Will the election of a new Wake school board majority that opposes the current diversity policy help Durham?
That's the viewpoint articulated Wednesday on the Bull City Rising blog by Kevin Davis. His take on the election results is that neighborhood schools will make western Wake even wealthier, which in turn will make Research Triangle Park even more relevant.
"Of course, I think Wake's kids will be the real losers in all this," Davis writes. "All of which means I won't take any pleasure in Durham's gains coming at their likely pains."
Davis also writes that scrapping the diversity policy will cause eastern Wake to "deteriorate" as test scores drop and the percentage of low-income students rise. He says people moving into the area will identify eastern Wake as the "bad" part of the county. He says people will move elsewhere, with Johnston County"the likely big winner there."
Davis is a supporter of Wake's diversity policy, which he calls "historic, and largely successful."
Comments
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Mon, 01/04/2010 - 03:53 — snj19The others have their background, while what I have is the sight of my back.
If everybody cooperated
Wed, 12/09/2009 - 10:31 — SeafeverDiversity would be fine, IF everybody supported the idea of school; problem is,
so many of the distaff side are out of step with expectations of traditional school, and
they bring down the educational level for all. In addition, many low college performers have become (uncertified) teachers and are poor teachers--give no instruction time, use all "seatwork" and don't understand their specialty subjects themselves and certainly can't explain them to students.
As long as "disadvantaged" students are not prepared for school, and refuse or are unable to do grade-level work, there should be no blending of able students and unable students. Good apples cannot improve the rotten apple, but the rotten apple can ruin all the apples in the barrel.
I can easily see how
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 17:07 — RevHiDI can easily see how neighborhood schools in Wake will benefit Durham. We've lived in Cary for 15 years. About five years ago, we searched for a slightly bigger house. Durham offered a better commute and more homes that suited our needs, but we stayed in Wake because of school diversity. We're obviously rethinking that decision now.
Really? You stayed in Wake
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 21:51 — woodstockReally? You stayed in Wake because of the diversity? Two questions:
1. What is the nature of this diversity that you are so fond of?
2. What do you find so valuable about diversity that you would make it a decisive factor in a significant life decision such as where you choose to live?
....
Mon, 11/16/2009 - 07:49 — SideburnsBut, remember woodstock, living close to work is more important to RevHiD than diversity.
Here we go again
Sat, 11/14/2009 - 13:40 — TrailerParkGirlMore elitist theory on low-income and the 'diversity' policy - at least the first word in his blog title is fitting.
Someone from Durham providing insight into Wake County?
Fri, 11/13/2009 - 09:38 — stacy123This is funny!
carson--long time, no see.
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 13:11 — jenmancarson--long time, no see. Students in Eastern Wake have limited access to magnet schools and WCPSS plans to further limit that access. Most kids in Eastern Wake already go to a neighborhood school--there's not much shifting kids around for numbers sake. All Eastern Wake schools are over 40% with most over 50%.
Eastern Wake schools (particularly high schools) have always offered less than other Wake county schools. I know a family that moved from Knightdale to Raleigh in the mid 80s just so their daughter could have better academic opportunities in HS. A woman from Eastern Wake who used to post here just moved to another part of the county for the very same reason. This has been a problem for many many years and I doubt that people will start fleeing Eastern Wake now.
I actually expect things will get better for Eastern Wake with the new board. The current board expects low income students to not do as well as higher wealth students. They expect that fewer students at high poverty schools will take higher level courses. Recent reports have shown that even when lower income kids show the aptitude for higher level courses, WCPSS doesn't place them in those classes. There is no reason why we should not be expecting as much from students in Eastern Wake and no reason why they shouldn't have the same opportunities as the rest of us. The current board and admin just throw their hands up and say that there's nothing they can do to help those schools.
Are you from Eastern Wake?
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 09:31 — carson79You said "A neighborhood schools policy will leave Eastern Wake virtually the same as it is now.: What support do you have for this assertion? I think you miss the ultimate effects of all of this - its not just the immediate changes when students are ripped from magnet schools or successful suburban schools and left with ZERO OPTIONS but their neighborhood school! It's the changes in residential patterns and public school attendance that will occur. so eastern wake will get MORE POVERTY CONCENTRATIONS. PEOPLE WILL MOVE!! Parents will pull their children from those schools and go private. Tell me, do you live in Eastern Wake?
Support
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 13:47 — SDR256You can't take hook line and sinker what you see in the media, carson79. Are you aware that it is the outgoing board members who have spoken about limiting magnets? As for the new board members, Chris Malone said "why would we mess wit something that's working" and Debra Goldman attended the Magnet School open house to show her support for the magnet program. Thought you'd like to know that.
Just because Goldman
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 15:48 — jeannie84Just because Goldman attended the magnet school fair doesn't mean she supports the program. She's referred to herself and her fellow incoming BOE members as "the posse" which hardly sets a conciliatory tone going forward.
As for Mr. Davis, he is describing the very real probability of "white flight." I witnessed it (and the accompanying hike in property taxes) first-hand in two other states that have "neighborhood schools" and there's no reason to believe Wake county will be any different.
