After winning the municipal elections for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education in November, George Griffin, Riza Jenkins and Mike Sharp were sworn into office at last week’s meeting. The CHCCS Board also elected a new chair and vice chair.

The three new CHCCS Board of Education members won the November election in a decisive fashion, garnering a collective 85 percent of the vote. George Griffin, Riza Jenkins and Mike Sharp largely ran a united campaign and last week, they got sworn in together by former Board of Education member and now District Judge Joal Broun.

“Congratulations to the new board members,” Broun said. “The job you do is very, very important. Please remember to do your very best to take care of children.”

Brian Link is a teacher at East Chapel Hill High School and the president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro association of educators. He said he believes the experiences of new board members bring renewed passion to local education.

“We are excited that there are so many people who are committed to the ideas of public education,” Link said. “So many people on this board who have spent time in schools, who understand the plights that we face each and every day. And every single one of you, who are committed to the idea of helping to ensure that our students succeed.”

The new members will join Rani Dasi, Jillian La Serna, Deon Temne and Ashton Powell.

Also at the meeting, the Board elected Temne as the new chair. Temne served as vice chair in 2021 and the outgoing chair Jillian La Serna said he was more than ready for the new role.

“One of the things I notice about Deon is he always puts students first no matter what,” La Serna said. “He has exceptionally good sense and good judgment and an overall core compass that guides him in the right direction.”

Rani Dasi was also elected as the new vice chair. La Serna said her knowledge and mentorship to other members of the board make her the right choice for the position.

“I think that she has the experience to help us through as we continue to navigate a pandemic, and really work toward moving students and schools forward in this new period of learning,” La Serna said.

Both Temne and Dasi were unanimously elected by their fellow board members.

Brian Link said having diverse voices leading the board of education is an example of CHCCS living its values.

“I think it’s really important when we talk about equity in this district,” Link said. “We are now looking at a chair and a vice chair, both of whom are African-American.”

The new members and leaders of the CHCCS Board of Education will begin their duties at the final business meeting of the year on December 16.

 

Featured photo via Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

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