School leader gives keys to success

Former superintendent and board member write about Wake diversity, more

Former Wake County Superintendent Bill McNeal shares his tips for how to run a school district in a book that comes out Tuesday.

Co-written with former school board member Tom Oxholm, "A School District's Journey to Excellence" draws on their experiences in the Wake school system as it became nationally known for its diversity policy and test scores.

Though the book's target audience is school administrators, it should be of interest to those familiar with McNeal's time as superintendent from 2000 to 2006.

"We believe the Wake County school system is a story that needs to be told," said McNeal, who was named national superintendent of the year in 2004 by the American Association of School Administrators.

ON DEALING WITH ADVERSITY: They stress the need to go public with bad news or risk losing the momentum to make improvements. They cite Wake's response to the school transportation fraud case, when at least $3.9 million in parts invoices were fraudulent. But they also acknowledge that they should have spent more money to hire additional internal auditors who might have detected the fraud sooner.

"Still, much of the fraud event is now behind the district. We had had our trial by fire and did the right thing: For this, we earned the community's respect."

ON STUDENT REASSIGNMENT: McNeal and Oxholm argue that districts need to engage parents early and frequently in major decision-making processes.

"In 2005, almost 11,000 students were reassigned due to the high growth and severe overcrowding, and the new student assignment method yielded a more satisfied customer."

The book concedes that not all parents are satisfied. Some parents still feel they're not being heard, leading to the current lawsuit over year-round schools.

ON DIVERSITY: They say Wake's goal of limiting schools to no more than 40 percent of students receiving subsidized lunches has made schools strong.

All "students should have appropriate resources and equitable facilities. District leaders appreciate that the diversity of the student body is an essential ingredient to seeing this commitment through."

But critics argue that Wake can't prove the policy helps low-income students. The issue has also split the black community, with some supporting and others opposing the busing of low-income students to distant schools.

FINDING THE BOOK: The book will be available at amazon.com, corwinpress.com and Quail Ridge Books & Music. The price is $63 for the hardcover and $29 for a paperback. McNeal and Oxholm will hold a book signing July 30 at 7 p.m. at Quail Ridge Books, 3522 Wade Ave., Raleigh.