05/17/2011 09:04 PM

Wake school board approves redistricting map in 5 to 3 vote

By: Jessica Cervantez

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RALEIGH – After much discussion, the Wake County School Board approved a redistricting map in a five to three vote on Tuesday. The school system redraws the boundaries every ten years, and with all of the growth in Wake County the districts became unbalanced.

School Board Member Carolyn Morrison was the only Democrat who went along with the Republicans in the vote.

“I have heard nothing from my district that has complained or has concerns about this plan,” she said.

The Shanahan Law group was asked to make a map that would follow guidelines including dividing the districts equally in population.

“The one we submitted we're not saying is perfect but we do believe that it met the objectives that the board set out and we believe it was fair and reasonable,” Kieran Shanahan, an attorney, said.

Even some school board members who weren't completely satisfied with the map voted for it anyway.

“On behalf of Knightdale, I don't know what else we could do. If we come back and have another map it could be a lot worse for them or for other parts of the community. In the end, it has to be fair and equitable and it has to be a good job and I feel like we've done that,” Chris Malone, another board member, said.

The other three school board members didn't necessarily disagree with the map but felt alternatives should have been presented. At one point, during the work session it looked like that was a possibility.

“If their plan was going to pass the test of time they should have looked at one or two more options that may have had some minor tweaks to them,” Kevin Hill, who voted against the map, said.

The new districts will be used in the October 11 election where five school board seats will be up for grabs. Chair Ron Margiotta, Kevin Hill and Keith Sutton plan to run again. Carolyn Morrison and Anne McLaurin have not announced their plans.