Agenda - 09-02-2021; 4-a - Discussion and Appointment for the Vacant Position on the Orange County Board of Commissioners

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13 — Elected to CHCCS board of education and served as board chair and vice chair — North Carolina Beginning Teacher of the Year Steering Committee Executive board member of the North Carolina Caucus of Black School Board Members Served as co-director of the Northwestern University Triangle Area Alumni Admission Council, representing the university in recruiting communications and leading the potential student interview process in the Triangle area What steps do you take in making decisions? • Gather information and data, solicit multiple perspectives (particularly from those most affected by an issue) • Consider context and history • Prioritize most important issues and decision criteria • Make decision • Seek feedback/measure outcomes to determine if decision met the intended purpose and goals were met 3. How would your appointment enhance diversity of the BOCC? My appointment would bring multiple perspectives to the BOCC: • Voice of a Carrboro resident • Perspective of a parent of school age children • Professional experience in corporate finance and strategy—fiscal understanding • Lived experience as a Black woman • Lived experience of resource scarcity and what happens when individuals and families lack necessary resources. I understand what it means to need community support and how important it is for governments to invest in people 4. What do you see as the most urgent unmet needs facing Orange County. Please limit to 5 or less and prioritize these needs, particularly if listing more than 3. • Economic Development/Broadband access/Climate action • Mental Health and other health resources • Education 5. If you could change one thing about the current county budget, what would that be? Increase public clarity on how budget links to county strategy/priorities/vision and how this creates conditions for community wellness 6. What is your assessment of the county's funding practices with regard to the two school systems? The BOCC recognizes the value of investing in education and historically has supported local education funding. The board has a funding target which directs 48.1 percent of general fund revenues to education. Unfortunately, continued state cuts to K-12 education funding has increased pressure on local budgets across the state. The BOCC has had to balance other county needs and not been able to offset the decreased investment from state funding. The county can also support schools through investment in other areas like building health resources (including mental health), housing and economic growth as well as active public advocacy to restore state funding. How do you propose the BOCC meet over$300 million in K-12 public schools capital needs? • Collaborate with CHCCS and OCS to develop plans to address highest need areas, including a long-range plan for funding school capital needs, and education component to inform the public about school facility needs 2. Rani Dasi