Re: “School board to Burns: You think you can quit on us? You're --”

It will be difficult to find another superintendent who can drive down test scores and graduation rates for five more years, and help grow the achievement gap. Del's are big shoes to fill.

Re: “Diversity takes a backseat in Wake schools”

my bad, never mind :)

Re: “Diversity takes a backseat in Wake schools”

I cannot believe that you would stoop to deleting dissenting comments.

Re: “Diversity takes a backseat in Wake schools”

You all (including Bob) crack me up. Tedesco grew up in the projects, dirt poor. How many of you grew up getting federally-subsidized lunches? What qualifies you to pass judgment on him. What makes you think you know more than John about what it takes for a disadvantaged child to succeed in school and in life? You want proof that community schools work, do your own research. You can start at www.communityschools.org. The first thing you will learn is that Arne Duncan is a huge supporter of the model John is proposing. Then you will find examples of how is can be successful.

John lives in a neighborhood with greater than 30% minorities. He attends a church with greater than 50% minorities. He works for an organization which is staffed by more than 70% minorities.

Your "cocktail party" diversity doesn't hold a candle to John, and you are wholly unqualified to offer criticism.

Re: “Wake schools fight escalates”

Bob, I think you know John Tedesco. To characterize him as "ready to take liberals on" is unfair -- those are your words, not his. John has worked very hard to reach out to all groups, not to take them on, but to try and build some consensus.

Re: “Truitt versus Tedesco: It matters.”

Unfortunately, the numbers don't lie. There is a lot of hysteria being created right now about a new school board eliminating magnets. None of them are talking about doing that. But the fact is that the achievement gap in most magnet schools is as bad as it is for non-magnet schools. This is made worse by our school system's bias against low-income students (see the SAS EVAAS report). The promotion to 8th grade algebra for these students is much lower than the rate for equally-perfoming middle class white students.

Re: “Truitt versus Tedesco: It matters.”

Bob, None of the elected "transformation" candidates are advocating any changes to the magnet program. Many people are invested in magnets, either for the curriculum or the stability. But, understand that magnet schools do nothing to improve the performance of economically-disadvantaged children. These schools operate as two schools within a school, with no curricular or social interaction between the "base" and "option" populations. Cathy Truitt acknowledged this in a WPTF interview, and agreed that magnet schools do nothing to help ED student achievement. Now she is saying that lots of magnets in Garner is her platform. This woman is simply saying whatever she thinks it takes to get elected, and she does not hesitate to change platforms based on the direction that the winds are blowing. She is financed by a small group of Garner power brokers, and no doubt has promised them that if she is elected she will do their bidding, the rest of the county be damned. If you have met John Tedesco, then you must know that he is sincere. I don't think you should support this woman as the last hope of maintaining status quo, because she is only beholden to her Garner financiers and her own ego.