Wake County School Board

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RALEIGH – Wake County school board meetings have become standing room only events since new board members took office last December.

School board member Anne McLaurin said it’s very different from when she started serving in 2007.

“It’s a combination of a lot of changes at one time that were not really anticipated,” she said.

On the Tuesdays when there are school board meetings, there are also more security guards in the parking lot and the front desk of the administrative building to control the traffic as well as the crowds entering the building. As a result, the school system has spent more on hiring extra contract security guards now than compared to the same time period during the previous year.

Costs in December 2008 were $289.30 and $1,686.38 in December 2009. January 2009 costs were $1,271.87, which includes the six public hearings held around the county. January 2010 costs were $1,379.36.

Meanwhile, February 2009 costs were $292.84 and $1,852.18 in February 2010, although that figure includes the five community engagement hearings. Overall, the school system has spent $3,063.91 on the added security.

“It’s the cost of wanting the input from the public, and we do want the input from the public,” said school board vice chair Debra Goldman.

Goldman pointed out that the topics addressed by the board have evoked passionate responses from the public. One speaker at the last board meeting was close to being escorted out by law enforcement officer. The crowds have also gotten louder during the public comment period. But she hoped the intensity would eventually level off.