Terry Stoops is saying that nobody should be surprised that the Democratic majority on the Wake County school board fired Superintendent Tony Tata because, despite their protestations otherwise, they're politicians.
In his weekly CommenTerry out today, Stoops, director of education studies for the conservative John Locke Foundation, writes that "let's get it out of our heads that school boards magically transcend partisanship and politics just because there are children involved."
Stoops writes that it's natural for the board majority to want a superintendent who will carry out their plans. He writes that Tata was an "idealist" who refused the board majority's request "to assimilate for the sake of his job. and, more importantly their political future."
"In sum, the school board majority will choose a ho-hum left-leaning career school administrator in the familiar McNeil/Burns mold," Stoops writes.
Comments
I've been saying that all
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 16:57 — RonnieRI've been saying that all along!
dup
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 16:29 — shearertwduplicate
I guess...
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 16:22 — bpuli9999he didn't want to be the only "conservative" to left out. Had to say something, so he did.
He should realize that his organization played a pretty important role in creating this hyper-partisan atmosphere at the school board.
Yes....we've heard from
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 16:29 — shearertwYes....we've heard from nearly all the conservatives...BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SPINE!
Meanwhile, Perry Woods said nothing (effectively), Mack Paul said nothing (effectively) and the Mayor of Raleigh is either hiding under her desk or behind Kevin Hill's skirt.
Shearertw, the problem is...
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 20:35 — paulastamthe case could be made that your 5 Dem buddies on the Board actually had a spine since they put a break on the choice plan that blocked many families from attending their base schools - sometimes when they lived just a mile away, and led to a busing fiasco. And too bad if you moved beside your preferred school after the choice rounds! Also, one could argue that it took significant backbone for the Dems to dismiss the General regardless of whether that move was right or wrong. Spineless? No. Rash? Possibly.
Paula, "Independent, Fair & Speaking Up for MY Kids."
Blocked Families
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 21:31 — JanisTangoChoice plan that blocked families from attending their base schools - sometimes when they lived just a mile away
I find it extremely funny that you consider that a problem under the choice plan, but I don't recall you saying it was a problem under the former diversity policy. We live a mile from a year round school that had 400 empty seats. The parents in our neighborhood were told we couldn't go because our numbers were needed elsewhere. Would this be a problem or not? Is it just dependent on what plan you are for or against?
...
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 20:58 — SideburnsAnd too bad if you moved beside your preferred school after the choice rounds!
Are you suggesting that the Dem majority are going to support a plan that allows people to buy into an area to attend a preferred school?
They have put the breaks on
Wed, 10/03/2012 - 20:52 — shearertwThey have put the breaks on the choice plan because its not the diversity/we tell you where to go plan not because of any issues such as you describe with the choice plan. There were and will be several examples of exactly what you described under the old diversity plan and whatever garbage Martin and Evans design. The difference is that under the choice plan, those issue would have resolved themselves over time as the previous decades if nonsensical assignments were untangled. Under the Evans/Martin plan, we will have massive reassignments every year and a new crop of suburban kids will get screwed every year. Oh...and ED acheivement rates in WC will continue to fall behind CMS of all places. Good grief....get a clue Paula.