Town leaders in southwestern Wake County are backing at-large elections of school board members, but the idea is running into opposition in northern Wake.

The town boards of Apex and Holly Springs passed nonbinding resolutions Tuesday in support of countywide elections for school board members. School board members currently are elected by district.

But the Wake Forest Board of Commissioners on Tuesday rejected the proposal. And officials in Rolesville say they need more discussion on the issue.

"It's a difficult issue," said Rolesville Commissioner Frank Hodge. "I'm hoping to hear more about both sides of the issue."

The idea of at-large school board elections has been embraced by some suburban parents and elected officials who are upset over student reassignments and year-round schools. They argue that school board members are more likely to change the policies if they have to win votes countywide.

But critics warn that at-large elections may run afoul of a federal law that protects minority voters. Also the high cost of running a countywide campaign could make candidates beholden to special-interest groups, critics say.

Currently, the school board is organized into nine districts. Voters can cast ballots only for candidates running in their districts. Supporters of at-large elections want at least four of the board's seats to be countywide offices.

Supporters of at-large elections are urging the General Assembly to act in their favor. Support for the proposal is particularly strong in the growing western part of the county, where student reassignments are most common.

Garner's Board of Aldermen passed a resolution March 3 in support of at-large elections. The Cary Town Council and the Wake Board of Commissioners could pass resolutions April 7.

Holy Springs Mayor Dick Sears said town leaders unanimously supported at-large elections.

"It seems to me that we have to have a countywide perspective," Sears said. "What happens in Holly Springs affects Rolesville."

But Wake Forest Commissioner Frank Drake argued that the county is so large that the interests of the people in his community are different from those who live in New Hill. That's one of the reasons Drake said he helped provide the 3-2 majority against at-large elections.

Commissioners Chris Kaeberlein and Pete Thibodeau backed Drake. Commissioners Anne Hines and Margaret Stinnett voted for at-large elections. Mayor Vivian Jones also supports at-large elections, but she votes only to break ties.

Rolesville's commissioners were split Tuesday. They asked Town Manager Matt Livingston to find a supporter and an opponent to debate before the board. That could happen as soon as April 7.