Cathy Truitt fired bullets at the new school board members, the Wake County Republican Party and the Wake Schools Community Alliance as she announced her decision to concede the District 2 race.
Truitt warned that the new board majority will move toward resegregated schools by cutting magnet programs and sending students to "pure neighborhood schools." She said the public needs to speak out now to get the board to back off from making the quick changes she said they're planning.
"I don't think people want the school system to be blown up," Truitt said at her press conference. "If people get involved now, they can have an impact."
Citing John Tedesco and Ron Margiotta by name, she said they and the three new board members elected this month shouldn't cut back on magnet schools as part of a move back to neighborhood schools.
"Forced busing didn't allow choice," Truitt said. "Returning to pure neighborhood schools without givings options for magnet schools, enrichment programs or high school career academy clusters is a huge mistake."
Truitt again pitched what she called a third option in which forced busing for diversity is eliminated but diversity is maintained through increasing magnet schools.
"Offer parents more choice," Truitt said. "Don't take that away from them. Children love their magnet programs."
She said the new board's actions will be scrutinized by those like her who feel that forced busing is wrong but going to resegregation is not the answer.
"New school board members, you will be watched," Truitt said. "All of America will be watching."
Truitt said the GOP and the WSCA will regret their decision to endorse Tedesco over her. She said she didn't get their backing because she's an independent who refused to "follow the lead of the bloc vote" of a new majority.
"They're going to regret not endorsing our campaign," Truitt said. "Time will prove us right that our campaign had the only win-win solution."
She reiterated her assertions that the WSCA and the GOP had asked her if she's support firing Supt. Del Burns. She also said she had been asked about becoming Wake superintendent but didn't want the job.
Truitt said she plans to stay active in Wake schools through Greater Garner Advocates. The group's leaders, including former school board member Amy White, stood with her today.
Comments
So I see how you really feel
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 14:09 — RevHiDSo I see how you really feel about Magnets. Don't expand 'em, Take what's good away completely so everyone can have low taxes and bland generic schools.
Am I seeing what WSCA calls Door number three? Neighborhood schools, like Charlotte, only with NO CHOICE. Teaching to the test for everybody! How fast can I leave Wake County before our property values go down?
Rev, As far as I can
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 14:51 — shearertwRev,
As far as I can tell, I am the only person who mentioned magnets on this blog so I will assume you were resonding to me.
First, I do not speak for WSCA so I will let them, or the new board members rather, explain Door #3 in the coming months.
As for my opinion, if there is a Magnet program it must provide equal opportunity to all. That does not mean all will get selected only that all have an equal opportunity to be selected. I.E., there can not selection criteria that are out of someone's control, such as socioeconomic status, race or node they live in.
On the contrary, selection can either be A. by lottery or B. by merit, or C. a combination of both.
For example, take an AG magnet. I think only kids who are identified as AG by a formal documented process should be selected to the AG magnet. If there are slots available after all AG students are selected then they can be made available by lottery. If there are more AG applicants than slots, then the selection of the AG students will be based on lottery. If you have a magnet program where a specific "skill" level cannot be measured by a formal process then the entire school should be filled based on lottery, period.
That being said, moving forward, I would not advocate for "kicking out" any child currently in a magnet program. If you're in now, you're in tomorrow. The "new" selection process would only apply to new applicants filling open slots.
Again, these are only my opinions.
I actually agree the magnet
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 05:43 — RevHiDI actually agree the magnet lottery should be free of bias. I'm sorry I assumed you were one of the people who think that Magnets are unfair on all levels and should be completely eliminated. Eliminating options that address unique needs and learning styles would be unfair to children who don't fit the mold.
I think we should be awfully careful about how merit is used. For example, parents who can afford AG testing repetition and preparation have a better chance of getting in. Merit based entrance is inherently biased to the wealthy.
Huh?
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:38 — Bob_SconceSo, I wasn't aware that you could improve your intelligence by taking prep classes. But, even if you could, why draw a distinction between those who were born smart and those who got it by studying? Merit-based entrance is biased toward those with merit. If those people happen to be disproportionately wealthy, what business is that of the district?
...
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 07:05 — SideburnsYou make it sound like children are chosen to attend magnet schools based on their needs and learning styles. That simply is not true.
Magnets are limited based on where you live, who you live by, who attends your school and how much money all of those people make. No "unique needs" necessary.
Once yet again, I am in
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 08:06 — RevHiDOnce yet again, I am in favor of removing the mentioned SES obstacles in the magnet lottery.
Magnets determine needs by the willingness of people to travel to access them. If you need it, you are willing to make trade offs.
Now, before people claim that existing magnets are too far away to be realistic... I am also FOR expanding magnets outside the beltline as long as they are also accessible to low income housing. There are several schools, like Fox Road, that could be made magnets. A duplicate program can be added at Fox Road, and people applying to the program may get Fox or it's sister downtown program. Then it wouldn't "compete" with downtown. It could work. I hope those kinds of ideas might be considered now... but am still unclear that they will.
