Here's the voluntary desegregation resolution that drew so much heat at Tuesday's Wake County school board meeting.
As noted in today's article, the board split 5-4 on the resolution's passage. The resolution is needed for Wake to apply for the next round of federal magnet school assistance program grants.
The resolution's supporters say that it shows Wake is still committed to diversity even though it's going to community-based schools. Opponents of the resolution say the call for diversity is hollow and only meant to secure the grant.
The resolution was worked on over a four-hour period Saturday by board members Debra Goldman, Keith Sutton and John Tedesco. Goldman also noted that Saturday was her daughter's birthday.
But Sutton joined the other members of the board minority in voting no on Tuesday.
It's uncertain whether Tuesday's vote was final or if a second vote is needed. Goldman said she's waiting to hear back from board attorney Ann Majestic.
Comments
I have more, but I am saving
Fri, 04/09/2010 - 08:36 — magnetParentI have more, but I am saving it for another day - perhaps after the next board meeting. Maybe things will improve by then. Don't want to look too much like a grump
I'm hearing a LOT of people
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 17:29 — carson79I'm hearing a LOT of people say they don't trust Tedesco...at first it was just jokes about his accent or appearance or silliness like that but then people started talking about his background, watched the extended interviews and kept wondering why he is so interested in telling all of us where our kids go to school?
Seriously if you really puzzle it out, it's hard to see why he is into the issue unless he has an ideological problem with government mandated diversity, like many many many people on the blog do but I don't know if I think he does, or he wants to use us as the launchpad for his political career.... very likely considering his past career and rhetoric he uses and personal he has tried to create.
I really had no opinion of
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 19:29 — kbrooks500I really had no opinion of Tedesco until I watched the recent school board meetings and the Mar. 31 work session. I do not trust him. He back pedals on things he says and does not understand the consequences of the decisions he is making for the county. On the one hand he says we can't label ED kids because it gives them low expectations. Then he says schools with many ED kids will need exra resources. It becomes a never ending cycle which deflects responsible from the district which is what he wants I think. He has no problem with assignment double standards - meeting the requests of affluent western wake, while reassigning poorer southeast Raleigh without notice. He has no problem changing the calendar selection from place all applicants regardless of crowding to place only those that fit. Bet those Breckenridge families that don't get accepted back to Cedar Fork will be thrilled. Tedesco is not good forWake county schools and over time I think more people will come to realize that.
Actually
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 23:41 — TrailerParkGirlActually, you don't need the label to meet student needs. That is the difference with using an individual achievement approach vs. an "at risk" group model approach and has nothing to do with deflecting responsibility. In fact, it holds the district more accountable because it does not lower the bar for ED students making it look like they are doing better than they actually are. If he was interested in deflecting responsibility, he could have stayed with the status quo of not meeting existing policies and playing pretend and then collecting accolades while the largest achievement gap in NC continued to grow. That would have been much easier route for him to take for his own personal sake, but he wants ED kids to succeed and believes that they can.
I agree.
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 19:39 — Dove314It becomes a never ending cycle which deflects responsible from the district which is what he wants I think.
I agree with you on this. I think he is working towards absolving WCPSS (and thus taxpayers) of providing anything more than the bare minimum. After that it is on the kids to make it work or not, regardless of whether their parents are involved and helping or not, regardless of whether the community is involved and helping or not. Provide the minimum and hope everybody else jumps in to cover. And if everybody else doesn't, then kids should sink or swim.
Sorry
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 23:56 — TrailerParkGirlSorry, but you couldn't be more off base. Remember he campaigned on community model schools, which are far beyond the bare minimum. There is no magic wand to be waved and have everything done in a day. Processes take time. Can we give this a tad more time to evolve before taking it to this level of accusation?
If it were you
Fri, 04/09/2010 - 09:48 — Dove314Tedesco and his fellow board majority need to be able to articulate at least the outlines of their plans. A background in business development isn't translating to school board politics. He can't horsetrade with a grant application, he can't recruit a new private contributor to balance a $20M to $40M to $80M system budget shortfall, and he shouldn't be promising "world class schools" on a pauper's budget. I'd have more faith if you were the one on the board.
Thanks
Fri, 04/09/2010 - 13:35 — TrailerParkGirl"I'd have more faith if you were the one on the board."
