The Wake County Democratic Party has officially kicked off the campaign season with the goal of reclaiming the majority on the school board.
As reported today in the Raleigh Public Record, "the message from party leaders and members [at Saturday's Wake County Democratic Party annual convention] was clear: This year’s election is about schools."
"The convention began with a two-hour training called Take Back Our Schools — a primer on how to lead a successful grassroots campaign to victory in October," according to the article.
Speakers, at the event at Daniels Middle School, railed against the GOP school board majority's elimination of the diversity policy.
“I don’t want to create high-poverty schools where they’re not necessary,” said Neil Riemann, rumored to be a possible school board candidate, in the article. “Since this policy was eliminated, that seems to be where we’re headed.”
The article notes how Riemann is "a parent in the Cameron Park neighborhood who welcomes the presence of students from East Raleigh at his child’s school, Wiley Elementary."
Party leaders said they want to retain the four seats now held by Democrats in addition to winning the one held by board chairman Ron Margiotta, a Republican.
“The bottom line is we have to retain those seats,” said Tammy Brunner, executive director of Wake County Democrats, in the article. “If we don’t retain them, we have no representation. Of course, we’d like to pick up the fifth seat.”
Comments
Reimann is .......
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 08:15 — Jeff_morseNeil Reimann is a liberal Raleigh Trial Lawyer who is good friends and neighbors with Bob Geary (The Independent) and close friends with the Meeker/McLauren marriage. He is an active member with Yvonne Brannon's Great Schools in Wake (an arm of the liberal group WakeUP Wake - both funded by Jim Goodmon owner of WRAL).
McLauren and Morrison are not running and have been grooming Anne Sherron and Neil Reimann for their seats. She has had him at every meeting the last 6 months, she had him as the guest speaker at one of her BAC meetings as a perceived student assignment leader probably because of his relations with the Chamber and Wake Ed (He was also a former Chamber Ambassador and graduate of their Chamber leadership program).
He has practiced his speeches at each board meeting for the last several months and created varies web pages on the Wake Schools issues for the liberals - such as facebook pages, twitters, and blogs.
He is one of the guys Gov. Purdue, June Atkinson, and other prominent libs are raising money for in the 2011 cycle. Even if they say different - expect to see more of him as he jockeys for position.
If Anne "Shearon Harris" Sherron
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 08:44 — FSandYOUchooses to bring her stack blowing rage tantrums into this race, the ads that can be created against her will be priceless. If she really thinks that parents want her or anyone like her, pay attention Bader, to be in charge of anything to do with our schools going forward she's already proven she's not stable enough to be elected. Right Perry!
R U on-board TK ?
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 06:53 — AgentPierceDid you pledge them your full support T Keung? They are depending on it.
Even for you, that's a
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 08:36 — KeungHui (author)Even for you, that's a stupid and silly comment to make.
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Mon, 04/18/2011 - 20:49 — SideburnsThe article notes how Riemann is "a parent in the Cameron Park neighborhood who welcomes the presence of students from East Raleigh at his child’s school, Wiley Elementary."
Riemann lives in central Raleigh base assigned to Wiley Magnet -- less than 1/2 mile from his residence. The base assignment map for Wiley shows a neighborhood base with a few nodes from the west side of Raleigh. Who lives in East Raleigh that he is welcoming? His own neighborhood? How gracious of him.
Welcoming
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 18:13 — nriemannI did not say anything to Bryan about welcoming kids from East Raleigh to Wiley. Bryan asked me about Wiley as part of a discussion about how I became involved with school issues. I described to him the places where all of Wiley's attending students were drawn (magnet, adjacent nodes, and a wedge of nonadjacent nodes that I described by reference to the particular roads involved), and I said that Wiley had a great mix of students. From that, Bryan drew the conclusion--accurate, but not nearly as condescending as you imply--that I welcomed one set of those students.
Thanks...
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 23:42 — Bob_SconceFor clarifying.
Quick question: Have you been preparing to run for school board?
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Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:00 — SideburnsWho wouldn't you welcome into your school? Aren't all children important? Not sure why you would single out "one set of those students" to be welcomed.
Why don't you support allowing the neighborhood kids from W. Lenoir St (about 1 mile from where you live and 1 mile from Wiley) at "your school"? They are currently bused to Turner Creek, Salem Middle and Green Hope High School (over 20 miles). Doesn't seem fair, does it? How sad that you refuse to welcome them.
I didn't single "one set of those students"
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:29 — nriemannThe reporter did. And I was neither called upon to nor did "welcome" anyone. I think you understand both of these points.
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Tue, 04/19/2011 - 21:08 — SideburnsBut, isn't it true that you support the old diversity policy? And isn't it true that you support continuing the current magnet system? If so, those neighborhood kids will never be welcome to "your school".
Hopefully, some day soon, our Board will vote for a plan that allows those kids who live on W. Lenoir St. the same opportunities as your children -- to be able to attend a magnet school in their own neighborhood.
Sad
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 20:25 — magnetParentThis has got to be one of the worst attempts at word-twisting that I have seen from you in quite some time. I am sure you are proud of yourself.
My first thought was that
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 12:32 — jenmanMy first thought was that Wiley's F&R is in the 20s. Talk to me about welcoming students from East Raleigh when your F&R is 40% or higher.
The base map shows several
Tue, 04/19/2011 - 03:23 — eddie2The base map shows several contiguous nodes surrounding the school, west of Wilmington Street, and two nodes in east Raleigh, across New Bern Ave from the Enloe neighborhood.
Wiley's report card data show the typical pattern, 90%+ passing for non-ED, under 50% for ED. While they might be "welcomed," and the need for Riemann to feel good about diversity is being met, the needs of these students aren't being met.
Are these people that out of touch?
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 20:38 — FSandYOUDid they not get the memo? No one is going to resegregate any schools because the current school board isn't creating the new assignment policy, YOUR PEOPLE DID! You know, those COC/WEP and Alves people. What a bunch of cheeseballs.