The recent dustup over Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker's comments is raising questions again about a potential conflict of interest with his wife, Wake County school board member Anne McLaurin.
School board member Deborah Prickett, a lifelong Raleigh resident, called Meeker's comments "inappropriate" that the board majority are not from this area. She added that she's concerned now about Meeker's opposition to building a new high school in Rolesville instead of the Forest Ridge site in Northeast Raleigh.
Prickett raised concerns about how McLaurin receives confidential information about the H6 site during closed sessions. Prickett said she'd like to review the conflict of interest guidelines involving McLaurin and Meeker.
Wake GOP Chairman Claude Pope had also raised the issue in his press release last week on Meeker's comments.
Pope had said that Meeker's "views may represent a conflict of interest between his obligations to the city and his natural instincts as a husband."
But for McLaurin, who was elected to the school board in 2007, it's an issue she thought was long since resolved.
Back in 2007, McLaurin said she spoke with school board attorney Ann Majestic about the conflict of interest rules. McLaurin said Majestic told her that her serving on the board didn't by itself pose a conflict of interest.
McLaurin said there's been no conflicts of interest because she hasn't voted on things that would financially or personally benefit Meeker.
McLaurin said she's consider it a conflict of interest if Meeker had a different position than her and tried to get her to change her vote, or vice versa.
"He is doing what he believes is right," McLaurin said. "I'm doing what I believe is right. We generally agree, which I suppose is why we're still married after 30 years."
As for what's mentioned during closed sessions, McLaurin said she only discusses it with fellow school board members.
Comments
Margiotta is not a Thales Director
Sat, 07/03/2010 - 08:26 — kmisegadesFor the thousandth time, Ron Margiotta is not a Director of Thales Academies. He is one of a number of TRUSTEES who serve as occasional advisers to the schools. Trustees do not direct these (501c3 non-profit) schools in any way, and are not compensated in any manner, nor are Directors. WCPSS gains from Mr. Margiotta's position as a Trustee through the insight he has into how our schools provide a world-class education at a fraction of the cost of Wake government schools. Kent Misegades, Director, Thales Academies
But I still see Margiotta's involvement at Thales as a COI
Mon, 07/05/2010 - 11:42 — zandeI am glad someone from Thales weighed in on this. Let me say that, first of all, I have no dog in this fight. I am not a WCPSS employee nor am I particularly politically active. I am a parent of two children who both attend WCPSS and I care about their education. My concern with the new Board and my subsequent interest in Board politics was largely motivated after I learned a few months ago that the Chairman of Wake County Schools also sits on the Board of Trustees of a small private school in the same county. Wether he is compensated or not matters little to me. It simply does not pass my "smell test."
Then I subsequently learned that the owner of that same school was the largest single contributor to the campaigns of the other members who caucus with the Chair. I also believe that the owner of that same private school made contributions to the Chair's campaign (I am not totally certain of this, perhaps you could correct me.) Furthermore, I read that this private school has ambitious growth plans throughout the county. I do not see how Thales can grow without taking students from WCPSS so it seems to me that Thales would have no business interest in improving Wakes public schools.
Perhaps the private schools owner just cares so much about Wake County Public Schools that he simply wants to share his "secret sauce" with the Board Chair as you seem to suggest. Forgive me for having a hard time seeing this business logic.
You also state how much less the cost per pupil is at Thales than at WCPSS. I know very little about Thales Academy except what I read on their web site but I wonder if Thales provides busing for its students. Also, the public schools have to provide a lot of programs that private schools are not required to provide. From my research it seems that WCPSS has historically done a pretty good job of keeping the per pupil spending down to a respectable amount given the mandates they must meet to maintain accreditation, student accommodations etc.
I am not an educator but from where I sit Mr. Margiotta's participation on Thales Board of Trustees has at the very least, the appearance of impropriety. IMHO.
So...
Mon, 07/05/2010 - 14:34 — Bob_SconceFew points:
(1) Thales isn't owned by anybody -- it's a non-profit. I think Luddy sits on the board of directors, but if Thales is wildly successful, he doesn't get a dime.
(2) Of course there are people who choose to go to Thales instead of a WCPSS school, and vice-versa. But, I don't know why that's bad for WCPSS -- this isn't a case of "I'm up, you're down." The district's mission is NOT to enroll as many students as possible -- its mission is to educate the students it does enroll. If a student find that a Thales education better suits his/her needs, WCPSS ought to celebrate the fact that those needs are being met.
(3) You're right that public schools have a lot of obligations which don't apply to private schools, or to charter schools for that matter. And, it may be that WCPSS does a good job given all the restrictions placed on it by the State. But, if kids can get a great education without many of those restrictions, isn't that a good thing?
