Minutes 09-23-21 Virtual BOCC-Schools Joint Meeting

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22 b. CHCCS — Chief Equity and Engagement Officer, Dr. Rodney Trice Commissioner Richards asked about Dr. Rodney Trice's work at Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. Dr. Rodney Trice said his office, and his counterpart at Orange County Schools, are working with Annette Moore to learn strategies to address achievement gaps. He said achievement gaps are a reflection of opportunity gaps. He said progress takes a whole community approach, and they are working to interface with the One Orange plan. Commissioner Richards said she is interested in the dashboard for the plan. She said Chapel Hill residents are interested in data to drive initiatives and measure success. She said she was hoping to see district specific data. Dr. Rodney Trice said he could bring more information to a future meeting. He said his most recent charge was to meet with Annette Moore and learn more about One Orange. Jillian La Serna said the schools are an integral part of One Orange and data will be important. Commissioner Hamilton said she was also interested in the schools' experience. She asked how the schools will interact with One Orange and what resources the school system has for equity work. Dr. Rodney Trice said initial conversations were around funding scenarios and whether each district has the capacity to do the work they have been asked to do. He said one of the districts' tasks is to interface with communities that have been historically marginalized. He said part of the work is partnering with other departments within the school systems. He said the work in the equity department might include engaging with partners and make sure families know about all of the options available, or increasing access to tutoring to help students recover academically from the pandemic. Commissioner Hamilton said one thing that would be helpful is how to bring One Orange to the community, as well as the services the students need. She said it is important to make sure the County and the community is in agreement about what the needs actually are. She said the schools are closest to the community and could be so helpful. She said she would like to coordinate with teachers and staff. Dr. Rodney Trice agreed. He said the equity advisory committee met recently and did not know about One Orange. He said the school district will work hard to get the word out, both information about it, but also to get community involvement in shaping One Orange. He said citizens often want to help, but just do not know how. He said One Orange can help streamline communication and services that are available. c. OCS —Chief Equity Officer, Dr. Dena Keeling Dr. Dena Keeling said this conversation came about when looking into SEL and mental health work. She said there was push back in linking SEL to Critical Race Theory. She said the purpose of the conversations was to make Ms. Moore more aware of what is going on in the school systems, as well as the different contexts between the two school systems. She said the inequities are the same between the school systems, but the climate is different. She said they have met frequently with Ms. Moore, as well as attending countywide meetings on these issues. She said OCS is launching its 2021-22 equity plan soon, and will use a tool routinely to make decisions around policies and procedures. She said there is huge overlap in goal 6 around community engagement, and reaching marginalized students. She said OCS has been holding meetings just with Latino and African-American families, and have found parents have been more willing come out if they have the voice, and get to structure the meeting. She said OCS is working on a listening equity protocol, to better listen to historically marginalized