News Alerts

Below is a listing of content related to this term.
  • Wake Transit Plan to be Reviewed by Town Councils- Wake County has released a draft plan for improving and expanding bus and rail service in Wake County. Wake County Commissioners now want each Wake city and town council to review the proposed Wake Transit Plan and obtain their approval for moving forward with a transit funding referendum. David Cooke, Wake County Manager, and David King, General Manager of Triangle Transit, recently presented the plan at a Capital Area Friends of Transit event. View the presentation here. You can also view a summary and maps of the plan on WakeUP's Land Use and Transportation tab. For a more comprehensive look, check out the whole plan on Wake County's website. The first town council briefing is for the town of Garner, 7:30pm on December 15th.
  • December 16-31, 2011-

    LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/ARTICLES

    12/31/11 Triangle Politics: Wake school board makes 'gesture of good listening'
    "Speakers once again will have three minutes each during the public comment section at Wake County school board meetings."

    12/31/11 Teachers' pay that reflects respect
    "I also realize that this idea is also pie in the sky. But as long as we continue to pay teachers low wages across the board, and only pretend to respect the profession, we will continue to hear the phrase, "Oh, he/she is just a teacher."

  • January 1-15, 2012- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/ARTICLES
    12/31/11 Triangle Politics: Wake school board makes 'gesture of good listening'
    "Speakers once again will have three minutes each during the public comment section at Wake County school board meetings."

    12/31/11 Teachers' pay that reflects respect
    "I also realize that this idea is also pie in the sky. But as long as we continue to pay teachers low wages across the board, and only pretend to respect the profession, we will continue to hear the phrase, "Oh, he/she is just a teacher."

  • LATEST NEWS - Citizens Speak Out- Visit this page often to read about what our community is saying about public education in Wake County. Just out the links below.

    Watch videos of the Wake Co. Board of Education meetings at the following pages:

  • Board Meeting - Speeches-

    December 6, 2011

    November 22, 2011

     October 4, 2011

  • November 16-30, 2011- 11/20/11 Schools' way forward
    "No one wants to move backward; the newly elected board members have stated that they plan to move forward with deliberation, information and in the interest of providing the best education for all our children. Fear, however is once again being fueled. Let's move forward, people; we are supposed to be examples for our children."

    11/19/11 Last-minute cash helped sway District 3 runoff
    "A flurry of last-minute money, including some from a national liberal group, helped propel Democrats back into the majority on the Wake County school board this fall."

  • Nov. 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

    11/13/11 New school stewards: Now, results

    "The debate over student assignment has touched on a deeper set of issues at the heart of public education: How can schools maximize the prospects of each and every student? Are sound policies and ample resources the key to success or does success hinge on the motivation and self-responsibility of students and parents? Yes, and yes. As for the new school board, it must fully own up to the system's past shortcomings and be relentless in pushing toward new heights for all."

    11/13/11 Party, race shaped board wins

  • Transit 'core' Op-ed in News & Observer- There's a good case to be made for what could be called the all-the-way approach to mass transit improvements in the Triangle - load on the works, with expanded bus service plus commuter trains and light rail.

    But it also can be argued that undertaking all of those transit upgrades at once would be too ambitious. Wake County Manager David Cooke's latest strategy reflects a sense that it would be better to stretch things out - better financially and better politically. He could be on the right track.

    Speaking of tracks: It's the rail component of the overall improvement plan that causes heartburn here and there, especially among some of our local conservatives. But Cooke makes a distinction between commuter rail service that could be up and running fairly quickly, using existing N.C. Railroad tracks through the heart of the Triangle, and light rail between Cary and north Raleigh, which would be a new animal.

  • October 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/ARTICLES

    10/15/11 School assignment vote should go on, Tata says
    "Wake County schools Superintendent Tony Tata stands behind his decision to ask for a vote on the new student assignment plan next week - even as some newly elected school board members and parents say the vote should be delayed."

    10/15/11 Pre-K resolve
    "The recognition by Gov. Beverly Perdue that the state should follow a judge's decision on pre-kindergarten programs for all at-risk children in North Carolina is important."

