The Wake Schools Community Alliance has gone through the crowded field in District 2 to endorse John Tedesco for the school board.
In today's press release, the WSCA says that of the five candidates "only John Tedesco's approach to moving our schools forward is in tune with WSCA objectives and the unique needs of District 2." The group says they have agreement on issues such as reassignment and year-round schools.
The WSCA has been the only group so far to officially endorse school board candidates. But with the filing period now over, expect more groups on both sides of the fence to announce their endorsements soon.
Here's the WSCA press release:
WSCA Endorses John Tedesco for Wake County School Board District 2
Wake Schools Community Alliance (WSCA) is pleased to endorse Mr. John Tedesco for Wake County School Board District 2. Mr. Tedesco has already filed for the October 6th election. Earlier, John also received the endorsement of Arnie Osborn, who has withdrawn from the School Board election and will be supporting John for the District 2 seat.
Several candidates have filed for election in District 2. But only John Tedesco's approach to moving our schools forward is in tune with WSCA objectives and the unique needs of District 2.
First and foremost, citizens in District 2 are telling us that they want a stronger voice on the Wake County School Board; they want someone who takes a citizens-first approach. And they want a School Board representative who is keenly aware of the issues in District 2 Schools today. Due to family circumstances, John has raised his younger siblings and has been their advocate at PTA and IEP meetings in the Wake County School System. John spends a lot of time in our schools and is the only District 2 candidate that has a current perspective on the challenges of advocating for individual students from outside the system.
John's dedication to helping children, especially those who are at-risk, is reflected in his career choice to serve as Chief Development Officer for Boys Club and Girls Club of America Triangle Chapter. As a leader in this organization, John has built programs and public/private partnerships to improve access to health care for at-risk children, and to establish mentoring programs focused on reducing youth gang activity and crime. He also has experience working with local government, having completed a successful stint as a City Manager with a strong track record of innovation and fiscal responsibility. Without a doubt, John has the drive and the skills to get things done.
Wake County voters face an important School Board election on October 6th. As described by Joe Ciulla, "This election is very much about change versus the status-quo. With John Tedesco, District 2 citizens have the opportunity to support a candidate who has the energy and expertise to drive the positive change we need in assignment policies, parental choice in school calendar options, and improvement in the quality of our schools and the results they deliver. We strongly believe that the citizens of District 2 deserve more than they are getting from Wake County Public Schools, and that they are ready to move forward with new ideas and the new leadership John can offer."
John's major platform points which are in synch with what Wake County citizens and WSCA expect from our School Board leaders:
The Wake County School System belongs to us. John firmly believes that the School Board works for us, not the other way around.
We have too many schools and students in Wake County who are not succeeding. We need to raise our expectations of our school system, and we need to replace failed policies with ones which promote progress; more of the same is just not good enough.
We must restore the sense of community and the parental support which has been eroding in our schools. This starts by having an assignment policy which permits students to attend schools close to their homes.
Our School Board members should not be afraid to admit when they are wrong. MYR has failed in Wake County, as it has failed all over the country. We have not realized enrollment gains, and these schools cost more to operate. We must keep YR options open to families who prefer them, but mandatory assignment to these schools should be discontinued.
Our school system is facing a budget crisis. We need School Board leaders who will make smart fiscal decisions and focus funding out of administration and back into the classroom.
WSCA proudly endorses John Tedesco for Wake County School Board District 2, and we encourage all Wake County voters to get to know John during the upcoming campaign.
Comments
Want to help? Share your story!!
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 09:44 — me_mcadams(***NOTE: CORRECTED EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED BELOW.)
I know there are a lot of passionate parents on this website. As a member of the WSCA, I’m collecting parent testimonials about how current WCPSS policies and practices have PERSONALLY impacted you. Please send me your stories, both positive and not-so-positive – I’d like to hear them all. Please email them to me by Fri, July 24 at time4WCPSSchange@gmail.com.
