The Orange County Schools Board of Education swore in its newest member on Monday, ending the long wait for Lori Russell to take office after earning election back in March.
The lone newcomer was sworn in alongside returning board members Will Atherton, Anne Purcell and Sarah Smylie at the organizational meeting, the first of the academic year. Russell earned election over the lone newcomer after Andre Richmond chose to not run for re-election and stepped down from the Board of Education. Surrounded by her family, Russell took the oath of office from Assistant Clerk of Court and Orange County Schools alumna Aretha White.
“I felt loved – it was a beautiful experience,” Russel told Chapelboro. “Overall, it felt like a really smooth transition for me, because we’ve been preparing so proactively for this.”
The nature of Orange County Schools’ board elections means that newcomers have a longer waiting period than most elected officials from when the results are decided and when their term begins. Russell said the last four months were spent connecting more with each member of the Board of Education and with Superintendent Danielle Jones’ staff, each of whom provided advice and details about the job to help Russell get ready for her four-year term.
“I think I’ve just gotten more information,” the compliance lawyer said. “I’ve gotten a lot more grounded in things like how the district is actually funded, what the structural gaps that are facing the schools, [and] in terms of how we can meet the needs and prioritize the most important programs…while looking at the reality of the burdens we have in terms of our budget.”
Lori Russell after being sworn in onto the Orange County Schools Board of Education. (Photo via the Orange County Schools district.)
That reality saw another layer added since Russell’s election, as the county government approved its budget in June and North Carolina enacted its first comprehensive budget in nearly three years on July 7. Gov. Josh Stein and budget supporters touted its improvements in teacher pay – chiefly, the biggest increase in starting teacher pay (from $41,000 to $48,000) in decades and an 8% average increase across all educators.
Budget critics, though, point to North Carolina still being toward the bottom nationally in teacher pay despite the raises, and the legislature’s ongoing funneling of money away from public schools toward vouchers to cover private school expenses. Russell said she believes the budget in total represents a step forward, but there is still more support needed from the state for schools.
“It’s really only the minimum of what needs to be done,” she said. “So, I’m encouraged that we at least passed a budget, but I think we shouldn’t be overly celebratory and overlook that there still are real needs we need to face.”
To try and address that, Russell said she wants to be the type of school board member who is an advocate to the teachers’ and students’ needs – sharing their stories and perspectives with people at higher levels of government while championing the value of public education.
Following the swearing-in ceremony for the four board members, the elected body also determined its leadership structure for the next year. After having stepped up to temporarily chair the board in 2022, two-term Board Member Carrie Doyle was chosen by her peers to once again serve in the role while Board Member Wendy Padilla was re-elected as vice chair for another year.
Doyle shared a statement through the district saying she is grateful for the trust of her peers to lead the meetings, and acknowledged the outgoing chair, Atherton, on Monday night.
“I want to thank Mr. Atherton for his service as chair and Mrs. Padilla for her service and willingness to continue to serve as vice chair,” said Doyle, “and I’m looking forward to this year [together] as a board.”
Carrie Doyle (left) and Wendy Padilla (right) pose after the leadership election by the board. (Photo via the Orange County Schools district.)
The Orange County Schools Board of Education is set to meet for a special virtual meeting on Monday, July 27 before holding its annual board retreat on August 7-8. The swearing-in ceremony and organization meeting can be watched in full on YouTube.
Featured photo via Orange County Schools.
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