Board may reverse decision on Daniels' magnet program

RALEIGH -- The Wake County school board will vote again this afternoon on whether to remove the magnet program from Daniels Middle School and convert Leesville Road Middle School to a year-round calendar.

Parents and at least one school board member have complained that the board's votes Oct. 7 to end the magnet program at Daniels and convert Leesville Middle came during a work session with no chance for public comment beforehand. As a result, the board now plans formal votes during today's regular meeting.

For Daniels, a new vote could change the outcome. The last vote was 5-3. But board member Ron Margiotta says he plans to change his vote and now favors keeping the magnet program.

In addition, board member Horace Tart has said he, too, may change his vote to remove the school's magnet program. But even if only Margiotta changes his vote, it would force a tie that Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board, would have to break.

A change is less likely with Leesville. The Oct. 7 vote was 7-1 with only Margiotta dissenting.

Also today, school staffers will ask the board to reconfirm other decisions made at the Oct. 7 work session.

The board will be asked to formally approve adding magnet programs at Brentwood and Smith elementary schools.

The board also will be asked to reconfirm the decisions to put Baucom and Green Hope elementary schools back on a traditional calendar. Baucom and Green Hope were among 22 schools that converted to a year-round calendar in 2007.

Today's meeting begins at 3 p.m. at 3600 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. People can sign up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting that begins at 4 p.m.