  • WARNING! What's Happening in Charlotte Could Happen in Wake!-

    9/6/11 Today is the start of something bright
    "Now that the dust has settled, here's the scene: 48 schools around Mecklenburg County host Bright Beginnings classes, compared with 13 schools and five centers last year."
    http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/09/06/2582473/today-is-the-startof-something.html#ixzz1XHVUmyXX 

    9/4/11 School layoffs report confounds
    "But more than anything, the report designed to clarify the connection between budget cuts and education jobs illustrates just how difficult that is."
    http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/09/04/2577941/school-layoffs-report-confounds.html#ixzz1WztopXjM

  • Sept. 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    9/10/11 Magnet busing may be cut back
    "Wake County magnet school students could lose door-to-door bus service under a proposal to save money and reduce long bus rides that sometimes reach two hours each way."
    http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/10/1474974/magnet-busing-may-be-cut-back.html#ixzz1XZ0RL5nK

    9/10/11 Potential impact of switching to express busing only for magnet schools
    "How much of an impact would going to express busing only for Wake County magnet schools have on the program?"
    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/potential-impact-of-switching-to-express-busing-only-for-magnet-schools#ixzz1XZ1R0PEz

  • August 16-31, 2011, News Archive-

    8/31/11 Wake NCAE announces school board candidate endorsements
    "In a press release today, Wake NCAE announced it was endorsing Kevin Hill in District 3, Keith Sutton in District 4, Jim Martin in District 5, Christine Kushner in District 6 and Susan Evans in District 8."
    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-ncae-announces-school-board-candidate-endorsements#ixzz1WhwMC6wE

    8/31/11 Wake Democrats announce school board and municipal candidate endorsements
    "As expected, the Wake County Democratic Party announced Tuesday that it was endorsing Kevin Hill in District 3, Keith Sutton in District 4, Jim Martin in District 5, Christine Kushner in District 6 and Susan Evans in District 8."
    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-democrats-announce-school-board-and-municipal-candidate-endorsements#ixzz1WhwiXKsh

  • August 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    8/15/11 Film accuses Koch brothers of resegregating Wake County schools
    "A new video from a liberal group is accusing the conservative Koch brothers of having bought the Wake County school board elections in 2009 in an attempt to resegregate the school system."

    8/15/11 Perdue stumps on pre-kindergarten services
    "Gov. Beverly Perdue is visiting the Outer Banks to boost a new front in her ongoing contest with legislative Republicans over education spending."

  • WakeUP Wake County Meets $10,000 Matching Goal!- Thanks to YOUR generous contributions, we have reached our A.J. Fletcher Foundation matching challenge! We have raised $10,000 from NEW donors this year, and now A.J. Fletcher will make a generous $10,000 donation to WakeUP! Many thanks to the Fletcher Foundation and all of you who donated!
  • July 16-31, 2011, News Archive-

    7/31/11 Praised teacher program gets ax
    "For the past quarter of a century, North Carolina has offered a great deal to thousands of its brightest high school students: a free ride in college in exchange for teaching four years in Tar Heel classrooms."

    7/30/11 Schools won't have to add class time
    "All 115 of the state's local school districts sought and received a waiver from a requirement in the new state budget to expand the 180-day school year to 185 this year. The extra classroom time would have been added by taking away five days in which teachers work while students stay home."

  • July 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    7/15/11 Wake graduation rate up slightly
    "Wake County schools' graduation rate likely increased by two percent during the school year just concluded, Superintendent Tony Tata said this morning."

    7/15/11 Doing likewise
    "If WCPSS is going to force the lowest-paid group to take a pay cut, should upper management, the highest-paid group, not also take a pay cut?"

    7/15/11 Wake Supt: Test scores show district needs to work smarter
    "Wake County Supt. Tony Tata released a preliminary academic progress report from last year's test scores."

  • June 1-15, 2011, News Archive- 6/15/11 Gorman grant paid for PR campaign for CMS budget
    "Departing Superintendent Peter Gorman spent half of his $250,000 "personal development" grant to quietly bankroll a publicity campaign on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools budget."

    6/15/11 NC teacher group lobbies unfriendly legislature
    "North Carolina Senators are about to hear from public school workers as lawmakers decide whether to back up their nearly $20 billion budget by overriding Gov. Beverly Perdue's veto."

  • Expert Water Panel Concludes We Need to Pay More for Safe Services- Water ultimately may be our most precious resource. In fast growing Wake County, our water supply is relatively shallow in Raleigh and Eastern Wake towns. Given growth projections, reports show that demand for water will exceed supply. This really concerns WakeUP Wake County, so we've been strong advocates for conservation and efficiency programs. Progress is being made, including new tiered water rates in Raleigh which should encourage water conservation by charging more for bigger users.
  • WakeUP Submits Comments on Raleigh's New Development Code-

    The City of Raleigh is working on a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to guide future growth and development in the city.  A draft UDO was made available for public comment at the beginning of May.  Recognizing the importance of the UDO for Raleigh's future, WakeUP Wake County convened a diverse group of individuals - representing environmental, transit, and affordable housing advocates and developers - to review the document and prepare comments.

  • May 16-31, 2011, News Archive-

    5/31/11 'Green plan' familiar
    "Wake County's "green plan" for student assignments is finding support from those who think every address in Wake County should come with a definite school assignment."

