HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-25-2025-School Boards 1
APPROVED 10/21/25
MINUTES
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
JOINT MEETING WITH
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION AND
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
September 25, 2025
7:00 p.m.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a joint meeting with the Chapel Hill-
Carrboro Board of Education and the Orange County Board of Education on Thursday,
September 25, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Human Services Center in Hillsborough, NC.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Jean Hamilton
and Commissioners Amy Fowler, Sally Greene, Earl McKee, and Phyllis Portie-Ascott
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Marilyn Carter
COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts
COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Travis Myren, Deputy County Manager Caitlin
Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen (All other staff members will be identified
appropriately below)
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENT: Chair George Griffin, Vice-
Chair Riza Jenkins, and Board Members Meredith Ballew, Rani Dasi, Vickie Feaster Fornville,
Barbara Fedders,
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION ABSENT: Board Member Michael Sharp
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO SCHOOLS (CHCCS) STAFF PRESENT: Superintendent Dr.
Rodney Trice (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below)
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESENT: Chair Will Atherton, Vice-Chair Wendy
Padilla, and Board Members Carrie Doyle, Bonnie Hauser, Anne Purcell, Andre Richmond, and
Sarah Smylie
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ABSENT: NONE
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS (OCS) STAFF PRESENT: Superintendent Dr. Danielle Jones
(All other staff members will be identified appropriately below)
Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present.
WELCOME, CALL TO ORDER, AND AGENDA OVERVIEW
Chair Bedford welcomed the elected officials and staff from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
Schools and Orange County Schools. She explained that the meeting's agenda would focus on
reviewing data first before addressing other issues, including the interlocal agreement and bond
projects. She noted that when Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) presented, George
Griffin would chair, and when Orange County Schools (OCS) presented, Will Atherton would
chair.
Commissioners, school board members, and staff introduced themselves.
1. Status Update from Schools — State Budget Status, Programming, Cell Phone Policies,
Staffing
a. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
CHCCS Board of Education Chair, George Griffin, began by formally introducing Rodney
Trice as the new CHCCS superintendent and expressing appreciation for the county
commissioners' continued support of public education. He emphasized the critical importance of
2
local collaboration given the uncertainty at both state and federal levels. He mentioned that the
North Carolina General Assembly had not yet adopted a state budget, leaving school districts to
operate under last year's budget parameters. He said this impasse leaves districts vulnerable to
continued uncertainty and restricts significant long-term planning efforts.
Rodney Trice made the following presentation:
Slide #1
THINK (AND ACT)
OL
DIFFERENTLY
` Joint Meeting with
Board of County Commissioners
�� -�, and Orange Gaunty Schools
2022-2027
September 25, 2D25
Slide #2
Budget
Status ,471,
-- _P _- -
i
THINK
(AND ACT)
DIFFERENTLY
3
Rodney Trice said his immediate focus is on what he has control over, which is ensuring
students have a meaningful and robust learning experience. He thanked teachers, school leaders,
bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and all others who keep schools running daily.
Jonathon Scott, CHCCS Chief Financial Officer, continued the presentation:
Slide #3
Fund Balance Status Update
Fund Balance Trend
• FY 2022:$5.01M � FY 2023: $3.6M � FY 2024: Nearly$0
• Drivers: structural deficit from decreasing enrollment,salary/benefit growth,inflation
• FY 2025 preliminary: -$200K increase—>indicates structural deficit removed
Replenishment Strategy
• Board approved three-tier reductions:
o Personnel freezes and attrition (avoid abrupt layoffs)
o Position allotment formula adjustments
o Tier III projected to yield --$4M additional savings(implemented July 1, 2025)
• Goal: rebuild reserves above 5.517 BOCC policy minimum threshold
ch.p.1Hi1kCorbh CityS.h—k I h.-.-g THINK (AND ACT)
Jonathon Scott reported that the district had successfully addressed several years of
structural deficits that had emerged since the pandemic, caused by declining enrollment,
increased salary and benefit costs, and inflation. He said the district's fund balance declined from
$5 million in 2022 to $3.6 million in 2023, and was nearly depleted by the end of the previous
fiscal year. He said to address this crisis, the CHCCS Board of Education adopted a three-tier
reduction approach focusing on attrition where possible. He reported preliminary numbers
showing the district would add approximately $200,000 to the fund balance. He said the district
anticipated savings of about $4 million annually from tier 3 reductions that began July 1, 2025.
4
Slide #4
State Budget Impasse & Mitigation Strategy
State Budget Impasse
+ NCGA 2025-27 biennial budget delayed until at least November 2025
• Core dispute: personal and corporate tax cuts
• Ongoing uncertainty for local education funding
CHCCS Mitigation Strategy
+ Adopt continuation budget while awaiting state resolution
0 3%salary reserve
o Fund non-personnel budgets at 75%--+creates $1 J5M reserve
+ Tier III savings available if needed to balance budget, but rebuilding fund balance
remains top priority
Chapel HiIkCa b.-City Schools I ch.---g THINK (AND ACT)01=39NUM
Regarding the current year's budget impasse, Jonathon Scott explained they were
operating under a continuing spending resolution while the General Assembly remained
deadlocked over personal and corporate income tax cuts. He said to mitigate uncertainty, the
district adopted a continuation budget with 3% salary increases placed in reserve and frozen 25%
of all non-personnel budgets, creating a $1.75 million reserve. He said the CHCCS Board of
Education's top priority is rebuilding fund balance.
Commissioner McKee expressed appreciation for the difficult steps taken, acknowledging
the challenges faced by both the district and the county in managing revenue reductions and
avoiding additional tax burdens on residents.
5
Slide#5
Programming Updates
Olt
THINK(AND ACT)
Sophia Mapp, Director of Pre-K/Head Start, continued the presentation:
Slide #6
Pre- K Enrollment & Waitlist
There are three types of classes: Typical, Blended and
Separate.
• The Typical class has 2 adults and up to 15 students.
• The Blended class has 3 adults and up to 16 students.
• The Separate class has 3 adults and up to 6 students.
cnaaeiHai-ca�o�ctyxn�is n�.� THINK(AND ACT)
Slide#7
Pre - K Enrollment & Waitlist
CHCCS has Pre-K classes in 10 of the 1 1
elementary schools.
• Total Students Enrolled:
• Total Students on Waitlist: .