Please include the following information when you write:
1) Your name, 2) District, or base school, 3) Your story – the good, the bad, and/or the ugly, 4) Your satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with the current WCPSS, 5) What, if anything, you’d like to see change and why, and 6) Whether or not you’d be willing to be quoted in writing.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to share!
Are you collecting emails /
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 10:25 — user1234Are you collecting emails / names for fund raising?
2009 CARY CANDIDATE FORUM SET
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 11:02 — user1234CARY, NC Make plans now to play an active role in the 2009 Cary Community Candidate Forum, the first and only forum for candidates for local office sponsored by a Triangle local government, and the only forum for local offices to be cablecast on Cary TV 11. Sponsored by the Town of Cary and featuring only questions submitted by Cary citizens. Our research shows that the primary reason why qualified voters don't go to the polls on Election Day is because they lack information on the candidates, ¨ said Damon Circosta, NCCVE executive director. We are very pleased to take part in the Town of Cary ¦s effort to empower its citizens with the facts they need to cast a confident ballot. ¨ This year's forum, which will be held on September 15 in the Cary Town Council Chambers, will include candidates for one At-Large seat and districts A and C. Wake County School Board seats that represent Cary will also be included: districts 2, 7 and 9.
Benefits of this approach include:
Want to help? Share your story!!
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 13:30 — me_mcadamsI know there are a lot of passionate parents on this website. As a member of the WSCA, I’m collecting parent testimonials about how current WCPSS policies and practices have PERSONALLY impacted you. Please send me your stories, both positive and not-so-positive – I’d like to hear them all. Please email them to me by Fri, July 24 at time4WCPSSchange@google.com.
Please include the following information when you write:
1) Your name, 2) District, or base school, 3) Your story – the good, the bad, and/or the ugly, 4) Your satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with the current WCPSS, 5) What, if anything, you’d like to see change and why, and 6) Whether or not you’d be willing to be quoted in writing.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to share!
Very pleased to see this announcement
Fri, 07/17/2009 - 20:21 — FalcI am very impressed with the diversity of his experiences! He is exactly what the citizens of Wake County need.
"I am very impressed with
Sat, 07/18/2009 - 09:59 — user1234"I am very impressed with the diversity of his experiences!"
Falc, was that a slur? Labling him with "diversity"? I thought that was a curse word <joke>.
Only in your twisted universe...
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 00:39 — Its_the_parents...Falc, was that a slur? Labling him with "diversity"? I thought that was a curse word <joke>
Please don't try get a job as an improv comic...you would fail miserably! And your faux sense of humor betrays underlying prejudices on your part...
Your brand of "obsolete-school"political and public policy is about as relevant to current-day Wake County reality as a WALKMAN (remember them???) is to an iPod or mp3player...keep on fighting a crusade (racial, cultural) from a generation ago...fortunately for the rest of us, we have tuned you out... you now represent an obsolete class of loudmouths who we simply have no more time for...keep on publishing your newsletter to your little cult there...but the reality is that no one cares for your obsolete brand of politics anymore.
Say goodnight now...
Humorless
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 08:48 — user1234No wonder you are so angry and sad all the time.
Blood from a rock
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 05:45 — Dadof3Or, as is the case, simply not funny.
Actually, the joke's on you...
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 00:50 — Its_the_parents......and we, yes, the parents will have the last laugh!
Please understand that at this point
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 00:55 — Falcthe anti-diversity accusation is a raw nerve to those who are trying to improve education for all students. It gets a little frustrating being falsely accused of things like "being a bunch of Western Wake people living on Wisteria Lane", "racist" and "anti-diversity". Being falsely accused of things like that tends to make people not see humor in the topic.
NO ONE I know thinks diversity is a bad word. You know my position on the WCPSS assignment policy that is referred to as the "diversity" policy - it's not a diversity policy. Think of it this way - if you conducted a national survey of 1,000 or even 10,000 people and asked "What is diversity?" how many do you think would respond "not having more than 40% F&R students in any school because too many ED students cause a school to not be healthy" or "it's only about white, black and hispanics. Asians don't count"? IMO those who support the current WCPSS assignment policy tend to have some of the most narrow-minded and backward views on diversity that I've encountered.
