Wake County school board member John Tedesco is skipping today's board meeting to attend a debate for his bid for state schools superintendent.
At the start of today's work session, school board chairman Kevin Hill said Tedesco expressed his regrets that he couldn't come because of a prior commitment. That prior commitment is a Council of State debate for Republican Primary candidates in Winston-Salem sponsored by the Forsyth County Republican Men’s Club, NC Tea Party and Wake Forest College.
"Tonight I will be at the Council of State debate. You can watch it streaming live," Tedesco posted on his Facebook page. "Unfortunately for me, our new Chairman Mr. Hill scheduled a special called meeting after I already committed to the debate, so I will be missing my first school board meeting."
UPDATE
Here's a comment posted on the debate forum Facebook page from one of Tedesco's opponents, Union County school board member David Scholl, about why he wasn't attending the forum.
"I wish I could participate, but I have a school board meeting this afternoon/evening," Scholl posted. "I have a commitment to my community that is important for me to carry out. For more info on me and my vision, please see http://on.fb.me/xsWy9O or www.scholl4schools.com."
School board member Debra Goldman said she declined her invitation as a GOP candidate for state auditor to attend the forum because her primary responsiblity is to be on the board.
"I have to do my sworn duty as a board member," Goldman said.
Goldman declined comment on Tedesco skipping the board meeting.
Comments
Why bother to show up for
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 23:21 — YouMustBeKiddingWhy bother to show up for the Board meeting when you know ahead of time that no one from your District will be there to tell an unfortunate story or lodge a complaint regarding their Round 1 assignment (or lack thereof)? May be cynical, but has anyone here actually heard a single complaint out Tedesco's District 2? Are any of his constituents unassigned after making Round 1 choices?
Aw, c'mon...
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 07:04 — YouMustBeKiddingNot a SINGLE complaint from Tedesco's District 2?? How incredibly believable.
Guess you should move to D2
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 08:22 — FSandYOUSounds like he knows how to keep his constituents happy. At least he responds to them and has from day one.
Unlike Kev.
Sounds like preferential
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 08:33 — YouMustBeKiddingSounds like preferential treatment by Tata or staff to me. But, at least, we seem to agree - for once - about Hill. MIA.
Or, Move to D1 or D7
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 08:47 — YouMustBeKiddingFunny thing is that I don't hear many, if any, complaining from Malone's District 1 or Prickett's District 7 either. How ironic. If I'm wrong about these two districts, by all means, please tell your story.
Wow so we are in agreement
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 14:07 — starsonoursWow so we are in agreement that Prickett, Malone and Tedesco are doing a great job.
Deborah Prickett seems to be
Thu, 03/29/2012 - 12:10 — DrActualFactualDeborah Prickett seems to be able to coordinate with staff to meet the needs of her district--note the recent meetings she arranged for Lead Mine and Sycamore Creek schools regarding bell schedule times. The parents had objections but seemed to have addressed them in an effective way to bring about the desired changes. Not aware of what Malone is doing in district 1 but my point is that if you are not noticing complaints perhaps they are being addressed in a fashion that is low key. Ms. Goldman also addressed Davis Dr. ES concerns with staff and Tata and enacted an agreeable compromise for bell schedule/bus arrangements.
I have to do my sworn duty as a board member
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 21:21 — leddbellywhat a poor excuse for a man -----go eat another cheeseburger ----- i wonder how this guy supports himself
Tedesco
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 13:54 — recordguyHe went to a debate over the school Board of Ed. meeting, a debate for an office he has less than zero percent chance of getting the nomination for.
If I had the time, I would have watched his streaming video. I could use a good laugh. And I bet he's still brushing the shoe polish off his teeth.
once again
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 09:59 — EBDarcyMr. Tedesco,
Once again a very inappropriate and unprofessional post. One would expect elected officials to know that calling voters "haters" and the totally irrelevant comments about the polls is not a good idea and does nothing but make you look petty.
?
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 12:09 — Bob_SconceWhat voter did he call a 'hater'?
The comment about the polls is relevant because it helps explain the reasoning behind the criticism.
huh?
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 15:58 — EBDarcyIsn't he referring to people here as haters? I'm assuming anyone who is engaged enough to post here is a voter.
Thats quite a stretch there.
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 19:03 — starsonoursThats quite a stretch there. First were has he refered to someone as a hater? Second If the first statement is true have we proven the people refered to are or are not haters.. Third who really cares? You are entitled to your opinion and Mr Tedesco is entitled to his opinion why the heart burn over this comment (if it was a comment)?
Tedesco's position
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 09:12 — JTedescoGood to see the classic rude and hateful comments continue to come from those who desired civility. Thank you and bless your little hearts.
