 |  |  |
June 1-15, 2010, News Archive
6/15/10 'Non-violent protest' halts Wake school board meeting
"A civil rights group staging a non-violent protest brought the Wake County school board meeting to a halt Tuesday afternoon when it took over the board's meeting room, standing together with interlocked arms and singing "We Shall Overcome."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7790621/
6/15/10 School board OKs search firm, revises qualifications for superintendent
"School board member Carolyn Morrison objected to hiring Heidrick, saying the committee ignored a more prudent bid from the North Carolina School Board Association, which would have saved $75,000 and costs associated with travel, since the group is local."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7791915/
6/15/10 Wake may leave N.C. School Boards Association
"The Wake County school system could become the only school district in the state to not be a member of the N.C. School Boards Association."?
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-may-leave-nc-school-boards-ass...
6/15/10 Wake school board has busy day planned
"The board's annual public meeting at 3 p.m. will be immediately followed by the regularly-scheduled, twice-a-month public meeting."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7784653/
6/15/10 Schools and success
"As our graduates enjoy their summer, remember all it took to get them to this place: sustainable change, responsible spending, support, great teachers and goals, which include inclusive decisions to support all citizens who call Wake County home. We all rise (and can fall) together."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/15/533154/schools-and-success.html
6/15/10 Costs and enrollment
"In his June 14 Point of View article about the Wake County Public School System's budget, Bob Luebke failed to account for inflation."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/15/533151/costs-and-enrollment.html
6/15/10 School board to approve PLT options today?
"Wake is officially leaving it up to individual schools to pick from several methods identified by staff. But the board is being asked today to approve waivers for several of the schools."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/school-board-to-approve-plt-options...
6/15/10 Ron Margiotta appears likely to be reelected as school board chairman
"It looks like Ron Margiotta will remain the chairman of the Wake County school board meeting after today's vote."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/ron-margiotta-appears-likely-to-be-...
6/14/10 Debra Goldman complains about not getting information from staff
"Wake County school board vice chairwoman Debra Goldman is publicly sharing her displeasure at staff for not getting the information she's asked about on the budget."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/debra-goldman-complains-about-not-g...
6/14/10 Project Enlightenment supporters still lobbying to restore funding cuts
"Supporters of Project Enlightenment aren't giving up hope they can restore the funding cuts that the Wake County school board made to the early childhood program."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/project-enlightenment-supporters-st...
6/14/10 Hunter EcoHeroes earn national recognition
"A group of students from Raleigh's Hunter Elementary School earned second place in a national competition to develop "green solutions."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7777053/
6/14/10 The district's dollars
"Regrettably, the current budget debate about public education in North Carolina is too often incorrectly reduced to two options: lay off teachers or raise taxes. The data discussed here show the fallacy of such thinking. More importantly, understanding these trends gives policy makers other options for helping navigate our schools through challenging economic times."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/14/528457/the-districts-dollars.html
6/14/10 Tracey Noble nominated to serve on student assignment committee
"Prickett has nominated Tracey Noble to replace Blau. Noble is a Brier Creek area parent who was actively involved in last winter's community engagement meetings that helped lead to the reassignment changes that impacted that part of northwest Raleigh."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/tracey-noble-nominated-to-serve-on-...
6/14/10 Monday numbers
"68.8-percentage of students in the United States who graduate from high school four years after beginning the ninth grade (Diplomas Count 2010, Education Week. June 10, 2010)"
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2010/06/14/monday-numbers-33/
6/14/10 Morrisville rejects resolution supporting neighborhood schools
"As noted in Sunday's Cary News, the Morrisville Town Council voted 4-3 to remove from last week's meeting agenda a resolution supporting parental choice and neighborhood schools. Democrats account for six of the seven seats on the council."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/morrisville-rejects-resolution-supp...
6/14/10 School leaders predict bleak future for public education
"Nearly two dozen school system superintendents from across North Carolina held a news conference in Raleigh on Monday to illustrate how proposed state budget cuts could hurt their students."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7783041/
6/13/10 Morrisville rejects resolution on schools
A resolution supporting community-based school assignments and parental choice on school calendars barely made it through the doors of council chambers at Town Hall. But it was quickly sent packing."
http://www.carynews.com/2010/06/13/18570/morrisville-rejects-resolution....