(4) There are a lot of things that public schools just do by tradition, without state requirements, which many charter and private schools have decided to forego. These are areas where WCPSS may find places to save. An obvious example is that many non-public high schools don't have football stadiums.
Non-profit does not mean no one makes money....
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 14:28 — zandeBlue Cross Blue Shield is a nonprofit but its' CEO is very well compensated.
"If a student find that a Thales education better suits his/her needs, WCPSS ought to celebrate the fact that those needs are being met.."
This statement concerns me a lot. The Chair of the BOE should be the systems biggest cheerleader. I want Margiotta to have the goal of making WCPSS so excellent that no student would have to go elsewhere to better get his needs met. I doubt Thales would have him on their board if they knew that Margiotta would do whatever he needed to do to make the existence of their school unnecessary. Obviously he has not indicated that he had that interest.
The dual relationship that Margiotta has with WCPSS and Thales is very concerning. How would the shareholders of Pepsi feel if they found out that the Chairman of the Board of Pepsi was also on the Board of another soft drink company? Then, they discover that the owner of the other soft drink company bankrolled that Chairs election to the Pepsi Board. They might think that they had a Trojan horse on their Board.
I hope we do not have one on ours....
Ok...
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 15:10 — Bob_SconceI looked up Thales' 990 form (the informational form that every non-profit has to file with the IRS) for 2008. (the '09 isn't available yet.) The 990 has to list salaries of officers & directors and Luddy isn't among them.
I don't think that public and private schools have the same relationship that Coke and Pepsi do -- I think of it more like the relationship between the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. Heck, some districts have collaborations between private and public schools -- IIRC, in Pennsylvania, it's possible to home-school your children in English, Math and Social Studies and send them to the public school for gym and Science.
From both practical and legal points of view, WCPSS cannot meet the needs of every student. It's just too expensive, and part of the role of school directors is to balance cost versus services. Plus, WCPSS is constrained by the NC SCOS, which isn't appropriate for every student. Further, what do you do with, for example, religious instruction?
In any case, that's completely theoretical -- the district has a long way to go before Thales needs to worry about WCPSS making it unnecessary.
I want Margiotta to have the
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 14:48 — jeffrey1I want Margiotta to have the goal of making WCPSS so excellent that no student would have to go elsewhere to better get his needs met.
I really doubt that you want this. First of all, Wake County is not equipped to provide for all students, and it would be enormously expensive to try. Second, without private schools, charter schools, parochial schools, and home schooling, there would be no competition, and no incentive for WCPSS to maintain a school system that got them to that point.
I hope we do not have one (trojan horse) on ours....
Have you ever thought to ask yourself: Why would Margiotta, at an age when he should be well into his retirement years, campaign to get elected to a school board where not only is he the odd man out, and continually ignored by the 8 other members on that board, but continues to sit on that board for 6 long years in the hope that someday, just maybe, against all odds, he might have 4 other members who think like he does, so that he could then become chairman of that board, and destroy one of the largest school systems in the country, just so that a small private school might enroll a couple of hundred additional students, perhaps earning its owner some additional compensation?
Talk about your conspiracy theories.
He wants to destroy one of
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 15:46 — virginiadareHe wants to destroy one of the largest school systems in the country not so a small private school might enroll a couple of hundred additional students, but so the Free Market can provide education and "government" schools will only be needed for the very poor who cannot afford an education any other way. It's the ideological agenda of many in the GOP, and not a conspiracy theory. If you don't believe me, just listen to talk radio.
Pfft..
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 16:20 — Bob_Sconce(I use 'pfft' as the subject line a lot of times. But, this time I really was having a drink and really did make that sound and had to clean off my keyboard before typing.)
Please don't confuse conservative thinking with that mindless stream of drivel known as talk radio. That's like judging liberalism by whatever Alec Baldwin says, WWII from Hogan's Heroes or understanding US-Italian foreign policy from the "around the world in 60 seconds" part of the nightly news. Talk radio often takes good conservative positions and carries them to extremes, without any sense of nuance whatsoever, just to get ratings.
As a point of fact, if Margiotta was really interested in what you suggest, he would be much more effective either at the State Board of Education or in the GA. The school district just doesn't have the power to do that sort of thing.
No, the far right-wing
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 14:35 — askmisterbrownNo, the far right-wing political groups, especially the "religious right" groups tell their members not to run for the big offices, but to run for the school board, the town council, etc. Margiotta and Misegades and Luddy are true believers that public education should be replaced by a system of vouchers for private and religious schools. This is the doctrinaire right-wing position. Those who hold this position are not motivated to improve and strengthen public education, but to weaken it, so as to make the voucher system necessary and inevitable.
