As Wake County voters prepare to decide the fate of a $970 million school bond, charter school advocates are raising a red flag.

Those advocates shared their concerns during an afternoon news conference at Raleigh Charter High School.

Francis DeLuca of Americans for Prosperity North Carolina says the Wake County school board has endorsed only a weak resolution seeking further study of charter schools. DeLuca says the school board should actively push state lawmakers to remove North Carolina’s charter school cap.

The Wake County school board had a chance to lead on the issue of charter schools. Instead they decided to punt. If the board does not change direction immediately and consider the wishes of parents and voters, voters will choose to punt and refuse to support the bond for the board in November.

Entrepreneur and charter school operator Bob Luddy offered similar criticism:

This is an overwhelming vote that parents want community schools, charter schools, and opportunities for their students. So I think the Wake County school board needs to rethink their position, get rid of this $1 billion bond tax, and offer the type of schools that we need for the future both for our county and for America.