The Wake County Board of Education approved Superintendent Tony Tata’s plan for student assignment Tuesday night in an emotional meeting that was years of discussion in the making.
Tata, in his resolution that was approved to the board, asked that the plan be in effect for three years. However, a new board will begin later this year, and could ask for modifications.
Hill and Sutton voted against the proposal, which passed 6-2. Kevin Hill and Keith Sutton voted against the proposal. Carolyn Morrison, Deborah Prickett, Chris Malone, John Tedesco, Debra Goldman and Dr. Anne McLaurin voted yes.
The plan was approved despite some reservations.
For example, McLaurin questioned whether the system has the money to fund the plan.
“I do support the plan but I am concerned about the resources that are available to make this plan work,” McLaurin said. “I hope this board is prepared to ask our county commissioners and state for the funds we need.”
And Hill, who faces a re-election runoff against Heather Losurdo, said he had concerns about how seats in schools would be assigned. He wanted to see some seats at high-performing schools reserved set aside for students who were in lower-performing districts.
Morrison, who did not run for re-election, said she supported the plan and praised Tata and those who developed the plan.
Sutton asked that they delay the vote for 30 days. Some incoming board members have questioned why the vote had to be held now, and couldn't wait until the new board was seated.
"It is important for the current board to have a say in this plan - I think the board deserves to have a say - while at the same time giving the new board members to have a say in this plan," Sutton said. "And I think that will happen over the next few months."
But Tedesco, who made the original motion to approve Tata's resolution, said time was of the essence and the board couldn’t afford a delay.
Goldman said the board had not been “rushing” to make this decision and said the outcome was months and years in the making.
"What's echoing in my head tonight is all of these people saying, 'Why are you rushing?' As the maker of the motion on Dec. 1, 2009, I just have to remind everyone that this is not a rush in the plan. There has been a solid two years in the making," Goldman said.
Malone said people he talked to “where sick and tired of the politics.” He said people were calling him saying, “Would you please get on with it?”
The new assignment plan allows parents to choose a school -- much different from the old plan that bused students based on diversity -- preventing mandatory reassignment.
James Overman, head of the student assignment task force, saids the plan would be based on "proximity, stability, choice and achievement."
Overman says the assignment plan also "manages growth efficiently" and "preserves the
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