HA
Fri, 11/13/2009 - 00:54 — SDR256HA - - After the blatant arrogance and disrespect that this board and staff have shown to voters and parents I can see why someone would need to make a 'take charge' stance. This board has hoped to break one of them away for a little chat alone, and tried to work their magic to brainwash these folks. They need to put their foot down, and then - only then! use the velvet glove.
I love the idea of a parent championing posse! Hi Ho Silver AWAY!
Disagree...
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 21:30 — Bob_SconceSo, first of all, I don't view taking a "conciliatory tone" as
particularly appropriate for the winners in an election. What if Obama
had said "Well, I know we just beat the Republicans. But, we'll be
conciliatory and not try to change things"? If anybody should be
conciliatory, it's the 4 remaining members from the old board.
I want the new board to kick butt and take names. They were elected to shake things up.
Secondly, if the people in Eastern Wake are so concerned about "White Flight" out of Eastern Wake, then why did they come out so strongly for Chris Malone & John Tedesco? Plus, "White Flight" involves people leaving an urban area to escape increasing taxes and decreasing public services. It generally happens in land-locked cities where increasing numbers of poor people tax government resources, and the government taxes the residents all the more. That hardly describes Eastern Wake.
Thirdly, you're mixing correlation and causation -- White Flight happened largely because of tax increases, not vice-versa. And, the reason you saw it in places with "neighborhood schools" is that nearly every place has "neighborhood schools." I've only ever seen 4 feet of snow in places with neighborhood schools.
It doesn't follow
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 16:38 — Dadof3So, by eliminating the arbitrary and supposedly random (and the, well, "wink wink, we have connections in Raleigh" department of student assignment, but that's another matter) reassignment of students to far-away schools, we will see significant demographic shifts; that's what we're to believe? Sorry, the sky isn't falling; in fact, we're propping it back up after years of debacle.
As for "posse" how about the parent-friendly posse; I like that. Being conciliatory to the parents is LONG overdue.
hilarious!!
Fri, 11/13/2009 - 09:36 — stacy123this story and commetn stream is too funny. Parents with children coming into Wake County that are interested in good schools and safe neighborhoods are already bypassing eastern wake - as the assumption is that they will go to their neghborhood schools! With the % low income #'s that is stated in above comments for Eastern Wake ("40% and many > 50%" I think these are the right %). So the argument? is that without bussing these students out of eastern wake and into other schools - in western wake no one would choose to live in eastern wake - The #'s are already showing that this is the case! Anyone that does any due diligence is already bypassing eastern wake! The current school board is limiting magnet schools thus no help was in the immediate future for eastern wake and remember the decision on who stay in the neighborhood school vs. who gets bussed is arbitrary and mandatory so currently this is not really helping Eastern Wake significantly. I think a bigger factor on people who live in Western Wake is more white collar professional jobs are in RTP and thus more people lwant to live in Western Wake to have a reasonable commute - irnoically so they can participate more in schools - which they can not do when their kids are shipped to eastern wake schools! The current bussing also is not helping the students academically -i.e. I believe the debate is over on this subject -that this policy has not helped this population's education - so living in eastern wake and being lucky? to get shipped to a western wake school is not helping the students
I am so heartened by this election that logic and rational thinking might actually be winning elections! but the truth is the inconvience of wacky wednesdays and mandatory year rounds may be the biggest factors - not to mention stability, not guaranteeing to families that there kids will all be on the same track.
I do live in Eastern Wake
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:27 — KnightdaleParentAccording to Millberg and Dulaney, our options were going away next year anyway. The plan was to deny magnet admittance to increase the NED at the east wake schools. It seems to me that a neighborhood school policy would level the field for all students. Not the have and have not magnet system created by WCPSS to play with the numbers.
Such melodramatic irony
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 09:50 — Dadof3"when students are ripped from magnet schools or successful suburban schools and left with ZERO OPTIONS" Ripped! Just like "Law and Order" "RIPPED!" Our kids are currently being RIPPED now, however arbritarily. Such melodramatic hyperbole; however, no Wake Co. child had any self-chosen options under the current ed-junta; and the "we-know-best" benevolent wink from our overlords meant very little to the voting public. Even if you want to get into a magnet school there was the arbitrary machine behind the green curtain you have to please. So, now we have ZERO OPTIONS; what we're gaining is the re-partnering of parents into the process; I suppose that's dreadful for some, but I'm delighted.
Davis obviously doesn't know
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 09:17 — jenmanDavis obviously doesn't know what's happening in Eastern Wake right now. They do very little diversity busing there. There's nowhere to send their low income kids and WCPSS has acknowledged that middle class Raleigh families wouldn't stand for their kids being bused all the way out to Knightdale or Zebulon. A neighborhood schools policy will leave Eastern Wake virtually the same as it is now. The biggest difference will be that the new school board will actually look at ways to improve education for all schools regardless of their F&R%. The current board & WCPSS admin has been quite happy to ignore those schools and offer their students the very least of our resources.