Margiotta defeated; Wake school board’s power to be decided in run-off – Source: WRAL

Raleigh, N.C. — Wake County voters on Tuesday elected four Democratic-backed candidates to the Wake County Board of Education, but one race will likely end in a run-off next month.

That race – between District 3 incumbent Kevin Hill, a Democrat representing north Raleigh, and Republican challenger Heather Losurdo – will determine whether there will be a shift in power for the governing board of the state’s largest school system. (Read more)

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Margiotta out, but runoff will decide school board control

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Wake County Public Schools

Raleigh voters could shape Wake schools – Source: News & Observer

On Oct. 11, Raleigh voters will have a bigger say in shaping the future of Wake County schools.

That’s a reverse from the election in 2009, when voters from outlying areas such as Wake Forest, Zebulon, Fuquay-Varina, Cary and Garner redid the math on the nine-member school board.

Back then, they elected Republicans to each of four contested seats. Joining incumbent Ron Margiotta, whom they elevated to chairman, the new majority charted a fresh course. They discarded a nearly three-decade-old emphasis on mixing students from different backgrounds in every Wake school. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

GOP SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES IGNORE BLACK COMMUNITY by Cash Michaels

Until District 4 candidate Venita Peyton walked in 45 minutes late, there were no Republican school board candidates who participated in last week’s 2011 Candidates Forum at Martin Street Baptist Church.

And even though the sponsors – the Wake County Voter Education Coalition, the NC Black Women’s Empowerment Network, and the Alpha Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – had invited all of the candidates weeks in advance, most of the GOP’ers – Heather Losurdo, Eric Squires and Jennifer Mansfield (an independent who vied for the Republican endorsement) in District 3; and Donna Williams in District 6 – never even bothered to respond. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

Wake school board member Goldman in legal dispute – Source: News & Observer

RALEIGH — Debra Goldman, a key vote on the Wake County school board, is engaged in a heated legal battle with her husband, with accusations of bad behavior on both sides.

The dispute has unfolded this month in three Wake County court filings. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

Wake County Mass Meeting – Get Out the Vote – Thurs. Sept 29

*Please note: This meeting is not open to the media* Click here for printable PDF of flyer

Ignant Column: Wake school board candidate called Tea Party extremist – Source: ABC 11 News

RALEIGH (WTVD) — A Wake County school board candidate is under fire and being called a Tea Party extremist.

With a tiara on her head, Wake County Board of Education District 3 candidate Heather Losurdo is being called the "Queen of Extreme" by the Liberal-leaning Progress North Carolina. (Read more)

Note: She is just too ignant. Her responses didn’t cut it, she needs to resign as a candidate because she is out of order. Curmilus Dancy II – The Political Agitator

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Wake County Public Schools

Wake school board backs Tata’s $130.3M schools plan–Source: News & Observer

CARY — The Wake County school board approved tonight a plan to spend $130.3 million to make possible several projects, including two single-gender schools, a combined elementary-middle school, a vocational school and a science academy. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

Democrats, Republicans Non-Partisan Elections

Okay don’t get it twisted. There are elections such as School Boards and Judges that are labeled non-partisan.

But have you ever wondered why these elections are labeled such?

So when you hear a Democrat and a Republican say they are going to be non-partisan you better think twice. I don’t feel it is necessary to make such a statement. I feel strongly if one put their campaign agenda on the table it will let us know where they stand on the issues.

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the Cash Roc: THE TWO SIDES OF DONNA WILLIAMS

Blog: District 3 Wake school board candidates meet to discuss the issues–Source: WRAL

Raleigh, N.C. — The second in a series of five Wake County Board of Education candidate forums continues Wednesday night at Church of the Nativity in Raleigh.

The forums are sponsored by WakeUp Wake and the League of Women Voters of Wake County. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

Wake County – BoE meeting August 16

In the last Board meeting in the Wake Forest Road location, the Board of Education heard more details on the Student Assignment plan. The staff presented a plan that recommends keeping magnets as they currently are and building a feeder pattern based on proximity to elementary schools.