BTW - don't think I responded before, but I agree with your wife about the importance of Reading. That and the vocabulary development that comes with it are part of those missing skills I mentioned. That is why my ES pushed reading and vocab development.
counterview
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 14:55 — user1234IMO those who don't support the current WCPSS assignment policy tend to have some of the most narrow-minded and backward views on diversity that I've encountered. They tend to be people who live in Low Income diverse neighborhoods and attend Low ED schools. I think they have had as much income diversity as they can tolerate and are pushing back.
Counterview to the Counterview
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 10:50 — BWNelsonFirst off, my family lives in an older, nicely diverse neighborhood. I would say that it's a bit more than 50% white, with a fairly even mix of black, hispanic, and asian families mainly living in homes that they own. There are a couple houses that are rented to college age students and/or young professionals as well. It's a nice neighborhood. I like it.
The "neighborhood" ES, however, is a poorly performing Title I overflow school. Because we don't have that many kids that qualify for F/R programs in my neighborhood, we tend to be low on the list for the Magnet School Lottery, so most of the kids in the neighborhood have to attend the "neighborhood" overflow school, which they could walk to, or opt to take a bus to their designated YR school, if they are given the option to attend there.
My question to you as a promoter of "diversity" is this: If "diversity" is such a laudable thing, then why are the NED people in truly diverse neighborhoods penalized by being given less of a chance to attend Magnet Schools than kids from largely white neighborhoods? Seems to me that the people who really get the shaft here are middle class people who chose diverse middle class neighborhoods.
To further define terms, I am going to say that "middle class" people rely on a paycheck to support themselves, rent or own a single family dwelling, and their kids wouldn't qualify for F/R lunch programs.
Amen
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 12:30 — user1234"Seems to me that the people who really get the shaft here are middle class people who chose diverse middle class neighborhoods. "
It was not until I downsized to live on one income and moved from very high end neighborhood to a diverse mixed income neighborhood that I realized the disparity between the schools. Subtle things like the high end school had French II and III but in diverse school there is not enough "interest" for those classes ... So, I will be listening to the candidates to see what they say about this issue ... I don't accept that only people who can afford expensive houses get the best schools and education ... that is not PUBLIC school.
Huh?
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 13:28 — RichardAndersonMaybe WCPSS offers other languages for a fee for kids that want more.-user1234 7/20/09 - 16:21
I don't accept that only people who can afford expensive houses get the
best schools and education ... that is not PUBLIC school.
- user1234 7/24/2009 - 12:30
So your position is that paying for a house is too much to get something, but paying for extra classes is OK?
You are right, the quality of the public education available to your children should not be contingent on how much your house cost. What you fail to see is that it should not be contingent on your ability to afford anything. All you have done is created an artifical line for what costs too much and what doesn't. One day, that line won't be where you like it, but you will have no basis for any complaint since you supported its creation.
If language is required for
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 13:58 — user1234If language is required for college we should offer some cost effective, across the board offering that everyone can take advantage of and not depend on local principles to make that local decision. The spotty system we offer now is not consistent and often leaves holes mostly in high needs schools as they try to offer too much with limited resources. I would much rather have one end to end complete Spanish course universally offered instead to French in these two schools, German in these three, Japanese in this one, etc. So, having on universal Spanish offering will get anyone into State, UNC, etc. If a person wants say Russian or Chinese offer it to them after school at a fee. It is not required for college because you already have the Spanish completed. It is a nice to have. We need to provide for basic needs – two years of a foreign language for college entrance – before widening the offers to Russian and Chinese and creating holes and inconstancies school to school… but if there are those who want to pay for those languages just like they pay for SAT Prep or Summer Camp take their money. My message is get one language offering straight before offering a potpourri of choices inconsistently across the county.