Thanks, unfortunately I think my husband would divorce me before he'd let me do that :-) and actually JT is more qualified.
Is he perfect? No. No one is and neither would I be.
Do I agree with everything he has done, said, or would do all the same things in the same way? No, but I wouldn't do every right either. However, we agree on the principle issues and that is what ultimately matters. He gets them - the downsides of the "at risk" model and how it is connects to different pieces of the puzzle like lower achievement expectations which becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy; how low-income and minority have born the brunt of mandatory bussing while the other direction is often done via choice incentives and how that is not equitable*; framing diversity in a manner that is not founded in SES "at risk" labeling mentality and is more equitably accomplished**; the unique situations of various parts of the county; the difference between having integrated schools and integrated classrooms; the challenges of low-income communities***; etc.
"He can't horsetrade with a grant application, he can't recruit a new private contributor to balance a $20M to $40M to $80M system budget shortfall, and he shouldn't be promising "world class schools" on a pauper's budget."
Remember, he has experience fundraising for a not-for-profit. Maybe not $40M worth by next school year, but I wouldn't count him out completely. Also, community schools are built on collaboration between schools, businesses, government, community agencies and community and he does have experience with those things that I do not. Things do not only happen at a once or twice a month BOE related meeting and take time.
As for the pauper's budget issue -
This is another area where JT and I have similarities. I think we both fundementally reject the word "can't" and the constructs of defeatism. We are more "once we know where we want to go let's figure out how to do whatever it takes to get there" types. People told Geoffry Canada that Harlem Children's Zone couldn't be done but he rejected that thinking and found a way to make it happen. We need people who believe it can be done to get it done. People who live in the realm of "can't", "won't" and defeatism will never be game changers. The current budget situation makes the challenge larger but that doesn't mean you give up on the vision of "world class schools", it means you have to redouble efforts and get even more creative. IMO we've had our share of defeatism leading the charge, which is why we've been spinning our wheels, but I think this is changing little by little.
*not unique to Wake - this is in part why there has been a decline among A-A over time in supporting bussing (per book I read so not just my opinion)
** please share any ideas you may have on how to accomplish this
*** the community situation exists regardless of bussing the students elsewhere
Tedesco's plan,
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 14:34 — NWRaleighMomas I understand it, will create more available magnet seats. So, at the very least, 10% of more seats will give my kids more chance. Hopefully, they will move to an equal lottery next year. Better yet, if we don't have to rely on a magnet to get a challenging curriculum.
Again, I don't mind change since it can't get any worse for us.
challenging curriculum
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 14:41 — turnerk1I have yet to hear any board member speak to changing the curriculum in any way for most schools and just a few vague statements about magnets. I think people are putting their own hopes and fears onto this assignment debate, but really it is just about where children will go to school and the results those decisions might have on the learning atmosphere of individual schools. But, we aren't suddenly going to get millions of dollars of new funding from the state. We aren't going to get new people on every level of the central staff that will decide to use data in different ways. Most of the same teachers and principals will still be with us with all their strengths and weaknesses. Don't confuse activity in one area with activity in another.
Curious where you got that
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 14:39 — magnetParentCurious where you got that information. I have never heard about more seats and especially a number such as 10%.
Regardless, its ideology, not a plan.
I'm not sure where the more
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 17:18 — jenmanI'm not sure where the more seats is coming from, but 10% is the number of seats available to anybody applying from a school that doesn't meet any of the criteria. In the past, applicants from any school over 40% F&R was only eligible for 10% of the magnet seats. Now its any school that is less than a certain % crowded. So if there are more seats overall, then there are more seats available in the 'last 10% round'.
I see. Thank you.
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 23:48 — magnetParentI see. Thank you.
Good
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 14:22 — carson79Good point!!
NWRaleighMom,
Tedesco has already made moves he claimed were to redistribute kids from Garner High to Southeast Raleigh High bc Garner was too crowded and Southeast was "underenrolled"...
So if your school is underenrolled now, I think you can expect that you won't be magneting out any time soon...unless of course Tedesco's move of the Garner High families was not because Garner is more crowded than Southeast. Come to think of it, SERHS is a magnet, so he was actually REDUCING magnet seats with this move. Which doesn't bode well for you either!
