Wake County commissioners allocate money for the public school system and the Board of Education handles everything else.
RALEIGH -- Wake County commissioners allocate money for the public school system and the Board of Education handles everything else. But now the school board is interested in sharing power with county leaders.
Under the proposal school leaders presented to county commissioners Monday, the school board would keep control over school calendars and student assignment but commissioners would handle school construction and maintenance.
"We understand that there are perceptions out there that we spend most of our time dealing with construction and maintenance, and we are willing to look at how we can share that responsibility with other county agencies who are willing to step up and help us," said Wake County Board of Education chairwoman Rosa Gill.
County commissioners would still allocate money for schools but they would approve multi-year school budgets instead of year-to-year. Gill believes that would make a difference in the classroom.
"Because then we can address the success of students, making sure that we close the achievement gap, that we make sure that all kids are successful," she said.
County commission chairman Joe Bryan says the idea makes sense.
"There would be more funding involved and certainty of funding for the school system to be able to address some of these outstanding gaps that are in our community," he said.
Both sides need to work out the details before the proposal can move forward.
The school board's proposal originated from a plan suggested by the Wake Education Partnership and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce several weeks ago. Supporters said the change would give board members more time to focus on student achievement.