6/11/10 US Nears Racial Milestone: Whites are on the verge of becoming a minority in long-term expected shift
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870431210457529851200668106...
6/11/10 U.S. Nears Racial Milestone
"Whites are on the verge of becoming a minority among newborn children in the U.S., marking a demographic shift that is already reshaping the nation's politics and economy."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870431210457529851200668106...
6/12/10 More than money
"The new school board majority was installed by powerful political forces for the purpose of weakening the public schools, to the benefit of private, religious and charter schools."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/12/528442/more-than-money.html
6/11/10 Report: Recession leaves more children in poverty facing setbacks
"Chief among the findings is that, by 2010, the recession will wipe out virtually all progress made for children in the Family Economic Well-being Domain since 1975."
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2010/06/11/reportrecession-leave-more-c...
6/11/10 It's hopey, it's changey: Great Schools in Wake kicks off its summer film series Sunday, 6:30 with "Obama in NC"
"The film is "Obama in NC: The Path to History" - at the Galaxy in Cary this Sunday, June 13 at 6:30. I haven't seen it yet - my bad - but I hear good things. Cash Michaels, the filmmaker, is one of North Carolina's best journalists. He'll be at the Galaxy for Q & A after."
http://www.indyweek.com/blogs/citizen/
6/11/10 Leaving open the possiblity of adopting the new assignment model for 2011-12
"Laura Evans, senior director of Growth & Planning, had asked for a change in board policy to move up the deadline for annual adoption of the student assignment plan from May 1 to March 1. Evans said this year's April 6 adoption had made things "very difficult" for her office."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/leaving-open-the-possiblity-of-adop...
6/11/10 Electing a school board chairman on Tuesday
"It looks like Tharrington Smith will still be the Wake County school board's lawyer after Tuesday and, barring a coup, Ron Margiotta will remain the board chairman."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/electing-a-school-board-chairman-on...
6/11/10 Former Charlotte school board member to talk about the impact of high poverty schools
"The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children and the local NAACP are again turning toward Mecklenburg County Commissioner Vilma Leake to warn against the end of the diversity policy in Wake County."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/former-charlotte-school-board-membe...
6/11/10 School board member Chris Malone on the invention of the light bulb
"Wake County school board member Chris Malone wants you to know that he does know that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/school-board-member-chris-malone-on...
6/10/10 Great Schools in Wake Coalition holding summer film series
"In a press release Tuesday, GSIW announced it was holding a summer film series in June at the Galaxy Cinema, 770 Cary Towne Boulevard in Cary. The group says "the series commemorates the anniversary of the appointment of our first African-American U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/great-schools-in-wake-coalition-hol...
6/10/10 Perdue declares "war" against school resegregation
"Even if that "war" ultimately ends up in the US Supreme Court."
http://www.wilmingtonjournal.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=103603&...
6/10/10 Pros and cons of hiring a non-educator to be superintendent
"Russell Capps, president of the Wake County Taxpayers Association, said hiring a businessman would recognize that the school system is the "largest business in Wake County." He said the board could have someone like interim Supt. Donna Hargen oversee the educational issues."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/pros-and-cons-of-hiring-a-non-educa...
6/10/10 Schools chief may not be an educator
"Members of Wake's school board majority say they want to open the field of applicants who will carry out the major changes they have in store for the state's largest school district following Del Burns' resignation over policy disagreements."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/10/524337/schools-chief-may-not-be-a...
6/10/10 Perdue declares "war" against school resegregation
''If it takes going to the Supreme Court of this great country from Wayne County and for Wake County, and for other counties in North Carolina, so be it,'' Perdue said. ''We will stand together, to make sure that all of the children of this state have a chance.''
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/perdue-declares-war-against-school-...
6/10/10 Geary accuses school board majority of asking for a "very inadequate budget"
"Bob Geary is bashing the Wake County school board majority for not asking for more money to avoid the layoffs that are being made because of the budget crisis."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/geary-accuses-school-board-majority...
