“At this time with everything that is going on, we need not only someone on this board that has education experience and whose children have been in Wake County for the past 6 years; we need someone who can bring that continuity of leadership that is student-centered,” said Mahaffey. Incumbent: Chris Heagarty On the academic front, test scores are nothing to write home about, especially in low-income schools in the district. https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.254/jn7.0cb.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/School-Board-Candidates.png?time=1611364260, https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.254/jn7.0cb.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cc-news-logo-450.png, Board of Education Candidates Talk School Reopenings, Great question, Len. Other issues that will likely come up are the board’s inability to keep within their constantly rising billion-dollar budget and the inability to plan for growth and build schools accordingly as evidenced by the persistence of trailer farms attached to every school in the district – even brand new ones. During my time on the School Board, my colleagues and I have revised Board policies with the goal of decreasing police interactions with students. Instead, she pre-recorded a video to be shared during the meeting. Full disclosure: Mahaffey is my district representative. Spread the Word! In one case, a parent who was also a teacher was forced out of her job for pushing back on questionable activities and materials being used in Wake County classrooms. In her remarks, she said, “It’s part of my priorities to put children and their needs and what’s in their best interest first.”. According to her campaign’s Facebook page, she is “a full-time working mom with three kids in the public school system and one in preschool. Austin was a good friend of mine. “The data is all over the map.”. Each candidate and their campaign site is listed below along with some historical and campaign context. ... Q. Steve Bergstrom (D8) A. Steve Bergstrom Wake Schools District 8 As a veteran, I fought for our country, but that fight isn’t over -- for me it’s just on another front. He wants greater transparency with textbooks, materials and course offerings in the district so that parents can see what their children are using. Moderator of the forum and chair of the Chamber board of directors, Rick Stephenson, asked the candidates to directly speak to student families with this question. Hartenstine had filled the seat once held by Zora Felton who died in November 2016. So, who filed and where? D8 Steve Bergstrom D2 Greg Hahn D1 Deborah Prickett D5 Mary Beth Moore D7 Rachel Mills Challenger: Steve Bergstrom Madding says that WCPSS’s redistricting mess is what got him to run and he says that process “unnecessarily disrupted four of the five middle schools in District 9.” .Madding goes on to say that “Middle school is hard enough on a child without having to unnecessarily change schools and that families feedback “fell on the deaf ears of the District 9 incumbent.”  Despite the deaf ears line and the MVP Math mess, Madding seems to want to keep ‘hands off’ curriculum choices unless they cost “millions.” 5. Cary voters can view the full forum, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, online. Story by Ashley Kairis. Her challenger is Steve Bergstrom, a veteran who boasts managing billions in contracts for the Department of Defense. Mahaffey is a ‘former educator’ who first ran and was elected in 2016 after beating Gil Pagan and Gary Lewis. “I think what parents who elect the school board want them to do is to get their kids back is school now.”. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Political Science. Website: VoteGregHahn Karen Carter. The virtual chamber event was open to the 7 candidates representing the western districts of Wake County — 7, 8 and 9. All the Cary news every day since 2009. Deborah Ross came in first by a wide margin with 70% of the vote. The school board Monday appointed longtime district educator and current deputy superintendent Leslie Bergstrom to succeed Brian Busler as the OSD superintendent. Steve Bergstrom. The Council will assist the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, the Park Authority, School Board, the Planning Commission, commissions, and authorities of Fairfax County on the allocation, use, and management and future planning of County athletic resources. Sign in if you'd like new recruits to be credited to you. Her website says she moved here 18 years ago from Long Island, NY. As she runs for a second term, she says her three guiding pillars are to support students, trust teachers and strengthen the community. Click to subscribe & receive notifications of new posts from Wordpress by email. Limited Seating at Milton's. Education is important to him as he is