Under the current version of the new Choice Student Assignment Plan, magnet schools will be in three groups: Group 1 (Brentwood, Bugg, Combs, Conn, Fuller, Hunter, Millbrook, Poe, Powell and Washington) will have 55-60 percent magnet choice seats and 40-45 percent proximity seats (those children who live in close proximity to magnet schools). Group 2 (Brooks, Douglas, Framington Woods, Joyner, Partnership, Underwood and Wiley) will have 40 to 45 percent magnet seats and 55-60 percent proximity seats. Group 3 (Smith, Wendell, and Zebulon) will have about 10-20 percent magnet choice seats and 80-90 percent proximity seats. The goal is to have more uniform magnet proportions among the schools in any one group. Students who live near magnets, but do not choose or do not get into magnet schools, will have a choice of a high achieving school in a nearby zone. The county will be divided into four quadrants, and magnet schools are assigned to a quadrant, so that achievement choices are in closer proximity to students so as to lessen travel time to achievement schools.

The staff said more than 21,000 residents participated in the "test drive" of the choice plan in June. Proximity and calendar choices were dominant preferences, said James Overman, team leader for the revamped student assignment plan. Nodes in Western Wake were more likely to have participated, he said, and about 150 nodes did not have any participants. Overman said outreach efforts would be concentrated on those latter nodes that did not participate.

A next step will be to take the "test drive" data and apply transportation analysis to the outcomes, to determine transportation costs under this proposed plan.

More details were also released on proposed feeder patterns. Staff said 89 percent of parents supported having a feeder pattern for schools (meaning student from a elementary school student would go onto a specific middle and then high school). The year-round schools face challenges due to a shortage of four-track year round middle schools that can receive elementary school feeders. In addition, John Tedesco raised specific concerns, including one about Farmington Woods in Cary feeding into Garner schools. Staff noted that Farmington Woods has an IB program and that students should have a choice to continue in the closest IB schools, which are East Garner Middle and Garner High schools. Debra Goldman wondered whether other Cary schools should also have the IB program. The feeder patterns quickly became complicated, given the locations of schools not neatly fitting into a clear feeder patterns in many cases.

The next steps, in addition to transportation analysis, are to continue modeling, revise the plan based on modeling, and develop outreach to parents, Overman said. The Board will receive another briefing during the September Board meeting. Board members Keith Sutton and Kevin Hill asked for further public discussions of the plan, given new details released today, and Supt. Tony Tata agreed to pursue those types of public discussions.

WRAL has a blog summary online. WRAL also did a story on upcoming construction decisions that the Board must make. There is left over funding from the last Bond referendum to construct at least two schools. Today, the Board said they want to make final decisions on which of the planned schools to build based on how the Student Assignment Plan is decided.

More details on student assignment and the building plan are expected at the next Board meeting, which will be held Tuesday, September 6, at the School Administration’s new location, the leased Crossroads building: 5625 Dillard Drive, Cary. Every department, except the Superintendent’s office, has moved to the Cary offices as of today.

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Wake County Public Schools

Private dollars flow unequally to Wake schools – Source: News & Observer

RALEIGH — When Lacy Elementary School wanted more money for teaching positions – beyond what the state and county would provide – its private foundation picked up the tab of more than $100,000. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

[parentsfordiversity] Updates

Hello! Here is today’s BOE news.

BOE updated on student assignment plans

Superintendent Tony Tata met with the BOE yesterday to update them on the student assignment process. There is a summary on WRAL. In addition, the WakeEd blog has detailed posts on WCPSS’s staff presentations on the blue plan and the green plan.

Assignment plan simulation

Please go online and participate in the blue student assignment plan simulation between now and Mon., June 20. Your input will help WCPSS fine-tune its recommendations to the BOE on Tues., June 21.

Martin announces candidacy

Jim Martin, an N.C. State University chemistry professor, has announced his intentions to run for the BOE seat in District 5, currently occupied by Dr. Anne McLaurin, according to the N&O.

