WOO HOO!!!! NASCAR season is finally here! It’s been 3 long months but the green flag is about ready to drop to start the Bud Shootout - and next week is the Daytona 500! I always hate the void between the end of college football and Daytona – there’s simply nothing good on TV for a month.
The majority of my week focused on school related issues. On Monday Mayor Weinbrecht, Councilor Gale Adcock, town staff and I met with WCPSS board members Rosa Gill and Kevin Hill and Superintendent Del Burns to discuss the ongoing Panther Creek modular classroom issue. The majority of the meeting dealt with educating WCPSS on Cary’s land development ordinance requirements – specifically our adequate public facilities ordinance – which in all honesty was a bit frustrating since both WCPSS staff and Cary staff had already held two meetings prior to discuss. The meeting was cordial and I believe WCPSS left with a better understanding of Cary’s regulations. See previous post here for more information on this issue and a news report here.
Mayor Weinbrecht and I also attended the Wake Schools Community Alliance meeting in Holly Springs on Thursday. We were by no means the only elected officials in the audience. Apex Mayor Keith Weatherly, Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears and Councilor Hank Dickson, NC State Representative Nelson Dollar, Wake County Commissioners Tony Gurley and Paul Coble, WCPSS Board Member Ron Margiotta and Morrisville Town Councilman Tom Murry were also in attendance. The standing room only crowd of over 100 parents heard from local officials and WSCA board members regarding reassignment and the upcoming fall school board elections. It was very encouraging to see so many parents from all over the county come together with a focus on giving the school system back to the parents.
On Tuesday I sat in on the Wake County Republican Party Executive Committee meeting in Raleigh. A number of potential school board candidates were on hand and spoke regarding their vision and desire to serve on the Wake County School Board. The executive committee also recommended a few changes to the bi-laws – including the creation of a third vice chair position. The proposed changes will be voted on at the county convention.
On Thursday I met with a Cary High School student to discuss concerns regarding vehicles speeding through her neighborhood. She had originally contacted me for a civics project – students were required to contact an elected official regarding an issue of concern and submit the elected official’s response to receive a grade. I received about 15 emails from CHS students – I answered every one. This particular student however was one of only two to respond back. She was obviously more concerned about the safety of her community than her civics class grade – very impressive considering she is only 15 years old. I contacted Cary PD to request speed monitoring and increased enforcement on Griffis Street and I put her in contact with Town of Cary staff to pursue traffic calming.
I also attended the monthly meetings of the Friends of the Page Walker and the Heart of Cary Association this week. I briefly spoke at both meetings.
Well that's about it for this week - as always, thanks for reading!