Wake County's public school system -- North Carolina's largest -- would not today be recognized as one of the most successful large systems in the United States without years of strong leadership on the Board of Education. This community is exceptionally fortunate to have had smart, dedicated, capable people step forward for duty on the board. On that score this year is no different.
Nor is it surprising that the elections to be held Oct. 6 offer plenty of clear choices when it comes to the candidates' visions for how to keep the Wake schools moving forward in service to students, families and the public at large. But those varied visions underscore how important it is for voters to get it right.
Some of the candidates are generally in sync with policies that have enabled the system to keep high academic standards while coping with explosive growth. Others want to shake things up, reflecting frustration among some residents who feel their personal interests have been unfairly sacrificed. The most promising contenders understand the frustration and are prepared to address it while keeping a proper focus on what's best for the community as a whole.
As a key priority, the Wake system wisely tries to prevent schools from becoming "high poverty." That is important for the academic prospects of students who come to school with the disadvantages that poverty typically imposes.
But because housing tends to be clustered by family income, achieving enrollments that are economically balanced means assigning some students to schools on the basis of factors other than which school is closest. Wake uses magnet schools (where enrollment is voluntary) as a diversity tool, and most students continue to attend schools that are relatively near where they live. But the fact that there's no guarantee of attendance at a "neighborhood" school is a sore point with some parents -- echoed by some among the current crop of candidates.
Complicating matters have been the reassignments necessary to fill the county's rapidly expanding roster of new schools in orderly fashion. Yet a main reason Wake has grown so fast has been the sterling reputation of its public schools.
The Wake school board has nine seats, filled by the voters in each of nine districts. Four of those seats are on the upcoming ballot, and three are being vacated by incumbents. That translates into an election that could lead to significant and damaging policy shifts.
Fortunately, the field boasts candidates who fully understand the benefits of a robust commitment to diversity in enrollments. Turning away from that commitment in behalf of a "neighborhood" approach likely would mean enrollments not diverse but homogenous -- not only schools where most kids were from well-off families, but also others where poverty was the default. Such schools struggle to attract teachers and resources. The public can end up spending big bucks in an effort to compensate, with no promise of satisfactory academic results. Increased racial polarization would be an unhappy side effect.
Any public body's policies must constantly be evaluated with an eye toward whether they need modification or have outlived their usefulness. The Wake school board's are no different, and good board members will never become so wedded to the familiar that they won't be open to suggestions for improvement. Room for improvement is there.
But the Wake system's core goal of balancing opportunities and resources while constantly looking to raise students' overall performance is worth sustaining. It has been a cornerstone of the county's prosperity and the success thousands of students have enjoyed.
Among their other fine qualities, the candidates who have The N&O's editorial endorsement are ones who recognize the harm that could be done if this election marked a retreat from policies that, on balance, have served the county and its young people very well.
District 1: Rakestraw
The district covering northeastern Wake County would be well represented by Rita Rakestraw, 39, of Knightdale. The former elementary and special ed teacher has thoughtful recommendations for positive changes, including an emphasis on keeping siblings in the same schools. She can be counted upon to try to keep school enrollments from being made up mostly of children from disadvantaged families. That can be difficult, but it's a valuable objective to set.
The other two candidates, Chris Malone and Debbie Vair, both of Wake Forest, are critics of the board's assignment policies. Malone, for example, points to a disappointing graduation rate among students whose families are lower-income. Certainly the system can do better in that regard, but abandoning the diversity goal would not be a step in the right direction.
District 2: Tart
The only incumbent seeking re-election is Horace Tart, 62, of Fuquay-Varina. The builder and former teacher joined the board four years ago and has emerged as a strong voice for "career technology education." He'd like to see a high school with that focus, and he calls for a stronger magnet program at Garner High. Reassignments intended to boost diversity benefit his district, Tart says. His record qualifies him for another four-year term.
The strong field of opponents includes former Johnston County principal Cathy Truitt, who holds a doctorate in education; John Tedesco, who advocates energetically for vulnerable children; and Carlene Lucas, who rightly stresses the importance of equal educational opportunity.
District 7: Simon
Of the two candidates in this district covering West Raleigh and Morrisville, Karen Simon is the more promising. Simon, 46, is a grants manager with the Governor's Crime Commission and a U.S. Army veteran. Her support of a diversity policy stands in contrast to the neighborhood-school advocacy of opponent Deborah Prickett, a former teacher and counselor who now is an education consultant for the state.
District 9: Nixon
In a district that has experienced some of the county's strongest growing pains, Lois Nixon emerges as a voice of reason. The long-time community betterment activist in Cary and former director of the Keep America Beautiful program in Wake County understands the challenges of growth, but also how the strengths of Wake's schools have spurred that growth and brought many benefits. Her message: Address shortcomings but don't tamper with success. The school system has been underfunded, she says.
Candidate Debra Goldman articulates grievances over frequent reassignments and long bus rides, and says the school system has wasted money. Those positions will resonate with some, but Nixon has the better perspective.
