Budget peace between the Wake County Commissioners and school board is still a long way off.

 Members of the Wake County school board spent four hours Tuesday weighing the pros and cons of a proposal by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Education Partnership to create a multi-year plan to fund schools.

 The groups want the school board to focus on student achievement while the county commission takes over building and maintaining school buildings.

 County Commissioners have endorsed the plan. School board members still have plenty of questions.

 “For years it’s been the profession of the school board and school staff to build and maintain schools and know how that relates to the school program and how that relates to student achievement,” said Kevin Hill, a school board member. “I think there’s a concern the commissioners may not have as full an understanding as the board.”

 Board members admit the multi-year funding plan would help this year.

 The school system has asked commissioners for a roughly $55 million increase over last year’s budget. County commissioners are considering $18 million.

 “The commission needs to understand how crucial those additional funds are to student success,” said Rosa Gill, chairwoman of the school board.

 The two groups are pushing the plan as a way to end the yearly budget battle.

 “I think this can be seen as a good idea that will take time,” said Harvey Schmitt, the CEO of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. “But I admit it will take time for everybody to work out the details.  We’re trying to overcome years of fighting and sometimes distrust between the two boards.”

 Commissioners will hold a work session on the budget next week.  The commission is scheduled to vote on the budget June 16.