I was glad to see that even Rick Martinez is rallying to support the Wake County school board minority ("Distractions from the classroom," June 30 column). Carolyn Morrison, Anne McLaurin, Keith Sutton and Kevin Hill have tried to reprioritize the issue of student achievement but have been thwarted in their efforts by majority members intent on focusing almost exclusively on a new school assignment plan. Martinez doubts neighborhood schools will improve achievement one iota. But he's hopeful that local leaders will refocus on the academic output of Wake classrooms rather than being fixated on their racial and economic makeup.
Parents in Wake County are fixated on the success of their students. That's why 94 percent of the nearly 40,000 who responded to the board's survey indicated satisfaction with assignment. High-performing students and excellent public schools are the strength of our community and its future. That's why so many of us relocated to Wake County in the first place.
If student achievement isn't going to improve one iota with this new assignment plan, then stop it and focus on achievement now.
