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Friends of OCS? Not So Much
A perspective from Mike O’Hagerty
Well, it’s that time again. It’s primary election season across the US, where Democrats & Republicans hold statewide elections to determine who will represent their party on the general election ballot in November, including their candidates for President. Sounds important, right?
What may be most important, however, is the election (or re-election) of school board members across the State of North Carolina. Here in the Orange County Schools community, we have 7 candidates vying for 3 spots on our school board – three of the candidates are incumbents running for re-election. What this means are signs, signs, signs, and more signs. I often wonder how many voters cast their votes based on the number of signs they see around the community.
School board election season in this community also means the return of a little organization known as “Friends of OCS”. An organization which reminds me of Punxsutawney Phil, as this group only comes out once a year, during school board election season, or when they need their school board puppets to oust a superintendent – or any other historically resilient leader who chooses to challenge their status quo. I always find it interesting that these “Friends” only seem to be around for politicians, not to advocate for OCS staff & students. They have been anything but “friends” to OCS. Orange County Schools’ has had almost 20 superintendents since 1983. That doesn’t lend itself to a very stable environment for students & staff.
No one really knows who officially runs this organization since a search of businesses registered with the NC Department of Secretary of State yields zero results. Their website does not include any names, so they can claim to be bigger than they really are. The group claims to have formed in 2021, but it’s members have been pulling strings behind the scenes of Orange County Schools for a long time. This is the group responsible for “Trophygate” where they chose to spin all the good work OMS staff was doing to make an old, stale, dust-covered school, a place students & staff could feel good about, into something nefarious. This is the group responsible for recently forcing out an equity-focused, successful superintendent who calmly led the district through a global pandemic. Fortunately for that superintendent, she was able to land on her feet leading one of the best school systems in the US.
For the March 5 election, “Friends” of OCS had already endorsed a slate of 3 candidates before any interviews, forums, or official public statements from those candidates. Yard signs from the “Friends” of OCS endorsements were seen around areas of Northern Orange County the week of January 8, 2024. The filing deadline for the March 5 election date was December 19, 2023. Interesting.
I know some of the leadership of this group. They served OCS fairly well – so I’ve been told – a while ago. They want to return to “the way things used to be”. Given that the Tar Heel State’s education system is one built on racism, segregation, and classism, you might see how going back to “the way things used to be” might be problematic. They claim our challenges have only arisen in the last 4 years – coinciding with the District’s hiring of a black female superintendent who was willing to challenge the OGs. Interesting.
The future of Orange County Schools does not rest in the hands of people elected because they “graduated from OHS” or “they’re married to a legendary coach” or “they go to my church” or because “they can filibuster a board meeting better than any member of the US Congress”. That approach is what has brought us here…that’s the ideology that is causing “white flight” from our traditional public schools.
The challenges we face in OCS are not unique. They are challenges faced by every public school system in the United States; yet we continue to force 19th century solutions on students & staff. “Friends” of OCS has played an integral role in preventing impactful NEW investment in our schools, our students, and their teachers.
If we want better schools for our families – if we want our tax dollars invested in the children of this community – we must put the past behind us and vote for candidates who represent the future. Candidates that represent this vibrant, brilliant, diverse community.
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