That's interesting...
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 20:13 — Bob_SconceI tend to think the same thing about people who support the so-called "diversity" policy.
Diversity is about a whole lot more than having rich Americans in school with somewhat less rich Americans. (Have no doubt; by world standards, a poor person in the US is still quite well-off.) My kids have friends from different nations, indeed several different continents; they have friends who speak a different language at home; they have friends from at least three different races; they have Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu friends; they have friends with different abilities and disabilities. As a result, they get a chance to understand the world though many different eyes.
All of these are ignored by the "diversity" proponents, who care only that my kids go to school with somebody whose parents make somewhat less than Mrs. Sconce and I do.
Well, I think we all have to
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 21:56 — SDR256Well, I think we all have to admit that it is a hard nut to crack - especially if you're sitting on a corner in a low income neighborhood. I know that Senator Malone was furious that the county did not deem SE Raleigh 'worthy' of its own school. He wanted a neighborhood school there - imagine that.
Not being an educator, but just in my own humble assessment - it seems that a school with a majority of surrounding neighborhoods which are low-income would need to be laser focused on the needs of that neighborhood's likely requirements to ramp up on education basics - along the lines of the KIPP program. Both are important, but doesn't education trump diversity? Like I said, hard nut to crack.....which is why we need a creative and sensitive group of representatives on the board to find a good combination of solutions. Maybe, if schools cannot be built, some busing remains but remains stable! (that is the biggest word for me)
There is no single silver bullet for this. What I find so consternating about the current status quo is the sustained fantasy that busing is the silver bullet - when clearly its proven not to be. I just don't find an 'all or nothing' stance to be particularly intellectual. Its like arguing with a religious fanatic who at every turn claims that God has spoken directly to them.
"which is why we need a
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 08:30 — user1234"which is why we need a creative and sensitive group of representatives on the board to find a good combination of solutions."
Why didn't WSCA recruit some sensitive ED, Hispanic or AA candidates? I love your candidate’s page but in a county where only 51.8% of the school kids are White, I think you missed an opportunity by not finding a more diverse group to support.
We would love to have been
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 21:08 — SDR256We would love to have been given that opportunity. But, as has been covered in other posts, it takes a special person of any kind to want to do this work. We were more concerned with the ideas than the appearance of the person. Its not like we had a ED, Hispanic or AA candidate to choose from in the open districts and we turned them down. Its simply that they didn't show up.
Efforts that we are making to bridge the gap to other communities are still in their infancy, and there is a long history of distrust to overcome. Its not like we can arrange a shotgun wedding, so to speak. Stuff like this takes time, and we've not been at it long.
That said, if it would be appropriate to interview for Rosa's seat we sure would like the opportunity to interview Ms. Venita Peyton. She seems to me an unusually brave, insightful and inspiring person. I hope you wouldn't say that you would like her or not simply because of her photo?
"we sure would like the
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 21:59 — user1234"we sure would like the opportunity to interview Ms. Venita Peyton. She seems to me an unusually brave, insightful and inspiring person. I hope you wouldn't say that you would like her or not simply because of her photo? "
I agree and that would give you an AA on the southside who shares the same values ... sounds like a good plan ... I know you did not have a variety of people to pick from but I was just hoping a diverse county wide organization would include many of these other folks in leadership or as endorsements .. maybe by the next elections, those other folks will become available ...
Hey, honey, we have to face it.
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 20:57 — SDR256Hey, honey, we have to face it. This blog and the whole topic in general are - whether we like it or not and I do not, exclusive. It was an eye opener lately when - not to give too much away - I and one other person had a meeting with a leading AA educator, proposing we might have a chat with a few other folks. He said this was the first time in his 40 years experience anyone had suggested such a thing - just sitting down for coffee.
Hey I'm just a parent. Who am I? So, excuse me if we're making up for about 3 generations of neglect to try to build bridges eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart. No one has ever asked. NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED. Can you believe that? But, we truly are trying. From one parent to another.
