GREENSBORO -- Wake County school board chairman Ron Margiotta defended today the elimination of the socioeconomic-based student assignment policy as he called on business leaders who supported the old diversity policy to cooperate with school leaders.
Margiotta said the new school board majority that took control last December needed to shake up a status quo that had resulted in poor academic performance and graduation rates for low-income and minority students and the disruption of families by frequent reassignment.
Margiottta made his speech at the Summer Leadership Conference of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. The group made diversity one of its core principles for student assignment, a position rejected by the board majority.
“The board believes that all students will benefit from the new policy,” Margiotta told the business leaders meeting at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. “In the best interests of students, families, the community, and businesses, the board and Chamber must cooperate in this effort.”
The elimination of Wake’s old policy of trying to balance the percentages of low-income students at schools dominated much of Margiotta’s speech and the questions from the crowd.
Supporters of the diversity policy have launched heated protests and the state NAACP filed a complaint that’s led to a special review team coming to look at the accreditation of Wake’s 24 high schools. More than 30 people have been arrested for disrupting school board meetings.
The protests are coming at the same time that a school board committee is developing a plan to divide the county into various community assignment zones designed to allow children to go to schools near where they live.
Jim Beck, chairman of the Chamber’s education committee, asked Margiotta about finding a way to honor the values of people in the community who value diversity while honoring the board majority’s values.
“There is a need for change,” Beck said. “None of us is happy with the situation. But if we’re going to come together, we need to acknowledge all our values.”
Margiotta said that diversity would come from parents choosing where they want to attend schools, such as applying for magnet schools. He said diversity will no longer be mandated by the school system.
In addition to changing student assignment, Margiotta said the board is working on ways to fix Wake’s problems. He cited examples such as changing the student suspension policy and partnering Green Hope and Knightdale high schools to offer Advanced Placement courses.
“Give us the opportunity to prove that we can make it work,” Margiotta said.
Margiotta said the business community can help the school district. One example he cited was finding the resources to recruit and compensate principals to work at academically weak schools.
Also during today’s meeting, Margiotta , 72, whose district includes Apex and Holly Springs, told the crowd that he’s 95 percent leaning against running for reelection next year. Critics of the board majority would have to win all five board seats on the ballot next year to regain control.
