Budget crunch crushing Wake schools

By Ryan Graczkowski

Wake County schools are facing a crisis in the budget. The budget deficit has doubled from $20 to $40 million.

The doubling has occurred as a result of a 3 percent cut from the state government; coupled with reduced revenues from state and county sources, they pose a formidable problem. Families may come to bear this problem in the form of later start times and ever-more crowded classrooms, not to mention teaching layoffs.

This news is especially significant given the nature that money played a part in the school board’s decision to end the diversity policy. The reasoning board members gave was that poorer students were not necessarily improving on account of being shipped amongst affluent schools. By concentrating them, they stated that it would be possible to channel resources in a more efficient manner directly to the students.

Diversity opponent has good intentions

By Ryan Graczkowski

The News and Observer ran a profile yesterday on Wake County school board member John Tedesco.  Tedesco has come under fire in recent days as a sort of vanguard of the demise of the diversity policy. His outspoken defense of the committee’s decision has led to attacks on his character and attempts to endanger his job.

Yet nonetheless he persists. Not on account of any politics, he claims, but on account of his upbringing. He believes that shunting poorer students from school to school may help the schools look good, but ultimately does nothing to benefit the students themselves.

Community schools a segregation tool?

By Ryan Graczkowski

In a 5-4 vote, the Wake County school board decided to end the diversity policy.

The diversity policy achieved nationwide acclaim on account of being based on socioeconomic factors, and not on race. Schools were not to have more than 40 percent of their student bodies relying on free lunches, and no more than 25 percent of the students reading below grade level.

The efforts by the school board to end the policy met with much resistance, leading to a lengthy and emotionally charged debate. Opponents of the school board fear that community schooling is an attempt to resegregate schools, and the board has been painted as a body of old white men largely disinterested in progress. The Rev. William Barber, head of the state chapter of the NAACP, has threatened legal action if the new policy leads to resegregation.