- 11.08.2009
- |
42°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.
Praising Rosa Gill's time on the Wake school board
The love was flowing Tuesday for Rosa Gill at her last meeting as a school board member
Gill was bestowed with awards and words of praise. Gill received several standing ovations from the audience.
A resolution passed by the board praised Gill for being a "dedicated member of the Wake County Board of Education, committed to a thoughtful process, willing to address difficult issues by involving and listening to others and unfailingly focused on the success of every child."
New board chairman Kevin Hill presented Gill a plaque thanking her for her “tireless efforts to leave no child behind.”
Gill received a silver bowl from the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association.
Supt. Del Burns said he's known Gill for 30 years and that she "cares deeply for all students and holds every student to very high standards."
Board members chimed in with their praise.
"It’s been such an honor and pleasure to serve with you," said board member Patti Head. "I’ll always count it as a blessing.”
Board member Anne McLaurin said Gill has always acted on her own convictions and her own conscience,
Later on while honoring student athletes, Bobby Guthrie, senior administrator for athletics, said that Gill was a good tennis coach when she taught at Enloe High. He jokingly said they might want her back now that the General Assembly will be in the short session next year.
Gill returned the love, saying she has never had more faith in the board than this time.
“We have done a great job of which each of you should be proud," Gill told the other board members. "I’m very proud to have been a part of this board."
Gill said her 9 1/2 years on the board had "taught her about collaboration and listening to others."
She also praised Burns "for his committment to providing a great education for every student."
Gill praised the teachers and summed up her feelings about Wake.
"While I will no longer attend your meetings, I will continue to be Wake County Schools' greatest advocate," Gill said.
T. Keung Hui
T. Keung Hui covers Wake schools.
Comments
Patti Head wins the award
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 22:43 — Big_PicturePatti Head wins the award for allienating the families in her district by shoving MYR down their throats and attempting to destroy the Leesville Community all along. R. Gill had an opportunity to correct the WCPSS MYR fiasco but chose to turn a blind eye and deaf ear; exactly what she did in regards to taking care of SE Raleigh students and families.
If the status quo folks have their way Ms. Gill's replacement will be as unresponsive and out of touch as she is.
Bring on October.
These days, the job of a
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 16:36 — CaryCurmudgeonThese days, the job of a school board member is described as "a thankless job" or "an underpaid pinata." It wasn't always that way.
I moved my family here 17 years ago, and growth has always been an issue in our county. But, until about ten years ago, most people in Wake County were reasonably happy with schools and many didn't even know who their school board member was. The school board did a good job of listening to parents and applying common sense. Board members were not villified, at worst they were ignored.
Rosa and her friends changed that. Through their ignorance and arrogance, they managed to enrage thousands of parents (while under-serving the children they were supposed to be helping). Rosa's legacy lies in the protest meetings, the many parent activist organizations, the WakeCARES lawsuit, the busing and land scandals, and in the thousands of families who bailed out of the public school system.
That is the "trophy" she deserves.
I thought it was nice
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 10:24 — Falcthat they found another reason to celebrate themselves :-)
I moved here 15 years ago and that's how I remember it too. The area was growing like crazy, but I don't remember hearing about a lot of issues with schools.
Here's another piece to the legacy. I was on the airplane recently and got to talking to the young man (under 21) next to me from Durham who was moving to Seattle to manage a grocery store and had to take the ring out of lip to consume his inflight snack and beverage. When he found out I had kids in WCPSS, his response was, "I heard the schools in Wake County are really messed up."
BTW, we had a chat about diversity, what the policy actually states, "healthy schools" and those kids that will be going 18.65 miles to "diversify" Alston Ridge next year. He saw through their smoke screen and was very supportive of WSCA's mission.
This would make a good
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 21:36 — loriacThis would make a good letter to the editor - wonder if it would get printed.
The Onion?
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 12:49 — designmanSomeone mentioned The Onion yesterday in a post. They hit the nail on the head... I swear all the mawkish rhetoric about Gill reads just like something from The Onion. It's idiotic and hilarious.
The very best thing Gill has ever done for education and the students and parents of Wake County is to resign.
listen to the people
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:46 — smithhm1The citizens of southeast raleigh did not vote for Gill for the House and the "so-called" leaders in the district don't have a clue as to the citizens needs of the school system nor the district. They have their own personal agendas that don't coincide with the citizens.
Bottom line.....
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 10:31 — WuptdoBottom line, good bye and good riddance to bad trash. Her brand of racism is the worse because she could get away with it all these years.
Forced Busing, Devaluing of Wake Schools Gill legacy
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 09:57 — mike27513Gill has been a major cause of the Wake school system decline.
Forced Busing, lack of system planning, and acceptance of mediocrity as shown by falling standardized test scores are the accomplishments of Gill.
Wake Co. is lucky Gill is gone.
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 08:52 — Taxpayer2008Gill said her 9 1/2 years on the board had "taught her about collaboration and listening to others." Yeah, listening to them cry 'foul'. Thankfully she can't do any more damage to WCPSS. In the state House she'll be relatively useless.
The love wasn't all that was flowing!
Wed, 06/17/2009 - 08:04 — g88ky07I hope they had waders on!