    5/31/11 New Senate budget with no teacher assistant cuts
    "The state Senate made public a new $19.7 billion budget today that makes no cuts to teacher assistants but requires local school districts to more savings on their own."

  • Raleigh-Durham, biggest gas-guzzling metro in the nation-

    The Triangle region has recently received a number "quality of life" awards and remains a desirable region for newcomers for the time being.  However, the realities of unplanned growth are beginning to emerge.  Forbes Magazine recently ranked Raleigh-Durham as THE biggest gas-guzzler in the nation!  Raleigh-Durham residents drive and consume more gas than Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, and other cities typically associated with heavy automobile use.

  • Durham-Orange moves forward with regional transit-

    Officials in Durham and Orange Counties have offered their support for a regional transit plan that will encompass bus improvements and the eventual light rail and commuter rail projects.  This is an exciting time for Durham and Orange, with a potential referendum on a half-cent sales tax to fund a portion of the project possibly set for this Fall, 2011.

    DURHAM -- Officials of Durham, Chapel Hill and Carrboro unanimously endorsed this morning a plan for transit improvements and a fall referendum on a sales tax to help pay for it.

    "This will mean a huge increase in the public transit services we are able to provide," said Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton. "A huge new reach deep into our county."

    The plan calls for additional bus service in and between the three cities along with a light-rail line between UNC Hospitals and East Durham.

  • Apr. 16-30, 2011, News Archive-

    4/30/11 The High Cost of Low Teacher Salaries
    "When we don't like the way our students score on international standardized tests, we blame the teachers. When we don't like the way particular schools perform, we blame the teachers and restrict their resources." 

    4/30/11 School board hears toll of legal challenges
    "Wake County schools have devoted more than 800 hours in staff time responding to challenges to the system based on public access concerns and accusations of racial discrimination, school board members heard at a work session this week."

  • May 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    5/8/11 Magnet claims
    "In fact, although this year there were 270 more acceptances than last year, approximately 300 were due to the N.C. State STEM magnet program opening and space created by node changes at two schools. Without these extra seats, magnet acceptances would have been lower than last year. And overall applications were down."

    5/8/11 Who's the power behind CMS?
    "Superintendent Peter Gorman may be the face of public education in Charlotte, but is a Los Angeles billionaire the power behind the scenes?"

  • Student Assignment Committee-
    **All meetings held in the Board Conference Room, 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh

    Past meeting minutes:

  • Award for WakeUP's transit efforts-

    Executive Director of WakeUP Wake County received the Women in Transportation (WTS) Triangle Chapter 2011 Woman of the Year Award:

  • Apr. 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    4/15/11 What we found-and didn't find
    "While we are happy to see our research in the public square, we want to set the record straight regarding the manner in which the school system characterized our work."

    4/15/11 Republican seeks school board seat
    "Republican activist Heather Losurdo announced Thursday night that she'll oppose Democrat Kevin Hill, the Wake County school board District 3 incumbent, in fall election."

  • UDO Consolidated Draft now available!-

    The City of Raleigh invites you to participate in the first phase of the project's public comment period from April 6, 2011 through June 6, 2011 for the "Public Review Draft of the Unified Development Ordinance".

    Raleigh's New Code aims to streamline the approval process for compact, high quality development around established nodes throughout Raleigh. WakeUP encourages you to review the code and provide feedback and support for sustainable, smart growth measures including building frontage and setback standards, low-impact development guidelines, limited parking requirements for denser settings, and more!

  • Jan. 16-31, 2011, News Archive- 1/31/11 $55 million and a quest for success in West Charlotte
    "As they launched a $55 million reform plan for struggling westside schools, Charlotte's business and philanthropic elite pledged to push for permission to try bold experiments, such as lengthening the school day or school year."

    1/31/11 New Wake superintendent begins first day on the job
    "Wake County public schools' new superintendent will spend his first day on the job Monday touring schools and meeting principals, teachers and students."

  • Mar. 1-15, 2011, News Archive- 3/15/11 Tata prioritizes teachers, classroom in Wake budget proposal
    "Superintendent Tony Tata presented a "very creative" budget proposal to the Wake County Board of Education Tuesday, prioritizing teacher retention and classroom investment in the face of a projected $2 billion to $3 billion state budget shortfall next year."

    3/15/11 Tata's budget plan would cut jobs but not teachers
    "It's very realistic that we will be able to implement this budget," said Tata, who started as superintendent of the state's largest district on Jan. 31."

