Endorsements in Orange County local elections continue to come in as voters begin to cast their ballots, with the Campaign for Racial Equity in Our Schools now sharing theirs.
The organization, also knows as CFRE, advocates for policies that would lead to race no longer being a determinant of access and outcomes in schools. On Thursday, it shared endorsements in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education election for the first time.
With three open seats to fill on the school board, CFRE endorsed George Griffin, Riza Jenkins and Mike Sharp in the crowded field, saying the trio “clearly rise to the top” in the crowded field.
“Griffin, Jenkins, and Sharp have all highlighted racial equity as an impetus for their candidacy, an issue that will be a central focus of their deliberations and leadership if elected,” shared the group in a release. “Impressively all three of these candidates have extensive experience in our schools, not only as parents, but as school leaders.”
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is routinely ranked as the top school district in North Carolina, earning the title again from school and college website Niche.com for 2022. But it is also known for having a wide achievement gap between its students who are white and non-white. A 2018 study from Stanford University found CHCCS had the second-largest achievement gap between Black and white students in the country. While the district has implemented several equity and engagement policies to try and improve, the issue still remains.
“Because these three candidates have worked in the system,” wrote CFRE of its endorsed candidates, “they have knowledge of the dynamics and structures that maintain disparities in opportunity and outcome. More importantly they have concrete ideas about how to work with current leaders, students, parents, and our community to build a better system that creates a challenging and exciting educational environment for all our students.”
To read the full release from the Campaign for Racial Equity in Our Schools, click here. To learn more about all the candidates running for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, click here.
Early voting in Orange County runs through Saturday, October 30, with Election Day set for Tuesday, November 2. For more election coverage and candidate introductions, visit Chapelboro’s Local Election Coverage page.
Photo via Matherly Collins/The Daily Tar Heel.
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