All eyes this week were on our state’s two largest school systems, where new proposals garnered front-page headlines and generated a heap of controversy. Clearly, residents in both Charlotte and Raleigh remain deeply divided over how to deal with explosive growth and its attendant overcrowding in public schools. A cursory look through news reports reveals a “tale of two cities,” reflecting the best of times for some residents, and the worst of times for others.

Wake County’s proposal urges a massive student reassignment that would displace more than 11,000 students. If enacted by the school board, this reassignment would be the largest in the county’s history. While some parents may be pleased with the proposed changes, many are deeply frustrated with the instability and dislocation that will result from reassigning their children. Assignment by Choice, a parents’ group seeking to reform the system, believes reassignment erodes stability, a key component of academic success. In the end, such widespread disruption and insecurity will only serve to frustrate families, many of whom may choose to leave the system altogether. Expect more emotional meetings, media coverage, and instability in the weeks to come.

Meanwhile, the Citizens’ Task Force on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) released a report on December 14th that is already stirring debate over how county schools are governed. Formed by the business community with $500,000 in private contributions in March, 2005, this citizens’ group was a direct response to mounting public frustration and calls for deconsolidation. The Task Force set out to develop recommendations for CMS’ governance and management structure, enabling the system to respond to significant growth over the next 10 years.

While it is usually true that the “devil is in the details,” the overarching themes of this report are both innovative and smart − a refreshing change of pace for county residents. Most significantly, the report emphasizes a common-sense concept all too often marginalized by government schools − the notion that schools should focus on the “core business” of educating children.

The Task Force made a total of 21 recommendations. Highlights follow:

• Out-sourcing was high on the list, with recommendation to out-source non-core services, such as janitorial, printing, transportation, and food services.
• The Task Force recognized the need to shift oversight for school construction from the school board to a city-county planning agency, thereby increasing efficiency and cutting costs.
• Decentralization was another key recommendation, with the Task Force proposing that the system be divided into 4-5 areas of accountability, one of which would administer countywide schools of choice. (Also noteworthy is the fact that this recommendation had no language opposing the concept of public–private partnerships.) Geographic proximity and municipal boundaries within the county would guide other areas, and decentralized offices could be staffed with reallocated central office resources.
• In terms of budgeting system, with funding formulas reflecting student needs (gifted, low-income, ESL, and disabled students would likely receive more money). Money would follow a child to an assigned school or public school of choice. While the report stopped short of including non-government schools, this proposal nevertheless represents a huge ideological shift in how education dollars are allocated − an encouraging development for all of us who support full school choice.

What happens next? For now, Wake County parents are left to weigh their options as the reassignment proposal lurches forward. And residents in Charlotte-Mecklenburg County will soon find out just how much “devil” is in the details of the Task Force report. Is this a serious blueprint for reform or wishful thinking? Stay tuned.

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