Keith Sutton was channeling Matthew McConaughey from the "We Are Marshall" movie when he gave his speech Tuesday on being the new Wake County school board chairman.
Sutton said that the school system's "reputation has been a bit tarnished" in the last few "tumultuous" years and that the board "must accept responsibility for our part." He said it's the board's job to restore Wake's "luster" and "regain the trust of this community."
Sutton urged his board colleagues to "provide the kind of exemplary leadership that is expected of us by this community" for "we are Wake County."
Here's the text of his speech Tuesday:
“It is indeed an honor and a privilege to serve as chair of the Board of Education of North Carolina’s largest and the 16th largest school district in the United States. I graciously and humbly accept this challenge.
It is no secret to anyone that our beloved Wake County Public School System has had a tumultuous past two years. In a relatively short span of time, we’ve gone through a tremendous amount of change. This change has generated a significant amount of stress. Some good and some not so good.
This has occurred against a backdrop of fiscal uncertainty and political polarization that our country has rarely, if ever, seen before. But now it is time to slow, proceed with caution and optimism and allow time for the district to recover.
Wake County is still one of the best places to live, raise a family, conduct business and educate your children. Our students are doing well and our schools are thriving.
But our reputation has been a bit tarnished. As leadership of this school system, the bucks stops at this table and we must accept our responsibility for our part. It is now time to heal. It is time to restore the luster and the spirit of excellence that was once the expectation of anything associated with the Wake County Public School System.
We have a tremendous amount of heavy lifting to do, including, but not limited to: improving an approach to student assignment, hiring a permanent superintendent and promoting a school bond referendum. Additionally there is much work to be done in order to regain the trust of this community and other key stakeholders. We as a board are up to this challenge.
We the Wake County Board of Education will provide the kind of exemplary leadership that is expected of us by this community, and I intend to lead us in that direction. I ask my colleagues around this table to join me in this commitment and this effort for we are Wake County."
Comments
The "we are Wake County"
Sat, 12/15/2012 - 10:47 — DrActualFactualThe "we are Wake County" sentiment seems rather opposed to the suburbs having to develop their own stakeholder groups to be served (Knightdale 100) for instance. If we were a county system that adequately served the needs of all the cities participating in the county system, Knightdale 100 wouldn't have to exist.
I had the same reaction when
Sat, 12/15/2012 - 12:08 — jenmanI had the same reaction when I read Keung's report of the work session. Kushner said something along the lines of "we have high quality programming at all of our schools". No we don't. If we did then the Knightdale 100 wouldn't need to exist.
and we would not have
Sat, 12/15/2012 - 21:22 — snordonedozens of under enrolled schools and a funding formula that penalizes those who stick it out at those under enrolled schools.
So now Sutton is now proposing....
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 21:43 — woodstockSo now Sutton is now proposing to heal the wounds that he helped to create? Who is buying this BS?
I don't see how shoving one unwanted assignment plan down the public's throat this year and another even more unwelcome one next year is going to heal anything.
'We have a tremendous amount
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 10:25 — loriac'We have a tremendous amount of heavy lifting to do, including, but not limited to: improving an approach to student assignment, hiring a permanent superintendent and promoting a school bond referendum.'
I know he said 'not limited to', but I would have hoped to see something about focusing on educating every student, equalizing resources, continuing the school improvement that was started under Tony Tata. Looks like magnet schools are safe.
..
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 10:42 — Dove314Indeed. Significant oversight to me.
One pretty speech does not a reputation restore.
Agreed
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 13:50 — nmoskalAgreed and as the saying goes - actions speak louder than words...
...
Fri, 12/14/2012 - 08:53 — SideburnsNow it's time to heal? Why's that? Very ironic coming from Sutton - whose friends (and now some fellow Board members) caused all the ruckus at Board meetings, got arrested, filed complaints, danced, sang and prayed. But, now's the time to heal. That's funny.