  • Census: Wake is growing, aging, and more diverse-

    According to census data released March 2, 2011, North Carolina's suburbs and urban areas experienced unprecedented growth rates, particularly in Wake County.  A significant portion of newcomers to NC were senior in age, including retirees, and were more ethnically and racially diverse:

  • New Census: Wake up to realities of rapid growth-

    75 more people each day. That adds up to a whopping 43.5% growth rate for Wake County this past decade. New census data confirms what our communities know is true - that we're growing faster than national averages, and we're experiencing the challenges of growth every day -- from traffic congestion to crowded schools to limited drinking water supply. The six-county Triangle region grew to 1.6 million, with over half the growth in Wake alone.

  • Feb. 16-31, 2011, News Archive-

    2/28/11 Rage Simmering Among American Teachers
    "Education historian Diane Ravitch says the teachers on the front lines of labor rallies in Wisconsin reflect growing anger among educators nationwide. Teachers are sick and tired, she says, of being blamed for the ills of America's public schools."

  • Transit referendum delayed-

    Wake County Commissioners have decided to delay a voter referendum planned this fall for a half-cent sales tax that would fund new transit - light rail, commuter rail, and bus improvements throughout Wake County.

  • 2011 WakeUP Annual Meeting a success!-
    January 24, 2011, 7-9 pm
    Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 3313 Wade Ave, Raleigh

    Wake elected officials provided an inside scoop on what actions to expect in 2011 at the NC General Assembly, Wake County Commission and Wake School Board. Speakers included from the Wake legislative delegation (House and Senate), and Wake Board of Commissioners:

  • N.C. school diversity plan: a policy, not a panacea- Regarding the Jan. 30 letter from Kathleen Brennan, "A case of diversity not enhancing student performance":

    Ms. Brennan said that the diversity policy in Wake County, N.C., was responsible for the reassignment of 60,000 students over 10 years. This is scapegoating. Ms. Brennan has to know that historic population growth in Wake County prompted the construction of 48 schools in that 10-year period. These new schools needed to be filled with students, which triggered the reassignment of 46,000 children.

  • 2-1-11 Board Meeting - Public Comment Speeches-
  • Jan. 1-15, 2011, News Archive-

    1/15/11 U.S. school chief chides Wake school policy
    "The turmoil over Wake County schools reached the top of the federal Department of Education Friday, as Education Secretary Arne Duncan criticized Wake's decision to discard its school diversity policy in a letter published by the Washington Post."

    1/15/11 In good standing?
    "In trying to set the terms of an accreditation review that is key to upholding the reputation of its high schools, the Wake County school board runs the proverbial risk of cutting off its nose to spite its face."

  • WakeUP Leadership Award Recipients-

    WakeUP Leadership Award:

    2007

    Representative Jennifer Weiss

    2009

    Senator Josh Stein, NC General Assembly

    Representative Deborah Ross, NC General Assembly

    Senator Richard Stevens, NC General Assembly

    2011

    Commissioner Harold Webb, Wake County Board of Commissioners

    Mayor Charles Meeker, City of Raleigh

  • Falls Lake rules require innovative stormwater treatment strategies in Durham-

    Falls Lake rules take effect January 15, 2011, and Durham is not happy considering the city's future plans for the Falls Lake watershed. As Durham gears up for major new development in both the Jordan and Falls Lake watersheds, the city will not be able to address pollution reduction goals unless efforts are pursued to address wastewater discharges and stormwater runoff more effectively.

  • NCDOT Bicycle/Pedestrian Survey - please fill out!-

    The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) wants to hear from you. How safe do you feel riding your bike or walking in your neighborhood?  The NCDOT recently released a survey that seeks to evaluate the need for bike lanes, sidewalks, public education and more.  Fill out the 2011 NCDOT Statewide Public Input Questionnaire on Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety below:

    http://www.itre.ncsu.edu/Public/Bike-Ped-NCDOT-Survey.html

  • Falls Lake rules take effect January 15, 2011-

    Good news! A plan (or "rules") for making Falls Lake water cleaner is set to begin January 15, 2011, following 18 months of negotiations among local governments, agriculture, civic groups and homebuilders. Why does this matter? Because Falls Lake is Raleigh and Eastern Wake's main drinking water source (so probably YOUR water!), and it's really polluted. Thanks to Falls Lake legislation spearheaded by Wake Senator Josh Stein, the rule-making process moved quickly under the leadership of the NC Division of Water Quality. The Raleigh City Council and city staff also deserve a big hand for being outspoken for a pretty strong clean-up plan.

  • Dec. 16-31, 2010, News Archive-

    12/31/10 A wrong-headed experiment in school leadership
    "Of course you can't, but this won't surprise you: The Board of Education in Wake County, N.C., tapped a brigadier general who has no experience in instruction or academic leadership to be the new superintendent of the 143,000-student school system."

