I'm Applying to the Wake Co. School Board

It is the responsibility of the Wake County School Board to set policy for the operation of the public school system. This includes fiduciary responsibility for how its money is spent.

So I, Venita Peyton, am applying to be the District 4 representative. I will bring my experience as a trained mediator, business owner and champion of all Wake County people.

Although a resident for nearly 25 years, I'm an outsider to the various cliques. I've spoken before thousands throughout Wake County and learned how to listen. I live near Enloe High School.

I am not a blank sheet. Most board members know that I've been critical of the system because I don't see proof of all parents and children being treated with respect. I see an unacceptable, internal buddy-buddy system. This is not an appropriate business model.

Weak internal audit controls allowed greedy employees in the transportation department to steal. They are now in prison. Other weak channels permit some parents and teachers to be successful, to the detriment of others.

I have compassion and concern for the parents and children. We do a disservice when we treat some with indifference. If children must be bused we should start with those who 'want' to be. Children who are poor and need access to social and transportation services should be allowed neighborhood school attendance first.

Like many low income parents, I work extra hard everyday, and am challenged about sleeping indoors. Being self employed I can't dwell about yesterday's success. A new day starts at income level $.00.

The current educational system isn't working for all children. Those most in danger of failing or being suspended are treated with disdain. Referred to as those children of those parents. Our children can't help but look longingly at children of 'means'.

A school plan for their neighborhood is meaningless because 'certain' parents get their prime choice because they know ‘who’ to talk to. Many parents of all races who want they child into magnet schools lie about their home address. Why are we making parents lie?

A neighbor was asked by a man from Six Forks Road in North Raleigh about using her address so that his child could attend Enloe High School. She angrily said she could not do such because she was a retired school teacher. So she pointed to my house and suggested that he try me. He never bothered.

I’ve been angry because I see underserved children who are not making it. They seem to be on the fast track towards dropping out. Parents care. Teachers care. Just when a child starts to 'get it together' and make friends, they are yanked out and bused to another school to satisfy another report.

Pay for performance should extend to the administrators who make these far away school assignments. Too many people seem to have 'friends’ on the board members, which make some decisions seem unfair.

Children are people. Not pawns. Not seats. Not numbers. They are our future.

It’s the responsibility of school administrators to ask better questions and obtain better evaluations. Surveys given to a child to give to a parent is not a good way to obtain results. Mailing doesn’t always work either. Either way, two way communication seems nonexistent.

It’s just after 5 am (actually closer to 4:30) and I ‘m getting ready for work. Just like lots of other vulnerable parents who must worry about paying bills on time.

Many churches have youth programs, as do fraternal organizations and others. I hope that we can unite them in identifying a plan that can be applied to the masses.

I haven’t spoken to any school board member nor asked anyone else to. Having attended school board and reassignment meetings, they know where I stand. There will be an application process, so be it.

Just as we have outside auditors, perhaps we need outside evaluators who will truly tell us where our families stand. Based on the truth. Not carved out to give the results that make us look good. Which, by the numbers of dropouts and achievement, isn’t saying much.

We have a bigger problem. What happens if one day, underserved parents just say, ‘the heck with it’ and decide that parenting just isn’t worth the hassle? What happens to our children then?