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Today's your chance to see Debra Goldman and Lois Nixon go one on one in a District 9 school board candidate forum.
The forum, sponsored by the Wake Education Partnership and the Cary Chamber of Commerce, will take place at noon at the chamber's offices, 307 N. Academy Street. The 90-minute forum is open to the public.
If you can't make it to Cary, NBC 17 is supposed to stream the forum live. Whether you can watch the forum after the event remains to be seen.
Comments
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Thu, 09/10/2009 - 12:57 — SideburnsA few of my favorites from Nixon at yesterday's forum....
And the best of the best...(and I'm paraphrasing because I was too dumbfounded to write it down at the time)
She is completely clueless to the needs of families and children.
RIOT!
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 13:04 — g88ky07"grounded in nature" meaning what Lois, they should hold class in the woods and all children should love squirrels?
"hire bus drivers to watch kids" REALLY? Why not just use the cafeteria workers or custodians??
Holy MAD COW!
She wants to use the
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 22:25 — SDR256She wants to use the cafeteria workers to watch them at lunch. And yes, I am serious.
Goldman's speech touched on
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 08:49 — DrActualFactualGoldman's speech touched on new ideas, ways to improve the current system, details, etc. She seemed to have given it a level of thought her opponent did not touch upon. Goldman brought substance to the debate, Nixon seemed to have more generalities but little detail except "give us more money," we need to do better (but the status quo never does.) They create committees to study stuff to death but don't make changes suggested by the committee; or they jump into implementing something like the PLC(PLT)s without implementing it as suggested based on the experience of the other district's that tried it. Thanks to NBC for streaming it live, now all we have to do is decide who can bring the leadership to get us to the next level of performance.
Goldman seemed a little
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 19:52 — user12345Goldman seemed a little stiff and needs to look up more, stop reading and talk from her heart not her prepared speech to the audience... I am sure she will get more comfortable with her convictions over time and with more practice ….
Goldman does not need to
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 20:18 — woodstockGoldman does not need to "get more comfortable with her convictions." Her convictions are heartfelt and based on experience and passion; they are real. She presented herself and her platform very well.
Nixon, on the other hand, reminded me of a passionless automaton reading a telepromter for a Chamber of Commerce infomercial.
Debra is an 'every parent'
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 22:28 — SDR256I think Debra is one of us and anyone of us can see ourselves in her as she presented. It was clear how much this meant to her. Ms. Nixon on the other hand coo-ed and woo-ed the business audience expertly. They were very pleased that she would not 'kill the goose that laid the golden egg', as she described the places our children learn. Pass the butter.
I don't get why business
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 22:41 — NWRaleighMomI don't get why business leaders support existing policies. My coworker moved back and works remotely after his kids were reassigned out of Davis Drive ES. Another family is planning their move to Charlotte, they tried but could not adjust to year-round schedule.
IMHO, they support it because the
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 23:14 — SouthEastWakeMomIMHO, they support it because the folks that make the decisions and run the businesses live in that protected area ITB.....
That makes sense.
Thu, 09/10/2009 - 23:23 — NWRaleighMomThat makes sense.
Anyone who praises the
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 17:16 — changewcpssAnyone who praises the current state of WCPSS is clueless and out of touch.
Anyone who truly wants to see WCPSS offer a 21st century education knows that a drastic overhaul is necessary to accomplish that goal--it is impossible with status quo.
Summary of Lois Nixon's responses
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 16:59 — TrailerParkGirlHere's what I got from Lois Nixon's responses:
Vernon Malone once said... Colin Powell once said... Schools are tools for business development... WCPSS spends $400 less per student (without discussion of whether what is being spent is being done in best manner or not)... Vernon Malone said... economic development... Colin Powell said... Someone else once said...
What I did not get from Lois Nixon's responses:
What she has done that should make me think she brings the relevant skills or experience to the BOE... That she has any original thoughts... That she understands the concerns of her potential constituants... That she'd done her homework and understands the current issues or state of WCPSS (she seems to actually think YR schools are being operated efficiently and ignores collapsed tracks, no tracks, well undercapacity YR schools)... Any concrete solutions beyond she'll travel to other places and ask people what they do...
She struck me as fluff that thinks everything is coming up roses and has been fed lines by someone behind a facade.
After seeing today's
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 22:42 — CaryCurmudgeonAfter seeing today's debate, I am wondering if Nixon and Truitt were separated at birth. Both seem to lack original thoughts and must heavily rely on quotes from others. Both have pretty-sounding messages, but there's not much there when you scratch below the surface.
And both come across as very condescending. We already have enough people like that on our school board.
No doubt after today's debate, Lois Nixon believes more money is the fix to all our problems. The numbers she repeatedly quoted about under-funding classes are right out of the Stan Norwalk playbook. What she fails to mention is that as the largest school system in NC, we SHOULD have to spend less because of economies of scale and a lower admin to student ratio (this is the classic argument for not breaking up our school system, something I am not personally advocating for).
I feel a lot better about the D9 race after today's debate. People who meet Goldman will find her to be sincere, caring and knowledgable. Goldman will turn people off with her continued please for more money (while at the same time bragging about what a great school system we have).
Night and day
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 16:03 — SDR256"Goose that laid the golden egg" ....and ....."economic tool" as Lois Nixon described schools several times may have played well with the business folks she was talking to, but as a parent it about gave me hives. Debra made it clear that she sees the schools the same way most parents do - from walking inside and rolling up her sleeves to help as a volunteer. Debra is a smart survivor with management experience. I was really glad I went today.
My money is on Goldman, here
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 07:27 — CaryCurmudgeonMy money is on Goldman, here is where we find out which suit is empty and which one is full.
Oh, I got ten bucks that says Nixon says "21st Century Education" at least 23 times in her remarks (without knowing what that is).
I won't take that bet
Wed, 09/09/2009 - 20:04 — woodstockI won't take that bet because it is a given. I will add, however, I find it amusing that Nixon talked about the 21st century as if it is the future. She doesn't seem to realize that the 21st century has been here for a decade.
Debra Goldman clearly slayed Nixon. Goldman spoke with passion and clearly understood the issues. Nixon is a robot spouting WakeEd/Chamber of Commerce talking points and happy talk.