[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6574276,"mediaKeyId","3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e","parentId",3091027,"title","Wake County Board approves consent agenda, moves into closed session","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4086000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e&start=4086&end=4086","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e/thumbnail_4086000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574276/North-Carolina/Wake-County-Board-approves-consent-agenda-moves-into-closed-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574276-4c6f5387cd68fa7578fdde440191f94e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776115446&Signature=LOl7zEeeJHbVPFPg7itTqAs6cS1YwHAe8Eg0VxRIS7MFu1jqBVjAucjf-qOYChBIcKIElfytLcPbXijU072Rghxl0Tg2v6~hRPkOwpyw3m3-NXCgOixqA~NwY1KHadBaYAgMNsyICeQVYe9DxeA5CcQAi2za3Wg-st2l9Sl-ZPhKVQog8NfwMHpiHSAWH40evsznHcRkVbuLmbkL8XLkqbIYhGAyFfQLKQH4iifzXoRLsfGmb-Z8Ov2xz7j0fu2lMOhlwkTl7RYg7An90-X4Sj4i8Z2x7O-kZxvWlCAL88T9XNr~yyZEk9cfz6nZD0KPl-f1VCh6tvR3JEK8mPBYrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wake County Schools","date","2025-04-22T23:24:15.367Z","article","The Wake County Board of Education approved its consent agenda and later voted to move into closed session during its April 22 meeting.

A board member moved to approve the consent items and Vice Chair Swanson seconded the motion. The presiding officer called for the vote; the chair announced the consent agenda was approved and recorded \"1 nay\" without naming the dissenting member. The meeting record shows two board members were absent for family reasons, and the chair stated a quorum was present prior to votes.

Later in the meeting, the board voted to convene a closed session for the statutory reasons listed on the public agenda. The motion to enter closed session was moved by a board member identified in the meeting as \"Miss Scribe\" and seconded by Ms. Mahaffey; the board voted in favor and the chair called for the closed-session move with no recorded opposition.

Why it matters: Approval of the consent agenda cleared routine business items without separate discussion; the closed-session vote began a nonpublic portion of the meeting permitted under North Carolina law.

What the record shows: The chair announced the consent agenda’s approval with one recorded dissent; no roll-call vote listing individual aye or nay votes was read into the public record for the consent motion. The board cited statutory reasons on the agenda for the closed-session motion but did not discuss substantive closed-session topics in public.

The board adjourned into closed session at the close of the public meeting. No additional public action was taken before the meeting moved to its nonpublic portion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-04-22 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Wake County Board of Education approved its consent agenda and voted to convene a closed session at the April 22 meeting; the chair recorded one dissent on the consent vote and the board cited statutory reasons for the closed session.","taxTitle","Wake County Schools, School Districts, North Carolina","taxId",14083,"location","North Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574281,"Public commenter urges Wake County to reconsider school social-transition practices and references Title IX changes",384,2722000,3106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e&start=2722&end=3106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e/thumbnail_2722000.jpg","/articles/6574281/North-Carolina/Public-commenter-urges-Wake-County-to-reconsider-school-social-transition-practices-and-references-Title-IX-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574281-b7118293429363a270b83ae1e0cf1d75/orig.mp4?Expires=1776115446&Signature=j2uLhbWqX44ng-sm7VXmZdkP3qzawE8917R-0B0rKYkJYq2K33tuWIK-zCs44yn4JOQ3HX3YmZF5WXL8d43Ts1HiPOj6aFoisp0prfN59ZcU2TXOvyF~yzHM6bvZNhYTOTE5koEgiC924cWxl6rz6aj283ZkdG3OokwWh~RIJa9AgtP9aYEanim9NjZ-gQoMbvsRtufW115d009cyYVNwhjRSKeX~MwZVNuB9AncpqIspa3XizBgb2eV2eKJ-tgMRNSC2Q3oYd2Tcj0~f3az0albFzUrP6S6whLBeGvJjirAwVv86PTJR7HeHjbwNBOPtmtdBMNQhAk7cjK~VYyGGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On April 22, Joseph Deaton addressed the Wake County Board of Education during public comments to criticize social-transition practices in schools and to call for changes in district policy.