6/9/10 The Wake school board's Republican Five go for broke - as in, they're starting to break things that matter
"Which brings me to the column's second subject: So far, the school board's biggest cuts have not been to classrooms in general, but rather have fallen on programs like Project Enlightenment and library professionals - programs that are of special importance to the kids and families who are struggling."
http://www.indyweek.com/citizen/archives/2010/06/09/the-wake-school-boar...
6/9/10 Redrawing of school zones starts
"In the first detailed step toward neighborhood schools in Wake County, school administrators got marching orders Tuesday to begin drawing up new assignment zones that no longer include long-distance forced busing for diversity."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/09/522215/redrawing-of-school-zones-...
6/9/10 Eyes on Halifax
"Whatever the challenges faced by school systems serving North Carolina's prosperous cities and suburbs, the challenges dogging schools in our hard-pressed rural counties often are bigger and tougher. The schools in Halifax County are a prominent case in point - and the state's efforts to turn those schools around amount to an important test case with far-reaching impact." http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/09/521875/eyes-on-halifax.html
6/9/10 Committee recommends changing policy for hiring superintendent
"The Wake County school board is paving the way for it to be able to abandon the requirements it conduct an internal search first for superintendent and that the new hire have education experience."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/committee-recommends-changing-polic...
6/9/10 Impact of returning Southeast Raleigh students to magnet schools
"Wake County magnet school supporters are keeping a wary eye on how the program will be impacted by eliminating the long-distance forced busing of thousands of students out of Southeast Raleigh and downtown Raleigh."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/impact-of-returning-southeast-ralei...
6/8/10 WEP on the financial challenges facing the school board
"The Wake Education Partnership is warning that the current economic climate could limit the new Wake County's school board majority's plans to change student assignment."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wep-on-the-financial-challenges-fac...
6/8/10 Committee selects firm to help ID next leader for Wake schools
"The committee voted late Monday to recommend that the board hire Heidrick & Struggles, an international executive search firm based in Chicago. The decision to hire the firm, at an estimated $82,500 plus expenses, will go before the whole board next Tuesday."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7741024/
6/8/10 School board committee approves changes to diversity busing rules
"But using contiguous borders for the zones would mean the reassignment of a few thousand students from Southeast Raleigh and downtown Raleigh who are currently sent to places such as North Raleigh, western Wake and Garner for diversity reasons."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/08/521566/school-board-committee-approves.html
6/8/10 Administrators: Focused effort on Wake County dropouts, absentees is working
"A focused effort by "professional learning teams" that target suspended students is part of a concerted plan to reduce the dropout rate from Wake County schools and to raise the percentage of students who graduate high school on time, administrators told a school board committee Tuesday."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7746317/
6/8/10 With Wake schools assignment policy settled, panel begins to look into the details of a plan
"The Wake County schools' Student Assignment Committee poked its fingers into the mucky bucket of details Tuesday as members began hashing out the priorities that they want to drive the process of implementing a community-based plan."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7744636/
6/7/10 Changing Schools (LISTEN) Replay of American Public Radio's show, THE STORY - host Dick Gordon interviews NC State professor Fay Cobb Payton. Payton grew up grew up in a poor area of Georgia, but managed to get a good education. When she moved to North Carolina, she was pleased to send her kids to magnet schools in Wake County, with its system-wide diversity policy in place. http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_1053_Fay_Cobb_Payton_and_Debra_Goldman.mp3/view
6/7/10 Summer institute to "fight the move to re-segregate public schools in Wake County"?"Action for Community in Raleigh (ACRe) is holding a Young People's Community Organizing and Leadership Institute whose goal is "to save our schools, end racism and stop re-segregation." Participants who complete at least 130 hours of training and fieldwork this summer will receive a $600 award."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/summer-institute-to-fight-the-move-to-re-segregate-public-schools-in-wake-county
6/6/10 Could PTAs help pay for staff?
"CMS welcomes the support, but says there are limits to how far private dollars can go in paying for public education. If PTAs or other well-meaning donors pay for staff and other basics, the quality of education can be shaped by a school's money-raising ability, Superintendent Peter Gorman says."