The GOP’s education budget ‘fantasy’

This op-ed piece from the Herald-Sun illustrates how the GOP’s budget does not support public education as advertised.

As noted in this editorial in today’s N&O (several LTEs on this topic, too ~ see below), Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget on Sunday, but a veto override vote could take place as soon as tomorrow, June 15. Please let the five Democrats who voted with the GOP in favor of this budget know that it’s the wrong thing to do for the children of North Carolina. Here are their email addresses again: Tim.Spear@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net; Dew ey.Hill@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net. And copy the Governor (governor.office@nc.gov) so she knows she IS doing the right thing. You can also sign this online petition in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto.

Latest issue of In Context from the Wake Education Partnership.

Education ‘reform’ in Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has a new chief executive, Jean-Claude Brizard, who has his work cut out for him, according to the New York Times. In the wake of a reform movement, led largely by New Schools for Chicago, Brizard says the Windy City now has "…two different school systems."

In the News

NC book joins Cool Stuff series

LTEs/opinion

Cuts and raises

Pay raise lesson

T.A.’s face cutbacks

Loss of PEP

Accreditation bully targeted

Thanks for staying engaged with WCPSS.

Hello! Here is today’s BOE news.

BOE updated on student assignment plans

Superintendent Tony Tata met with the BOE yesterday to update them on the student assignment process. There is a summary on WRAL. In addition, the WakeEd blog has detailed posts on WCPSS’s staff presentations on the blue plan and the green plan.

Assignment plan simulation

Please go online and participate in the blue student assignment plan simulation between now and Mon., June 20. Your input will help WCPSS fine-tune its recommendations to the BOE on Tues., June 21.

Martin announces candidacy

Jim Martin, an N.C. State University chemistry professor, has announced his intentions to run for the BOE seat in District 5, currently occupied by Dr. Anne McLaurin, according to the N&O.

The GOP’s education budget ‘fantasy’

This op-ed piece from the Herald-Sun illustrates how the GOP’s budget does not support public education as advertised.

As noted in this editorial in today’s N&O (several LTEs on this topic, too ~ see below), Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget on Sunday, but a veto override vote could take place as soon as tomorrow, June 15. Please let the five Democrats who voted with the GOP in favor of this budget know that it’s the wrong thing to do for the children of North Carolina. Here are their email addresses again: Tim.Spear@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net; Dew ey.Hill@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net. And copy the Governor (governor.office@nc.gov) so she knows she IS doing the right thing. You can also sign this online petition in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto.

Latest issue of In Context from the Wake Education Partnership.

Education ‘reform’ in Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has a new chief executive, Jean-Claude Brizard, who has his work cut out for him, according to the New York Times. In the wake of a reform movement, led largely by New Schools for Chicago, Brizard says the Windy City now has "…two different school systems."

In the News

NC book joins Cool Stuff series

LTEs/opinion

Cuts and raises

Pay raise lesson

T.A.’s face cutbacks

Loss of PEP

Accreditation bully targeted

Thanks for staying engaged with WCPSS.

Hello! Here is today’s BOE news.

BOE updated on student assignment plans

Superintendent Tony Tata met with the BOE yesterday to update them on the student assignment process. There is a summary on WRAL. In addition, the WakeEd blog has detailed posts on WCPSS’s staff presentations on the blue plan and the green plan.

Assignment plan simulation

Please go online and participate in the blue student assignment plan simulation between now and Mon., June 20. Your input will help WCPSS fine-tune its recommendations to the BOE on Tues., June 21.

Martin announces candidacy

Jim Martin, an N.C. State University chemistry professor, has announced his intentions to run for the BOE seat in District 5, currently occupied by Dr. Anne McLaurin, according to the N&O.

The GOP’s education budget ‘fantasy’

This op-ed piece from the Herald-Sun illustrates how the GOP’s budget does not support public education as advertised.