Rev--Who are you responding
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 14:13 — jenmanRev--Who are you responding to? Who is saying take all magnets away?
What an Ego...
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 13:27 — concerned2Clearly, Mrs. Truitt is a delusional ego-maniac. She continues to bang the drum of resegregation and would lead us all to believe that the Board will never get along without her. The woman claims to have a doctorate, but acts like she hasn't finished 3rd grade!
Why couldn't she have arrived at this decision when it could have really counted for something? Unfortunately, her name still remains on the ballot and, if by some miracle she received more votes in the "runoff", that seat would be declared vacated and the School Board would have to find a replacement. Given the makeup of the current board, they would most likely select a status quo candidate (say, Horace Tart?) and thus circumvent the will of the voters.
Boy, that Mrs. Truitt sure is some piece of work, eh?
This is not over!
Remind everyone you know in District 2 to vote for John Tedesco on Nov. 3!
Nobel Prize
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 13:22 — ncmpgjrWhen is Cathy also going to tell us that she was to receive the Nobel Prize but decided she did not want it.
21st Century character.
...then again
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:37 — Dadof3Is this Dr. Truitt's Kanye West moment?:
Alas, it ain't over yet.
This is too funny. Thanks
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 13:06 — jenmanThis is too funny. Thanks for the laugh today!
hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahah
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:38 — J8307200hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
One comment sounds fair
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:25 — Dadof3I also suspect burned social theorists and their devotees to be "watching" what happens here in Wake County, but to call that "all" of america gives us a glimpse of the author's priorities and perceptions. They had their academic playground "ripped" from them, albeit democratically, and I expect there will be an endless stream of specious data and grand-standing about our schools and kids, painted in the most conniving way. There is no need for collusion to pull this off; it will be a natural phenomenon, but it will similarly feed on itself. We need to be clear: one battle is won, there are many more to be fought.
Nevertheless, this is awesome. We will help Tedesco over the finish line, whatever it fairly takes. We will return schools to the rightful authorities: Wake County.
"She reiterated her
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:10 — CaryCurmudgeon"She reiterated her assertions that the WSCA and the GOP had asked her if she's support firing Supt. Del Burns."
OK, first she said she was asked about firing Del Burns, then week before last she changed her story and said she was asked about firing someone else, maybe Chuck Dulaney. Now she's changed back to Del Burns.
The person who needs to be fired is HER. We need to negate her Machiavellian move and mobilize to get every Tedesco voter to the polls.
District 2 voters made John their clear choice on October 6th. If they do not get out again and vote on November 3rd, then they forfeit that choice and the school board gets to decide for them who best represents District 2.
I am left laughing and
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:05 — jenmanI am left laughing and saying "WTF" to myself reading her comments. She has a HUGE ego!
mmmmmmkaaay
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 14:29 — fiestamomIf "huge ego" is the new phrase for crazy.....then I'm with ya.
Hoping to be distracted
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:00 — SDR256They are so hoping to distract us with something shiny. Consider this scenario, from a previous post:
"I just bet also if the seat were to be declared "vacant" it would be rushed to be filled by the current board before the new board was sworn in. "
After all the gnashing of teeth over the end of busing, do we really believe that the die-hard status quo supporters would go quietly into the night? Who knows who got to Cathy in the end. If there is even a thread of a possibility that they could pull one over they would.
Here is how the potential scenario could play out - however slim, they are hopinig: Tedesco voters go complacent because they believe he has won. Bring out enough Cathy supporters to have her win, declaring the seat vacant. Place a vote for the status quo before December.
its just wild enough to be frighteningly real.
I think it is very real!
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 12:17 — J8307200This is sooooo SLIMY, she would have been a great addition to the old board! (Except for Ron of course) She would have fit right in with ole Lori and Patti!! Something was eating at me yesterday when I heard this rumor...I totally get it now. If she was so sure she couldn't make up the margin between her and John Tedesco, why call for a runoff in the first place? I hope this absolutely infuriates the voters of District 2. Does she really think the voters are that naive? I think she and "What's his name" (her paid political hack) are underestimating the voters of District 2. Come on guys...get out there and vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I thought Ron asked her
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:52 — shearertwI thought Ron asked her about firing Burns? Perhaps he also asked her to be the new Sup!
Clearly the woman has issues discerning her dreams from reality.
"Children love their magnet
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:49 — shearertw"Children love their magnet programs."
My children love their magnet program too....Oh that's right, they don't have one!
...
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:41 — SideburnsWho asked her that one? She just makes crap up as she goes.
LIAR!!!
Mon, 10/19/2009 - 11:31 — petehsCould she sink any lower? This woman is a LIAR and we will make sure everyone knows about it. Wake Superintendent?? ROFL! ROFL! ROFL!