    12/30/10 Tata makes series of appearances next week as superintendent
    "Tony Tata, Wake County's newly named schools superintendent, will make a series of public appearances next week before schools staff, the school board and other groups including the conservative Wake County Taxpayers Association, board chairman Ron Margiotta said today."

  • NC 10th largest state in the nation!- North Carolina is now the tenth largest state in the nation! We live in the fastest growing state in the southeast and our elevated ranking offers new access to federal funding opportunities for transportation, education, and other regional improvement initiatives. As one of the largest states in the nation, North Carolina's leaders will be looked to for advice on shaping national policy, particularly how to handle population growth. Wake County has an opportunity to harness heightened national attention and serve as a leader for good growth management. Read more
  • Raleigh pitches in to help protect Falls watershed in Granville County-

    Raleigh and Creedmore recently partnered to preserve 162 acres in Granville County.  The mutually beneficial partnership will not only create a stormwater buffer, keeping nitrogen and phosphorous out of Wake's critical drinking water supply, but will also provide recreation space for Creedmore in the form of a new city park.  Read Water supply gets buffer from toxins to learn more.

  • A new way to stay tuned: New Raleigh launches a WakeUP Growth Issues column!-

    There is a new way to stay tuned to up-to-date growth issues in Wake County.  New Raleigh, a blossoming local news and culture online publication, recently launched a WakeUP Wake County Growth Issues column!  The column represents an important step expanding WakeUP's audience and providing information on specific growth challenges and solutions that affect the citizens of our community.  Check out the first installment, Born in Raleigh? Chances are slim.

  • GSIW receives Blueprint North Carolina's 'Look Out 2011 Award'-

    Blueprint North Carolina, a partnership of more than 50 nonprofits dedicated to achieving a better, fairer, healthier North Carolina, issued GSIW the 'Lookout 2011' award for the coalition's comprehensive coverage of recent Wake school board majority policy changes.  Read more below:

    We also want to recognize the work of a group that barely existed at the beginning of the year, but in a few months has built the kind of source credibility that typically takes years.

  • New Wake County Commission majority dives headfirst into the school diversity policy-

    The new Wake County Commission majority wasted no time during its first meeting on December 6, 2010, taking strong actions to support the Wake School Board majority's decision to end the diversity policy.  The move to rescind the former resolution in favor of diversity in schools brought objections from supporters of the school system's now discarded diversity policy:

    Karen Rindge, executive director of WakeUp, a nonpartisan group that advocates for planned development, said in an interview that the board was advocating an expensive step. She said allowing some Wake schools to slip back into high concentrations of low income and minority students will cost the county by reducing its appeal to new businesses. It's a loss the county can't afford when revenue is already down, she said.

  • Triangle population: fastest growing in the nation during the recession-

    In case you need a reminder, the Triangle continues to rein as the fastest growing metropolitan region in the nation, despite the economic recession.  Likened to the 'Silicon Valley' of the East Coast, affordable housing options and a variety of tech job opportunities are fueling the Triangle's unprecedented growth rate.  As the nation emerges from the recession, population growth in the Triangle is only expected to increase.

    Read more: 'Greetings from Recoveryland', Newsweek, November 8, 2010.

  • WakeUP speaks UP at recent Falls Lake stakeholder meeting-

    More than 60 people representing government agencies, local advocacy groups, and private associations met November 3, 2010 to discuss plans for monitoring polluted Falls Lake.  The rules, which take effect in January 2011, include a two-stage program to put the lower part of the lake, near Raleigh's water intake, in compliance with federal water-quality standards within 10 years and the entire lake in compliance within 30 years.  The NC Environmental Management Commission meets November 17th and 18th to finalize the clean up plan.

  • WakeUP receives awards for planning & education!-

    WakeUP's growth management efforts continue to gain MOMENTUM! Recognized as a community leader for good growth practices, WakeUP received two awards on September 30, 2010.

  • Wake's population soars, highest in the state!-

    Mecklenburg County, home to the City of Charlotte, is no longer the most populous in North Carolina.  As of July 2010, Wake County holds the largest population in the state, over 920,000 residents, more than half of whom live outside of the City of Raleigh.

  • Dec. 1-15, 2010, News Archive-

    12/15/10 Rick Scott's School Plan for Scoundrels
    "Conservatives have been plotting for years to blow up the public school system. Now, Florida's incoming governor Rick Scott is poised to light the fuse."

    12/15/10 SE Raleigh students to stay put next year
    "The 5-3 vote means that any attempt to implement a large-scale reassignment of Southeast Raleigh children to neighborhood schools likely won't happen until the 2012-13 school year at the earliest. Their reassignment might not happen at all, depending on the October 2011 election to fill five of the nine school board seats."

