips that he could use in his campaign?
If it's true that Ron was involved in this, aren't you even the littlest bit convinced that he's gone too far?
Is it REALLY okay for elected officials to use their position to get videotaped recordings of their constituents and then turn around and use those videotaped recordings in their campaigning?
Wouldn't you call that "government overstepping their bounds" if Ronnie had a "D" behind his name?
Aren't the Republicans and Tea Party folks the ones who like to claim that government has gone too far?
Funny how your "commitment to wholesome values" only seems to apply to your opponents.
Anyone can get copies of any
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 07:32 — woodstockAnyone can get copies of any public meeting... even you. Also, most of the files can be accessed with a few clicks of a mouse, so it is very odd that you are making an issue of this... it seems very pointless and petty.
What I am surprised at is that you are essentially admitting that Evans' own words are haunting her. Don't you think voters have a right to see that she stands for a return to burdensome forced-busing and elite status for privileged magnet students? Plus it is very revealing to so see her actually ridicule her Western Wake constituents and suggest they lack the sophistication that she and her magnet school brethren possess. What rational person does that? She is insulting and arrogant and will be defeated.
Not to mention...
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 22:19 — logosisdeadhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=Z1051jGbfYQ
Yes, more arrogance, lies and deception from that Evans woman
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 07:32 — woodstockYes, more arrogance, lies and deception from that Evans woman. Thank God, the voters of Wake County will shut her down -- and up -- on Tuesday Oct. 11 and re-elect Mr. Ron Margiotta.
You've got it all wrong man
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 14:51 — FSandYOUThat is still the REAL Evans. Confused and out of rhythm.
All together now, i woke up this moanin' with my mind ... clap it Susan, clap it loud and proud.
She can't clap and the fruitcake brigade can't sing. But,
i woke up this moanin' with my mind ...
Just in time for
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 10:31 — woodstockJust in time for Halloween... that Evans woman is SCARY!!! It gives me the shivers thinking anyone would actually vote for her. She lies, she deceives and she desperately wants to return to the burdens hoisted upon families by the forced-busing status quo radicals. Plus, seeing her dance and sing in the dark shadow cast by that race-hustler Rev. Barber... well, that is just over-the-top radical left-wing crazy.
We need relief
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 08:56 — SatchHHWe need relief from the type of governance we've had on the school board for the past two years. It has been awful in Wake County. We're mocked nationally, have common protests, turning back the clocks to segregated schools, etc. Ron in a leadership position has been poisonous and relief from him will help bring our county back into balance. We're a nationally-ranked school system (3rd in graduation rate in the nation of the 50 largest school systems). We didn't get there easily. Ron's extreme plans will turn back the clock and take us down as a system. Susan Evans will address the problems of District 8 and the county - she's stated very clearly that stability is a huge priority for her - but not wreck what isn't broken. Let's fix the real problems. Let's not ruin WCPSS for political purposes. Remember, Ron's biggest fans (Pope, Luddy) are public school system haters. Why would they support Ron so strongly if they thought he would actually strengthen WCPSS?! Answer: they wouldn't. They know he's bad for the future of WCPSS and good for private schools and charter schools.
You are clearly misinformed,
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 02:41 — jeffrey1You are clearly misinformed, and relying on the lies spread by so many people.
We're a nationally-ranked school system (3rd in graduation rate in the nation of the 50 largest school systems).
If you're going to limit your domain to the 50 largest school systems in the US, this isn't saying much. Are you really that proud to be leading New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Diego, Detroit, Memphis, Baltimore, Washington DC, etc? I'm not. I think we're good, but I want to know how we stack up against ALL districts in the nation.
Furthermore, it can be reasonably argued that the overall education level of the parents in a school district has far greater impact on the success of that school district. Nearly 48% of all adults in Wake County have college degrees, one of the highest in the nation, even higher than those counties in Silicon Valley. Oh, and those two districts that rank higher in graduation rate? Fairfax County, VA where 58% of adults have college degrees, and Montgomery County, MD, where 56% of adults have college degrees.
In other words, residents influence the quality of the schools far more than the schools influence the quality of the residents.
We didn't get there easily.
Yes we did. See above.
Ron's extreme plans will turn back the clock and take us down as a system
Highly unlikely.
Susan Evans will address the problems of District 8 and the county - she's stated very clearly that stability is a huge priority for her - but not wreck what isn't broken.
Stability and socio-economically balanced schools cannot co-exist. The last 20 years have shown that. In 2000, only 8 schools exceeded 40% F&R enrollment. Over the next 10 years, that number soared. Today, 25 schools exceed 50% and dozens more exceed 40%. This happened despite years of reassigning kids from schools to schools. Imagine the public outcry had WCPSS increased reassignment to try and bring all those schools back into balance. It is logistically impossible to balance schools and maintain stability.
And while stability may be a "priority" for Evans, she has also said that no assignment plan can succeed unless it includes diversity by SES. Don't think for a minute that Evans wouldn't toss stability to the side to get SES busing back into the assignment plan.
Amen...
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 10:07 — Bob_SconceWe're a nationally-ranked school system (3rd in graduation rate in the nation of the 50 largest school systems).
If you're going to limit your domain to the 50 largest school systems in the US, this isn't saying much. Are you really that proud to be leading New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Philadelphia, Dallas, San Diego, Detroit, Memphis, Baltimore, Washington DC, etc? I'm not. I think we're good, but I want to know how we stack up against ALL districts in the nation.
Brilliant! For comparison about how truly awful that peer group is, consider that Wake County isn't even among the top 10 in North Carolina. (Hardly a state recognized as having excellent schools.) http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/newsroom/news/2010-11/20101013-01
The "50 largest districts" comparison leads to complacency and acceptance of mediocrity. The district should strive to be among the best 50 districts of all sizes and not allow itself to be deluded by comparisons with some of the most truly awful districts in the country. (Even if they do happen to have AdvancEd accreditation!)
Am I missing something?
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 13:12 — ApexRes98How many schools do Pope and Luddy run? Three? Two Thales and Franklin Academy?
And don't forget Ron's
Sat, 10/08/2011 - 09:18 — virginiadareAnd don't forget Ron's honorary campaign chairman, Paul Stam, who has stated publicly that he wants to do away with public schools and began the effort to do just that as one of the leaders in the General Assembly who cut education funding so much that we now rank 49th in the nation. It is dangerous for anyone who believes in and values public education to support these radical candidates.