Politicians pontificate. Community leaders position themselves, bloggers blog, and no one ever talks...................
Hey, honey, we have to face it.
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 20:52 — SDR256Hey, honey, we have to face it. This blog and the whole topic in general are - whether we like it or not and I do not, exclusive. It was an eye opener lately when - not to give to much away - I and one other person had a meeting with a leading AA educator, proposing we might have a chat with a few other folks. He said this was the first time in his 40 years experience anyone had suggested such a thing - just sitting down for coffee.
Hey I'm just a parent. Who am I? So, excuse me if we're making up for about 3 generations of neglect to try to build bridges eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart. No one has ever asked. NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED. Can you believe that? But, we truly are trying. From one parent to another.
Politicians pontificate. Community leaders position themselves, bloggers blog, and no one ever talks...................
SDR ... that is the cool
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 22:13 — user1234SDR ... that is the cool things in diverse schools, those cross income and racial parent exchanges happen natually.
Well, but that doesn't
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 23:34 — SDR256Well, but that doesn't really make sense. If this man has been active for over 40 years and this is the first exchange he knows of, how can this utopia of diverse schools claim to spawn these things naturally?
You may be talking about 'come on over for BBQ', but a serious cross-community public effort to make a difference? Call me over for that.
It depends and then one or the other gets reassigned any way
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 23:18 — FalcHow many of the parents that live >10 miles away do you suppose I've met?
I have had cross income and racial exchanges but they are with those that live in the community - imagine that.
My oldest child's BFF relationship at our "non-diverse" pre-reassignment school was cross-racial (although not cross income - imagine that). We still see the family, but not nearly as much as we used to when we were still at the same school. Oh, and to clarify for the "Asians don't count" crowd, the races involved are black and white.
That's the thing about life and humans - it doesn't work like a controlled science experiment.
If all the poor or minority
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 09:31 — user1234If all the poor or minority kids go to their neighborhood schools and all the white or wealth kids go to their neighborhood school it is less likely the two groups will interact and find common areas to work together on. Some schools are virtually all minority or poor and some virtually all white or wealthy and it does not surprise me that the two have never met or sat down to discuss how to improve WCPSS in 40 years.
you can't pick from what
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 22:06 — AngelaWyou can't pick from what you don't get...so stop trying to make something more out of WSCA's endorsements than is really there....
Why didn't a more "diverse" group of candidates
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 21:05 — fixwakeschoolsnowstep up to the plate? Everyone in Districts 1, 2, 7 and 9 had the exact same chance to be interviewed and assessed by every group out there, including the WSCA vetting committee. We were out there every month -- in Wake Forest, Knightdale, Garner, Morrisville...beating the bushes to get the absolute best possible candidates to come forward, talk to us, and to let us support them in their efforts.
Any legitimate candidates out there who were truly following the issues knew about our goals as early as January of this year. You don't just wake up one morning and say "Hey! I think I will run for the Wake County School Board this October!" and "Hey, I'd better go and file--the deadline is this week!"
It just so happens that the four most qualified have white skin. There is no room for complaints on this particular issue, User.
The more important side of this story is that WSCA will continue to work through our ever-growing list of Neighborhood Chapters to support our School Board (whoever wins) and to channel parent/citizen feedback into the system. WSCA will also serve as "watch dogs" for children and families to ensure that they receive the results that they have been promised.
By the way, what do you personally do for your community that is actually productive?
Interesting....
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:09 — Bob_SconceSo, (1) African Americans are concentrated in Rosa Gill's district, and her seat is not up for election this fall -- take out her district, and that 51.8% goes up; (2) a sizeable portion of Hispanics ARE white; (3) in general, ED folks have less education and less free time than non-ED folks, making them harder to recruit.
How did the status-quo side do?
"How did the status-quo
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 22:02 — user1234"How did the status-quo side do? "
I would not set the "status quo" as a goal. You are suppose to be something new and different.
