IMPORTANT MEETING ON MONDAY

The Wake County delegation to the General Assembly is holding a public comment meeting on Monday, June 2nd from 3:00 - 5:00. This provides a rare opportunity to speak at one time to all of the legislators who represent our county. There is a cut-off time of two minutes, which is short, but still - it doesn't always take a long speech to make an impact!

If you have ever wanted your voice to be heard, on school issues or any other matter, this is your chance. I would suggest calling ahead of time to ensure that you will be called upon to speak. You are allowed to sign up at the door, but if time runs out, that will be the list that is cut short. To sign up, contact Senator Richard Stevens' office at (919) 733-5653. Here are the details:

Wake Legislative Delegation
Monday, June 2nd
3pm to 5pm
Legislative Building
Jones Street
1st Floor - Room 1228

Please encourage everyone you know to show up and speak up!!

County Commissioners and School Board Members - What Happened at the Joint Meeting This Morning

The joint meeting today between the Wake County Commissioners and the School Board was packed, and covered a lot of topics. Of course the BOE budget requests were discussed at length, with commissioners wanting to know how certain line items directly correlated with students' academic growth.

Things didn't really heat up until around 11:45 when the issue of lost tax revenues due to tardiness on the School Board's part (having to do with recouped sales tax revenue) was brought up. There was a lot of discussion (arguing on the part of some) over exact dates decided upon for deadlines, etc.. Lori Millberg kept focusing on what was in-writing, basically closing the door to validity of verbal agreements on the part of both boards.

The person sitting beside me kept commenting that it didn't matter - what's a few thousand tax dollars anyway. While I agree that they need to move on now and focus on the future, it IS important in my opinion that this and other "lapses" be brought up. The School Board needs to know that yes, someone can finally hold them accountable for their mistakes. They need to admit that they "goofed", apologize, and promise to be more diligent from now on. Did that happen? Three guesses - first two don't count!

Tuesday Night - District Dialogue on Election of School Board Members - Everyone Is Invited

The following information is from Representative Ty Harrell's website. Should make for lively discussion!

May 16th, 2008

Ty Harrell will moderate a "District Dialogue" Tuesday, May 20, from 7:00-8:00 pm [probably more like 8:30] at the Herb Young Community Center in Cary (101 Wilkinson Avenue). Many constituents and Wake County residents have expressed varying opinions about how we vote for Wake County School Board members - this event will provide a forum for discussion. Special guests include Gale Adcock, Town of Cary Council Member and Alexis Kateron, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Representative Harrell did tell me that Joe Ciulla (champion of at-large School Board elections) was to have been a panel member, but found out he had family conflicts. Harrell is trying to "even the playing field", but I think he's having some difficulty because so many who share Joe's viewpoint are parents and have to be with children at night...

Court Ruling on MYR Just In

I just received this verdict from the Court of Appeals regarding the mandating of year-round schools. In a nutshell, they over-turned the decision of Judge Howard Manning (requiring parental consent). More later...

"Appeal by defendants from order entered 3 May 2008 by Judge Howard E. Manning, Jr. in Wake County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 9 January 2008.

GEER, Judge.
Defendant Wake County Board of Education ("the Board") appeals from the trial court's order concluding that the Board "lacks the statutory authority to convert traditional calendar schools to mandatory year round schools," but ruling that the Board "is authorized by law to operate, on a voluntary consensual basis, year round calendar schools," so long as it obtains "informed parental consent." (Emphasis original.) Based, however, upon our review of the controlling statutes, we hold that the Board is authorized by the General Assembly to establish year-round schools and to assign students to attend those schools without obtaining their parents' prior consent. We, therefore, reverse the decision below" [Manning's].