Wake County Commissioner Stan Norwalk is going to force his fellow commissioners to take a stand on the school board's decision to scrap socioeconomic diversity.
Norwalk has put on today's agenda a resolution saying that the commissioners and Raleigh City Council "express their deep concern over any attempt to resegregate Wake’s public schools by either race or socioeconomic status."
Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, who has been critical of the new Wake County school board majority, said he received the resolution a week ago from Norwalk. He said it will be discussed at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
In Norwalk's resolution, he warns that Raleigh and Eastern Wake will be prone to middle class flight now that will adversely impact economic development, job creation and property values in both areas.
The resolution says that it will also lead to schools in Eastern Wake and Raleigh being below capacity while there will be "severe overcrowding in more prosperous areas of the county."
The resolution warns that there will be "significant tax increases" to pay for new schools in crowded areas and for special initiatives to help the high poverty schools.
With four of the seven commissioners running for reelection this year, you can bet today's vote will likely be mentioned during the campaign.
Norwalk's resolution harkens back to the failed attempt by the school board minority to amend the community schools resolution to say that the new assignment system won't lead to resegregation.
Members of the school board majority called it a political move while minority members said it would show the district's commitment to diversity.
UPDATE
By a 4-3 vote, all four Democrats voted for the resolution while all three Republicans, who are all running for re-election this year, voted no.
At the urging of Democrat Lindy Brown, who is also running for re-election, the resolution was amended to say it will adversely impact economic development, job creation and property values in all of Wake County. It originally only said Raleigh and Eastern Wake.
By the same 4-3 party line vote, language calling for support to lift the state's charter school cap was removed from the commissioners' legislative agenda.
Comments
THE CHILDREN
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 20:54 — n345261This is about ALL CHILDREN, MY GRANDKIDS....Their ages 12 and 14... from beginning to present in the Wake County School System... They have received an excellent education, have many, many diverse friends...The teachers have become like family. Safe, healthy, wholesome... I feel that a great many of these parents are just looking for a fight, any fight will do...How dare you... Thank you, Mr. Norwalk and all sound minded County Commissioners., Mayor Meeker , council .. I shall vote you into office once again... Stand by your sound judgments. We must stand up for our children first....
How does the "diverse"
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 18:01 — woodstockHow does the "diverse" friends your grandkids enjoy, have anything whatsoever to do with Norwalk's and Meeker's resolution? Please explain as I suspect you are confused. The only diveristy WCPSS recognizes has to do with students whose parents sign them up for free or reduced-priced lunches...and those very children are failed by the system, as only 54% of them graduate from our high schools. Most people find that statistic appalling. I am sorry we cannot count you among them.
You may choose to vote for the status quo politicians, but you will not "vote them into office." Their time will soon be up and others will be elected to take their place.
...
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 21:04 — SideburnsYour grandchildren are fortunate they have been assigned to their school long enough to build those relationships with teachers. Many don't get that opportunity.
Uh
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 20:57 — Bob_SconceWhat is a diverse friend?
Maybe is it code for
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 18:03 — woodstockMaybe is it code for multiple personality disorder.
I think this ridiculous
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 17:09 — woodstockI think this ridiculous resolution and resulting vote pretty much defines the concept of shooting one's self in the foot. Thanks, Stan!
Interesting Vote
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 15:53 — jgegbgmgLet's see how many of the Commissioners vote against diversity - We will then know their thoughts on re-segregating our schools - I just hope that anyone who needs to go to the bathroom gets permission before leaving the table - You know how sneaky Gurley is when he wants his own way.
Pfft...
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 16:11 — Bob_SconceThis is just a political stunt -- heads, we win, tails you lose. Here's how it works:
Vote against the resolution and people will say "How can you vote in favor of resegregation"?
Vote in favor of the resolution and then have that vote used as ammunition against the school board majority.
I expect that you'll see several amendments to avoid that trap.
Your right, no conflict of interest there.
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 15:05 — WhalerCaneBoth were elected and it was no secret they were when voters elected them. The mission of the Raleigh City Council and the Board of Elections are not, nor should they be at cross purposes. Impacts on the City from actions by the BoE are certainly well within the Council's mission to take up. Other communities elected bodies certainly have.
This is a far cry different from serving on the Board of Election and the Board of a private school whose furture prosperity is enhanced by running down the public schools.
I agree the mission of both
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 15:47 — DrActualFactualI agree the mission of both boards should be supportive and compatible. Many workplaces won't let husband/wife units work together for legal/business reasons. For instance, if two similar parcels of land are available for purchase for a school and one is in Raleigh and the other in a different city--if McLaurin votes in favor of the Raleigh site is she showing financial favoritism to her husband's city/job; does she recuse herself from the vote, what would the publics' perception be of such a decision? I have great respect for Ms. McLaurin, I don't believe she has acted dishonorably, unethically, illegally, etc. but I do think it is too entertwined. I've never met Mayor Meeker but he's been reelected numerous times so it would appear that his city likes him. There are many folks not in McLaurin's district that for some reason didn't even know these two were married. And, of course, without at-large elections we have no say in the matter anyway, right?
