Decisions decisions

I don't see why the perpetual use of descriptive terms "white men." I do see merit the original discussion--a valid discussion of valuing diversity. However, repeatedly using race and gender to describe these individuals borders on offensive to me.

If it was an injustice to have selected "three white men," I think the focus (by now) should have reverted back from the candidates and to the folks responsible for selecting them.

I think part of our progressive agenda should be to value our race and genders, but not let them define us--and not to define others by them. If there is residual disgust at their selection, I think we need to locate the proper place for it.

Does anyone know who they picked for school board?

The public access channel will rebroadcast tonight's public forum for town manager candidates on Thursday June 22 at 9 am and 7 pm if anyone missed some or all of tonight's presentation. This according to Catherine Lazorko, Town Information Officer. You can email your thoughts to the Council at mayorandcouncil@townofchapelhill.org.

The school board selected Annetta K. Streater.

(It came down to a 4-2 vote between Streater and Shang Yin.)

I didn't see or attend the meeting, but based on Ruby's notes and what I've seen in the news, the reason for the similarity of answers is the similarity of reasons for caution. I would have hoped that questioners might have gone more directly to the things that make Chapel Hill different from (rather than similar to) the communities where they've served before -- and the biggest, purplest elephant in the forum is the University. I'd hardly call Chapel Hill a resort town, except maybe insofar as there's a seasonal swell of population and an abiding problem with excess partying.......

However, although it's the Council that is the primary political organ that must deal with town-gown issues, there are going to be many, many moments in the evolution of Carolina North when the manager will be involved. Even if Ragan has been part of development of a medical park, he wasn't -- as far as I can tell -- dealing with a company town (although he spent several years in Bloomington, IN).

I am struggling to understand the very low level of interest in the recent school board appointment process and wonder if anyone would care to weigh in. On the surface the membership of the BOE should merit some attention with 11,000 students and an operating budget next year of 111 million dollars. Further, a fair portion of the reputation of Chapel Hill and Carrboro comes from the school system.

Leading up the the appointment there was one article in the CHN regarding the possibility of an Asian American candidate, a short discussion of that here on the OP, and that was pretty much it.

While the opening did entice 7 people to apply (myself included to be clear, jbdanner = Jeff Danner) other than a few friends of Shang Yin no one showed up at the applicate interviews and then at the actual appointment meeting there was me, a friend of mine, and the press (although Ms. Streater did apparently come later).

Reasons that I can think of for the apparent disinterest are:
- The lack of taxing authority
- The assumption that the school district has always performed reasonably well (whether or not that is true) and always will
- The lack of a polarizing issue at the moment

If anyone has a perspective to share I would be quite interested. Those of you on the OP appear to have a better pulse on the community that I. The election poll in November was a rather accurate predictor of my performance.

Perhaps no answer in the course of two weeks was the most accurate answer of all. Post a question about why a particular topic attracts no interest and I suppose silence is a rather poetic answer.

I have gained no further understanding, but at least I know my thesis was correct.

Jeff,
Poetic indeed. I can only assume that you are right on all three points. At the debates that I attended last year it seemed like school board questions were offered up as a matter of courtesy and not because there was any real debate about the issues. For my own part, my kids aren't in school yet and while I'm focusing my attention elsewhere for now.

Good on ya for continuing to fight for a spot on the school board.

Jeff,

While I agree with #2 & #3 of your reasons for 'the apparent disinterest' in the appointment process, I don't agree with the 'lack of taxing authority' as a reason. We've had too many controversies over schooling issues in the past and the school board has never had taxing authority.

One person can't make much difference on a board that is so tightly controlled by staff. When there are 3+ openings, the opportunity/threat of real power shift is a possibility. With 1 person, the status quo remains intact, regardless of who the individual is.

Also--it IS summer--and people are out of town, or busy...and for those with kids still IN school--the schools have shifted down the priority list. For many parents, once school is out, "out of sight out of mind."

Finally--I think Terri may have hit the nail on the head. Not much difference one appointed board member can make. Not even a chance for voters to demonstrate they WANT a change...

melanie/personally FINISHED with the schools/last kid graduated//East's Senior Prank ROCKED