Moreover, any decision to change the plan will partially be influenced by the staff\u2019s opinion as to how difficult the changes will be to make.<\/p>\n
Board Chair Kevin Hill said going forward \u201cstaff will explain to us the repercussions of any changes that might be recommended.\u201d<\/p>\n
While some changes are inevitable at some point in the future, Hill says it\u2019s his feeling that the plan will still stay on track to be implemented in 2012-13.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut keep in mind, I\u2019m one of nine board members,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/new-school-board-2011-1024x764.jpg\" "\\"new")
<\/a>New Board Chair and Vice-Chair Kevin Hill and Keith Sutton now have seats at the head of the table.<\/p><\/div>\n
How much weight does Republican muscle lift? \u201cIt’s concerning,\u201d said Republican board member John Tedesco on the possibility of changes to the plan. \u201cEspecially, since parents have already begun the choice process. I think it would be somewhat concerning for those families and somewhat disruptive for families.\u201d<\/p>\n All ages come out to protest Carpenter Village's assignment to East Cary Middle School. Parents claim it's their seventh-closest middle school.<\/p><\/div>\n If Tuesday\u2019s board meeting was any indication of community activism to come, Tedesco\u2019s Republican minority will have some degree of backing \u2014 but it might not be the kind it\u2019s hoping for.<\/p>\n At Tuesday\u2019s meeting about 35 people \u2014 families from Carpenter Village in Cary \u2014 came out to protest the fact that their middle school option wasn\u2019t proximate enough. In other words, the current plan doesn\u2019t look enough like neighborhood schools.<\/p>\n In fact, Tuesday was one of the first times neighborhood school supporters and diversity advocates were in agreement when they took the podium during the public comment period\u2014all wanted Superintendent Tony Tata\u2019s choice plan put on hold.<\/p>\n Two potential changes to consider Currently, children in low-performing nodes have preference when applying to high-performing schools in their area. But Hill wants set-aside seats at those schools to guarantee a place for children from historically low-performing areas.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t negotiate on the issue of student achievement,\u201d Hill said when he voted against the plan in October.<\/p>\n But Tedesco is already touting that a change along those lines would be unacceptable.<\/p>\n \u201cIt completely changes the model actually, because what it does is it establishes a quota system and restricts capacity at local neighborhood schools and in communities,\u201d Tedesco told the Record this month.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The board now stacks up five Democrats to four Republicans. Last year a four-member Democratic minority was able to rein in, with a strong network of community support, the GOP neighborhood schools plan.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.raleighpublicrecord.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/wake_school_protest-300x224.jpg\" "\\"wake_school_protest\\"")
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\n<\/strong>Since the plan was first approved in October, Hill has made very clear which aspects he does not support.<\/p>\n