Deaton said, without citing district disciplinary records, that recent alterations to regulations and internal policies mean gender identity has been removed from Title IX regulations but remains in district anti-discrimination and harassment provisions. He told the board he believes that social transition in schools tips children toward medical transition and urged the district to reconsider those practices. He also criticized medical providers and national guidance groups; those assertions were offered as the speaker’s personal viewpoint and were not accompanied by district policy action during the meeting.

Deaton framed his remarks as an effort to \"protect trans kids,\" saying, \"If I thought gender affirming care ... was the next frontier of the civil rights movement, I would be all for it. But the medical evidence reveals that it is a huge medical scandal. Here, I am the one who's trying to protect trans kids.\"

Why it matters: Public comments like Deaton’s surface contentious community views about district treatment of transgender and gender-questioning students. Board members heard the testimony as part of a public-comment period; no policy vote followed the remarks.

What the board said: The board accepted public comment and proceeded to other agenda items. No immediate policy action or vote on student social-transition or medical treatment policy occurred during this meeting.

Authorities referenced by speaker: Deaton cited Title IX (federal law) and a district policy number he referred to as “policy 1710” (speaker’s characterization). The district did not introduce or change policy during the meeting.","A public commenter argued on April 22 that social transition practices and medical transition in schools are harmful, referenced Title IX and a district policy number, and urged the board to protect students from what he described as a medical scandal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574286,"Parent asks Wake County board to publicly defend district book-review process amid HB 636 debate",361,2898000,3259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e&start=2898&end=3259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e/thumbnail_2898000.jpg","/articles/6574286/North-Carolina/Parent-asks-Wake-County-board-to-publicly-defend-district-book-review-process-amid-HB-636-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574286-b91b35ac1d7f5aa2784070d20848b945/orig.mp4?Expires=1776115446&Signature=kkJRYIQFADFUlzcg7fYGTKHHemQRDMLIT8bQ992~QSA3tHtibQ5Wn-iLxMIEGrLb9zibIdQ1SA1flqV5YE6LRPUdmnpeBNBTi2mqvWXPDaFuDD8WY~BxajfXryk6gtW1g4Rggj1ZZnonTMzByojVP2kPJl6jIqn22vr9SCQCAsKfF5LJlLiD9XkZyRka1Xy1sl-mmVeagD9fmZruYmwKRE8JAM-gfVnk4I485OAgFfg6pM5UejCHhCtBKPvbbId9H6Mbj5mkfksAy8kNOjtZ1GdD8C2-LhxvayG2pUtrCb5xDH-uuTLPM90wQZYW7TVRJnXMNfJWmsyJhK1MbImzvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jana Dux, a parent and PTSA member, urged the Wake County Board of Education on April 22 to publicly defend the district’s school-library review process and its librarians, saying recent state legislation would create unnecessary censorship and complexity in Wake schools.

Dux described Wake’s internal review procedures as “one of the most vetted book reviewing processes in the state,” and she asked board members to consider issuing a statement that highlights the district’s existing approach. She referenced House Bill 636 (HB 636), saying the measure passed the North Carolina House and would “bring absolute nonsense and chaos” to school libraries and media specialists if implemented as described by supporters.

Why it matters: Dux framed the request as support for professional library staff and due process for reviewing materials. She said Wake’s review practice already involves legal review when necessary, and asked board members to amplify that work publicly.

What the board said: Board members acknowledged Dux’s remarks and thanked librarians and media specialists; no formal board action was taken during the meeting on the request.

Dux’s proposal: She suggested the board publicly outline Wake’s existing book-review process, describe how parent concerns are handled and demonstrate that the district’s procedures are administered by trained professionals.