As of September 24,2025
Cha lffil c�—C, xr i�h-- THINK(AND ACT)
6
Commissioner Fowler asked about the waitlist despite available slots.
Sophia Mapp explained that the 97 waitlisted students were all in the tuition category,
while slots were being held for students qualifying under Head Start, NC Pre-K, EC, or subsidy
programs.
Vice-Chair Hamilton asked what types of students are in Separate classrooms.
Sophia Mapp said these students all have IEPs and have significant special needs. She
explained that they are typically performing at about a one-year-old level, so the curriculum is
altered for their individual needs.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked for additional clarification on why the students on the
waitlist can't move up to the vacant slots.
Sophia Mapp explained that despite having some vacancies, the district maintains specific
slots for students who qualify under the Head Start, NC Pre-K, EC, or subsidy programs, and
those slots cannot be filled by tuition-paying students due to stipulations.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about potential solutions to address serving the 97
students on the waitlist.
Sophia Mapp said the challenges are not only about physical space but also heavily
influenced by the nationwide teacher shortage, particularly in early childhood education, which
mandates additional licensure beyond what is commonly required for elementary teaching.
Funding constraints compound these issues, restricting the district's ability to expand current
offerings.
Slide #8
High School 4x4 Block
Collaborative Design
• 4x4 Guiding Committee: Representatives from schools, counseling, principals
and district leaders explored all scheduling models before selecting 4x4.
• Schedule Development: Focused on creating a structure that opens
opportunifies for students while reducing academic pressure.
• Professional Learning Planning: Map out training for pacing, assessment and
instructional strategies.
• Engagement and Training: Inclusive preparation for teachers, principals,
counselors and support staff.
• Communication and Transparency: Regular updates and opportunities for
family and staff input.
- ,��
move Hu-CornaroCtyScho b I�n��g THINK(AND ACT)
Robert Bales, CHCCS Chief Academic Officer, continued the presentation. He said that
after two years of committee work evaluating various schedule options, the district has
successfully aligned all four high schools, which previously operated on three different schedules.
He said the new schedule aims to provide more opportunities for students, open pathways for
partnerships with Durham Tech, and reduce economic pressure on students who previously took
multiple AP courses simultaneously.
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Slide #9
High School U4 Block
Launching and Strengthening
• Flex Schedule Rollout: Districtwide implementation of Flex to support
interventions, enrichment, and student voice/choice.
• Collaboration with DTCC: Expand dual-enrollment and CTE opportunities
through deeper partnership.
• Master Scheduling and Staffing: Align course offerings, cross-enrollment and
student support systems.
• Ongoing Professional Learning: Continued coaching and PLC integration for
teachers and leaders.
• Monitoring and Refinement: Collect feedback, review student outcomes and
make adjustments in real time.
cnapelWo Carboro City s.noois I ch..—rg THINK(AND ACT)
Robert Bales explained the key features, including a daily flex schedule providing
intervention and enrichment time based on student needs. He said that since implementation,
Durham Tech enrollment has more than doubled, and the district is working to expand CTE
opportunities and ensure students can complete pathways regardless of their home school. He
said the evaluation team will gather data over three years to assess the schedule's effectiveness.
Slide #10
ornmunication
0
Wireless
I - It. _IVA
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THINK(AND ACT)
8
Andy Jenks, CHCCS Chief Communications Officer continued the presentation:
Slide #11
Wireless Communication Device Policy
CHCCS believes that the school day
should be a time for focused
learning, engagement, personal
growth, and free from unnecessary
distractions.
cnap,lIIVC b—Uty S h,,A,i pnpps. THINK(AND ACT)
Andy Jenks noted that Chapel Hill-Carrboro was ahead of state requirements by at least
a year, requiring devices to be "off and away" during the instructional day at all grade levels.
Slide #12
Wireless Communication Device Policy
NEW in 2025-26: At high school, wireless communication devices
(phones, earbuds/headphones, smartwatches) will not be used,
displayed or turned on during the instructional day.*
At middle school: No major changes. "Away for the day"
implemented in 2024-25.
At elementary school: "Away for the day".
'Exceptions apply
cnpp.1HV1—b..Ciys h—h I ph.-..rg THINK(AND ACT)
Commissioner McKee asked for examples of exceptions to the policy.
Andy Jenks said health reasons, such as monitoring glucose, would warrant an exception
to the policy, as well as any reasons listed in a student's IEP.
9
Slide#13
Staff in g
r
a � ,
Ashauna Harris, Chief Human Resources Officer continued the presentation:
Slide #14
CtiCiCS Vacant Position Update
Year 1 st Day of School 1st Day of School End of September End of September
Certified Classified Certified Classified
2023-2024 45 21 31 18
2024-2025 25 23 24 23
2025-2026 14 21 13 14
MediaCoordinator{7} Pre- Media Coordinator(1) K-5 Teacher Assistarlt(1)
Pre-K Teacher(1) K-5 Teacher sss tarn(1) MTSS Specialist(1) EC Teacher Assistant(9)
GiftedSpecialist(1) K-5TeaherAsistant(12 Gifted Specialist(2) Pre-K TeacherAssistant(1)
2025-2026 EC Teacher(9) EC Teacher Assistant(12) EC Teacher(6) Custodian(.5)
Positions PEMealth Teacher(1) Restorative Practices Coach(2) PEA-i h Teacher(1) Campus Safety Monftor(5)
French Teacher(1) Custodian(.5) French Teacher(1) Data Manager(1)
Social Worker(1) Campus Safety Monitor(.5) Social Worker(1) 9-12 Teacher Assistant[1]
Chapel Hil-Carrboro City Schools l ahcas.arg THINK (AND ACT)
10
Slide #15
2025-2026 Staffing Update
School-Based Positions
1,527 of 1,558 Positions Filled (98.0%)
• 1,096 of 1,109 Certified Positions Filled (98.8%)
• 201 of 216 EC Positions Filled (93.1%)
• 40 of 40 MLL Teacher Positions Filled (100%)
• 56 of 57 Pre-K Positions Filled (98.2%)
1:hp H11Z. 1:ty3.noo1,1«,0« g THINK(AND ACT)
Ashauna Harris emphasized that "retention is the new recruitment," particularly
considering the declining enrollment in teacher education programs across the board. She said
that the pipeline for producing new teachers is shrinking, the focus has shifted towards keeping
existing skilled educators within the system.
Chair Bedford asked what MILL stands for.
Ashauna Harris said "multi-language learner."
