Want to be in-the-know about the two school districts in Orange County? Check out Speaking of Schools on Mondays, a ‘News on The Hill’ segment that features leaders from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools system and Orange County Schools system!
Discussing Absenteeism During Attendance Awareness Month at CHCCS — Speaking of Schools (October 19, 2026)
CHCCS Director of Wellness and Preventative Services Ally Scercy, Rashkis Elementary School Social Worker Ashanti Keitt, and Phillips Middle School Social Worker Allison Crosetto speak with 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell on Monday, October 19. As “Attendance Awareness Month” continues for our local public schools, the group details the school district’s approach to both discussing and addressing chronic absenteeism. Scercy shares how CHCCS has rebounded in its attendance levels over the recent academic years, while Keitt and Crosetto share their experiences of working with families and students to ensure absences don’t pile up. The group also shares this year’s theme to Attendance Awareness Month and the underlying motivators for it.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Listen:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: Sandra Blefko of Orange County Schools and Marlyn Valeiko of Orange County Civil Rights
Sandra Blefko, OCS Family and Community Outreach Coordinator and Marlyn Valeiko, Language Access & Community Specialist for Orange County, spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Monday, October 12. They discussed “Empoderando: Conectando con Nuestra Cultura,” a community event coming up at Orange High School on Wednesday night from 6-8 p.m. They discussed what people can expect at the event, how it came to be in the first place, and what future collaborations may happen between the school district and the Office of Civil Rights.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: CHCCS Board Chair Riza Jenkins
Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Board Chair Riza Jenkins spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Monday, September 28. She discussed the recent process of filling the vacant school board seat after Rani Dasi’s appointment to the Orange County Commissioners. She also discussed welcoming new board member Tongde Wu. She discussed upcoming feedback opportunities for the community as the board considers elementary school redistricting, updates the early school year transportation situation, and more.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Listen:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones — (September 21, 2026)
Orange County Schools Superintendent Danielle Jones speaks with 97.9 The Hill News Director Brighton McConnell on Monday, September 21. Jones shared how the start of the school year has gone, with some facility upgrades getting finished and good news from the state’s accountability report. She also shares details on some of the district’s big goals of the school year alongside Orange County Schools’ strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism as September is Attendance Awareness Month. Finally, Jones shares details on Monday night’s college fair at Orange High School and the upcoming meeting with Orange County Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Orange County commissioners.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Listen:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: Rachel Rossi and Jennifer Tang from Glenwood PTA (September 14, 2026)
Glenwood Elementary School PTA President Rachel Rossi and Secretary Jennifer Tang spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Monday, September 14. The discussed the school’s STEAM² Specialist class, which supports the Mandarin programs at the school. They talked about what makes the class unique, the highly qualified instructor, and the likelihood that the class will be gone after the closure of Glenwood next year. They also talked about the start of the school year for Glenwood families, and more.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: Chief Communications Officer for CHCCS Andy Jenks
Chief Communications Officer for CHCCS Andy Jenks joined 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Monday, August 17. He discussed the upcoming start of the school year, with the first day coming one week from today. They also discussed the impending decision on where students from Glenwood Elementary will go after the upcoming school year. He also mentioned upcoming redistricting conversations, and more.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: National Principal of the Year Jason Johnson
Orange High School Principal and National Principal of the Year Jason Johnson joined 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey in studio on Monday, August 3. He discussed his recollection of receiving the National Principal of the Year award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. He also recounted the work that has earned him accolades, including his decision to return to Orange High School after a prior stint leading that building, and more.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: Riza Jenkins and Rodney Trice on Glenwood Elementary School
Chapel Hill Carrboro City School Board Chair Riza Jenkins and Superintendent Rodney Trice spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Monday, June 8. They discussed the board’s recent unanimous vote to close Glenwood Elementary School after the 2026-2027 school year. They discussed the reasoning for the arrival at that decision, including facilities, enrollment, and more. They also talked about what comes next for Glenwood families and the programs at the school, how other families in the district can support the Glenwood community, and more.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Speaking of Schools: CHCCS Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks on Public Hearing, Graduation, and More
Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Monday, May 18. He discussed the upcoming public hearing on the decision surrounding possible closure of one of the district’s elementary schools. He shared that due to public interest, the meeting has been moved to Smith Middle School from the Lincoln Center. The meeting will still be on Thursday, May 21. He also talked about graduation and other important end-of-year events.
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
CHCCS’ Ongoing Review of Elementary Schools Ahead of Closure Discussions — Speaking of Schools (Mar. 23, 2026)
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks joins 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell on Monday, Mar. 23. Despite no new updates since establishing the district’s scope of study on a trio of elementary schools that could be closed soon, the topic continues to drum up passion among the CHCCS community. Jenks shares his perspective on that, how the district is hearing from stakeholders, and how the study on the schools — Ephesus Elementary, Glenwood Elementary and Seawell Elementary — aim to keep the process objective. He also shares how any potential closure will impact future budget seasons, but not the upcoming one…which will instead by complicated by the lack of a state budget. Plus: spring break awaits CHCCS students and staff!
Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