Aahh...
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 15:20 — Bob_SconceThanks. That was very enlightening.
I bet you have black
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 14:53 — woodstockI bet you have black helicopters that fly over your house too. Right? Where do you buy your tinfoil hats?
I agree, Bob. If Ron
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 00:50 — jenmanI agree, Bob. If Ron really wanted to do any of those things he'd be much more effective at the SBOE or in the GA. He can't do anything about those larger issues by serving on the Wake County school board.
But no elected GOP leaders
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 16:54 — virginiadareBut no elected GOP leaders will contradict Rush without immediately apologizing.
And I think Margiotta can be a lot more effective destroying one school system (to prove that "government" schools are inferior) as chairman of the Board of Education than he could as one of many, and in the minority at that, on the state BOE or in the GA.
I want to add that I don't necessarily believe that Margiotta is out to destroy the system, but I don't think it's a farfetched idea, either, considering what many of his allies like Luddy, Pope, and Misegedes espouse. Have you read many of Kent's posts here? He definitely believes in the extreme position you hear on talk radio.
Well which is it?
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 20:57 — g88ky07or
We had cheerleaders before,
Tue, 07/06/2010 - 14:48 — CaryCurmudgeonWe had cheerleaders before, it didn't work. Previous board members were all about applying for and receiving piles of awards that had nothing to do with education. While they beamed about their awards and celebrated their "commitment" to a 100% graduation rate our academic performance hit the skids.
I want a board made up of individuals who will challenge everything our school system does.
And I think any Trojan Horse theories are a pretty big reach. Even if we had one equine member, they would need four more board members as accomplices. What motivation do others have for bringing about the demise of the public school system? Deborah Prickett has worked her whole life in public education, and is currently employed at DPI. Margiotta has been on the board of Thales for years. How come this was never a conflict of interest until the last election?
"Margiotta has been on the
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 10:43 — zande"Margiotta has been on the board of Thales for years. How come this was never a conflict of interest until the last election?"
I can only speak for myself. In my case I was just not paying close enough attention I am sorry to say. But when the Board overturned the diversity policy, that got my attention. The more I looked into this the more concerned I became. The director of Thales used the term "government" schools when referring to what most of us call "public" schools. That tells me a lot about where he is coming from. I recently started reading about some of the beliefs held by Margiottas donors. These are not public school supporters. I suspect Virginiadare has a point about ideology. I am concerned that the agenda here is the privatization of the public schools. Time will tell I suppose.
You're welcome to
Wed, 07/07/2010 - 17:39 — CaryCurmudgeonYou're welcome to speculate. Much has been made of Bob Luddy's campaign contributions. Mr. Luddy's contributions were very much appreciated -- but while Mr. Luddy was the largest contributor, his contribution was relatively small in the overall picture. Look through all the campaign finance reports that Keung has posted previously on this blog. WSCA raise around $38K, most of which came from hundreds of individuals who probably were making their first campaign contributions ever. The money came from Republicans, Unaffiliateds and Democrats.
I appreciate your candor regarding attention to the system. There were a ton of people, I believe, who bought into the whole WEP "our schools are world class" line of propaganda, and very little coverage was given regarding our declining graduation rates and abysmal achievement gap. All the awards that WCPSS applied for and won (none of which had anything to do with academic performance) provided great fodder for the Chamber and the development industry to promote WCPSS as a beacon of great learning.
Those hundreds of contributors and thousands of voters who put this new board into office will not stand for any action which undermines our public schools. We are talking about elected representatives here, not dictators. They got voted in and they can get voted out.
Say What You Are Told To Say
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 10:27 — jgegbgmgI'm sure Ms. Prickett is only responding to what her leaders (I want to thank the Republican Party for their support in my election) told her to say. Really don't think she is capable of coming up with this herself. Can she point out exactly what she means and how it is a conflict? I don't think so.
Typical non-issue distraction
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:57 — logosisdeadMeeker and McLaurin's situation has been the case for a number of years. Why is it an issue now? Simple - to detract from the actual debate about what is best for the students of Wake county, which Dr. Margiotta and the board of resegregation lose when the issue is looked at with any depth.
Dr. Margiotta's conflict is a far greater concern. His role as a member of the board of trustees, "whose primary responsibility will be to provide community support for this affordable private school," certainly raises questions about his allegiances. Is it to the students of WCPSS or someone else?