Some? Perhaps. Me? No.
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 16:57 — RichardAndersonWhile you might be right, that certainly isn't the case for me. I live in development of homes that average around $225K. We are small and cannot support an elementary school by ourselves. To the south is a trailer park. To the east older homes on large lots. To the west, homes averaging around $150K. The north, homes that sold for $500K.
Give me a neighborhood school and we will have plenty of income diversity. The problem is that WCPSS and all the apologists think that such places don't exist because they are stuck in the social order of the old areas of the county.
There are certainly places where there won't be diversity naturally, but why break it up when it does occur? My development isn't assigned to the same school as any of the adjacent areas I just described. Why? Don't ask me.
My personal opinion is that
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 21:04 — user1234My personal opinion is that if WCPSS simple drew a 4 mile circle around most schools the kid in the circle would be income diverse. Some edge communities would be all wealthy and some downtown schools would be ghetto but WCPSS could get a lot of diversity locally without finding random ghetto nodes to send out to Western Wake and upsetting those folks. I think they make this income diversity harder than it needs to be. My guess, the problems come from relying on computers too much to arrange nodes which will do it quickly but not humanely.
I think the only people who get neighborhood schools are wealth communities where the developer gave the land like is it Highcroft?. Most people don’t enjoy a school right in the middle of their neighborhood.
Not sure I agree
Tue, 07/21/2009 - 21:31 — supportwcpssuser - Not sure i agree with your 4 mile estimate. I know areas in North Raleigh and Cary where this just isn't true. Highcroft is a great example. So is Mills Park. It would take 6-8 miles to get anything close to an economic balance.
I think schools literally plopped right in the middle of a neighborhood are a bad idea for so many reasons (age out of neighborhood, differnces in attitude for those in and out of the neighborhood, etc.) It is much better to put them in a central location with neighborhoods surrounding.
Support, I think if WCPSS
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 08:16 — user1234Support, I think if WCPSS could just eliminate the couple of isolated ED nodes that appear off the assignment map (computer glitch?) where they grab some ED node of 10 kids and put them in some WW school it would eliminate a public relations problem critic use to scare people. That one node is the "poster child" critic use all the time to illustrate failings with the entire diversity policy. If ALL the kids went to a school 6 miles radius from their home period, I think we could create a diverse school and silence the critics who could not point to a single node driving 26 miles or some ridiculous number.
I think bunching schools like was done at Leesville is also bad. Having an ES, MS, HS all on the same campus makes people think they are entitled to stay at "Leesville" from beginning to end which may not always be possible. As it is now, people have the expectation all three schools must be on the same schedule and calendar which reduces the flexibility WCPSS would have if instead they had built three separate schools in separate locations. I hope they don't make the same mistake at Brier Creek.
...
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 09:45 — SideburnsYou are daft, aren't you?
Those "computer glitches" are nodes of children who spend hours on a bus to get to their assigned school. And it's not just for elementary school. This "glitch" continues through middle school and high school.
Sideburn ... do you live in
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:25 — user1234Sideburn ... do you live in one of these ED nodes downtown? ... if not, I think you should allow those parents to weigh in on the trade off of a long bus ride vs. going to an above average school. Many people pay >$500k to get into a "good" school node and these ED kids get the same great education for the cost of an extra 30 minutes on a bus. So, let the ED parents refuse to come to the "good" school and don't be their savior ... they may not want your help. I won't.
...
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:56 — SideburnsYou called them "computer glitches" not me.
I think you should allow
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:34 — RichardAndersonI think you should allow those parents to weigh in on the trade off of a long bus ride vs. going to an above average school
Nice concept, but the problem is that we all know that won't happen, so you are really setting up a false dilemma. We have magnet schools to draw non-ED parents and their kids to leave their "above average" base schools and attend high ED schools. But never once has there been a system that provides a similar incentive for the ED parents to leave their base school, which is presumably below average. You'd think that the incentive would need to be far less costly than a magnet school program since they are going from below average to above average.