  • Nov. 16-30, 2010, News Archive-

    11/30/10 Civil rights and the news from Raleigh
    "Wake County Schools, which just became a majority-minority school system, is going through turmoil as a new school board majority prepares to shift to a neighborhood-based assignment system, scrapping the longstanding system that used family income to promote school diversity. CMS crossed the less-than-half-white threshold many years ago (currently about one-third of students are white), and beat Raleigh to the punch on the shift to neighborhood schools." 

  • Oct. 16-31, 2010, News Archive-

    10/31/10 Life via schools
    "Teachers, students and their parents create the school community no matter how far away or what side of town they live on."

    10/30/10 Burns weighs in on interplay of Wake boards
    "The Board of Commissioners has to approve the school system's budget and can influence school construction, location and calendars, Burns said. "There could be interplay between the two boards," he said. "There has been in the past."

    10/29/10 Hard of hearing
    "Does he fail to realize that he's actively encouraging the same kind of tone-deafness that he and his fellow GOP'ers accused the previous board of?"

  • Nov. 1-15, 2010, News Archive-

    11/15/10 Wake holds first community meeting on 2011-12 assignment
    "Wake County school system staff will address issues of possible overcrowding and changes to the traditional calendar during a community workshop at Millbrook Magnet High School on Monday evening."

    11/15/10 Education Abolition
    " Another entry in the category of "You can't make this stuff up". Wake School Board member John Tedesco thinks that abolition of the US Department of Education "would be great".

  • Raleigh-Cary metro continues to grow-

    The Raleigh-Cary area continues to grow, making the region the 47th largest in the nation.  In March 2010, U.S. Census population figures ranked the Raleigh-Cary area as the 49th largest in the nation, but a population report released on August 4, 2010 has repositioned the region a full two spots ahead in only five months time.  CLICK HERE to read an August 4, 2010 article in the Triangle Business Journal confirming Wake's rapid growth rate.

  • WakeUP Testifies before Legislative Urban Growth and Infrastructure Commission- Today WakeUP Wake County's Executive Director, Karen Rindge, presented testimony before the NC Legislative Commission on Urban Growth and Infrastructure. WakeUP was invited to provide recommendations for state action for good growth planning and discuss how WakeUP works. WakeUP's recommendations included: support for transit, drinking water conservation, better controls on stormwater pollution, fair growth funding mechanisms for schools (including transfer tax, impact fees and adequate public facilities ordinances), and diversified housing options. Rindge also explained the mission of WakeUP Wake County. CLICK HERE to read Rindge's testimony.
  • New report predicts a healthy demand in the Triangle for commuter rail!-

    A new study released yesterday, says that by 2022 the state-owned N.C. Railroad could serve at least 3 million riders a year in commuter trains on its 140-mi. line between Greensboro and Goldsboro. Commuter trains use conventional diesel locomotives to carry suburban residents during rush hour periods to jobs and universities in urban areas.  A commuter rail line running between Goldsboro and Greensboro would link a corridor containing 18 colleges and universities, effectively reducing congestion and improving air quality.  Read more about the study in Bruce Siceloff's article, 'Study: Rush-hour rail could ease commuter crunch'.

  • 400,000+ Raleigh and surrounding Wake municipalities continue to grow-

    According to U.S. Census figures released June 22, 2010, Raleigh and surrounding Wake County municipalities continue to experience high growth rates, despite the economic recession. In 2009, Raleigh's population climbed above 400,000 people, positioning the city as the 45th largest in the nation. Other Wake municipalities, including the Town of Cary, which added an additional 8,000 residents (total 136,600), experienced comparable growth in 2009. As Wake's population continues to expand, water, transit, and landuse challenges remain at the forefront for residents concerned about maintaining a strong quality of life. Falls Lake, Wake's central drinking water supply is under scrutiny by the State Division of Water Quality, which is currently writing rules that will define the scope and effectiveness of future cleanup and conservation efforts.

  • Triangle Supports Sales Tax for Transit-

    A poll released this week indicates that 58% of voters in Wake, Durham and Orange Counties are willing to pay a half-cent sales tax to fund a regional transit system of expanded bus and rail.  Voters also said that travel between the Triangle counties should be the highest priority for public transit, as well as travel to RTP.  The poll was conducted in March for the Regional Transportation Alliance.