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about certification requirements for EC Teacher
Assistants in relation to the vacancies in those positions.
Ashauna Harris said these positions are particularly difficult to fill and require 42 or 48
hours of college credit; however, any additional training is provided by the district. She said that
she recently did a radio advertisement to recruit teacher assistants and substitute teachers. She
said that these are high-demand positions that, unfortunately,just don't pay enough. She
Commissioner McKee inquired about bus driver shortages seen elsewhere in the state.
Ashauna Harris said the Transportation team works extremely hard to find bus drivers, so,
thankfully, that has not been an issue for CHCCS. She confirmed that there are some vacancies,
but there are contingency plans with all transportation office staff, including directors, trained to
drive buses.
Commissioner Fowler followed up on whether EC teacher assistants still received a pay
differential.
Ashauna Harris confirmed they are one salary grade above regular teacher assistants.
b. Orange County Schools
OCS Board of Education Chair, Will Atherton, opened by thanking the county
commissioners for their partnership and willingness to try new collaborative approaches. He
congratulated OCS on their recent accountability results, highlighting that they were in a three-
way tie statewide for all schools meeting or exceeding growth—the first time in district history. He
said the district also showed growth increases across all subgroup data.
Danielle Jones, OCS superintendent, reflected on the successful previous year and the
intensive work over the past 18 months to align district goals and ensure everyone understood
the steps needed to achieve them. She said the district has focused on reviewing existing
programming and resources rather than introducing new initiatives, ensuring proper evaluation of
current programs. She emphasized supporting educators with the necessary resources to
improve retention, acknowledging the increasing difficulty of maintaining teaching staff.
Rhonda Rath, OCS Chief Financial Officer, made the following presentation:
11
Slide #1
Orange County Schools Update
•• Orange
county ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INEPIRE.
Schools
Slide #2
9qq
State Budget
Slide #3
FY 2026
State Budget
■ Still NO State Budget
c:• Mini Budget Bill passed into law 8/6/2025
■ Provided step increases for eligible public school employees
■ Set employer paid retirement and health benefit
• OCS Next Steps
• Continual review of departmental budgets,scaling back and
consolidating where appropriate
• Reviewing state teaching allotments annually with principals
• Student outcomes will continue to take priority
Aft
FNGAcr CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
12
Rhonda Rath said that OCS has adopted a budget based on its spring request to
commissioners. She said the district is being conservative and thoughtful in spending,
continuously reviewing departmental budgets and scaling back where appropriate while
prioritizing student outcomes. She said the district began the year with a $3.1 million fund balance
and anticipates adding to it, though the audit is not yet complete.
Slide #4
Cell Phone Policy
Sheldon Lanier, OCS Chief Equity and Student Achievement Officer, continued the
presentation:
Slide #5
Policy 4318: Use of Wireless Communication Devices
Link to Policy
The Board of Education recognizes that cellular phones and other wireless
communication devices,including medical communication devices,have
became an important tool through which parents communicate with their
children. Therefore,students are permitted to possess such devices on school
property so long as the devices are not activated,used,displayed or visible
during instructional time or any time that causes a meaningful disruption or
distraction,or as otherwise directed by school rules or authorized school
personnel. Wireless communication devices include,but are not limited to,
cellular phones,electronic devices with internet capability,paging devices,
two-way radios and similar devices.
'-j ENGAGE.CHALLENGE. 1HSPIRF
Sheldon Lanier reported that Orange County Schools' Policy 4318 was already aligned
with the new state law.
Commissioner McKee asked what the consequences are if a student repeatedly violates
the policy.
13
Sheldon Lanier explained that they start with warnings to avoid punitive measures over
minor infractions. He noted that OCS students are "extremely compliant", with no major issues
reported.
Slide #6
Staffing Update
Rhonda Rath began continued the presentation:
Slide #7
OCS Vacant Position Update
1st Day of School 1st Day of School End of September End of September
You Certified Classified Certified Classified
r + 44 2u _. 14
x Al 22 _. 1S
r 17.5 21 20 1S
11.0 15.5 9 16.5
CHALLENGE. INSPIRE
Rhonda Rath reported strong staffing levels: 98.7% for certified positions and 95.5% for
classified positions.
14
Slide#8
OCS VACANCIES BY
POSITIONSECTeacherAavataaY j 5
EC Support Staff U D
Rood am"0kff 0 1
Vre-KTeachm a 0
ore ieacner 5 j School"lurse U D
7YaeJM a 0 %-EftT 0 0
!.oMtner U U
=T@Echrr a 0 I I D M TM[Malogp U 0
f f
�Er;ieaenert!;upport 5 U C.laesi5adCoordiaaoo4u 1 1
r iearhv a 0 LlmsihedAdamgers U 4
7eacner U U 1MMLWWWP 0 0
StQpaet 0 0 district Lead office
'uppartsiaff MU
SuppOWAdm.mAsaistaata U
ta�L�[f 0
Mmi.�;srrntors Maiutensuce staff U; Lb
f.. aa ft . suff aTotal Phil.,Nutrition staff 3 7
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CHAI I FNGF
Rhonda Rath said hard-to-fill areas showed improvement with 94.4% of EC certified
positions filled, 91.2% of EC classified positions filled, 97.3% of secondary math positions filled,
and 100% of CTE positions filled.
Slide #9
Questions?
' - C4i A I I F H G F
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked how EC classes are covered, given the position
vacancies.
15
Danielle Jones explained that they used long-term substitutes (often retired teachers) and
had implemented EC lead teacher positions. While substitutes delivered instruction with training
support, EC lead teachers handled IEP paperwork and compliance, receiving stipends for
additional responsibility.
2. Bond Update —County & Districts Interlocal Agreement, Project Updates
a. Presentation from County Staff
Kirk Vaughn, Orange County Budget Director, made the following presentation:
Slide #1
r�
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Inte>rl.ocal Agreement Draft
September 25, 2025
Joint Meeting of Orange County and School
Boards
Slide #2
PURPOSE OF ILA
Article I - Purpose
• Sets agreement for establishment of staff
working group between all three entities.
— Wake County's name for the team "CORE Team"
not yet changed.
• Based on Wake County MOU, which was
presented to School Capital Needs Workgroup.
• Intent is to set framework for communication,
collaboration, and transparency. Not to impose
additional approvals on school construction
process.