Why doesn't this exist? Because we know that most of the parents won't do it. That is the whole issue with ED parents and kids - lack of involvement in and priority for education. So don't sit back all high-and-mighty asking a question you know will never be answered. The school system doesn't do it, and neither should you.
One node?
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 08:41 — RichardAndersonCheck these examples:
Turner Creek
Durant Rd - Not just Western Wake
Middle Creek
Open your eyes. This isn't some singular aberation.
As for your comments on Leesville Rd., since all the HS is larger than the MS which is larger than the ES, why can't those in the ES stay at the Leesville campus for the entire school careers?
Middle Creek - are you
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:04 — user1234Middle Creek - are you talking about the apartment complex on Lake Wheeler Rd. moved into MC?
http://wwwc.wcpss.net/maps/WCPSS_RAP_2011_APPROVED_20090202_SCHOOLMAP_495_BAS.pdf
Durant - I agree is messed up but isn't that because it is a YR or magnet school?
http://wwwc.wcpss.net/maps/WCPSS_RAP_2011_APPROVED_20090202_SCHOOLMAP_399_BAS.pdf
Mills Park - WCPSS could drop the two downtown nodes and pick up a few local trailer parks or apartments and get the same result.
http://wwwc.wcpss.net/maps/WCPSS_RAP_2011_APPROVED_20090202_SCHOOLMAP_501_BAS.pdf
Davis - Ditto
http://wwwc.wcpss.net/maps/WCPSS_RAP_2011_APPROVED_20090202_SCHOOLMAP_391_BAS.pdf
It ain't what you do, it is the way that you do it
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 10:13 — RichardAndersonMiddle Creek. I am talking about the elementary school, not the high school.
Durant. So what if it is YR? About half of the elementary schools are. And magnet programs should be located in areas where they will do the most good, not random thrown around the county to have both low and high income kids shipped into them.
Mills and Davis - EXACTLY. It isn't one node. It isn't one school. It is an entire system of assignment that is completely hay-wire. The TCE map I showed looks like it was taken from a satellite! Can anyone tell me there is no better way? Support the diversity program all you want, but you cannot logically defend the way in which is implemented. Problem is, the attack dogs are set out as soon as anyone questions any part of it, howling out the battle cries of segregation, racism and power of the privelaged.
I faced this three years ago and it is the same thing as back then. The diversity program is the sacred cow. Even for people who support the goals (which I do) questioning the implementation is absolutely forbidden.
"Support the diversity
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 23:50 — user1234"Support the diversity program all you want, but you cannot logically defend the way in which is implemented. Problem is, the attack dogs are set out as soon as anyone questions any part of it, howling out the battle cries of segregation, racism and power of the privileged."
hmm ... I think many people agree with you ... they like stable, diverse schools with none on the extremes - too poor or too rich and where people can live virtually anywhere in the county no matter their income and get a good education for their kids. If there are other ways to do this, people want to hear the ideas. Everyone knows the neighborhoods are segregated by income and many times voluntarily by race and any neighborhoods school system will reflect that make up which no one wants. People want their kids mixing with a variety of kids. Many urban areas have that very poor downtown schools surrounded by wealthy suburban schools which sets up two classes of education. Wake residents have never wanted that. I agree and others do that the diversity policy could be implemented better. I personally believe that allowing kids to go to any school within six miles of their home would probably create pretty diverse schools with a few exceptions and it's simple.
"why can't those in the ES
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 09:47 — user1234"why can't those in the ES stay at the Leesville campus for the entire school careers? "
They can stay but they are not entitled to stay there. People who start at the ES feel entitled to stay on the same campus forever which is good if it can be accommidated but not a right.
Nice dodge
Wed, 07/22/2009 - 09:56 — RichardAndersonThey can be accomodated. The school building capacity indicates that they can. Why can't they be guaranteed to stay there? It is a decision that is made by someon, not a system limitation.