You may have shared it before, but what school are you at if you don't mind saying? (totally understand if you don't want to say)
John Tedesco said multiple .. he forsees ... He's also said .. h
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 16:18 — user12345Comments like this always disturb me ... it is as if John is God and we are all waiting for him to bring down his plan from the mountain. "He" said, "He thinks" ... etc. Here is a single guy with no kids from one district who just quit his job and 150k kids are waiting for this man to present his master plan which will direct the county for a long time ...
I guess my point is that
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 17:03 — jenmanI guess my point is that although people are bringing up good questions and points, sometimes it seems like they are assuming that the plan won't address those things.
I don't think that John is God by any means. I'm just saying that he's made comments that lead me to believe that he's aware of some of these issues.
I am afraid he will not be
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 17:25 — carson79I am afraid he will not be trusted if he continues to handle certain nodes differently than others and if he treats anyone in the suburbs the way he did the SE Raleigh nodes with the backdoor move of 160 families from one calendar - he'll even lose his current supporters.
Goldman/Tedesco
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 14:23 — jgegbgmgCan't trust either one of these characters - Goldman gets wide eyed and defensive every time someone says something she doesn't like or really doesn't understand - She really is weak when it comes to managing responsibility. Tedesco on the other hand continues to be vocally defensive anytime something is questioned regarding his actions. Can't believe he continues to say he knows what is best for our children when he doesn't have any children. He even left the children who depended on him when he "resigned" from his previous job (if you believe he really "resigned" you too have a problem). He is a step away from having civil rights law suit after law suit thrown his way. This will use up educational funds we dearly need. Goldman and Tedesco need to go !!!!!!
You have no earhly idea
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 19:24 — woodstockYou have no idea what the hell you are talking about. But, keep it up; it's fun to read the rantings of imbeciles.
Woodstock you seem to
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 19:26 — user12345Woodstock you seem to getting confuse more often lately ... you may want to sit it out for a few days until you can get up to speed and participate again ...
No thanks, I'm fine ... on
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 19:33 — woodstockNo thanks, I'm fine ... on top of my game, in fact. I am enjoying reading the posts of people -- like you -- who are on the edge of losing it.
The fact that you feel a
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 19:58 — user12345The fact that you feel a need to defend every action and criticism of the new members shows how desperate you are to control the conversation and keep everyone on message … you really are trying too hard and becoming more robotic and predictable in your response … show some independent thought … you know, I don't think I have ever seen you post any data or research like Todd or TPG or wondered if there is a compromise like jenman ... just insults and questions to control the conversation and scare people away ... contribute, compromise and try to add some original thoughts ....
YOU'RE CORRECT
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 10:41 — jgegbgmgWoodstock is in a world of his/her own. Defensive, Defensive, Defensive !!!! That just about sums up his/her ability to accept the backward directions of the current Board !!!!!!
LOL You worry about me too
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 20:38 — woodstockLOL You worry about me too much. You should worry more about coming to this forum with some better arguments.
Also, I don't defend "every action" of the new board. For instance, I criticized Goldman when she started getting soft and wanted to compromise with the status quo.
Right
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 15:46 — SDR256You're right. I don't believe he resigned. I believe that deep pocketed political bullies found a way to put him in a position where this was the only option to save an organization he loves from pain. That car that the vandals at the last BoE meeting attacked (were you one of them?) may be the one he ends up living in. Would that make you happy? Does that encourage you to think you might one day sacrifice your life for civic duty? Sure doesn't encourage ME.
Give Me A Break
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 16:25 — jgegbgmgGive me a break. But it will be interesting when he starts living in his car - Gives him another chance to make the news !!!!!! And you will be happy again !!!!!
Tedesco
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 16:14 — catimaMaybe he can go live with Sarah Palin in Alaska and screw up their schools instead of ours.
I know
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 20:15 — g88ky07..
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 20:26 — Dove314This tax paying, gainfully employed "imbecile" is staying in Wake County for now, same as you.
Why are you continuing to discuss 6200? That's the past.
Why the focus on singing? Got a stereotype in mind?
Now about what this board has done towards student achievement -- can you just detail what new things the board has put into place to assist in the 2010-2011 school year in their 1 committee meeting out of 6?
Must be done with your
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 14:27 — shank561Must be done with your school day at Enloe huh ?