Board moves to make May 16 an optional teacher work day after hours of public comment

The Chapel Hill‑Carrboro City Schools Board of Education considered a motion to designate May 16 an optional teacher work day after more than an hour of public testimony from teachers, union leaders, parents and students pressing the board to support educator advocacy at the state capitol.

The motion — recorded in the transcript as moved by Pat Bailey and seconded by Joe Brown — followed repeated pleas from speakers that the district allow teachers to participate in advocacy day activities. Sally Merriman, representing the Chapel Hill‑Carrboro Association of Educators, told the board: “We need you … to make that day an optional work day for teachers.” Diane Jackson, president of the Chapel Hill Carver Federation of Teachers, said the group stood “sick and tired of being sick and tired” and urged board support for teachers attending the rally.

Dr. Baldwin, the superintendent, had earlier briefed the board on operational consequences and options. Baldwin warned of lost instructional time and noted roughly “approximately, 220 employees impacted by that,” and said the district could provide professional development that day at an estimated cost of about $25,000 if all employees reported. Baldwin also flagged testing implications for Advanced Placement exams and said the district had explored College Board options and costs for administering makeup exams (figures she cited ranged from no fee to $15 or $45 per student depending on the scenario).

Parents and students described the rally as a civic‑education opportunity. Student speaker Max Posey told the board students and families could make accommodations and urged support for teachers’ efforts to press the legislature for improved school funding and teacher pay. PTA and parent leaders asked the board to communicate quickly about logistics — child care, breakfast and lunch for students, and AP exam administration — so families can plan.

Board members discussed the operational tradeoffs — substitute coverage, classified staff pay and alternate testing days — before taking a brief recess to consider logistics. The motion was placed on the floor by a board member; the transcript records a voice vote call for “aye” but does not include a roll‑call tally in the record.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: the board recessed briefly to permit staff to refine operational details (meals, testing and childcare logistics) and returned to continue the agenda. The transcript does not include a roll‑call vote count for the May 16 motion in the provided segments.

This item followed a lengthy public‑comment period in which dozens of teachers, PTA leaders and students urged board action to permit broad participation in Raleigh. The board also noted it would work with community organizations to support children and families on any day schools are closed.