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/06/06/1481056/could-ptas-help-pay-...
6/6/10 GOP solicits for food for school board meetings
"Then comes the part about feeding the board, which the party chairman says wasn't meant to gain favor with the board."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/06/517081/gop-solicits-for-meeting-f...
6/6/10 Good teachers strike the sparks
"Conservatives shy away from what's known as child-centered instruction. They aren't all caught up in the wheel-spinning of teaching kids to devise "how to" strategies for reading and math."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/06/515472/good-teachers-strike-the-s...
6/5/10 Goldman took notes at tumultuous meetings
"Goldman told the audience that she takes copious notes during the public comment period."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/05/515807/goldman-took-notes-at-tumu...
6/4/10 Gorman: Teacher pay should be based on skill
"Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman told the State Board of Education that teacher pay should be based on the ability to teach and motivate and not on longevity and advanced degrees. "If we pay everyone equally, regardless of effectiveness, we send the wrong message - we're not valuing your gifts," Gorman said Thursday."
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/06/04/1476668/gorman-teacher-pay-s...
6/4/10 Unfriendly schedules
"I laughed when I read Wake County school board member Deborah Prickett's quote, "This is the first time in a long time we have had family friendly reassignments," in the June 2 article regarding Wake's diversity policy. It has not been so friendly to our family and Prickett has ignored at least three requests for help."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/04/513978/unfriendly-schedules.html
6/4/10 State House penalizing Wake for dropping diversity policy
"The budget adopted Thursday night by the state House orders the State Board of Education to "take into consideration the extent to which the local school administrative unit's policies or expenditures have contributed to or is contributing to increased segregation of schools on the basis of race or socioeconomic status."
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/state-house-penalizing-wake-for-dro...
6/4/10 The about-face on standardized testing?
"At one point during the debate in the House Appropriations Committee, Holloway asked why we can't rely on teachers to assess students instead of a standardized test. That's a question educators have been asking since the standardized testing craze began spiraling out of control in the late 1990s."
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/cms/2010/06/04/the-follies-80/
6/4/10 4-day school weeks gain popularity across US
"Peach County is one of more than 120 school districts across the country where students attend school just four days a week, a cost-saving tactic gaining popularity among cash-strapped districts struggling to make ends meet."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100604/ap_on_re_us/us_four_day_school_week
6/2/10 Sunshine blog: Wake County school board members' emails
"Perhaps stranger, our request returned no emails to or from board members Ron Margiotta, John Tedesco, Deborah Goldman, and Kevin Hill for the entire month of February. Board member Keith Sutton said, he does "not think it is possible that the four board members did not send or receive any emails regarding the diversity policy or the community assignment plan during the month of February."
http://www.raleighpublicrecord.org/featured/2010/06/02/sunshine-blog-wak...
"Taking care of final details before the actual drawing up of zones begins, the board on Tuesday approved a revision of student transfer guidelines to conform to a new assignment policy favoring neighborhood schools."
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/02/511248/quiet-vote-puts-old-divers...
6/2/10 Raleigh Public Record requested emails regarding the diversity policy and community assignment plan from the Wake Board of Education. They have posted what they received to date online. You can search by name or key word.
http://www.raleighpublicrecord.org/featured/2010/06/02/sunshine-blog-wak...
6/1/10 Wake school board erases last diversity provision from its policies
"The Wake County school board Tuesday erased the last vestige of its longtime bid for socioeconomic diversity in the system's schools, approving a policy change that removed diversity or student achievement as reasons its staff should approve transfer requests."
http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7702010/
6/1/10 Number of private schools increased ?"Of those three counties, only Wake saw an increase, the report said." http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/number-of-private-schools-increased
6/1/10 Language lab "As a Hispanic, having this diversity has helped me develop extensively speech-wise. I had a difficult time speaking and comprehending English, but being surrounded by a diverse, English-speaking student body pushed me to practice and improve. Funneling students into neighborhood schools will gradually change the way students see things." http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/01/505448/language-lab.html
May 16-31, 2010
