The OC Voice is a portion of the OC Report newsletter where local residents may have a platform to talk about local issues they care about. Joal Broun is a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education and was first elected in 2016.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School (CHCCS) District has many strengths. Despite our relatively small size, we boast the highest SATs and second highest graduation rates in the state. With numerous academic offerings, career programs from firefighting to culinary arts and robust dual-language programs, our students and staff are recognized locally and nationally for their achievements.
Yet, CHCCS, like districts across N.C., faces critical challenges:
- Reduced state funding has significantly decreased resources, even as student needs increase. Incredibly, inflation-adjusted funding now vs. the 2008-09 year is down 6 percent despite a 90,000 student increase. North Carolina has fewer teachers, support staff (psychologists, social workers, etc.), teaching assistants and materials.
- Facility needs: Estimated school renovation totals about eight billion dollars across N.C. Historically N.C. has issued a state school bond every decade, but more than 20 years have passed since the last bond. We need advocacy to encourage legislators to address this gap.
- The 2016 CHCCS renovation estimate was upwards of $300 million. Voters approved a local bond to renovate Chapel Hill High (initially estimated at $52 million). When the project broke ground, costs had increased to $72 million.
- Enrollment in UNC system teacher preparation programs have declined 41 percent since 2010. Recruiting and retaining teachers is increasingly challenging, as teachers see more earning potential in the private sector.
- Continued weaknesses in educating Black, brown, economically disadvantaged and students with disabilities creates an opportunity gap.
CHCCS has historically addressed these issues with local funding to increase teacher compensation and benefits, which allowed us to recruit and retain quality teachers. This year, CHCCS submitted a request to the Board of County Commissioners for $5.5 million, including $3.6 million of inflation (teacher increases, retirement and healthcare costs) and $1.9 million to invest in the following areas:
- Paid family leave for our teachers: Astoundingly, teachers don’t receive paid time off for maternity/paternity leave. The state recently began providing paid leave for some state employees, but teachers were not included.
- Social emotional learning: Funding would have supported creation of comprehensive social/emotional programming to support increasing mental health needs.
- Expanded summer programming: To help elementary school and exceptional students in need of extra academic support.
- School safety: ADA compliance upgrades and emergency systems.
Unfortunately, the county commissioners did not fully fund the request. Schools have a lot of work to do, and we need more resources.
The district’s strategic plan has four focus areas:
- Student success: Addresses academic, social and emotional capacities of students.
- Family & community engagement: Parents, educators and communities work together for the benefit of students.
- Employee experience: CHCCS is committed to growth, development and care of its employees.
- Organizational effectiveness: CHCCS is committed to improving our organizational effectiveness and culture to ensure all children succeed.