�,
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
16
Slide #3
PROVISIONS OF ILA
Article II - Term and Termination
• Set to expire at the end of FY 30, to be
renewed at that time.
• Can be Terminated with 60-day notice.
• Termination of ILA does not invalidate other
agreements between County and Districts,
including transfer of property and sales tax
reimbursement agreements.
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Slide #4
PROVISIONS OF ILA
Article III - CORE Team
• Each organization assigns staff to team,
representing Budget, Finance and Operations
functions
• Team will regularly communicate on the
progress of the Districts' capital plans.
— Staff plan to meet at least quarterly, with increased
frequency when multiple projects are underway.
• Team will assign roles and workplans to guide
work of CORE team and review every two
years.
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
17
Slide #5
PROVISIONS OF ILA
Article III - CORE Team
• Team will use Joint School Board Meeting to
report progress to all three entities annually.
• Each organization selects a liaison from the
team that will communicate to their respective
board. Each Board can set their own schedules
of communication from that liaison.
• CORE team will assign responsibilities to
maintain regularly updated publicly accessible
information on status of school capital projects.
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Slide #6
PROVISIONS OF ILA
Article III - CORE Team
• School staff will communicate adherence of
new projects to School Major Project Planning
Addendum as approved by the BoCC.
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
18
Slide #7
NEXT STEPS
• Boards to use this meeting to discuss or make
recommendations to change framework of ILA.
• If there is general consensus, the ILA will be
presented at all entities for approval within next
month.
• BoCC can approve Oct 711 or Oct 215t
• Team members can be assigned and CORE
team can convene immediately after approval.
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Chair Bedford said the goal tonight is to get feedback from the boards on the draft ILA.
She asked Kirk Vaughn how the project approval will work with the ILA once approved.
Kirk Vaughn said that county commissioners approve projects through the budget process
and have already approved planning funds for elementary schools for both districts in the most
recent budget. He said construction funding approval for those schools is anticipated in the
upcoming budget cycle.
Bonnie Hauser asked about the program management structure.
Kirk Vaughn said project management will remain with the school districts, and the CORE
Team will inform some of the big picture program management ideas.
Chair Bedford emphasized the value of Wake County's model, where staff met monthly
and then communicated with the elected boards and the public. She noted this would be a good
way to keep communication open.
Vice-Chair Hamilton said she would like more specificity in the section of the ILA about
regular communication with the public. She asked what others thought.
Al Ciarochi, CHCCS Deputy Superintendent for Operations, said CHCCS is planning to
have quarterly updates to the Board of Education and monthly updates at the Finance, Facilities,
and Operations Committee meetings. He said the ILA speaks to a public dashboard that would
be county managed.
Vice-Chair Hamilton said she would like to see different forms of updates to the community
outside of social media. She said she would like for it to be clear which entity will do what in the
ILA, to know who to hold accountable.
Travis Myren said county staff with talk with the school districts and bring something back
to the Board with those specifics.
Will Atherton said the website is not available to all OCS families, and they need to think
about other options to make sure the sharing of information is inclusive.
Chair Bedford mentioned that Community Relations has a monthly ad that runs in the
News of Orange newspaper and is working on more ideas for reaching the public.
Commissioner Greene asked if this is a time when mailings to parents would be beneficial.
Chair Bedford said, unfortunately, that is very expensive. She suggested printing notices
to go out with students over the weekend.
Travis Myren said the county can do a tax bill insert with information for residents.
19
Vickie Feaster-Fornville suggested updates could be sent out with the report cards
because those go out four times a year.
Danielle Jones said the communications teams from the districts and county can get
together to ensure consistency.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked for examples of why one party would want to pull out
of the agreement.
John Roberts, Orange County Attorney, said a termination provision is standard in
agreements. He said this provision includes a specific amount of notice, which is common. He
said it would not be advisable to have an agreement without ways to exit it.
Chair Bedford noted historical tensions between boards over funding could potentially lead
to termination, though frequent meetings could resolve conflicts before it gets to that point.
b. Orange County Schools
Frederick Davis, Chief Operations Officer for OCS, expressed appreciation for county
funding, noting the district had spent or encumbered $4.5 million in the past year on major lifecycle
replacements, including roofs, HVAC systems, athletic repairs, asphalt, technology
improvements, transportation, and security upgrades.
Regarding the 2024 bond, Frederick Davis presented plans for OCS's priority project: a
new elementary school on the Gravelly Hill Middle School site adjacent to county-owned property.
He said the OCS Board of Education has selected a construction manager at risk delivery method.
He announced that the project timeline shows design work over the next year, followed by 24-30
months of construction, with the school slated to open in fall 2029. The extended timeline will
allow for proper planning and addressing any issues before opening.
Chair Bedford elaborated on potential collaboration opportunities between Orange County
and Mebane, given the proximity of this potential school site to the Soccer.com facility.
Travis Myren said initial meetings between district staff and both the county and Mebane
have occurred, and a three-way meeting is planned.
c. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Al Ciarochi, CHCCS Deputy Superintendent for Operations, made the following
presentation:
Slide #1
Bond ProjectUpdate
THINK(AND
20
Slide#2
Bond Project Update
Carrboro Elementary School
T • October:
• Project Management RFQ award
• Town of Carrboro Development Review
Meeting
• November:
• Architectural RFQ award in November
(pending ILA approval)
• January:
• Construction Manager at Risk award
Chapel HflFGart Cih'Sc 1, chcca_vg THINK(AND ACT)
Al Ciarochi thanked commissioners for their continued funding support, from deferred
maintenance to the successful 2024 bond passage as well as monies to be used for high-priority
projects. He presented the district's primary project for the bond: replacement of Carrboro
Elementary School as an on-site replacement, with students remaining in the existing building
during construction. He said the district is targeting a fall 2028 completion, but has flexibility to
extend to fall 2029 depending on planning requirements. He said upcoming major milestones
include October board consideration of project management services (based on lessons learned
from Chapel Hill High School), meetings with the Town of Carrboro about development review
and potential shared-use facilities, a November award of an architectural RFQ, and a January
award of a construction manager at risk contract. He emphasized getting contractors and
designers working together from the beginning rather than at the end.
3. Demographic Trends and Impact on School Enrollment
a. Presentation from County Staff
Cy Stober, Planning and Inspections Director, made the following presentation:
Slide #1
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Orange County Demographic Presentation
Joint School Board Meeting
21
Cy Stober said much of this information was shared with county commissioners at their
September 9 work session. He emphasized the challenges of working with 2020 census data
collected during COVID, which significantly impacted school enrollment and operations.
