A Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of Education proposal to transition Glenwood Elementary into a Mandarin dual language magnet program has drawn flak from community members, teachers and now some board members over the decision-making process.

Frustration boiled over during a CHCCS board meeting Tuesday.

Teachers and community members voiced their disapproval over the way in which the board reached its decision to create a schoolwide Mandarin Dual Language Program at Glenwood Elementary.

Chair of the board Rani Dasi apologized on Tuesday night, and she said the district needed to make sure community stakeholders were heard and that the decision would be reached in an ethical and transparent manner.

“When the board voted on September 20 to approve the schoolwide Mandarin dual-language magnet program at Glenwood, we did not follow our process,” Dasi said. “We did not follow our process and for that I apologize as chair.”

Dasi said she had been concerned by the rapid speed at which the board moved forward with the decision in September and thought the vote had come before sufficient discussion or public input.

There have also been questions raised over what some see as unethical actions by board members. Pat Heinrich has a daughter in the Mandarin Program at Glenwood, and he voted in September to approve moving forward with the transition. Last month, parents made public record requests of Heinrich’s communications, which they say revealed improper communication with pro-magnet parents.

Dasi said those communications concerned her.

“The work we do as a board has to be built on trust,” she said. “The behavior described in the documents is not consistent with good board governance and could compromise other important work before us in the coming year.”

At Tuesday’s meeting in the Lincoln Center, district administration brought a request to the board to delay implementing the magnet program from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2020-2021 academic calendar. No formal vote was held on that recommendation because the board does not vote in work sessions. But the item is scheduled to come back before the board at a meeting in December.

Related Stories
‹
INDY Week Publishes Endorsements in Chapel Hill and Carrboro Municipal Races
The local magazine INDY Week has published its endorsements in this year's Chapel Hill and Carrboro municipal elections.
Chapel Hill Resident Vickie Fornville Announces Bid for CHCCS Board of Education
Chapel Hill resident Vickie Fornville has announced her entry into the crowded race for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Fornville is a graduate of CHCCS and a former parent ambassador for McDougle Middle School. Fornville told Chapelboro she wants the community “to see someone who is running for the board because they […]
Chapel Hill Resident Taylor Tally Running for CHCCS Board of Education
Chapel Hill resident and Air Force veteran Taylor Tally is joining the crowded race for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Tally recently graduated with a master’s degree from UNC and lives in Carrboro. “I’ve always had an affinity for public service,” Tally told Chapelboro. “I think this is a great opportunity to […]
Educator Allison Willis Enters CHCCS Board of Education Race
Educator and Chapel Hill resident Allison Willis is entering the race for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. Willis is a former public school teacher and principal and current administrator whose children attend CHCCS. “I care deeply about our public schools,” Willis told Chapelboro. “And I understand the role they play in fostering […]
The Filing Period for 2023 Local Elections Is Now Finished. Who Is Running?
The deadline for candidates to file for 2023 local elections across North Carolina has now passed. As of 12 p.m. on Friday, the ballots are now set for the fall municipal cycle. Over the course of two weeks, communities in Orange, Chatham and Durham counties saw a mix of residents launch campaigns or enter their […]
Progressive Democrats of Orange County, INDY Week Share 2021 Candidate Endorsements
EDITOR’S NOTE: An earlier version of the Progressive Democrats of Orange County’s endorsements listed support for Randee Haven-O’Donnell in the Carrboro Town Council race. An updated version now has removed that support. This article has been updated to reflect that. With early voting around the corner, the Progressive Democrats of Orange County (PDOC) and INDY […]
Candidate Filing Brings Crowded Fields for Orange County Races
The field for the 2019 municipal elections in Orange County is set as filing closed Friday with a flurry of new candidates and the conclusion of some races. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Jenn Weaver will be Hillsborough’s mayor following this fall’s election and Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle will continue serving in that role. Weaver and Lavelle […]
CHCCS Preparing to Vote on Glenwood Magnet Proposal
It has been a turbulent year for the Glenwood Elementary School community. But some parents and school staff say a new plan – and the process that brought it forward – have helped to build back some trust and momentum. Backlash came quickly last fall when the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of […]
CHCCS Parents Seek Recall Election for 3 Board Members
Signatures are being gathered for possibly the first recall election in Orange County history. Parents of children in the Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools district filed an affidavit with the Orange County Board of Elections on Thursday for a recall election for CHCCS Board of Education members James Barrett, Pat Heinrich and Margaret Samuels. […]
CHCCS Discussing School Reassignment in Wake of Magnet School Vote
The Chapel Hill – Carrboro City Schools Board of Education voted 4-3 in September to transition Glenwood Elementary School to a full Mandarin language magnet school, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year. The school has been operating with a Mandarin dual-language track in addition to a traditional track for students districted to the school for […]
›