Quick recap of David Menaker and Ben Clapsaddle's candidate interviews

Here are some of the highlights so far from the first group of interviews from Wake County school board applicants for the District 1 vacancy.

David Menaker acknowledged that he was talking himself out of the job by criticizing magnet schools. He said it's "absurd" that you have magnet schools at the elementary school level with all the options for children so young.

Menaker said the district does too much to perpetuate competition among schools, citing magnets as an example, instead of trying to make all schools fundamentally desirable.

Menaker said the next superintendent ideally should have non-education experience. If not that, should have worked in a variety of school systems.

Ben Clapsaddle's interview was a bit more rambling causing board chairman Keith Sutton to remind him he was running out of time to answer all the questions.

Clapsaddle talked a lot about his personal experiences, such as what it was like being Asian American and being bounced around Cumberland County schools whether he should be allowed into the white school or the black school.

A frequent answer from Clapsaddle to questions was that he would defer to the professionals.