Slide #2
Population Percent Growth, 2010 - 2020
Total Population(2010) Total Population Percent Growth
(2020) 12010 to 20201
North Carolina 9,535,483 10439,388 9%
Orange County 133,801 148,696 11%
Alamance County 151.131 171.415 13%
Chatham County 63.505 76,285 20%
Durham County 267.587 324,833 21%
Wake County 900.993 1.129A10 25%
ON 5—U 5 C.—5—D.—W%,..r
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Slide #3
-------------
Annexations 2004 -2023
• 3,071 acres have been
annexed since 2004. F'
• 24 acres have been annexed
by Durham. V
• 209 acres have been annexed e 1
by Carrborc. o
ML `�►'�
H LL
• 421 acres have been annexed M .*""�g �NUUGH
by Chapel Hill. Q
• 927 acres have been annexed `
by Hillsborough.
• 1,490 acres have been
annexed by Mebane.
Annexations
Ex[a Terdmnal luris.Ycpon
RRRORO �Muniopalilies
Rallmad
.4 land and Open Space
Rnnexaans
2
- —]2009-2W9
_2p1p-1019
M-2m
22
Slide#4
Orange County's Population Distribution
• This table shows Orange
Countyrs population by -�
jurisdiction and the Hopei Hur 59,270� 39.9%
Epercentage of Orange unincorporated County• 54,579 36.7%
ounty'stotal population. c—U.rn 21,136 142%
Hillshorough 9,902 6.7%
• About 40%of Orange Mebane- 3,675 2.5%
County's population lives Di,&-- 145 0.1%
in Chapel Hill,followed Total 148,707 100.0%
by approximately 37% %kincorporated Orange County means the areas in Orange
who live in County but outside of municipalities,Including Carrboro.
unincorporated Orange Chapel Hill,Durham,Hlllshorough,and Mebane.This includes
County. the extraterritorial jurisdictions(ET;)of the towns.
"Portion within Orange County geographic limits
ur.so.,n,osenr su[r prmoa..vn.,,mu c.,rra vwwHi�ealimne:
Growth of Municipalities
The greatest increase in Mebane experienced the greatest
population numbers occurred In percent change in population
growth from 2010 to 2020
unincorporated Orange County. compared to the other
municipal ties.
Orange County{Total) 133,801 148 695 11 h
H il[shomugh 6087 9,560 59%
Carrboro 19,582 21,295 9%
C.,...I Hill 17.239 51.950 8%
Mebane(Orange County part) 1,793 3,171 77% �1
Unincorporated Orange 50,8g9 55,751 1U% ORANGE COUNTY
County
ww—.us e— NORTH CAROLINA
Slide#5
Chapel Hill Township
(Similar to CHCCS District Geography)
Tota(Populatlon 79.274 87.971 K006 8,U3h 9.1. ,otat Hcusiftlds 3OA83 33,223 36A41 2.818 8,48
Males 36,897 41,636 45,191 3,561 5.6 Total Population 79.274 WWI 91 8,035 9,13
Females 42.377 46.335 5Q809 4.474 9.7 In Hauseholtls 68.764 78.906 85.125 6.219 7.88
Popnla Hon Untler 18 idA28 17,142 17,563 dll 24 In Group Quarte[s 9$10 9,065 10,881 1,57fi 20,63
Population UnderS 3.405 4,043 3,579 -464 -11.5 lnstnwonahaed S69 268 480 212 79.10
Popelalwn5-17 11,U22 13.0% 11 74 875 6.7 Noninstitutionalized 8.921 8.797 10,401 1,604. 1823
Poyulationit Over 5,96d 7,362 1Z429 5.OB7 a"
HOUSING UNITS 2DOO 2010 1 1 1 i
,2020
One Race 77.793 85.621 87,928 2,307 2.7
White 61.989 64A54 62,420 2,034 3.2 Housing Units 32668 35.764 38,723 2959 8,27
Black or AlrlcanAnledcan 9,160 8,US 9.111 465 SA Occupied 14—ins Units 30.03 33.223 36,o41 2.918 968
American Indian and Alaska Native 290 310 493 183 59 wner.0 O Occupied 14221 16,763 17,631 Ill 518
Asian 4,881 8.638 11.802 3.164 36.6 Renter OCCllPlan 16,262 16,460 18,410 1.950 11,85
Native Hawaiian andother Pacific 17 24 34 10 41.7 VaeaMHousl Unlls 2.185 2.641 2,682 141 5.55
Some0lher Race 1.676 3.549 4.088 Sig 14.6
Two of More Races 1A81 2,353 8,070 5,72E 243.7
Htspenlc wlallno 4,060 7,192 91112 1,711 211
Not His nic or Latlnc 7U74 80.579 86.894 6,315 7.8
Source,0-5-Census Bureau Census 2000.2010&2020
�l1
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH(AROLINA
23
Slide #6
All Other* Townships Combined
(Similar to OC School District Geography)
law PoPulahon 38,953 45,830 52,690 6,860 15,0 Total Homeholds 15,380 18,234 21,018 2,784 15.27
Males 19,141 22,318 25,574 3.2% 14,6 Total Population 38,953 45,83C 52,690 6,860 54.97
Females 19,812 23,512 27,116 3,604 15,1 In Households 38,520 45,338 52,198 6AID 15.I3
Popular,-Under 18 9.656 10.827 11.616 789 7,3 In GinuPQuavers 433 492 492 0 0.00
Popula[Ion Undet 5 2.448 2,847 2.653 -194 I's InsdWtlonaHted 11 1 1 -19 -4.0
PapuEatian5-17 7.108 7,980 8.963 983 12,3 Nonmslituti—tizetl 32 44 L9 76.00
Population6560ver 3,967 5.527 9.782 4.255 77.1
One Race 38,411 44.777 48.67972,9M58 =0
7
While 30.283 35,041 36.6717 Houeing Unim ]6,fi21 19.833 22,498 2- 13.39
black or AhicanAmeriran 7,138 7,292 6,737i �5 Ortupietl Hausingllnils 1h,380 18234 21 DI8 2,764 5527
American lndlan and Alaska Native 167 260 358 .7 Owner Dccupied 12.194 14.167 16.146 1979 13.97
Asian 164 385 872 .5 Renter Ocwpied 7.186 e.Q67 e.872 805 39-7s
Native Hawaiian antl Other Pacific 3 t7 17 ,0 Ydcant HpWl U41t9 7.241 1.599 LA70 -129 -80
Soma 041 Hac a Gib 1.792 4.024E
T—,Mare Races 542 L053 4.011 ,9
Oe�n
Hlsponic or Lrno 1,2731 3,625 %700 3,075 1"
Nat hispan.'mlatmo 37,680 42,205 45,990 3,785 9,0
Source:U.S.Census Bureau Census 2000,2010 6 2C20
Bingham,Cedar Grove.Cheeks,Eno,Hillsborough,and Little River Townships
-401
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Slide #7
CThe Chambe�J
Lath Annual Stop of the[om—"A"-
2025 Dotnbook
State & County Minority Makeup
25%
20%
2096
15% 14%
11% 11% 10%
5% 4%
596 3% — 3% 2%
o% a" lir I
North Carolina Orange County Chatham County
r Black Hisparc(Any Race) Asian or Pacific Islander All Other
Note:'All Other'indocin American Indian,other races.and multiracial.The
Census changed thei—ay of measuring racelethnicay in the 2020 Census- Saurce_US Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census
1
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
24
Slide #8
County Comparisons of Population Projections
The chart on the right shows the Population Projections(2020 versus 2050)by County
population projections for
Orange County and nearby 2,000,000
counties,as published by the 1,800,000
Connect 2050 Metropolitan
Transportation Plan(MTP). 1,600,000
• In comparison to other counties, 1A00.000
Orange County is projected for 1,200,000
a much smaller population
increase(about 30%)compared 11000,000
to other counties.
