Learning From the Courage of the Past

July 9, 2001 -- Twenty-five years ago, in 1976, the walls fell. Two separate school systems -- Raleigh and Wake County -- came together in a recognition that we achieve far more when united rather than divided. The merger was controversial and sometimes painful, but bold leadership prevailed and built the strongest large urban school district in the state. The leaders of 1976 had a vision, and since then we have worked hard to fulfill it. As we celebrate the beginning of a new school year (our calendar runs from July 1 to June 30), we will be keeping our Silver Anniversary in mind. It is time to take inspiration from the past, and to look ahead.

When the Wake County Public School System was created, we still had an industrial economy. Now we have an information economy that demands intellectual rigor, the ability to reason and think creatively, and technological aptitude. The bar has been raised -- not just by legislators or the North Carolina Board of Education, but by the expectations of parents and citizens in our own community. We must help more children learn, because the consequences of falling behind in the Digital Age become more grave with each passing year.

We have a committed Board of Education spurring us on to excellence; we have strong teachers laboring mightily to make learning come alive for our students, and we have school leaders who are ready and willing to innovate and challenge the status quo. We have the tools we need to move ahead.

Moving ahead means focusing on three key points:

Along the way, we must further narrow the achievement gap -- engaging our community and re-energizing our educators to realize the promise of 1976. We must also continue to bolster our use of technology in the classroom -- technology that will help teachers tailor their lessons to each individual child and find new ways to engage children's curiosity and intellect. And we must open the doors more widely to our community, involving the public more heavily in the issues with which we struggle.

To that last point, I hope that this column, the first of a series, will help promote a better dialogue with the public whom we serve. Every month, I will give you a progress report on an important issue our school system is dealing with or let you know how our children are doing. At the bottom of this page you'll find an area where you can respond with your own concerns or questions on the subject. While I may not be able to correspond with you personally due to the volume of e-mail, I will frequently respond to questions raised in this space.

Since becoming your Superintendent last year I have been out in the community, sharing that word with anyone who will listen. This is another effort in that direction. As a citizen of Wake County, you deserve clear, direct information about what is happening in your public school system, and I am committed to providing it.

Finally, a word of special thanks. Last year the spotlight shone brightly on the infrastructure of our school system -- both our physical and our operational needs. We were at a crossroads this year, as our school construction needs became more urgent and the year 2003 -- and our 95 percent goal -- came ever closer. I want to thank again the allies of public education in Wake County for stepping forward and being counted. Last year's overwhelming bond referendum victory for PLAN 2000 set us back on the path to giving our teachers and students safe environments that promote learning. Public support also helped the Wake County Board of Education and the Wake County Commissioners strike a compromise that will increase local funding for education and, through the new Citizens Advisory Committee, generate a new dialogue about what it takes to achieve excellence in our schools. To all our friends: thank you for standing by us, and for keeping the faith.

Do you have any thoughts about this column, or topics you would like to read about in this space? Please drop Mr. McNeal a line using the feedback box below. While time may not permit a personal response to each comment, Mr. McNeal will respond to ideas raised about this subject in a future message.

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