Wake taxpayers group says school board 'making light' of AdvancED complaint

Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake County Taxpayers Association renewed its call Wednesday for accreditation agency AdvancED to conduct a full review of governance on the Wake County Board of Education.

The group filed a complaint with AdvancED in September, accusing the Democrat-controlled board of "continued mismanagement," "lack of governance" and "hasty decisions" that caused a "climate of fear and intimidation" in Wake County.

In a Dec. 17 response, the Wake County Public School System said the complaint lacked merit and that the school board "has operated openly and transparently and solicited input at every turn from staff and community stakeholders."

On Wednesday, the Taxpayers Association said the school system's response was "elusive, misleading and treats the concerns of many in this county with frivolity."

They charged that Wake schools was "making light" of egregious acts of bullying and intimidation. The letter cited accusations made by school board member Debra Goldman that board Chairman Keith Sutton threatened her during closed-door discussions about the firing of then-Superintendent Tony Tata and an incident at a November student assignment public hearing, in which board member Susan Evans grabbed a microphone away from board member Deborah Prickett.

The group said the board's "deplorable behavior" has only worsened since their original complaint was filed.

AdvancED has not responded to the Taxpayers Association's request for a review.

In March 2011, however, a report by AdvancED found that the then-Republican-controlled school board created a "climate of uncertainty, suspicion and mistrust throughout the community," but the school system says it has since adopted a strategic plan and trained board members on their roles and responsibilities – requirements necessary for the school district to retain its accreditation.

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The complaints about WCPSS are valid, but at the end of the day, who cares what AdvancED thinks or does? The can do nothing of consequence and have no power over the school system.

immaannoid
January 11, 2013 3:36 p.m.

WCPSS is a mess. Out with all of them - let's get all new people. They'd probably accomplish more in a week than these bozos could in a year.

JDAmbrosio
January 11, 2013 3:00 p.m.

So you solution if you don't like something is just leave. I rather stay and address the issues.

Wait to the next Wake school board election and the voters will speak again. The message will be that the voters are tired of the clowns from both parties. westernwake1

Shoot. Was hoping I did not have to hear your whine anymore.

Mr. Middle of the Road
January 11, 2013 12:19 p.m.

Until every Wake School Board member has to answer to ALL Wake voters at the ballot box, the bullying and intimidation will likely continue by this oligarchy. It's a textbook case of divide and conquer.

I'd really like to know why Wake County continues to allow each school board member to be elected by only a small number of the total voters (i.e. the voters in their geographical district only), then buses those students to areas under other board members, whose tenure cannot be voted on by those bused students' parents.

My neighborhood in Swift Creek caused a ruckus over our continued forced busing to magnet schools in east Raleigh, so the board moved our neighborhoods to a different school district inside the Beltline, one controlled by "Old Raleigh" liberals, who always manage to diversify other areas by busing students from Swift Creek and Garner to faraway areas. I've never seen students from Cameron Village, St. Mary's, Hayes Barton or Boylan Heights bused like this. Why?

cjw6105
January 11, 2013 8:58 a.m.

"the voters are tired of the clowns from both parties"- then maybe you should run as non-party representative. That or we need the school board that has rules- like you have to have a child IN the school system- too many wanna be politicians start off their run for higher office at the school board level. Once your kid is out- someone else fills the seat, seems fair enough. Most of the members of the board don't have kids IN the system so their choices don't effect them. If the pain hits close to home, they might not make such drastic choices.