800,000
• Chatham and Johnston
County's populations are 600,GW
expected to double
400,000
• Durham County's population
is expected to increase by 200,000 40% _. . ■. '
• Wake Countys o ulation is Chatham Johnston
Orange County Durham County Wake County
increase to cr population
by County County
almost 60% 02020 Population S2,213 186,096 148,880 324,784 1,129.865
■2050 Population 104,395 370,215 193,637 463,414 1,780,155
■Percentage Change 99.9% 98.91% 30.1% 42.7% 57.6%
■2020 Population ■2o5o Population
Data Source:Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization TDCHC-
MPOI.Connect 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan(MTPI
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Slide #9
lOWEN Percent Change Total Households(2024-2029) Percent Change
A NATI()N.al
REST nrz�'I I Statewide,INC 1S%
8rlstd 3%
pKxlpappn 8m
tan
Na. 10 Q]07J
cb '�0 GM,
p nmwie ems. 1»aw n,..-i - F$n'7. �
am
BELL L am" [� Iso
0m 1az
q pp �am
am 0 Cam] 063
BEM
Om FIJam
Caeanvft
All Counties in the Region are Projected to Grow: ' E. am
Chatham=,2,571 Households(7.6%) �' �
.low
Durham=9,897Households(6.8%) 11❑4aar
Johnston=10,989 Households(12.2%) #"
Orange=2,353 Households(4.0%)
Wake=41,241 Households(8.6%)
NORTH caxOUNA
STATEW IOE HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT
FOCI7SING ON.,CHA7HAM,DURHAM,JOHNSTOII,
ORANGE&WAKE COUNTIES
For Real Estate ProfessionaK
_ Spnng 2025
and Carrun-ity Stakeholders
ORANGE COUNTY
n NORTH CAROLINA
Slide25
#10
Available For-Sale Housing - Median List Price
.NATIWEN Median List Price of Available Homes(2024) Meo,an LISI Pri�
NAL
RESEARCH Statewide,NC
1]19.f90 1399,Im cr..H]9094 c
kn.. fl19,m0 $. M.•.w Hs9—,eon ruwa y]]6,990 rc'.�
:• !- ] .9m 1 �' a�f]919m~•rn 1xm.9o] 'M"f]xS,mO
1I96150 f]1s,om s1115°4 ~ tIN,9m 14UI.R6 f]x],o99
w.ey e9 mo w-� l3e9,m9 — �
"'ry' 11f9 Qear f41d,m0 xaRytll,f99
-a'ilil;lse t]9fA59 f°`^'^ � ,4 yaff.199 f] .f fM9,190 NSf.401
I]NASf 9..
nur_ 41i.J Ynwb�Ty l]N,9W f !]af,llq u„l,,,o y59A,9m l]].901 iR�
199),omr�4� t315,m0 '- f19L1m f]a4,m9
_ fax,w9 11N,su ..a �na�9a f]m,sl9
.:WN,900' 9..,e.— Prt.n f]Sym9 ]9[,010 ifm,]50
MMxr IE2af0 yYlAIO 1])o,9m !„ an
NOS,4m Hf9,9m ]I,9v Uodn Wwar '�
] ,m0 Pwn tirneetl f409,m0 1461,091 N]I,Om 11)9,9m edn1340.959 xrew ]9.9m n, ']y'
na. t1i9,959 !]N,m! erye.
latken NM,9.0'uwwa l] ,400 N79.]99 f3N,901 1]I$.4m IHIy500 f
q-M- a 1f99,900 � — nx
bim N79.9m�N4.m0 � � Ynlfn Moon y,ay, lx55,Om )ww f115,9m
' /9m,041 ux2,5a4 16�,Sm lxya,l5o r n
Median List Prices by County: f195°° /f..m 45
1119,m4 SG1,199
➢ Durham=$439,000 y,],pfo r
➢ Johnston =$379,900
➢ orange=$598,500 ;--°•
➢ Wake=$525,000
ORANGE
NORTH
Slide #11
Available For-Sale Housing - Units by Price itange
In four of the five regional counties, the majority of available homes by price
point have list prices of$400,000+. Very minimal available supply is priced
under$200,000 in each of the five regional counties, limiting options for
many first-time home buyers.