As noted in this editorial in today’s N&O (several LTEs on this topic, too ~ see below), Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget on Sunday, but a veto override vote could take place as soon as tomorrow, June 15. Please let the five Democrats who voted with the GOP in favor of this budget know that it’s the wrong thing to do for the children of North Carolina. Here are their email addresses again: Tim.Spear@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net; Dew ey.Hill@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net. And copy the Governor (governor.office@nc.gov) so she knows she IS doing the right thing. You can also sign this online petition in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto.

Latest issue of In Context from the Wake Education Partnership.

Education ‘reform’ in Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has a new chief executive, Jean-Claude Brizard, who has his work cut out for him, according to the New York Times. In the wake of a reform movement, led largely by New Schools for Chicago, Brizard says the Windy City now has "…two different school systems."

In the News

NC book joins Cool Stuff series

LTEs/opinion

Cuts and raises

Pay raise lesson

T.A.’s face cutbacks

Loss of PEP

Accreditation bully targeted

Thanks for staying engaged with WCPSS.

Hello! Here is today’s BOE news.

BOE updated on student assignment plans

Superintendent Tony Tata met with the BOE yesterday to update them on the student assignment process. There is a summary on WRAL. In addition, the WakeEd blog has detailed posts on WCPSS’s staff presentations on the blue plan and the green plan.

Assignment plan simulation

Please go online and participate in the blue student assignment plan simulation between now and Mon., June 20. Your input will help WCPSS fine-tune its recommendations to the BOE on Tues., June 21.

Martin announces candidacy

Jim Martin, an N.C. State University chemistry professor, has announced his intentions to run for the BOE seat in District 5, currently occupied by Dr. Anne McLaurin, according to the N&O.

The GOP’s education budget ‘fantasy’

This op-ed piece from the Herald-Sun illustrates how the GOP’s budget does not support public education as advertised.

As noted in this editorial in today’s N&O (several LTEs on this topic, too ~ see below), Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget on Sunday, but a veto override vote could take place as soon as tomorrow, June 15. Please let the five Democrats who voted with the GOP in favor of this budget know that it’s the wrong thing to do for the children of North Carolina. Here are their email addresses again: Tim.Spear@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net; Dew ey.Hill@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net. And copy the Governor (governor.office@nc.gov) so she knows she IS doing the right thing. You can also sign this online petition in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto.

Latest issue of In Context from the Wake Education Partnership.

Education ‘reform’ in Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has a new chief executive, Jean-Claude Brizard, who has his work cut out for him, according to the New York Times. In the wake of a reform movement, led largely by New Schools for Chicago, Brizard says the Windy City now has "…two different school systems."

In the News

NC book joins Cool Stuff series

LTEs/opinion

Cuts and raises

Pay raise lesson

T.A.’s face cutbacks

Loss of PEP

Accreditation bully targeted

Thanks for staying engaged with WCPSS.

Hello! Here is today’s BOE news.

BOE updated on student assignment plans

Superintendent Tony Tata met with the BOE yesterday to update them on the student assignment process. There is a summary on WRAL. In addition, the WakeEd blog has detailed posts on WCPSS’s staff presentations on the blue plan and the green plan.

Assignment plan simulation

Please go online and participate in the blue student assignment plan simulation between now and Mon., June 20. Your input will help WCPSS fine-tune its recommendations to the BOE on Tues., June 21.

Martin announces candidacy

Jim Martin, an N.C. State University chemistry professor, has announced his intentions to run for the BOE seat in District 5, currently occupied by Dr. Anne McLaurin, according to the N&O.

The GOP’s education budget ‘fantasy’

This op-ed piece from the Herald-Sun illustrates how the GOP’s budget does not support public education as advertised.

As noted in this editorial in today’s N&O (several LTEs on this topic, too ~ see below), Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget on Sunday, but a veto override vote could take place as soon as tomorrow, June 15. Please let the five Democrats who voted with the GOP in favor of this budget know that it’s the wrong thing to do for the children of North Carolina. Here are their email addresses again: Tim.Spear@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net; Dew ey.Hill@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net. And copy the Governor (governor.office@nc.gov) so she knows she IS doing the right thing. You can also sign this online petition in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto.

Latest issue of In Context from the Wake Education Partnership.