How about the nodes I showed? No comment.
Please open your eyes.
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 09:29 — designmanHe's not "angry" or "sad;" he's motivated to facilitate positive change ...as are most people who are aware of the educational issues in Wake County. Your continued cluelessness regarding that fact is increasingly baffling considering the many facts available that clearly show change is needed.
ha ha ha ha ha
Mon, 07/20/2009 - 08:02 — g88ky07a walkman with fading batteries.
Perry Woods, I have specifically addressed you prior,
Fri, 07/17/2009 - 20:10 — AngelaWwhy won't you answer? "Agreement" schmement, then WHY did the BoE use that bond money to renovate WakeForest/Rolesville to the tune of $60M? What happend to the "busting at the seams growth that demanded MYR"??
also, see ALL these below....(understand this,I have lived and breathed MYR @ Leesville since inception and unless YOU were there at meetings (you weren't) you emailed, (you didn't) you met with BoE members regarding these specifics schools (you didn't) then STOP saying what you are saying about MYR because IT IS NOT TRUE, certain BoE forced this through...period.
"BoE didn't want to go
Tuesday, July 14, 2009, 7:12:00 PM | AngelaW
"BoE didn't want to go to MYR", that is a lie.
There was NO justifiable, provable reason to force Leesville Middle to convert to MYR,costing precious taxpayers dollars to provide for this to the tune of $250,000+ (while eliminating teachers and staff, not able to afford supplies, etc) and is now about 200 seats underenrolled.
More fiscally responsible decisions are how you afford more schools if needed. Don't accept junk land from corrupt politicians as payment of fees owed is a start.
Perry, You are clearly a
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 9:07:29 PM | AngelaW
Perry,
You are clearly a supporter of the existing diversity policy, and you have stated that you hold nothing against the school board regarding MYR, even claiming they "didn't want to go MYR" which as I stated below is a lie, so Horace Tart, who is a Republican, would seem to line up best with your ideology.
Have you reached out to him to help his campaign, or do you only work with Democrats despite these Board elections supposedly being non-partisan?
1 Traditional ES has
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 3:16:47 PM | AngelaW
1 Traditional ES has NINETEEN empty classrooms..why? 1 Year round ES has operated at 1/2 capacity for two years now while an MYR is busting at the seams...1 forced conversion to year round MS under enrolled.....
THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY for these growth and planning folks...NONE. nor rhyme or reason....and ALL schools mentioned lost staff, included the school that is busting at the seems...
at the risk of sounding
Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 7:48:50 AM | AngelaW
at the risk of sounding redundant, there IS NO SAVINGS to MYR if the schools are NOT FULLY UTILIZED....most of the 22 converted MYR's (including the newly converted Leesville Middle) ARE NOT FULLY UTILIZED, do the math (not Trailblazers either) there is NO savings to taxpayers....matter of fact with the forced conversion of Leesville Middle in the face of this "economic hurricane" and loss of teachers, supplies, etc...it is a crime to taxpayers and more especially the families of WCPSS.
"You are clearly a supporter
Fri, 07/17/2009 - 22:58 — CaryCurmudgeon"You are clearly a supporter of the existing diversity policy, and
you have stated that you hold nothing against the school board
regarding MYR, even claiming they "didn't want to go MYR" which as I
stated below is a lie, so Horace Tart, who is a Republican, would seem
to line up best with your ideology.
Have you reached out to him to help his campaign, or do you only
work with Democrats despite these Board elections supposedly being
non-partisan?"
Perry,
Angela asks a valid question. Have you reached out to support Horace Tart, or do you just support Democrats. Our children are not a partisan issue. Horace Tart and Cathy Truitt are statu-quo supporters, have you reached out to them?
I'm in!
Fri, 07/17/2009 - 19:42 — g88ky07:c )
Now, let's talk about how many schools in D2 we can reverse the wasteful FYR decision in!