The School Board waited until 12:53 A.M. (yes, A.M.) to rush through a vote -- without public input -- that will drastically alter the new choice assignment plan.
You know, the plan that our superintendent and staff have worked on for the past 2 years, the plan where everyone has already made their choices for next year, the plan that gave our families choice and our children stability, the plan that hasn't even been fully implemented yet.
And guess what? They have directed staff to go back to a multi-year, node-driven assignment plan that incorporates socioeconomic and academic achievement goals.
Gosh, that sounds awfully familiar.
During the meeting on Tuesday (and into Wednesday) and just before voting on the directive that will probably reassign your child, School Board member Susan Evans felt it was important to remind everyone who she is and what she thinks of us -- in her usual arrogant and condescending fashion.
"While I acknowledge that, first of all, the Raleigh Chamber and the Wake
Ed Partnership are valuable partners in our community, and I respect
the input of all citizens, at these board meetings on the blogs,
wherever they choose to give their input, I just wanted to remind Ms.
Prickett and the board that we are the elected officials charged with
making these important decisions on behalf of the school system."
In other words, everyone can go pound sand.
In other words, everyone can go pound sand.
The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce also issued a statement to the School Board warning them -- and reminding them of the past:
"Based on our research we believe that an address based approach
advocated in the directive will require mandatory assignment to fill
schools." "With a sizeable majority of parents satisfied with the current choice
plan we anticipate a change will create disruption among a new group of
stakeholders."
Disruption is putting it mildly.
So, where do we stand now? That's a good question. Some are claiming this was merely a directive; others are calling this the creation of a new plan for 2013-14. Regardless of what this turns out to be (and, let's be honest -- this really is a return to the days of yearly reassignments), you should be awake and be concerned.
This is just another step in the wrong direction.
