Last week's election in the Wake County Board of Education races portend significant changes for the school system, its students and teachers and our community as a whole.

Three of the four candidates running on a pro-neighborhood schools platform won their races handily. A fourth, John Tedesco, just narrowly missed winning his race outright and now faces a runoff he is widely expected to win next month.

In eastern Wake County, Chris Malone was among the three candidates to win his seat outright. He will replace Lori Millberg, who opted not to run for re-election.

Malone, a former Wake Forest town commissioner, is no stranger to the political process. He understands the need for give and take. And he's no wallflower.

We encourage him to represent all of his district. Based on population figures, northern Wake County, where he lives, is home to a significantly larger number of voters than those who reside in eastern WakeCounty.

But the needs here are greater and the school board needs to maintain its focus on student achievement even as it seeks to change the underpinning of the system's attendance policies.

Malone has said he supports efforts to put resources -- read money -- where they are most needed. Based on student performance, that would suggest Malone will fight to bring more of those resources to eastern Wake County.

To do that, he will have to overcome challenges from fellow board members who want those same dollars headed to their district.

Regardless of who is sitting on the school board, we charge them all with the responsibility of pushing our students to perform at their highest level and making sure they have the ways and means to do just that.