"Thus, regardless of whether
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:41 — danofnc"Thus, regardless of whether COI occurred or not, there is the potential for COI. Depending on one's sense of ethics, that may or may not be grounds for resignation."
Here's the deal: If you're willing to apply this same standard to Margiotta's membership on Thales' board of directors, then I'll accept your argument.
If not, then you're being just as hypocritical as some of the others here.
i must be hypocritical...
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:21 — red_balloon...since I must be a blind supporter of the new BOE.
Anyway, here's something for you: blogs.newsobserver.com/node/26796
Mon, 05/24/2010 - 08:35 — red_balloon
I agree that Margiotta should quit the BOE or Thales. There is a clear conflict of interest.
not true
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:06 — red_balloonMcLaurin said there's been no conflicts of interest because she hasn't voted on things that would financially or personally benefit Meeker.
Since maintaining the 'diversity' and magnet programs benefit Raleigh residents, how does McLaurin claim that the mayor of Raleigh does not benefit from her support for busing?
McLaurin said she's consider it a conflict of interest if Meeker had a different position than her and tried to get her to change her vote, or vice versa.
Interesting choice of words...
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 20:23 — MarvinSchwartzSince maintaining the 'diversity' and magnet programs benefit Raleigh residents, how does McLaurin claim that the mayor of Raleigh does not benefit from her support for busing?
So you concede the diversity and magnet programs benefit students? Excellent! And if you go that far, then the logical conclusion is that the elimination of these programs either A) harm Raleigh residents or B) benefit residents of other areas (e.g. Cary and Apex)
I know that's not how you meant it, R_B. Just playing a little Woodstock game on you. But I will take you to task for this one:
COI is not about McLaurin and Meeker being in agreement but about the potential for WCPSS' interests not always lining up with Raleigh's interests
Substitute "McLaurin" for "Margiotta", "Luddy" for "Meeker", and "Raleigh" for "Thales" in that sentence and tell me if you still believe it:
COI is not about Margiotta and Luddy being in agreement but about the potential for WCPSS' interests not always lining up with Thales' interests
Again, I know you personally have called out Margiotta's competing interests, but others who support the junta do not see it this way.
What do you mean concede? I
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 22:32 — red_balloonWhat do you mean concede? I would be daft to take a contrary viewpoint. Further, the evidence is visible to all when a parade starts! Thus, nobody is going to dispute that magnets benefit students. However, the devil is in the details.
I also dispute the contention that the elimination of these programs will harm Raleigh. It is not harm as much as it is negation of extra benefits that have been accruing to ITB businesses and homeowners. Additionally, if you hypothesize that elimination benefits Cary, Apex, etc., it then follows that Cary, Apex, etc. are currently being harmed by Raleigh magnets. So, without using a term like "harm", I would venture to say that there likely is a skewed allocation of resources.
But thanks for the mental gymnastics! :)
As for the COI, I have navigated those waters in my career so my stance is pretty clear about McLaurin and Margiotta.
Take a breath and read what
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:51 — carson79Take a breath and read what you are writing -
you are saying that the Board member representing parts of Raleigh has a conflict of interest because she may do something that benefits people living in Raleigh..(and 40% of the districts students)................
The interests are aligned - try another angle .....
I cannot contest such a
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:41 — red_balloonI cannot contest such a position because it denotes a belief that education should be subjugated to politics and economics. Otherwise, one cannot ignore the fact that academic goals are not always compatible with politics and economics. Case in point: WCPSS.
McLaurin's district is
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:19 — danofncMcLaurin's district is Raleigh. She represents her district's interests at school board meetings.
I think something like 45% of the students and a greater percentage than that of property tax revenue comes from Raleigh residents. More often than not, what is good for Raleigh is good for WCPSS.
And no, I don't live in Raleigh.
McLaurin's district is
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 19:38 — jeffrey1McLaurin's district is Raleigh
I believe McLaurin's district extends beyond Raleigh limits.
no wonder...
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:34 — red_balloon... that the magnet system is a great idea.
More often than not, what is good for Raleigh is good for WCPSS.
Your response buttresses my argument that McLaurin's interests are in synch with Meeker's interests and these may not always favor education for WC students. Any compromise she may have entertained may have been shot down by knowledge of Meeker gaining/ losing. Thus, regardless of whether COI occurred or not, there is the potential for COI. Depending on one's sense of ethics, that may or may not be grounds for resignation.
"I believe it is not a
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:21 — woodstock"I believe it is not a stretch to imagine a situation where was is the best for the City of Raleigh may not also be the best thing for WCPSS as a whole ..."
