Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> 1 the challenges schools faced throughout the pandemic. She said that schools had to make big <br /> 2 decisions amidst great uncertainty. She said schools navigated a global pandemic, provided <br /> 3 remote instruction, and then pivoted back to in person learning for nearly 12,000 students, while <br /> 4 prioritizing safety for students and staff. She said she is proud of the work done by the schools <br /> 5 and highlighted what is going well in CHCCS. She said CHCCS is 4 months into the strategic <br /> 6 planning process, which is revisited every 3-5 years. She said they are redefining the mission, <br /> 7 vision, and core values, and working on a graduate profile that will drive instruction of <br /> 8 experiential learning. She noted that Chair Price is a member of the committee, and the plan will <br /> 9 be presented to the Board in June. She announced that gap data is growing, and disciplinary <br /> 10 framework has been operationalized during in person learning. She said the preliminary data <br /> 11 shows CHCCS has been able to reduce the disciplinary disproportionality index rate for four of <br /> 12 the six identified student groups, including Latino students, multi-language learners, students <br /> 13 with disabilities, and multi-racial males. She said the disciplinary action referral rates are still <br /> 14 higher for black male and female students. CHCCS has identified schools with higher <br /> 15 disproportionate rates and will provide resources to address the need. She said there have <br /> 16 been benefits to returning to in person instruction including an increase in the number of middle <br /> 17 school students earning A's, a lower rate of F's, especially for Black and Latino students, <br /> 18 students with disabilities, and multi-language learners. She said that the CHCCS budget <br /> 19 focuses on continuity of instruction, retention of qualified staff, and reducing the gaps left by <br /> 20 vacant position. She said the expansion request is entirely focused on employee compensation <br /> 21 and benefits as well as recruiting and retaining top quality staff. She said CHCCS hired a new <br /> 22 Sustainability Coordinator, Tommy Blair, and noted some of the projects they are working on <br /> 23 including, agreements in process to implement solar rays at Chapel Hill and East Chapel Hill <br /> 24 high schools, a grant application in process to introduce electric busses in the CHCCS fleet, re- <br /> 25 tamping at several schools, composting and waste diversion pilot programs at high schools, <br /> 26 middle schools, and elementary schools, new gardens have been built, and also looking at <br /> 27 storm water management surveys and remediation at all locations. <br /> 28 Carrie Doyle, OCS Board of Education Chair, thanked all in attendance for this <br /> 29 opportunity for discussion. She highlighted some of the achievements from the 2021-22 school <br /> 30 year. She said the five-year strategic plan was launched this winter in alignment with the OCS <br /> 31 Equity Plan. She referenced the images below, which were provided to attendees in a handout: <br />