The district did not announce a board statement during the meeting.","A parent and PTSA member asked the Wake County Board of Education to publicize and defend the district’s book-review procedures in response to state legislation (HB 636) she said would introduce censorship and unnecessary burdens for library staff.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574291,"Students, teachers and parents urge Wake County board to restore counselors and question state voucher growth",901,2586000,3487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e&start=2586&end=3487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e/thumbnail_2586000.jpg","/articles/6574291/North-Carolina/Students-teachers-and-parents-urge-Wake-County-board-to-restore-counselors-and-question-state-voucher-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574291-c96a211e65d7e67976f354e1c4fd0af6/orig.mp4?Expires=1776115446&Signature=TIpYObuTD4QjqS9vqNGUQjG-swulgM1i-3X1PzEJ9tBBYCRegYY9Q0k33BtF~MvEXy5VfVETEbPm~4pj8Q-WQHoG9ja3pgWYfNdkw5OuXt~vW6ySiLUWOeUt32zgRFkam0MpHt5OQbmwWftpDmCvhG2Tt6cxU5xJNu-IxRVSHFG6wMzxOyZCcN55jknPkhjaYd~uaPoD2hEen3m8wQ6LHrdB2gCVPQK8lp45s3iw8xidJy-MQ4OljGX33uAtq4xhoMW6-lxTf2bbOWOLTMZDEqVnuU4sQjc2tB2a3DgoD3BCMAIY4b463fWATWUjPOPhzXx6ElOCrjaI9~LuVdYx6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the Wake County Board of Education’s April 22 public-comment period urged the board to preserve counseling and clerical positions in next year’s budget and raised concerns about the scale of state vouchers being used for private-school tuition.

Sohan Malpa, an 11th-grade student at Menlo High School, told the board changes in the proposed 2025–26 budget would reduce counselor availability and “could have very real damage” for students who need support. Malpa said the district’s proposed counselor staffing would move to roughly one counselor per 450 students from an earlier ratio he described as one per 385; he and other speakers said a 250-to-1 counselor-to-student ratio is generally recommended. \"The lack of availability of my counselor ... truly impacted my mental state, and it made me feel unheard,\" Malpa said.

A number of speakers also raised concerns about staffing in school offices. Malpa and others said the budget proposal included removing up to two school secretaries per site — a change they warned could affect tasks such as absence management, visitor handling and monitoring intercoms.

Daniel Grant King, an educator and school advocate, thanked the board for recent budget discussions and said he will continue advocacy even after leaving classroom teaching. King urged board members to continue “pushing beyond the norm of expectations” and to prioritize students and staff during budget negotiations; he noted the board must finalize a budget proposal in time to present it to county commissioners in mid-May.

A parent speaker who identified herself as Heather (last name not specified in the public record) criticized the expansion of North Carolina’s voucher program. She said district-level data show private-school voucher awards in Wake County rose from about $13.5 million last year to more than $56 million so far this year. She said roughly two-thirds of voucher recipients this year would have been too wealthy to qualify under last year’s income cap and highlighted that some private schools received multimillion-dollar increases: \"This year, this one school is getting more than $2,000,000 in vouchers,\" she said, referring to Cardinal Gibbons High School.

Why it matters: Speakers framed counselor and clerical cuts as safety- and service-related issues that could affect student well-being and school operations. Voucher growth was presented as a budgetary trade-off that reduces state funding available for public schools.

What the board said: Board members repeatedly thanked speakers and highlighted ongoing community engagement sessions on the budget across the county. Superintendent Robert Taylor and board members described upcoming steps, including continued public hearings and preparation to present a budget to county commissioners by May 15.

Clarifying details from speakers: Malpa gave the counselor ratios he referenced; Heather provided voucher totals and specific school-level figures for Wake County. Daniel King noted he will no longer be classroom-teaching as of April 30 but said he will continue advocacy with the board.