financial favoritism to her
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 22:59 — carson79financial favoritism to her husband's city/job
so are we finally admitting that the school board's decisions have financial impact on certain cities? or are we still supposed to not talk about it bc it's all about the children? and ignore the fact that certain children and their parents will benefit from the new Conservative majority's plans while others suffer - or worse yet, are completely left out of the process? ignored like second class citizens? (160 Garner families moved to SERHS)
I'm on the record several
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 06:26 — DrActualFactualI'm on the record several blog posts ago stating that nodes should have notice of intent to be reassigned and the CEM hearing to present their case for staying at the current school. It didn't happen often, but last minute node changes under the old board did occur--it was tragic then as well. Everyone should have the opportunity to be heard if a major change affects them. That said, if any BOE has no intent to change their decision then just say so and don't let the nodes do all the research/work only to be shot down (just a waste of time.) To the poster below, IMO McLaurin should recuse herself if she has to vote on something that has financial implications to the city her husband runs (land deals, school improvements, etc.) anything that financial benefits someone in the scope of his influence could be perceived incorrectly. After all, look at the Easley's--public perception matters.
I just don't see it
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 20:57 — turnerk1McLaurin's district is in Raleigh. If she votes on something that benefits Raleigh isn't that her job?
Pfft..
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 15:38 — Bob_SconceIt seems to me that Thales in Apex was doing quite well before the election.
The old board's policies are driving students to Thales. When Wakefield ES converted to year round 3 years ago, a number of families left. With Kevin Hill's stubborn refusal to convert it back, more parents are considering going to Thales (Wake Forest). Mrs. Sconce (who is quite active in the school) tells me that between Hill and the current principal's intransigence, several active moms are just calling it quits. That hardly bodes well for the school and will push more families into Thales.
Thales in Wake Forest is YR
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 20:55 — Solon77Why would families leave a public YR to go to a private YR ? It is not the calendar. A colleague at work sends his child to Thales and raves about the "special" treatment. When I tell him that the same is available in the public school, kind of takes the wind out of the sails. It is sad that he is so misinformed about public schools.
I'm interested in the
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 14:43 — jenmanI'm interested in the 'special treatment' too. I've not heard that one. I've heard about the differentiated learning and the smaller class sizes. Neither one happens in most WCPSS elem schools.
Could you please share any
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 14:57 — red_balloonCould you please share any experiences you may have heard of on the differentiated education?
So...
Tue, 04/20/2010 - 17:03 — Bob_SconceFrom what I understand (and I have no direct experience with Thales), Thales is much more willing to allow students to proceed to the next topic. WCPSS, on the other hand, has more of an approach of having students develop greater mastery of individual topics instead of moving on. So, the example that was posted here was alongs the lines of "If I'm teaching multiplication and one of the students really gets it, I may have him do a powerpoint presentation to teacher other kids how to do it."
The other difference is that Thales is not bound by the NC SCOS. That, by itself, is a huge differentiator.
So...
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 21:58 — Bob_SconceOne reason is they can put all their kids there and be on the same calendar. The thing that stinks most about year-round is having different kids on different schedules.
I admit that it is strange, though. But, understand the thought process -- they're just sick of being jerked around, and they're sick of going to a "School of Progress," a euphamism for "lousy school." Impending budget cuts don't help.
I'd be curious what "special" he means -- a big attractor for me would be elementary school Spanish instruction, which doesn't exist at my kids' school.
Would you please share
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 21:28 — red_balloonWould you please share information on the "special" treatment your colleague raves about? I sometimes wonder about switching my kid to Thales but am not sure how it fares in comparison to a WCPSS school of excellence.
email commissioners in support
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 13:37 — joshjenalexI have emailed the commissioners to support a vote on this resolution, and suggested that they take it while Mr. Gurley is in the bathroom.
So Mayor
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 13:16 — badboardDrActualFactual - you don't like she being on the Board and he being Mayor - how do you feel about Margiotta being on WCPSS Board and private school BOD? No conflict of interest there?
Be interesting to see how
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 11:15 — CaryCurmudgeonBe interesting to see how Lindy Brown votes on this. The others are pretty predictable.
I bet Lindy Brown
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 20:59 — g88ky07is voted out, as bad as Horace Tart was, come this Fall! Matter of fact, you can count on it! And even thank MYR for it!
Joe,
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 15:07 — WhalerCaneI haven't spoken with her, but I would bet on Lindy supporting this resolution. How about you?
I'm not a political expert,
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 15:54 — CaryCurmudgeonI'm not a political expert, but I wonder whether her being a Democrat up for reelection would weigh into her decision. The last election showed strong support for the current board's agenda (I'm speaking about agenda, not specific actions). Her district contains a fair amount of Cary and Apex -- two areas who have been sorely abused by "old school board thinking."
There are already a bunch of people grinding their axes about the "Lindy Flop" on MYR. You know her better than I do.
So Mayor Meeker will convene
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 11:25 — DrActualFactualSo Mayor Meeker will convene his council to discuss the actions of his wife's BOE board, no conflict of interest there. One of them should just step down (I don't care which one.)