dyslexic, which made him a late reader. Carolina Parent also has a good multi-part series on that case. According to his site, he’s “managed $36 billion in contracts for the Department of Defense. We have an excellent opportunity to have our voices heard on the board. Mills is a mom of two public school kids and is pro-school choice “Even within the school,” and she says that “you should have choices in what educational model and class works best for your student. “Opening up the doors to the building is not going to fix all the issues that we’re seeing in our community.” She underscored the importances of social distancing, masks, hand washing and an overall new and safer experience for kids returning to school. She was reelected in 2018 after defeating Bob Malone and John Crowe. Two other candidates—Steve Bergstrom and Karent Carter—are also advocating for issues like “transparency” and a “return to traditional education,” but without going into specific detail. https://ourtownapexnc.com/candidate-interview-lindsay-mahaffey And on the topic at hand, Mahaffey said a poll went to NC and Wake County families, finding that roughly 30% of parents prefer virtual only, 30% preferred a hybrid option and 30% preferred all in-person schooling. Here’s a brief recap of what each candidate had to say about themselves. He grew up in Wake County Schools and now has two kids in middle school. That wasn’t specified on their website or their Facebook event page. Often unreported by media are the retaliatory actions carried out again parents who question the board’s activities, which has included leaking personal information in records requests, sharing of parent emails with other divisions, and cutting programs at schools attended by children of certain parents who have questioned the board’s activities. Mahaffey has literally done nothing to alleviate overcrowding in Southern Wake and has never stood up for the families who have been repeatedly shuffled around as a result of reassignment plans she and the board created. By working with Duke University and other health professionals, Fletcher says the board is working on creating a roadmap for the way forward to re-opening schools. To view which schools fall under which district, visit the WCPSS Board Member page. ALSO: Wake Soil and Water Conservation Candidate. Perhaps somewhat uncoincidentally, there’s also been a steady increase in social justice and politically motivated curriculum pumped into classrooms since the Office Of Equity Affairs (OEA) was established. Notably, Fletcher has recently come under fire for using his board position to promote his real estate job during virtual meetings. Challenger 1: Gregory Hahn 2. Districts one, two, seven, eight, and nine all received challengers, while three through six did not, leaving the incumbent running unopposed. The chimes playing from the bell tower of the limestone church are electronic. Karen Carter. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Political Science. He advocates for transparency between the board and the community. His top priority is to make WCPSS the number one option for all families. Cooper asks for "significant executive action" to curb COVID-19 spread, Guilford County Schools teacher charged with multiple counts of sex act with a student, Socialists Among Us: Turning a ‘Proffitt’. At one such board meeting, Prickett tried to address upset parents only to have Evans literally yank the microphone out of Prickett’s hand in an attempt to silence her. From Wake County school board candidate Steve Bergstrom: A profanity-laced video encouraging the looting and violence in America as a means of protest, was shown to a Wake County 8th grade class at Moore Square Middle last week during a Civics class. Outside of his prior accusation on listening to speakers at a recent meeting, Bergstrom also had his fair share of head shaking, smirking and speaking while Mahaffey was responding, even though he was muted on the Zoom call. Website: Heather For Wake Purpose: To serve in an advisory capacity to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. That office, with a staff of 8, has cost taxpayers millions and has produced exactly nothing. Website(s): MonikaForSchools,  MonicaForCongress Wake Commissioner & School Board Elections 2020. If you’re a parent concerned about the impending “socioeconomic index” reassignment plan or the increasing opaque, totalitarian nature of the board, and its activities, Prickett is known for wanting more transparency and for her cool-headedness during past reassignment fights. If you are unfamiliar with this term, this is a scenario where your child will be assigned to a school-based on a score derived from various economic variables. The seats representing western Wake County on the Wake County Public School System’s School Board are for districts 7, 8 and 9. “The