The partisan politics of the Wake County School Board spilled over to the state legislature Monday night as the House voted largely down party lines to support a Republican-backed bill to have the board chair vote on all issues.
Currently, the chair of the nine-member board votes only in the event of a tie.
Rep. Nelson Dollar, a Cary Republican who is the primary sponsor of House Bill 498, said Wake is the only urban school district in the state where the chair doesn't vote.
Rep. Rosa Gill, a Raleigh Democrat and past chairwoman of the Wake School Board, said that was for good reason. A non-voting chair allows that leader to serve as a creditable peacemaker and consensus builder between different board fractions.
Current school board chairman Ron Margiotta, a Republican, backs the change.
Rep. Deborah Ross, another Democrat from Raleigh, pointed out that the local board split 5-3 on the issue on that the county's legislative delegation was also divided on the issue, with all the Democrats opposed.
"Things are pretty hot with the board right now," said Ross, referring to contentious issues such as school assignment policy. "The last thing the Wake Schools need right now is another point of controversy."
Dollar then attempted to ask Ross a question, but mistakenly referred to her by the name of Rep. Jennifer Weiss. Ross declined to yield the floor for Dollar's question.
"I prefer not to yield until he learns who I am," a testy Ross replied.
Dollar then asked his rhetorical question to fellow Republican and bill co-sponsor Rep. Paul "Skip" Stam, who promptly agreed with him.
The measure passed its second reading 71-47. A third reading, required to pass the chamber, is scheduled for Wednesday, when Gill said she planned to offer a new amendment. If approved, the bill will then go to the Senate for consideration.
Comments
Third reading??? Is this not an education vote?
April 12, 2011 - 3:22am — ManyesI am confused. Why is the "third" reading beieng scheduled for a later date? I remember another legislative body - one controlled by dems - simply read the bill on the education lottery three successive times on the same day to get a vote while an opponent was away. Now that was democracy! Oh how I yearn for the days of dems passing laws designed to oppress the poor in the name of education. I often wonder whether other "education vices" could have passed the handy gavel of such citizen statesmen like Jim Black. Perhaps "education" prostitution, or "education" dog-fighting, or "education" craps? Really, the sky was the limit.
Ridiculous & Personal
April 11, 2011 - 11:43pm — JTedescoOk Joe Tarheel,
I understand you have a personal thing against me and continue to rant lies and rhetoric every chance you get. However, when your lies and biases spill over to my other colleagues I will take umbrage.
Not that it matters since over 2/3rd of the county does not have children in our schools and are still paying an overwhelming majority of their property taxes for Wake Schools, BUT - Mr. Margiotta actually has several children and now grandchildren. He is actually a great an dedicated grandfather. His children attended public schools. If you say he doesn't count has having children in the schools NOW, then you may also be saying the same about Carolyn Morrison and Anne McLauren.
As for not having any children, I do not feel it is fair to judge Mr. Hill just because he and his wife did not have any children. Granted, I understand what it is like to experience the challenges of raising children in Wake Schools he may never. With my four younger siblings I had changed diapers for many years, and after my mom died I was the one going to Garner Middle and Garner High for my 3 youngest ones. I struggled with them through grief counseling, years of homework (extra for Allie who struggled great with Algebra), and IEP (both girls special needs) meetings for my sisters, many parent teacher nights, and doctors visits. Even still with my two sisters at Wake Tech now, I am helping with homework and more. I was proud to watch them graduate the last few years and will be proud to watch my brother walk from Garner High this June. Now that I am fading my responsibilities of raising them maybe I can be blessed with the opportunity to start another family. But with all that said, I do not believe that makes me any better than Mr. Hill, and I believe his voice is just as welcomed at our board table even tough he did not experience those things.
I would encourage you to know the facts better. I am proud to have a college degree (which you appear to have missed somehow), but I would never be as arrogant as you you chatise others for not. If you wish to just randomly select individual members for your personal targets you certainly have that right but maybe you could be a bit less blatantly biased in your efforts to skew and lie. Additionally, I don't see why you needed to insert race into the end of your comments. What does a matter of the chair voting have to do with race? "Only white folks want him to vote." Seriously? You need help just for saying that racist garbage.
John Tedesco
Ridiculous & Personal
April 11, 2011 - 11:45pm — JTedescoSorry above comment should have been posted under Joe Tarheel.
Sounds like you are a stalker
April 11, 2011 - 9:33pm — BigShark"JoeTarheel". How do you know so much about these people?
Are you a stalker? Do you want to injury these people you hate?
Maybe the FBI & SBI needs to come talk to you???
Your messiah has no birth cert. Never attended Columbia. Won't release anything aboy himself.
Here is one for you.
WASHINGTON – Doctors have confirmed that Barack Obama has had brain surgery.
For the last three years a many curious citizens have wondered about the long scar which goes up the side of Barack Obama head and over his crown.
There were rumors that claimed that they are scars that you would see on someone who has had brain surgery. But without medical records (along with his school records and birth certificate) no one seems to be able to provide an answer as to the cause of the mystery scars.
Until now. Dr. Thomas Yablonski, a top neurologist at Houston’s The Methodist Hospital, carefully. examined high-resolution photographs and high-powered, long-distance brain scans. His conclusion: President Barack Obama has had brain surgery. “I’m not sure exactly what the procedure was, but that scar clearly indicates a common incision made into the brain.,” said Dr. Yablonski.
why? reallly, you have to ask why not?
April 11, 2011 - 8:31pm — JoeTarheelwhy not? you really have to ask this question given the morons on the Wake School Board?
Margiotta nor Tedesco even have children. Neither have a college education.
why are they on the school board?
Plus, Tedesco was voted most likely to be the 'van man'.
Its amazing how only white folks are the ones that think this bafoon should have a vote? I wonder why? I'm a white male for the record.
No Different than Mayors and County Board Chairs
April 11, 2011 - 8:25pm — MissVChairperson votes during town/city/county meetings. Why not for the Wake County School Board? Venita Peyton