A new chapter is set to begin for Wake County Schools. Four new board members will be sworn in Tuesday, promising big changes for the state's largest school system.

While newly-elected members Chris Malone, John Tedesco, Deborah Prickett and Debra Goldman have promised to be thoughtful in their actions, there is pressure for the group to move quickly to satisfy voters hungry for change.  A focus of their campaign efforts was on returning the county to a system of neighborhood schools, but sweeping assignment changes may take months to iron out. 

Two targets for early decision already have been identified: a controversial high school site in northern Wake County and a weekly early release for students that allows teachers an extra hour of planning time each week.

Chris Malone, whose District 1 includes most of northern Wake County, has vowed to fight the school system's chosen site off Forestville Road, citing mounting expenses for site preparation and disregard for community opposition.

"This demonstrates what's wrong with the school board and the school system," he said in a November interview. "People throughout the county said, we want this changed, we want this moved. They're expecting us to follow through on that and that's what we're going do do."

District 7 Representative Deborah Prickett is hoping for a decision quickly on Wake Wednesdays, the weekly early release for students. While the former school counselor and teacher agrees with the concept of Professional Learning Communities, or PLTs, she believes they should be incorporated into the school day.

"I think the schedule part, we need to change it back," she said in an interview last week. "As far as leaving the PLCs, I think the principals need to talk with their staff and see if the staff wants to keep them."

New member Debra Goldman, who will represent District 9, has called for more information before making a decision.

"When you're making a decision that affects so many children, educators and parents, you really need to know what you're making the decision based on," she said after a visit to Cary High's PLC sessions. "It's very clear that there is collaboration, that it is positive. The question really is, does it need to be during the day, does it need to be on Wednesday, is there a different day or time that would work?"

As to rumors of personnel changes, from the Superintendent to top level staff, John Tedesco, who will represent District 2, said any such decisions would be premature.

"I have no intention, or no desire at this point to look at individual personnel positions based on personalities," he said during an interview Nov. 19. "I want an opportunity to work with people and gauge their performance."

Wake School officials are planning for a large crowd for the swearing in, which will begin at 3 p.m., and have postponed the regular period for public comment from 4 until 5:30 p.m.