Wake schools to come apart? Will the new school board fire Del Burns?
by Bob GearyArticle Tools
“Neighborhood schools” candidates went 4 for 4 in the Wake school board elections. Actually, it was 3.99 for 4. One could be facing a runoff, but he got 49.4 percent of the vote, and the runner-up less than half that amount — and the runner-up is for neighborhood schools too.
So long story short, there are now five members of the school board who represent suburban Wake County districts and four who represent Raleigh districts. And the question is, will the suburban representatives act to separate their schools from the city schools, which is — as Gerald Grant said in his book — the essential story of why almost every other city in America besides Raleigh has lousy schools and a declining tax base.
That’s what neighborhood schools means, after all. It means separate schools for separate places.
At the Busy Bee in downtown Raleigh tonight, where Democrats gathered around Mayor Charles Meeker — who was re-elected to a fifth term — the worry was that the new five-member school board majority will move quickly, perhaps at their first meeting, to junk “diversity” and fire School Superintendent Del Burns. The News and Observer is reporting that one of the newly elected board members, Deborah Prickett, says they won’t act hastily. We’ll see. If their goal is a change of emphasis away from diversity and toward neighborhood assignments, they’ll almost certainly go slow. But if they intend to do what they said they’d do if elected, which is assign kids to the schools nearest home and achieve diversity by “other means” (i.e., not bother with it), then they’ll move fast, before diversity’s defenders have a chance to get organized.
The majority will doubtless choose Ron Margiotta to be board chair. He’s the only one of the five who won’t be brand new. In addition to Prickett, Margiotta’s mates will be Debra Goldman, Chris Malone, and probably John Tedesco, though Tedesco is the only who fell just short of 50 percent and could therefore be challenged to a runoff by the second-place finisher, Cathy Truitt. Horace Tart, the incumbent in that (District 2) race, finished third.
Will they fire Burns? Bet on it. The Wake Schools Community Alliance, in selecting its slate, was looking for candidates who’d get rid of him. Tonight’s winners — Prickett, Goldman and Malone, and Tedesco if he joins them — each carried the WSCA banner. (All four were backed by the Republican Party too. Wake GOP Chair Claude Pope claimed victory tonight as a result of their wins and John Odom’s victory over Democrat Rodger Koopman is the District B City Council race in Raleigh. Can’t blame him.)
Del Burns is a product of the Wake school system, the leaders of which have stood proudly for diversity — and against segregated schools — for 30 years. It would be tough to throw out the policy over the superintendent’s objections. Much easier to ditch Burns and the policy in a package deal.
Again, if the majority chooses to take a gradual approach, maybe they don’t can Burns right away. But gradual is not a word they were using.
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Here is hoping that they do clean house. Burns has been a DISASTER. Support for the schools has eroded under his tenure to the point where people are fleeing for private schools at record rates. Graduation rates of at risk students have fallen every year. Gang activity is up. Teacher retention is down.
He has failed and whether you agree with his stance on certain issues or not, the election yesterday is a reflection of those failures. It is time for new leadership. One that will start by bringing public confidence back.
I live in one of the suburban districts. From talking to neighbors and coworkers, I can tell you that the school board had lost support and that many parents felt that the school board was not listening when it made decisions on issues like year round school and even such mundane issues like the new Wednesday early release policy implemented this year.
Ger -- No doubt. I was just asked the question whether Ron Margiotta and the new school board have a mandate. If last night wasn't a mandate, I'm not sure what a mandate would look life. But the issue remains, is it a mandate for change and striking a different balance between "neighborhood schools" and "diversity" across the school system. Or is it a mandate for a radical re-make of policy that throws the baby out with the bath water?
I doubt I'm the first to say these words today, but maybe I'll be the first to write them down in public: The new majority, unless they want to be seen as radicals, should consider that tried-and-true Wake County solution, the "Blue Ribbon Commission."
Just like with the Special Transit Advisory Commission, on which you served, and the county's Blue Ribbon Commission on growth, the issue of how to make progress now in the schools is one that requires a little patience and some meeting of the minds, NOT one suitable for the slash-and-burn tactics favored by some in the Republican Party.
IMHO, of course.
Fair to say that in addition to concerns about diversity versus neighborhood schools, this week's election was also a referendum on the popularity of WCPSS administration -- issues like Wednesday early release and the manner in which year-round schools are implemented. I'm pro-diversity but I do believe there is fair reason to criticize WCPSS administration for other reasons. Wouldn't surprise me if the house is indeed cleaned, and perhaps it's time.
You have got to be kidding me.
We have one of the highest dropout rates in the country and you are telling me we have a great school system?
You cannot possibly believe Raleigh has a better school system then other urban areas.
Get over the denial and get with the program. We need to make fundamental changes to improve the school system.
You must ask yourself - How are you going to make a difference? It's up to us.
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