Four of nine seats on the Wake County school board are up for grabs this fall, and parents angry over reassignment policies are organizing for a fight at the ballot box. They’ve got support from several high-profile elected officials, including Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly and Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht.
“The opportunity is now,” Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly said. “We have four seats this October. Please give four people who believe in families and taxpayers to [current board member] Ron Margiotta, and we’ll change this system.”
Speakers complained that Wake’s policy of balancing the percentages of low-income students at schools is not working. While officials say it’s based on research showing that schools suffer when they have too many low-income students, parents are upset by how the balance is achieved.
“I can advocate that the diversity policy is not succeeding,” Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said. “That doesn’t give power to anyone. The power is at the ballot box.”
Two grassroots groups have formed to steer this effort. They are:
Wake Schools Community Alliance, whose Web site can be found here.
The Web site for Take Our Schools Back can be found here.