Available For-Sale Housing Units by List Price by County(As of Early July 2024)
�5200,000 5200,000.5299,999 5300,000.5399,999 5400,000+ Total
—Mlim 1-07 6.8% . 3,18 2190/a 1121 70-70/p.,
Wake
County Number Share Number Share Number Share Number Share Units
®®�®�® 6.8% ® 85.8% ®
®�®®® ®®®
ORANGESource;Redfin,com and Bowen National Research
COUNTY
NORTH •
26
Slide #12
Chapel Hill Township
(Similar to CHCCS District Geography)
Tmal Population 79,274 87,971 95,006 e,035 B.l dotal Hausehul& 30A83 33,223 36,U41 2.81- s4c
Males 36,897 41,635 45.197 3,561 B.,, rotal Population 79.274 87.971 96.006 B.035 5.13
Females 42.377 46,335 so.809 4A74 9.7 Nnausenoios ua.rua IS.auu
Popali UndeT 18 14A28 17,142 17.563 411 2.4 MGroup Quarters 9.610 9A65 10.881 1.816 20.03
Popolatan Under S 3,406 4,043 3w`79 -464 -11.5 Ins1ltwonakaed SB9 268 480 212 79.10
Population 5-17 II,C22 13,099 13,974 875 6.7 Noninstitvtionaliaed 6921 8,797 10,401 1,804 18.23
Pcmiation65Sovef 5,964 7,382 L2,426 5,067 a"
One Race 77.793 81621 87,928 2,307 2-7while 61989 64,454 62.420 -2,034 -3.2 Moi Units 32.668 35.764 38,723 2,959 a2-,
Blackor AhkanAmerkan 9,160 8.646 9.111 465 8A 0ccupwd Housing Units 30.483 33,223 36,041 2.818 8.4£
Ame6canlndian and Alaska Native 290 310 493 n 4.6 I83 59.0 Owner Occupied 14,221 18,763 17,631 us 5.t8
Asia61 8.638 11.802 3.164 36.6 Reiner Occupied 16.262 16.460 19,410 1.950 51.85
Native Hawaiian andotherpacilir 17 24 34 10 41.7 V4eaMHausingl1nits 2.185 2.541 2,682 141 5.55
Same Other Race 1,676 3,549 4,96E 519 14.6
Twoal Mahe Races 1,48t 2.350 8.078 728 243.7
Hispanic Pt laflrq 41000 7Z92 9,112 1,720 23.3
Not His ani[or Lalnw 75�74 80,579 86.894 6,315 7.8
Source:U.S.Census Bureau Census 2000.201082020
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Slide #13
All Other* Townships Combined
(Similar to OC School District Geography)
lolal PoPulaton 38,953 45,830 52,890 6.860 15.0 Total11-hi 15,380 18.234 21.018 %M4 15.27
Males 19,141 22,318 25.574 3,255 14.6 Total Pouulation 38.953 45.830 52.590 5,060 I4.97
Females 19,812 23,512 27,118 3,604 15.3 In Households 38,520 45,338 52,190 5,660 15.13:
Populahonllndet l6 9556 10827 11 fi16 789 7.3 In Group Quartets 633 d92 492 0 ....
Population under 5 2,448 2,847 2.653 19d -631 InstltttlOrratced 401 467 448 -I9 4-'7
Populations l7 7.103 7,Pro
8963 983 12.3 Noninslituliorta0eed 32 25 44 15 ...
Population658Cwer 3.967 5.527 9,762 d,255 77.0
_____-•-
OneRace 38,411 44.777 411 3.902 8-7
White 30.293 35,041 36.671 1.630 4.7 11101I 811ni1s 16,621 19,8m 22.488 2,655 13.35
Rlackot AfMcanArneriran 7,133 7,282 B,737' ■ -545 -7.5 011u11 HousinglJnils 15,380 18,114 21111 2784 1111
American Indian and Alaska Native 157 260 358 98 37.7 Owrter0 C pled 12.194 14.167 16.146 1,979 13971
Asian l8d us 972 487 126.5 Renter Octopied 7.18e 4.067 4,872 805 19.79
Native Hawaiian and Other PacMc ] 17 17 0 0.0 Vacant HOuslrigVnit4 1,241 1.,589 1A70 -129 -8.07
Same Other Rece 636 1.792 4.024 2.232 1244i
Twoor More Races 542 1.053 4.011 2.958 280.9
111lP�Itk a latlile O eldii _
Hispanic or Lain f,273 3.625 1 3.075 Se.8
Not Hlspa-ar Latino 37,680 42,205 45,990 3.785 9.0
Source',U.S.Census Bureau Census 2000,201042020
Bingham,Cedar Grove,Cheeks,Eno,Hillsborough,and Little River Townships
�11
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
27
Slide #14
Questions / Discussion
ORANGE COUNTY
NORTH CAROLINA
Barbara Fedders asked for clarification about the data questions raised by Cy Stober.
Cy Stober explained there is a significant discrepancy between 2020 census data and
2025 state demographer projections for the under-18 population, emphasizing the need to wait
for ACS data to validate these numbers.
b. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Rodney Trice made the following presentation:
Slide #1
THINK(AND ACT)
DIFFERENTLY
y
t
Rodney Trice acknowledged the trend of fewer school-age children enrolling, consistent
with county-wide demographic data.
28
Slide#2
Average Daily Membership Used for state Funding- 10 Years
12,500
12.000
a
`m
E 11,500
41
a
Im 11,000
5
Q
10,500
10,000 2016 2017 201E 201S 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
Enrdlment 12,025 12.152 12,289 12.335 12,333 11807 11424 1140f3 11252 11,114 10,825
Chapel HilFCarrhoro City Schools i chccs.org THINK(AND ACT) �
Rodney Trice noted that the 20' day enrollment for the current school year showed a
decrease of about 300 students from the previous year.
Slide #3
Decreasing Kindergarten Enrollment
Decreasing 1000
Kindergarten 022 849 845
enrollment is
one 750 706 582
explanation for fi49 599 eas bsr}
the drop in
enrollment_ 9 500
E
Z3
Z
Down in 2025-
26 by 223 or 250
26%from the
highest point in
2018-19. a
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-2W
Remote Retum 1�
Chapel HilFC b.-Cify Schools I chcc -g THINK (A ACT)PINUORM
Rodney Trice emphasized these patterns required tough decisions around staffing,
facilities, and programming, noting the importance of thinking strategically about the district's
response.
29
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about the waitlist again for Pre-K and how the number
compares to last year.
Rodney Trice said it's about the same as last year.
George Griffin added that in the first two years after COVID, CHCCS lost 800 students,
so the decline has slowed down dramatically, but is still higher than anyone would want it to be.
Chair Bedford asked about enrollment patterns at different grade levels.
