- 11.07.2009
- |
54°F
- Blogs > WakeEd
You may also like WakeWatch | Eastern Wake Buzz | Crosstown Traffic | Campus Notes
WakeEd
The WakeEd blog is devoted to discussing and answering questions about the major issues facing the Wake County school system: the reassignment of thousands of students, the conversion of traditional-calendar schools to a year-round schedule, the district's response to growth and the school construction program.
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.
No applicants yet for Wake school board vacancy
People aren't exactly rushing to fill the vacancy on the school board.
School officials say they hadn't received any applications as of Monday afternoon. You've got until noon on July 20th to get your application into the hands of the school district.
There are people who've expressed interest in filling the District 4 seat in Southeast Raleigh that was vacated when Rosa Gill left to join the General Assembly.
Community activist Venita Peyton has announced she'll apply for Gill's seat.
Other names that have been mentioned as possible candidates include Lillian Lee, the retired principal of Rolesville Elementary School; Alice Garrett, a retired administrator and former principal of Carroll Middle School; Jonica Rowland, an active PTA volunteer; and the Rev. Johnny Darden, who mentors at-risk students
School board members hope to fill the position by next month. The new board member would finish out Gill's term, which expires November 2011.
Normally, state law only allows school boards to fill vacancies to the next election, which in Wake's case would mean this October. But the state law that merged the Wake County and Raleigh City schools gave the school board the right to fill out unexpired terms.
T. Keung Hui
T. Keung Hui covers Wake schools.
Comments
Put it on this year's ballot
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 14:07 — RonBJust because Wake County *can* appoint someone to fill the whole term doesn't mean they *have* to.
Unless it would throw off the balance of having almost half the board elected every two years, move this seat to hold its elections in this cycle.
The *size* of the Wake County School System led to requiring more of its board members.
Ms. Peyton has constantly complained that Ms. Gill's replacement will be someone who thinks like Rosa while ignoring the fact that the people voted for Rosa Gill. She can not fufill her duties any more, so she SHOULD be replaced by someone who will best represent the views of the majority of the cizitens of the district.
If WCPSS replaces Gill with Peyton or anyone who has a different agenda, they will remove the citizens' input in the school boards' decisions.
Of course this is what the "at-large"ers want -- let only the well-financed run the school board, and tax the rest of the county to make the developers in Apex even better "schooled" than they already are.
Voter intent
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 20:14 — Bob_SconceUm... So, if I recall correctly, Rosa Gill ran unopposed in 2007. Saying that the voters had any real say there is disingenuous.
Part of the idea of at-large districts is to give voters more choices by letting them vote for people from outside their district.
The ITB power brokers have
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 20:58 — SouthEastWakeMomThe ITB power brokers have already determined who will take Rosa Gill's seat. It will be someone who whole heartedly supports the status quo.
Alice Garrett would be a horrible board member
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 16:23 — MudcrutchOh boy, if you think Rosa Gill was a nightmare you haven't meant Alice Garrett. ALL SHE CARES ABOUT IS DIVERSITY AND NOTHING ELSE!!! She makes Rosa look reasonable in comparison. She would be an absolute nightmare on the school board.
Well then there's your winner!
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 19:17 — g88ky07If she's THAT bad you can bet she'll be the one Lori, Patti and Horace vote for!
Sad but true
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 21:24 — Mudcrutchg88ky07,
Sadly, you are exactly right. Alice Garett has been pushing her diversity views on WCPSS for years. She will push her diversity agenda at all costs.
I at least hope Horace will hold out. But I agree that Lori, Patti, Beverly, and Eleanor are very likely to support a candidate who will continue to push their misguided diversity agenda.
Horace will vote
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 09:53 — g88ky07for whatever puts him in the column with Ron so come October he can say "see, I do care!"
Question is, will District 2 voters buy it!? I don't think so.
Oh maybe his diehard 1,200 or so following, a clueless mayor and maybe several local biz owners will stick the jar out, but the bottom line, the only thing Horace Tart will be voting on this time next year is where he'll have lunch on the way to check out one of his developments!
Lillian Lee...
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 10:49 — xpukguy... is a buffoon. One of the worst, clueless educators my family ever dealt with in Rolesville. Good fit for SE Raleigh.
Lillian Lee
Wed, 07/01/2009 - 20:34 — cassionOh my, how sad, the writer is into name calling. From what I've heard from Rolesville parents, Lillian Lee was one of the best principals the school has ever had. I think she would make a great school board member, for SE Raleigh, and Wake County as a whole.
Please tell me more...
Mon, 07/06/2009 - 04:01 — designmanI am unfamiliar with Lillian Lee. What convinces you that she would make a "great school board member." What qualities would she bring to a school board that has failed our economically disadvantaged students and ignores input from parents? If Ms. Lee is willing to buck the status quo and offer real solutions to the challenges we face in Wake County, I am ready to listen.
I wonder why they aren't
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 08:11 — g88ky07I wonder why they aren't rushing in?
hmmmm....
Thankless, low paying job,
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 11:13 — user1234Thankless, low paying job, with long hours, shrinking budget, and constant complaints ....
Well...
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 21:26 — Bob_SconceSo, constant complaints are just part of the job, in any school district. There's always some parent who's upset about their kid's math test score, or who feels that their kid's teacher is out to get them. However, Wake County has taken complaints to a whole new level by adopting a number of very contentious policies. The school board could easily reduce the number of complaints by reducing the number of things for parents to complain about.
The long hours are also caused largely by the board. In most districts, school directors are unpaid officials who have the job in addition to their full-time jobs. They don't take on more than they can chew and they delegate administrative matters to the administration. In contrast, the Wake County School Board feels like it needs to have its hand in everything. Its reach exceeds its grasp.
Note: if we had at-large districts, I suspect that there would be more people willing to apply for that seat....
It's only a thankless job here because they made it that way
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 13:10 — FalcSorry, but they've done a lot of it to themselves.
Most other districts don't have inequitable magnet programs, MYR, kids being bussed multiple directions and further than the second closest school against their will, are cutting teachers first, and instead of debating about getting available federal funding are going after it.
The economy back home has shrunk much further than here, but there are no complaints about the BOE or school system.
What are people going to gripe about there with the system cutting 4 positions (not all teachers) when students and instruction are the priority and non-instructional areas are cut first; administrative ranks are thin and they perform multiple duties; central office is in an abandoned lumber warehouse; all the schools have good teachers, adequate supplies and equitable programs; kids are all on the same schedule attending a school that is no further than the second closest; and there is strong support and involvment between the school system, parents and the community? I don't think people will complain that "before cutting those 4 positions, central office should have been moved out of the warehouse to a field to save on utilities."
But hey for some of the BOE here, maybe the local complaints are outweighed by those pats on the back from the out-of-staters who like to 'study' and write about us to sell a book or a theory.
It is NOT a thankless
Tue, 06/30/2009 - 12:00 — CaryCurmudgeonIt is NOT a thankless job. I have lived here long enough to remember when school board members were respected, or worst case, anonymous.
You would have a hard time finding another school district with school board members as well-known and well-despised as here in Wake County. It doesn't have to be that way. The job is thankless because no thanks are deserved.
The hours don't need to be as long. Just look at all the time the school board spends on the sham called Community Engagement Meetings. They spend hours ignoring parents pleas; Generally the same pleas which the school board creates with senseless policies and needless redistricting.