A popular complaint against the former Wake school board was that members weren't listening to parents. This legitimate sentiment helped sweep the new majority into office. Since then, public comment at many meetings has reached overflow capacity with an overwhelming majority supporting a diversity policy. I tried to convince the board that consensus is possible. Supporters of community schools have told me privately that they are also frustrated by the board's unwillingness to engage the community in an open discussion.
However, I have yet to see any supporters call the majority members on their stonewall opposition to dialogue. The majority members have said repeatedly that they welcome community involvement, but when Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker proposed a committee to evaluate the community schools planning processes, John Tedesco flamed him with righteous vitriol, calling the mayor divisive. The mayor's proposal was reasonable and logical, and the mayor delivered his proposal with calm cool professionalism. Hypocrisy is ugly.
Many diversity supporters are ready to collaborate with the new board majority on issues such as proximity and stability of school assignment and raising achievement standards. Why isn't the board willing to work with us?
