The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board chose its new member on Thursday from a pool of fourteen applicants. At the meeting in Chapel Hill, board members used an updated two step voting process to make their pick, David Saussy.

“Be it therefore resolved that the board of education approves the appointment of David Saussy as a board member for a one-year term,” said board member Jamezetta Bedford.

“I’m a parent of two children in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system,” said Saussy in an interview after the meeting. “Both attend Glenwood Elementary School, a 5th grader and a 3rd grader.”

Saussy holds a PhD in pharmacology and works for GlaxoSmithKline in corporate development. In his application for the position, he wrote that his training as a scientist gives him an understanding of “rigorous data collection and analysis.”

“I will contribute a desire to improve communication with the community, and a desire to ensure that everything is analyzed from every angle possible,” said Saussy in the interview. “I’ve spent a lot of time recently as a member of the Glenwood SIT (School Improvement Team) advocating for Glenwood School as it has gone through challenges with overcrowding and redistricting, and trying to make sure we come up with solutions that are the best solution for the school and . . . the best we can do for the district as a whole.”

The vacancy came because Mia Burroughs left the school board to join the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

The board voted in Mike Kelley to replace Jamezetta Bedford as the chair. And the board chose Andrew Davidson to replace Mia Burroughs as the vice chair.

Also, during the public comment period Mark Dorosin, a civil rights lawyer and Orange County commissioner, urged the board to pass a resolution supporting the rights of undocumented immigrant children. Some North Carolina counties have adopted resolutions discouraging these children from attending public schools. But denying admission to students because of immigration status runs contrary to the state constitution and the U.S. constitution.

Bedford and other members said they want to make it known that this district welcomes immigrant students. The board will continue discussions on how best to communicate this message.

The Chapel Hill Town Council, the Carrboro Board of Alderman and the Orange County Board of Commissioners recently passed resolutions supporting the rights of immigrant children.

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