About 60 education leaders from all over Wake County met in Cary on Monday.

The "Climate for Student Success" forum is an informal meeting facilitated by the Town of Cary; it is aimed at getting a conversation going among a variety of entities with a stake in the education system.

"We're looking at this as setting a positive example and moving forward in terms of providing the best schools possible for Wake County," said Dr. Steve Straus, who is moderating the forum.
Elected officials, parents, principals, PTA members and others are taking part.

Monday's meeting wasn't designed to enact any direct changes, but was triggered by complaints that town leaders aren't involved enough in school issues.

"A lot of times municipal leaders are asked to play a role in the school system and we don't have the right or the responsibility to do that," said Cary Town Council member Jennifer Robinson. "So we felt like the best thing we could do would be to start a dialogue going."

The day began with a keynote address from best-selling author Elaine McEwan entitled "10 Traits of Highly Effective Schools," then the format changed to a question and answer period.

The conversation quickly turned to two of the hot-button issues for Wake County schools: reassignment and year-round schooling.

McEwan was asked by one audience-member about the ability for the district to keep a stable learning environment for students who change schools.

"I would love for districts to have a common curriculum so kids could move back and forth between schools with relative ease," said McEwan. "But I have not yet seen that in operation anywhere. If you're doing it here, I'd love to see it in action."

Several school board members are attending the meeting; at least one says Wake County is having success.

"When you get to the school house door, you get to the classroom, you are still going to be the recipient of standard course of study based on data that teachers have used in their Professional Learning Communities, you're going to be exposed to best teaching practice regardless," said School Board member Eleanor Goettee.

A handful of parent groups are also taking part; many of them say the reassignment programs are simply not working.

"We've been banging our head against the wall for years," said Allison Backhouse, with Wake Schools Community Alliance. "I'm not optimistic. I think the only way to solve the problems with our school system at this point is by electing four new school board members who will be responsive to parents."

_______
Keep up with the stories Chris Cowperthwaite is working on every day: http://twitter.com/CCowperthwaite.