Building for the Future
October
8, 2003 -- Last night, the citizens of Wake County overwhelmingly
supported a bond referendum that will help build 13 new schools
and a pre-Kindergarten center, comprehensive renovations at
16 schools, and repair and re-roofing projects at 61 schools.
On behalf of the students who will have better learning environments,
I would like to thank you.
Wake County citizens have consistently stepped up, examined their school system and said, "We need to do more. We need better schools. We need to be accountable for our quality of life." As we've seen the constant influx of young people into our district -- over 4,000 this year alone -- Wake citizens have provided the support necessary for us to maintain wonderful learning climates for our young people. For that I'm deeply grateful.
We owe a great debt to the Wake County Board of Education and the Wake County Board of Commissioners for putting the question to voters, and to the business community leaders, parent groups, and other volunteers who advocated on behalf of better schools. In particular I would like to thank Ann Goodnight and Horace Johnson, co-chairs of the Friends of Wake County, the citizen volunteer group that advocated on behalf of the school and library bonds. The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Wake County PTA Council, the Wake NCAE, and the Division of Principals and Assistant Principals also played key roles in telling our schools' story.
I have often said how proud I am to be the superintendent
of this school system. What I have also said, and say to you
again, is that Wake County is a wonderful place in which to
live, and I'm elated to be a part of a community that cares
so much about its children.
Our next task is to ensure that everything involved in Plan
2004 goes well: that we remain good stewards of the citizens'
dollars, and that we not violate your trust. Keep watching
our website to find more information about the PLAN 2004 building
projects. From 2004 to 2008, we will put these funds authorized
by Wake County residents to good use, in efficiently building
and maintaining schools that will most effectively serve our
children. The vote has been cast; now the work begins.
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