The Orange County Schools Board of Education held its organizational meeting on Monday night and swore in its newest board members.

André Richmond, the top vote-getter in the 2022 school board race, was sworn in after Anne Purcell. The pair assumed to two open seats on the school board after members Hillary MacKenzie and Brenda Stephens shared they would not seek re-election.

Additionally, incumbents Will Atherton and Sarah Smylie took their own oaths for their second terms on the Board of Education. They rejoin Carrie Doyle, Jennifer Moore and Bonnie Hauser on the seven-member board.

Doyle was chosen as chair to close out the academic year, after former member MacKenzie stepped away from her duties citing health. Before the traditional written ballot vote for a new chair, Doyle shared some words about her time leading the Orange County Schools board.

“I would like to say that it has been a real pleasure serving as board chair these past seven months,” she said, “working alongside our phenomenal board vice chair Brenda Stephens. I wish the best of luck to our new chair and vice chair and will do all that I can to be helpful in service to all OCS students.”

Anne Purcell takes her oath to join the Orange County Schools Board of Education on Monday, July 11, 2022. André Richmond, the board’s other newcomer, took his own oath moments later. (Photo via Orange County Schools.)

The board’s election saw Atherton chosen as its chair once again, after he previous served in the position during the 2019-2020 academic year. Purcell was elected as vice chair.

Before the brief meeting adjourned, Atherton paused to extend his gratitude to Stephens, who served on the board for five terms, as well as Doyle.

“I’d like to thank Chair Doyle for all of her work on the school board and Mrs. Brenda Stephens, who’s not here, who has sacrificed a lot of time and effort. [I] just wanted to take a moment and acknowledge that.”

The Orange County School Board will now join the rest of the district in having a summer break. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 10 – the first example of the board’s future meetings being held on Mondays instead of Wednesdays.

To see the full Orange County Schools Board of Education meeting from Monday night, visit the district’s YouTube channel.

 

Photo via Orange County Schools.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

 

Related Stories
‹
Orange County Schools District Aligns Mask Changes With County Measures
While Governor Roy Cooper is encouraging counties and school districts to lift their mask mandates, Orange County leaders are keeping their mandate in place for the time being. The Orange County Board of Education voted Monday to move to optional masking for all students 72 hours after the local mask mandate expires in Orange County.
Orange County Commissioners Consider School Budget Requests Alongside Potential Federal Funding Cuts, Tax Increases
The Orange County Commissioners recently met with the CHCCS and OCS boards to review proposed budgets for the upcoming school year.
Orange County School Board Adopts Resolution Supporting Immigrant Families, Students
Orange County's school board passed a resolution in favor of helping its immigrant families and students, the latest act of local support.
Board Receives Review of Proficiency and Growth at Orange County Schools
The Orange County Schools Board of Education meeting on Sept. 9 featured a review of the proficiency and growth scores for local schools on the North Carolina State Board of Education’s annual report, which was released a few days earlier. Of the 13 schools in the Orange County School District, three scored an overall SPG […]
Padilla Sworn Into Orange County School Board of Education; Purcell Re-Elected as Chair
After a contentious election cycle this spring, the Orange County Schools Board of Education formally welcomed its new membership this week.
Orange County Schools Names 2024-25 Teacher of the Year
Orange County Schools named Pathways Elementary’s Teresa Rogers-Thorpe the 2024-25 Teacher of the Year on May 10.
Hauser Projected to Win Runoff, Takes Final Orange County Schools Board Seat
After falling short by more than 400 votes in March, Bonnie Hauser is projected to win a second term to the Orange County Schools Board of Education. Hauser leads fellow incumbent Jennifer Moore by nearly 1,100 votes with all 17 of the school district’s precincts reporting on Tuesday night in the runoff election between the […]
School Boards Discuss Bond, Budget Requests with Orange County Commissioners
The Orange County Board of Commissioners recently met with local boards of education to receive their budget requests.
Jennifer Moore Shares Statement on Resignation, Lack of Doctorate Degree
UPDATE: Jennifer Moore released a statement on Wednesday, April 24 addressing her resignation and controversy around a doctorate she at one point claimed to have. In a statement first shared with the News of Orange County newspaper, the former Orange County school board member said she resigned over health concerns and will not serve another […]
Orange County School Board Accepts Moore's Resignation During Monday Meeting
Jennifer Moore's departure from the Orange County Schools Board of Education was made official Monday with a vote to accept her resignation.
›