----------------------------------------------------
Exactly! That is precisely the situation where a conflict of interest may exist. After all, we are not hearing the folks in the areas surrounding the new Rolesville site -- including the areas that are in Raleigh -- complaining. Meeker is not responding to an outcry from the citizens and taxpayers that are affected, but is rather is undermining BoE efforts based purely on partisan politics ...politics that very directly involves his school board member wife.
woodstock, Reading my quote
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:34 — shearertwwoodstock,
Reading my quote again, I should have added that what is best for the City of Raleigh is what is best for Mayor Meeker's political career just in case that isn't obvious to some....
Therefore, since what is best for the City of Raleigh is not always what is best for WCPSS, McLaurin will sometimes be asked to cast a vote either against best interest of WCPSS or against the best interest of her husbands career. I think that is the definition of conflict of interest.
If it is not a conflict of
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:39 — woodstockIf it is not a conflict of interest, I don't know what is.
Also, people should remember that McLaurin-MEEKER was the ONLY BoE members to VOTE AGAINST the Rolesville site. How often does she vote against the wishes of her fellow ultra-left-wing minority cronies?
...
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 13:53 — SideburnsYou have to wonder if McLaurin holds firm on forced bussing because it benefits Raleigh and makes her husband look like he's doing a good job as mayor.
Also, she says that she'd "consider it a conflict of interest if Meeker had a different position than her." Maybe she knows supporting the new direction would qualify as a conflict.
Excellent points. Sounds
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 14:04 — woodstockExcellent points. Maybe she is under pressure to do what is necessary to avoid conflicts both publicly and at home.
Pressure
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:13 — bnartistUnlike Prickett, McLaurin has never had to file for a protective order against her husband.
For Rhonda, regarding bridge building.
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 11:58 — SDR256So, where were we with this bridge building between 'us and them' again - - Rhonda? I guess this leaves bnartist out on the extreme edges along with GSIW. Those who make attacks like this clearly build more distrust and suspicion in those who are just right of middle about those who are just left of middle. If bridges are to be built, there needs to be a bigger circle in the middle and keep the extremes on both ends flapping in the wind. Someone from the 'left of middle' agreeing that this was out of line would help a lot. This is an easy one.
So, are you Greg Flynn or
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 23:39 — CaryCurmudgeonSo, are you Greg Flynn or not?
Google "greg flynn bnartist"
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 00:03 — woodstockGoogle "greg flynn bnartist" and you will have your answer. He's a busy guy.
N&O Comment policy
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 09:23 — Dove314Directly from the N&O comment policy:
We ask that you remain civil, and please follow these guidelines:
www newsobserver.com/2009/10/13/139846/comment-policy.html#ixzz0sWyStHpc
?
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 10:32 — woodstockPlease explain. As bnartist accurately stated, "it's public information" and we all have the "right to free speech."
Tit for tat
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 11:57 — SDR256The fact that you 'outed' him - after he initiated this string with his own actions - is no more than what others have done here on this blog blythely many times before. Usually no one complains but the 'outed one'. Having been 'outed' myself I don't condone it, but with such a public political personality as bnartist's I reckon he figured it was just a matter of time. What bnartist posted was clearly a meanspirited invasion of privacy. Intentionally damaging and hurtful. In no way does a cursory web search on name compare to the length and means to which he must have researched intentionally to attack the Pricketts.
I hear what you are saying,
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 16:02 — woodstockI hear what you are saying, but I did not "out" him. I never heard of the guy until yesterday.
Like I said
Sat, 07/03/2010 - 00:35 — SDR256Like I said, the two actions do not compare.
Oh please spare me the innocence
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 17:09 — Dove314I've learned more about the personal and professional lives of WhalerCane, RKCut?, and others from you than I ever needed to know.
really!
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 23:22 — SDR256Despicable! This has no relevance other than showing that you are capable of low down, rotten, meanspirited bullying. What were you thinking? You should apologize.
What a very odd and
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 16:00 — woodstockWhat a very odd and inappropriate thing to say. How is this relevant to anything?
Is this true?
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 15:49 — carson79Is this true?
Since it's been brought up,
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 16:53 — KeungHui (author)Since it's been brought up, here's the context. It was filed in 1996. They're still married so presumably it's been resolved.
dup
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:05 — woodstockdup
Pretty amazing how low the
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 17:33 — CaryCurmudgeonPretty amazing how low the forced-busing crowd continues to stoop. Those of us who supported change in the last election have certainly done our fair share of complaining, but I'm proud that we didn't dredge up irrelevant police reports, go after people's jobs, vandalize property or break the law. Some of the "new" board critics are just morally corrupt.