No formal board action on these public comments was taken at the meeting; the board continued to consider next steps in the calendar for the 2025–26 budget.","Public comment at the April 22 Wake County Board of Education meeting focused on proposed cuts to school counselors and secretarial staff and on rapid growth in state private-school vouchers that speakers said diverts public funding.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574296,"Wake County magnet schools win dozens of national awards; two schools take top national honors",2195,160000,2355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e&start=160&end=2355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091027-3ca5745aaa9dd8a7d7f82a9d09f2ce9e/thumbnail_160000.jpg","/articles/6574296/North-Carolina/Wake-County-magnet-schools-win-dozens-of-national-awards-two-schools-take-top-national-honors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574296-766eb977fd7848222b91bd297ae1ba67/orig.mp4?Expires=1776115446&Signature=DQ0X57PTooTMle0cJKWnzR4oignHDKRLXR52ECpVrK8aQQgVEQkvK5kaUf0Qld0LDx8n~RuqpcbcIAFkmssx6ZVJYzdjAKG3NNz0cRRMpRCe-nfJHAeY4~2a6hx53hnSCBCOKXSl3-pW2U-kAz5WYyrg4WQSp51q1tEMqW1BaNdwC1y0PkD3VXJVzww~VhkhaYxjkvGAm2vSIcCw2uLwUDJMwIZ2jJ9bSTt01kPAnh2RSabxQu2lSLkWxzfq1KIHAgDsYYQISV-wUZTE-BpdQeZSwCYThoiOupnp6UGngavPVpCALDAV7Ud-J2hg9hwB4ugDOEs~wU6QYyosU0CUOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wake County Board of Education on April 22 recognized magnet and early college schools that received national awards from Magnet Schools of America (MSA) at the organization's 2025 conference in Nashville.

Dr. Kimberly Lane introduced the recognitions and said 51 of Wake County’s 61 magnet schools eligible for consideration received awards. She and district staff described the honors — including recertifications, newly certified schools, schools of excellence and schools of distinction — as the result of a multi-step application and site-visit process managed by Magnet Schools of America.

Why it matters: National recognition can raise a school’s profile and provide models for replication across the district. Board members and district staff framed the awards as evidence of strong program development and integration of curriculum themes.

District staff reported that, among Wake County’s 61 magnet schools eligible to apply, 21 were named schools of excellence, 18 were identified as top schools of excellence, and 12 as schools of distinction for 2025. The district said eight schools were recertified this year and nine were newly certified; 13 of those certified received “certified demonstration” status, meaning MSA recommends them as sites other districts could visit to learn best practices.

Paul Domenico, the district’s director for talent and leadership development in the Office of Magnet and Curriculum Enhancement, and other magnet staff led presentation of awards by region. Speakers named dozens of principals and magnet coordinators who accepted recognitions on behalf of their schools. Examples singled out by district staff included Lincoln Heights Environmental Connections Magnet Elementary School and Millbrook Magnet Elementary School — both highlighted for their environmental connections theme — and Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies, noted as a new-and-emerging magnet that received a School of Excellence designation.

The district also announced individual honors connected to MSA Region 4 (which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio): Dr. Jackie Jordan, principal of Enloe High School’s IB diploma program, was named Region 4 Principal of the Year. The district said student winners in the MSA poster contest and national scholarship recipients from Wake County were also recognized.

Board members and district leaders used the presentation to thank magnet coordinators and to call attention to the district’s internal magnet support staff: the presentation identified staff members who coordinate the MSA application, certification and scholarship processes.

The recognitions were presented as an information item; no board action was required. District staff encouraged the public to view the full list of awardees on district materials and to visit demonstration schools to observe magnet strategies in practice.

District materials presented during the meeting included counts and lists of awardees by region and examples of site-visit outcomes. District officials noted that some magnet grant schools are ineligible for certain MSA awards until they have operated for a minimum period.","Wake County Public School System celebrated Magnet Schools of America recognitions April 22, 2025, with 51 of 61 eligible magnet schools receiving national awards including two national top awards for environmental-themed elementary schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wake County Board approves consent agenda, moves into closed session

Public commenter urges Wake County to reconsider school social-transition practices and references Title IX changes

Parent asks Wake County board to publicly defend district book-review process amid HB 636 debate

Students, teachers and parents urge Wake County board to restore counselors and question state voucher growth

Wake County magnet schools win dozens of national awards; two schools take top national honors