I do not comment much here any more, and I intend on making this one remark and logging off not to comment further on this matter in this forum. I do believe some detailed truth to be missing here. Those wishing to question me further in a civil format can contact me directly.
First, by policy our regular board meetings are the first and third Tuesday of each month. With exceptions for when we have to adjust for holidays or election day these are usually set up for us 6 months in advance. When there was a debate in Wayne County last week I had to skip it for a school board meeting. Last night was a special called meeting added to our calendar in the last few weeks. Several board members have missed special called meeting for a variety of reasons (including reasons that they simply had other previous plans). We have even had some who refused to go just because they didn't like a meeting added to the calendar when they felt the work could have been done at a regular meeting; Mr. Sutton missing the meeting to hire Mr. Tata, or Mr. Hill missing special session due to a trip to the beach with friends that was already planned for some time.
I informed Mr. Hill in advance when he added this item that I had a previous commitment and would not be able to make it. Mr. Hill informed me that there was not any single special item that prompted his call for a special meeting and merely his desire to catch up on some work as we have a heavy agenda right now. The organizer of the event had reached out to me prior in their planning to check my availability long before the special Board meeting was added. They worked to plan around schedules. Not all races were originally included, mine was. When one of Ms. Goldman's opponents later brought concern to event organizers they reached out to Auditor candidates; at which point our meeting had been added so she could decline based on us having a meeting. I felt it would have been inappropriate for me to cancel at the last minute on event organizers for a non-emergency specially added late meeting.
One of my opponents mentioned, Mr Scholl (nice enough fellow who I lead in recent polls by more than 4-1), had a regularly scheduled board meeting that he likely had scheduled for 6-12 months. Again, it is easy to decline attendance with organizers when you know you have a meeting.
Ok - now all the haters can feel free to have a feeding frenzy on my comment. Enjoy.
John Tedesco
The organizer of the event had reached out to me
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 21:31 — leddbellywhat sane person in their right frame of mind would reach out to a moron like Tedesco ----- man , they must have been desperate or he paid a pretty penny to appear -----
How many
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 12:33 — HereWeGoHow many meeting as vice-chair did you call with only 48 hours notice?
Please tell me
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 11:32 — prescott2Please tell me of another school board member who mock and calls dissenters names in public? If Mr. Tedesco is really concerned about dialogue and the high road then why doesn't he contact the speakers dierctly- he has acess to their name?. Instead he does a rant and run and manages to drop a poll number in while he's at it. It just doesn't get more self-serving than John Tedesco.
Once a fool....
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 07:30 — sofedupIt doesn't matter where you're from - a "yankee" northerner or a redneck southerner.....Tedesco is a fool by anyone's standards.....except if you're in the TP.
Joe Tarheel and ClearThinker
Wed, 03/28/2012 - 00:35 — towermanYou're both foolish. Dream on if you think that we who brought Tedesco into office will sit back and defer to idiots like you.
It's over. Here and everywhere. Keep up your ramblings though lest we forget to wake up one morning in November and continue the decimation of liberals that we began in November 2010.
This is a good thing. The
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 22:38 — JoeTarheelThis is a good thing.
The idiot with no education or education experience to speak of is missing a School Board meeting.
Can "ya'll" imagine this fool at a 'debate' in Winston-Salem? They don't have nearly the number of dumb@## yankees that we have in Raleigh. Even the Tea Bag crazies won't vote for a moron yankee like this.
Not his first miss
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 21:49 — clarkshereMr. Tedesco, I believe, had a death in the family in the first few months of taking office, and missed a meeting.
OH, I GET IT...
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 17:50 — ClearThinker...it's Chairman Hill's fault that District 2 Wake School Board representative John Tedesco - champion of school reform and "improved" public education - is not fulfilling his oath of office to responsibly and zealously represent the parents and citizens of his school district.
This dang foolishness is why it's best for elected officials running for higher office to just bow out, inside of trying to juggle the demands of a campaign (in Tedesco's case useless campaign) and elected office.
Chairman Hill's responsibility is to the parents and students of WCPSS, not to some high-minded egomaniac who has significcantly damp dreams of being one day...shall I say it ...governor and/or president, one day!
OK Tedesco lovers, chime in and defend you boy.
And I do mean...boy!
Good for John
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 19:20 — FSandYOUWhy waste anymore time with the Martin and Evans fiasco? I mean he's out next time around anyway, right? Nothing is going to get accomplished for the next 2 years, not until the voters crack the smelling salts and reverse what they screwed up this time around. If John wins the state's top seat he can really make some positive changes that will help ALL of the children of this state.
There, how's that!
HA...
Tue, 03/27/2012 - 21:50 — ClearThinkerPsychotic, as always! According to everyone else, most of the other candidates carried out their official responsibilities except Teddy Tedesco. That should tell you truckloads right there! Your boy is weak!