By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Now that filing season has closed, candidates for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education are gearing up for a tight race.
Six candidates are running for four seats on the board. Board members Jamezetta Bedford, Mike Kelley and Annetta Streater seek reelection. Newcomers Mia Burroughs, Mehar Safvi and Gary Wallach have thrown their hats into the race as well.
While it’s still early in election season, the candidates have started crafting their platforms and developing campaign strategies.
Bedford, who serves as the board’s chair, said she wants to continue her work with the district’s special needs advisory council. In addition, she said she would like to work with the board to plan for growth within the district.
“The overall problem that we’ve encountered for the past 15 years is growth,†Bedford said. “It would be nice to plan for that.â€
Burroughs, who is a freelance grant strategist, said she too would like to see the board prepare for growth.
“A lot of the challenges that the board will be dealing with stem from growth,†she said.
Burroughs has served as chair of Estes Hills Elementary’s School Governance Committee and said that while she has seen the school district do a number of things very well, “there are a lot of things they can do better.â€
Kelley, who has served on the board since 2003, said in a statement that he would like to work toward improving the efficiency of the budget process.
“This year’s budget process was more challenging than usual and suggests continuing challenges ahead,†he said. “We need to continue to improve our school system to adapt to a changing world but need to do so in a way that is as cost effective as possible.â€
Safvi teaches in the Durham Public Schools and has worked in school administration. She said her children benefited from Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools and she would like to give back to the system.
“I feel it’s time that [the board] have a fresh perspective, a fresh new outlook, a more diverse view,†she said, adding that bringing diversity to the board is important as the district becomes more diverse.
Streater, who was appointed to the board in June 2006 to fill Ed Sechrest’s seat, said she would like to work toward closing the achievement gap.
“The district is still challenged when it comes to raising the achievement of its children of color,†she said, adding that she would like to develop a system to evaluate the district’s different programs to determine if they are working for all children.
Wallach, who has a background in marketing in social work, said he has a number of concerns about the district and would like to work toward improving the schools as a member of the school board. During redistricting meetings earlier this year, Wallach expressed concern regarding equity across the district. In addition, Wallach said he would like to see an improved budget process.
“We want [the commissioners] to put our children, the future of this county, at the forefront of [their] decisions,†he said.
All of the candidates have children who attend or have attended Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools.
Board member Liz Carter will not run for re-election.
I am voting Gary Wallach for CHCCS School Board.
I met Gary four years ago when our respective now eleven year-old sons began their friendship. In the ensuing years, I have worked with Gary on projects for children with special needs and attended numerous events/fundraisers that he has hosted.
In these endeavors I have observed in Gary a rare level of resolve and persistence to do the right thing for our children.
If after reviewing his positions at
http://www.garywallachschoolboard.blogspot.com/
you agree that he is a deserving candidate,
I urge you to vote for Gary on Tuesday, November 6.