     

  • PROTECTING YOUR DRINKING WATER SUPPLY - WakeUP Represented at Falls Lake Public Hearing-

    Falls Lake, Wake's main drinking water supply, is badly polluted and Wake citizens are concerned. The State Environmental Management Commission recently held public hearings in Durham and Wake counties in efforts to collect public input on the Falls Lake Rule Process.  WakeUP Wake County was well represented at both Falls Lake Public Hearings in Durham and Raleigh. WakeUP executive director, Karen Rindge, water team member, Tina-Motley Pearson, and student intern, Andrew Campbell alongside other WakeUP members strongly urged the State to clean up Falls Lake quickly, without delay. WakeUP also spoke in favor of stronger development standards in the watershed and supported Low Impact Development practices that have the potential to protect Falls from future polluted stormwater runoff. Mayor Meeker, Raleigh City Councilor Russ Stephenson and representatives from the Sierra Club, Wake Audubon Society, Neuse River Foundation and the Southern Environmental Law Center also gave remarks in favor of expediting the cleanup process and implementing stronger development standards.

  • Southeast High Speed Rail: New Environmental Report Released-

    A high speed passenger rail line will connect Raleigh to Washington D.C. to the north and Charlotte to the south in the near future. Plans are underway to finalize the route and new challenges surrounding track interface with Downtown Raleigh have emerged.  CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT AND VIEW ROUTE MAPS.   Route Option 1 would allow construction along existing CSX tracks that branch to the west of Capital Blvd, north of Jones St. and Option 2 would direct trains to the east of Capital. Read more about concerns surrounding pedestrian and vehicular connectivity, and preliminary construction cost estimates in Bruce Siceloff's recent article in the N&O titled 'Tracks might divide Raleigh'.

  • Controversy Grows Surrounding the Future Route of High Speed Rail-

    SEHSR is a proposed high speed rail project with future service to Raleigh.  High speed rail has the potential to connect Wake residents much more quickly than existing rail service to Charlotte and Richmond, VA.  Concerns surrounding the Richmond to Raleigh portion of the route have recently developed.  Decisions on route location through key areas of Wake County must be made.

    Downtown Raleigh Route Options:

    Alternative 1, Alternative 2, Alternative 3

  • Car sharing program now available in Raleigh!-

    WeCar vehicle

    A new car sharing program is now available for Wake residents.  WeCar is a membership-based car sharing program for people who are looking for an alternative method of transportation that lowers the cost and reduces the hassles of traditional transportation.

  • Case against NC Realtor Association heard by NC Election Board-

    The State Board of Elections soundly rebuked the North Carolina Association of Realtors (NCAR) at a hearing March 4 on a complaint filed by Raleigh real estate agent Becky Harper. Harper was represented by attorney Michael Weisel who showed for the first time how the statewide Realtor organization spent $2.7 million in member dues to defeat the transfer tax in the 24 counties that tried to use this tax to fund local priorities such as schools and protection of open space. Weisel said the massive Realtor expenditures were a preview of what's to come now that limits on corporate campaign contributions have been eliminated by the US Supreme Court in the Citizens United case...

  • RTP makeover in progress-

    The Research Triangle Foundation will update RTP's master plan, the first major land planning review effort since the park was established in 1959.  The 7,000-acre research center was shaped by sprawling, single-use development requirements that intended to make the park more competitive at a time when companies were relocating from urban areas to suburban office parks.  However, over the past 50+ years, the apetite of major employers in RTP has changed and companies can now choose to relocate to new commercial space in Downtown Raleigh or Durham.  With one of the highest vacancy rates in the Triangle, RTP is searching for a solution.

  • Student Assignment Committee Meeting, October 12, 2010-

    Assignment Committee Handouts:

    Student Assignment Committee Meeting, October 12, 2010

  • Oct. 1-15, 2010, News Archive-

    10/15/10 Great Schools in Wake forum tomorrow: Coming at a good time
    "It's a good opportunity to catch up on the latest twists and turns in the Wake schools saga - and figure out what the next moves should be."

    10/15/10 New Survey: Wake teachers favor diversity in the schools
    "By an 81 to 19 percent margin, the Wake County teachers surveyed said they disagreed with the Board's decision to end the system's longstanding diversity policy and listed it as the top problem facing the system."

  • Sept. 16-30, 2010, News Archive-

    9/30/10 Break from diversity policy may have cost Wake $10.3 million magnet grant
    "Wake County School Board member Kevin Hill says the board's decision to eliminate diversity from its student assignment policy may be why the U.S. Department of Education did not to award Wake a $10.3 million grant for magnet schools Thursday."

  • Diversity Matters-
    Why Diversity IS Important

    Diversity is important - in the classroom, in the business community, and beyond.  University, business, and military leaders all agree on one thing: diversity is a prerequisite for success.

     

    Local Universities

    Duke University - President Richard Brodhead
    "...in our increasingly interconnected world, our students must be able to understand and collaborate across the many dimensions of difference - of race and ethnicity, income, religious affiliation, national culture, and many more - to succeed. Diversity makes our world a far more interesting place, and that's a good reason to build this university as a place where difference isn't just tolerated, but actively embraced."