diversity of information that’s available to people from different sources is creating significant confusion,” said Fletcher. It’s time to vote them out. He also made a point to jab at his District 8 opponent, Lindsay Mahaffey, claiming that she did not listen to parent concerns in a recent meeting. First to answer was Heagarty who laid out the “untenable” positions that families have brought to the board. Father of four and U.S. Air Force veteran, Steve Bergstrom, is now a commercial pilot and brings experience in budget management from his time working for the Department of Defense. In District 8, board member Lindsay Mahaffey is running against Steve Bergstrom. Incumbent: Monika Johnson-Hostler Mr. Scott Lassiter. Incumbent: Lindsay Mahaffey He ran unopposed in 2018, won in 2016 against Michael Tanbusch. Carter is a Triangle native with a degree and experience in social work. Read more in the update at the bottom of this article. “It is very, very difficult to make sure that everybody has what they are looking for, but we certainly are listening,” said Mahaffey. Website: RachelForSchools In response to the accusation, Mahaffey clarified that she was taking notes at that meeting. Subscribe by email. He grew up in Wake County Schools and now has two kids in middle school. Jim Martin in District 5 now has a challenger. “Each student should be provided with a sound education with proven vetted curriculums and any necessary academic support to ensure they rise to the next level,” Carter’s website says. Why are these people running for Wake County Public School Board when they are actively campaigning against it instead of trying to improve it? I support continuing to work on policies, procedures, and agreements that serve this goal. “In all forms of communication, he has been persistently arrogant, condescending and dismissive. Incumbent Lindsay Mahaffey and challenger Steve Bergstrom of District 8. ALSO: Wake Soil and Water Conservation Candidate. All Candidates. UPDATE I have a child in AIG and special education.” She also says “I don’t have a political agenda,” she just wants the best for our students and teachers. “We have people on one side that want us to open up schools tomorrow and they write to me and say that COVID is a hoax and this whole thing is a political agenda. Cary, NC — On October 14, The Cary Chamber hosted their second candidates forum, this time for those running to represent Cary on the Wake County Board of Education. These are just highlights, for more on the activities of the current WCPSS Board, check out my archives and #WCPSS updates. Website: PrickettForWakeSchools In District 9, board member Bill Fletcher is challenged by Daniel Madding and Karen Carter, who has been a … Wake County’s version is one week at school, two weeks at home with a social distancing busing plan that has parents expecting to have to drive their kid unless they want to miss half the school day. Website: DanForWCSchools In the same vein as the social justice pushes by the OEA are WCPSS’ continued invasion of student privacy and violation of federal law both at the district level with the use of the BIMAS-2 psychological assessment and with the “Diversity Inventory.”. Zero Media Coverage. Moore isn’t shy about why she’s running, calling out Jim Martin’s pervasive arrogance when communicating with parents and the community. Steve Bergstrom is another candidate pushing "parental choice" and school vouchers for families. Website: Karen4Wake Website: https://business.facebook.com/MaryBethforWake/. She ran again in 2013 and lost to retired teacher Zora Felton. Don’t forget about the MVP Math debacle, with its ability to take A students to D students in the span of a single quarter. The rules for the forum were that each candidate would get 90-seconds for an introduction and again for closing comments with 2-minutes to respond to a series of 3 questions. She has had at least one of her own children in the WCPSS for the past 14 consecutive years and it is her 9th year serving in the school system as a special education instructional assistant. Before running for school board, Heagarty, a Democrat, was the House Representative for District 41 from 2009 to 2011 at the N.C. General Assembly. Pricket is a former WCPSS board member for District 7 first elected in 2009. Carter was one of the many parents whose children were struggling with MVP Math, the controversial curriculum picked by the school board in 2017. Fletcher seconded the issues laid out by Heagarty, but said the main issue is not necessarily a planning issue as much as it is a communication issue. She was re-elected in 2016 after defeating Pete Hochstaetter and Mark Ivey. New Horizons High school Principal Seth Johnson people from different sources is creating significant confusion, ” said Fletcher covers. 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