On Nov. 21, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education met to discuss the Northside Elementary School improvement plan, the superintendent's performance evaluation and proposed contract extension, along with updates on district sustainability efforts.
What’s new?
- Following a closed session, Coretta Sharpless, principal of Northside Elementary School, shared the Northside Elementary School improvement plan.
- Sharpless said Northside Elementary celebrated student growth in reading, particularly among Hispanic students.
- She introduced two family engagement events, Si Se Puede, a Hispanic heritage and Indigenous peoples expo and STEAM Night, a hands-on exploration of science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
- “Making sure that we’re holding monthly meetings to talk about all students, in particular, looking at our Black students and our students who are economically disadvantaged,” Sharpless said.
- Rodney Trice, deputy superintendent for teaching & learning, systemic equity, & engagement, said he is excited about engaging students in their academic process and involving them in ways to monitor their growth.
- The school proposed a goal to decrease the percentage of chronically absent students from 20.4 percent to 15 percent.
- Sharpless said Northside Elementary staff are hoping to promote more widespread attentiveness with the help of their school social worker, and also visit homes of students in order to decrease the percentage of absences.
- The Board of Education received an update on the district’s sustainability efforts by Al Ciarochi, deputy superintendent of operations.
- He said Carrboro High School implemented the Newcomers Program, designed to help new students identify native plants of the countries that they come from and grow the produce.
- “It is a way of trying to make a connection, while at the same time, promoting sustainability,” Ciarochi said.
- He also said electric and water usage has gone down in the district in 2024.
- He said Carrboro High School implemented the Newcomers Program, designed to help new students identify native plants of the countries that they come from and grow the produce.
What decisions were made?
- The board unanimously approved the improvement plan for Northside Elementary School.
- The board unanimously approved the contract extension of Superintendent Dr. Nyah Hamlett.
- “Even amidst the challenges and the tough decisions that have been made and that are ahead, I just want to thank you all for your confidence in us as a leadership team,” Hamlett said.
What’s next?
- The next board meeting will take place on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m in the Lincoln Center.