Education ‘reform’ in Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has a new chief executive, Jean-Claude Brizard, who has his work cut out for him, according to the New York Times. In the wake of a reform movement, led largely by New Schools for Chicago, Brizard says the Windy City now has "…two different school systems."

In the News

NC book joins Cool Stuff series

LTEs/opinion

Cuts and raises

Pay raise lesson

T.A.’s face cutbacks

Loss of PEP

Accreditation bully targeted

Thanks for staying engaged with WCPSS.

Hello! Here is today’s BOE news.

BOE updated on student assignment plans

Superintendent Tony Tata met with the BOE yesterday to update them on the student assignment process. There is a summary on WRAL. In addition, the WakeEd blog has detailed posts on WCPSS’s staff presentations on the blue plan and the green plan.

Assignment plan simulation

Please go online and participate in the blue student assignment plan simulation between now and Mon., June 20. Your input will help WCPSS fine-tune its recommendations to the BOE on Tues., June 21.

Martin announces candidacy

Jim Martin, an N.C. State University chemistry professor, has announced his intentions to run for the BOE seat in District 5, currently occupied by Dr. Anne McLaurin, according to the N&O.

The GOP’s education budget ‘fantasy’

This op-ed piece from the Herald-Sun illustrates how the GOP’s budget does not support public education as advertised.

As noted in this editorial in today’s N&O (several LTEs on this topic, too ~ see below), Gov. Bev Perdue vetoed the budget on Sunday, but a veto override vote could take place as soon as tomorrow, June 15. Please let the five Democrats who voted with the GOP in favor of this budget know that it’s the wrong thing to do for the children of North Carolina. Here are their email addresses again: Tim.Spear@ncleg.net; Bill.Owens@ncleg.net; Dew ey.Hill@ncleg.net; Jim.Crawford@ncleg.net; William.Brisson@ncleg.net. And copy the Governor (governor.office@nc.gov) so she knows she IS doing the right thing. You can also sign this online petition in support of Gov. Perdue’s veto.

Latest issue of In Context from the Wake Education Partnership.

Education ‘reform’ in Chicago

Chicago Public Schools has a new chief executive, Jean-Claude Brizard, who has his work cut out for him, according to the New York Times. In the wake of a reform movement, led largely by New Schools for Chicago, Brizard says the Windy City now has "…two different school systems."

In the News

NC book joins Cool Stuff series

LTEs/opinion

Cuts and raises

Pay raise lesson

T.A.’s face cutbacks

Loss of PEP

Accreditation bully targeted

Thanks for staying engaged with WCPSS.

See related:

Wake County Public Schools

WCPSS Board email summaries, Christine Kushner Intentions To File For District 6 Seat on Wake Board of Education

Hello–If you are getting this email, you are on my list of people who receive summaries of the Board of Education meetings and other WCPSS events that I have been writing for about 18 months now. As you may have heard today, I have announced my intention to file as a candidate for the District 6 seat on the Wake Board of Education. I intend to continue Board summaries, but clearly now my role has changed. The News & Observer blog has a copy of my press release.

Tomorrow, I will do a summary following the work session and meeting and send it out to this list. And I will continue to do so as long as I can manage the time. My intention is to continue to write them in a neutral manner, focusing on many of the same issues I have worked to summarize in the past months.

However, if you wish to opt out of these emails, just let me know, and I will remove you from the list.

Thanks so much for being engaged in Wake schools issues!

Christine Kushner

See related:

Wake County Public Schools

Proximity was key in Wake’s school plans – Source: News & Observer

RALEIGH — Wake County school officials are willing to go only so far to keep individual schools from having too many struggling students – especially when steps in that direction might conflict with providing families schools closer to where they live. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools

Wake reveals student assignment proposals, seeks comments–Source: News & Observer

RALEIGH — Wake County families are being asked how much they want to change the way students have been assigned to schools in the state’s largest school district.

Two color-coded plans unveiled today by Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata offer the choices of largely leaving the current plan — with diversity busing — in place, or moving to an approach based on family preference. (Read more)

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Wake County Public Schools