Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Dashew, Byers-Bailey To Lead Board Of Education

Press release from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools:

12/14/2021

Elyse Dashew was re-elected chair and Thelma Byers-Bailey was re-elected vice-chair for 2022 at the Dec. 14 regular meeting of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education.

"I am grateful to my colleagues on this Board for electing me chairperson a third time," Dashew said. "I look forward to continuing the complex, important work on behalf of our children. Together we are serving in one of the most challenging times in history for a school board. I do not take the responsibility lightly."

The election was the third consecutive time both women have been elected to their leadership positions. 

"I also appreciate my colleagues electing me to a third term as vice-chair," Byers-Bailey said. "We have so much work to do – and I look forward to working with the members of the Board to serve the children of Mecklenburg County."

In other business: Granting a request from the South Academy of International Languages (SAIL), the Board voted to approve naming the school's gym the Ann Hardy Athletic Center. Hardy began work as a bus driver for CMS in 1987, then became a secretary and a teacher assistant. She worked at Bruns and Beverly Woods elementary schools before joining Smith Middle, where she worked as registrar, data manager, and cheer and track coach. She has also worked as the German travel exchange coordinator for the fifth grade.

 The letter recommending the renaming said, "Ms. Hardy has embodied the true qualities that are important for CMS: pride in our school, courage, energy, and leadership. She demonstrated pride in all she did, working hard to inspire students along the way to be the best that they could be in any language."

In other action, the Board voted to stop licensing six After School Enrichment Program sites which do not have enough staff to meet licensure standards, and to raise the ratio of children to adults at other sites. Both actions will take effect Jan. 3.

The higher ratios will still meet the minimum standard required for licensure. Many of the district's ASEP sites have been struggling to find enough workers for some time. The six sites that will be delicensed are: Eastover, Endhaven, Elizabeth Lane, Olde Providence, Palisades Park and Rama Road.

The Board also voted to adopt the calendar of meetings for 2022.

This press release was produced by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.