Rodney Trice noted stable high school numbers but continued challenges at elementary
and middle school levels, requiring adjustments to programming and allocation formulas. He
anticipated a "bubble" effect reaching high schools in a year or two.
c. Orange County Schools
Julie Pack, OCS Chief Academic Officer, made the following presentation:
Slide #1
Orange County Schools
Enrollment Update
i1%b� Orange
County ENGAGE.CHALLENGE.INSPIRE.
Schools
Slide#2
ComparisonMonth I
to
30
Slide #3
Month 1 Comparison
Elementary
560
5w '--
454 --- ----
qpq ------ _..,
a
200
154 ---- ----
100
$9 ------ ------
O
K 1 2 8 4 5
r Gradr Level
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
W 5424-25 M SV2d-2B
Slide #4
Month 1 Comparison
Secondary
600
500
400
4
Eaoo
200
100
0
6 T $ 9 lO 71 12
6f&tl4 L9V91
y ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
■5424-25 ■SV262G
31
Slide #5
Month 1 Comparison--Total
?DM
aoao
soon ...............
4M
aoao ...............
i ow
a
lvbl
ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
Slide #6
Cohort Stability
.7
660 -
fir------------
S8U -------- -------------
5d0 -------------
S B 660
546 ------------------',----
S�7 a
520 701 Bth
500
SY33-2d 'SY24-25 SY25-2 E,
-a-41h-61h Cehert -a-71h-9th Ceherr
FNGAGF. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE.
32
Slide#7
Enrollment
Slide #8
1 Q-Year Total Enrollment Trend
7604 7,526 7,651 7,544
7400 45 7,388 7.381
•
299
7200 182
.122
700❑ 6 98B
5tl5
6800
GS00
$Yid-15 $Y15-16 $VI&17 SY17-18 5Y18-19 $Y19-20 $Y20-21 SY21-22 SY22-23 $Y23-24 SY24-25 $Y25-26'
-IIP-TOUI ENGAGE. CHALLENGE. INSPIRE,
Julie Pack said that over the past decade, kindergarten enrollment has declined
approximately 8% overall, though it fluctuated year to year. The overall 10-year trend continued
downward as well, consistent with demographic projections.
33
Slide #9
CHA�IfNGf
Sarah Smylie highlighted the visual representation of declining kindergarten enrollment in
the elementary data, showing the progression from 500 third graders to 464 second graders to
449 first graders to 423 kindergarteners.
Vice-Chair Hamilton said it is important for this information to be shared to ensure accurate
projections and funding decisions. She stressed the need to understand various factors causing
these changes. She suggested that collaboration with planning departments to track building
permits and understanding price points would help predict future enrollment.
Chair Bedford emphasized that despite enrollment challenges, the facilities remain old
and educationally inadequate, requiring new construction.
Bonnie Hauser noted that enrollment declines weren't uniform across demographics. She
noted that the White student population was declining while the Hispanic student population was
increasing, with implications for operating budgets given different educational needs and costs.
4. Issues for Future Collaboration
Will Atherton presented the challenge of the current one-nurse-per-school allocation
model, which creates disparities between elementary schools with 400 students and high schools
with 1,200 students. He suggested exploring alternative models that could better accommodate
varying population sizes and specific school needs. He questioned whether new approaches were
needed beyond individual school efforts for mental health needs. He proposed examining shared
county resources or new funding allocations specifically targeting mental health support in
schools, given the current challenging environment for students. He also mentioned that many
prospective teachers are unable to afford living in Orange County, which is an issue for teacher
recruitment and retention. He said this is compounded by surrounding districts offering higher
salary supplements closer to where teachers can afford to live. He mentioned the need for safe
routes to schools, specifically highlighting the dangerous conditions near Cedar Ridge High
School. He said students from Cedar Ridge participated in a teaching pathway program at Grady
Brown Elementary School, which involved students walking across the street to volunteer, read
books, and spend time with elementary students. He said a safer pathway between the schools
is needed to ensure the safety of students. On a related note, he shared that the district is
participating in a new grant-funded initiative designed to spark interest in teaching careers among
current students. He said the initiative aims to enhance Career and Technical Education (CTE)
programs and early education opportunities, encouraging students to consider teaching as a
career path.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked about national absenteeism trends about and would
like more information about that.
34
Will Atherton agreed and shared that some of the definitions for absenteeism, like chronic
absenteeism, include students who are sick, so clarification is important.
Commissioner Portie-Ascott said she would also like to receive and discuss student
discipline data.
George Griffin said absenteeism has gone up since the pandemic, but it is not unique to
Orange County.
Bonnie Hauser highlighted the existing programs within the county and school systems
that are aimed at supporting underserved communities, such as the Family Success Alliance,
family liaisons, community centers, and social workers. She pointed out that there are legal
barriers that prevent information sharing between county and school social workers, even when
they are working with the same children. She suggested that increased collaboration and
communication could significantly enhance outreach efforts to these communities.
Danielle Jones proposed identifying common goals across the three boards to address
collaboratively. She emphasized that while schools could communicate easily with enrolled
families, reaching the broader community remained challenging. Beyond communication, she
stressed the need for collaborative problem-solving and resource allocation toward shared goals.
Vickie Feaster-Fornville emphasized viewing Orange County as one community despite
multiple governing bodies. She advocated for leveraging existing resources rather than always
seeking additional funding, citing specific programs like Orange Partnership for Alcohol and Drug-
Free Youth, the ADAPT program, Family Success Alliance (a county-wide program from the
health department), and Family Success Navigators. She urged breaking down imaginary district
lines and thinking collaboratively as "One OC."
Wendy Padilla supported selecting one or two specific goals for collaborative work.
Chair Bedford provided two significant county updates. She said the construction manager
at risk for the Behavioral Health Diversion Center returned higher costs than projected two years
ago, which has caused delays. She said the Board is evaluating four alternative options as well
as the original plan for a path forward. She said the facility will serve children ages 4-18 and will
include behavioral health urgent care for families. She said the facility will be located next to the
UNC-Hillsborough hospital, and the facility would offer welcoming spaces for pediatrician referrals
and in-depth consultation on issues like anorexia and anxiety. She said construction is anticipated
to take 18-24 months once it starts. She also shared that UNC offered Orange County a free 10-
year ground lease at Homestead Road (the former Duke Energy building) for emergency shelter
services. She explained that the county could host cold-weather shelter nights there, and the
location has excellent bus access. She said future possibilities at the facility could include day
programming and respite services for those experiencing homelessness or housing crises.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Recorded by Tara May, Deputy Clerk to the Board
Submitted for approval by Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board