Who Works for Whom?

I find this article (http://www.newsobserver.com/146/story/510467.html)

in today's News and Observer, disturbing, but not surprising. It reports that Wake County school administrators have "put the brakes" on the School Board's thoughts of looking into the idea of developers building and leasing public schools. Many believe that schools could be built faster that way, thus decreasing the need for so many MYR schools. Regardless of how you feel about such a plan, I should think you would join me in asking, "How can administrators put a halt to something that our School Board proposes?" Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Administration's role is to advise and do research for the School Board, not to control them. Yet, the latter is exactly what appears to have been happening for many, many decisions.

In this particlar article, reasons are given as to why administrators want to put the idea on a back burner. Even if the reasons are legitimate, comments such as this one concern me: "With $1 billion approved, we don't have to commit to a lot more alternatives" (Don Haydon, chief facilities and operations officer.)  Hopefully his words were taken out of context. But the tone of the entire article suggests that the Administration is still not willing to support options which would  decrease the number of MYR schools in Wake County.

Wake School Board members are not obligated to follow the wishes or the advice of  WCPSS administrators. They were elected by US, to represent the students of Wake County. We need to continue to push for any viable option that would cut down on the number of MYR schools being proposed. Our elected officials should not shy away from seriously considering solutions that could improve Wake's growth predicament. Read the N&O article for yourself. If you agree with my assessment, I would urge you to join me in reminding our School Board not to forget who works for whom.