  • Sept. 1-15, 2010, News Archive-

    9/15/10 Wake schools outperform others
    "In fact, Wake outperforms Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Guilford and the Winston Salem/Forsyth public schools in many areas."

    9/15/10 Wake business leaders to discuss student assignment plan
    "The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Education Partnership will hold a press conference Thursday to comment on the Wake County school board's plan to assign students to neighborhood schools."

  • Aug. 16-31, 2010, News Archive-

    8/29/10 The odds against black youth
    "Remedies for these problems can at least be imagined. But America's tragic number - tragic because it is difficult to conceive remedial policies - is 70 percent. This is the portion of African-American children born to unmarried women. It may explain what puzzles Nathan Glazer."

    8/29/10 The lessons in male graduation rates
    "White males didn't do that much better, with graduation rates in Louisiana, South Carolina and Florida ranging from 57 percent to 59 percent. In Cleveland, 27 percent of black males graduated; just 30 percent of white males did. In Detroit, 27 percent of black males graduated, but just 19 percent of white males did."

  • Aug. 1-15, 2010, News Archive-

    8/15/10 Wake's new attendance zones will affect school athletics
    "The attendance area is a huge factor in athletics," said Bobby Guthrie, the Wake County Public Schools athletic director. "The pool of students that teams draw from is one of the most important things."

    8/15/10 Exclusive charters
    "Some of our charter schools, such as Raleigh Charter, are excellent. But until they have to play on a level playing field with public schools, with innovations that can translate to a high-poverty location, I think calling them "public" is laughable."

  • Suspension Weblinks-
    • July 1-15, 2010, News Archive-

      7/15/10 Fear of 'resegregation' fuels unrest in NC
      "For folks who were there and lived through it, there's a real sense of a collective forgetting, a collective amnesia," says James Leloudis, a history professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who was in high school when the county system integrated. "There is a kind of tragic disremembering."

    • High Speed Rail Funds Awarded to NC!-

      U.S. and state officials gathered in Durham yesterday to announce $545 million in federal rail money for North Carolina.  The funds will be used right away to get trains running faster and more often between Raleigh and Charlotte -- with top speed of 90 mph by 2015.  These funds are a portion of $8 billion in stimulus funds given to several states to increase inter-city rail travel. 

       

       

    • WakeUP Welcomes New Board Members-

      WakeUP would like to extend a warm welcome to its new 2010 Board members: Ram Athavale, Beverley Clark, Abeni El-Amin, Irene Gonzalez, and Don Mial.

    • Raleigh-Cary Area Dangerous for Pedestrians-

      The Raleigh-Cary metro area recently earned a new distinction - not only is it the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country, but now it's been ranked the sixth most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians, according to a new report issued by Transportation for America.

    • WakeUP Speaks to Wendell Town Board-


      Wake County's population is due to double in 25 years, growing by 100 people per day. So reported WakeUP's Executive Director, Karen Rindge, speaking before the Wendell Town Board of Commissioners on October 26. The topic: Growth issues facing all towns in our county, and the solutions to solving planning for rapid growth, increasing traffic, growing schools and a polluted drinking water supply. These are priority issues for WakeUP Wake County, which is why WakeUP recommends implementing a regional transit system, water conservation and stormwater runoff measures (using incentives) and using new funding options to encourage growth to help pay its fair share of the costs of infrastructure.

    • City of Raleigh Delays Tiered Water Rates- Thanks to a wet spring and a cooler-than-usual summer, Raleigh escaped the severe droughts of recent years in 2009. But we cannot be sure it won't happen next year, or the year after. However, we can be prepared for future droughts. That's why the Raleigh City Council has made recommendations for water conservation.

    • Raleigh City Council Approves Vision for Growth- The Raleigh City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday September 8, 2009 to adopt the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, a long-term planning document that will guide development in Raleigh over the next 20 years.  The Plan will go into effect on November 1, 2009.
    • More Evidence of Wake County's Growth-

      Raleigh and Cary were among the 10 fastest-growing cities in the nation last year, a new census release shows.  As of July 2008, Cary ranked third in growth among cities with 100,000 people or more, with a growth rate of 6.9%.  Raleigh ranked eighth, with a growth rate of 3.8 percent.  While Raleigh and Cary topped the growth charts among cities with more than 100,000 people, the smaller towns in Wake County also come out on top when cities of all sizes are included.  

    • New Poll Shows Support for Transit in the Triangle!-

      The Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA), a Triangle business organization and member of the Capital Area Friends of Transit, released a poll of Triangle voters on March 24 that demonstrates significant support for transit. More than 60% of those polled in Wake, Durham and Orange Counties support a mixture of expanded bus service, light rail and commuter rail to link our communities via mass transit. They also said clearly that a transit system should be regional, rather than just local.