2023-11-8 CRAC Special Meeting Minutes
C-RAC Special Mee?ng
November 8, 2023
City Appointees –
Sherl Hands (absent)
Victoria McSwain (absent)
Kirsten Kainz
Kathy King (absent)
Rev. Dr. Sabrenia Smallwood-Moore
County Appointees –
Liz Carbone
Cherri Cook
Stephanie Medcalfe
Fawn Rhodes (absent)
Sam Wheeler
Tammy Wynn (absent)
Support Staff –
Linda Thompson (County DEIO)
Joe Conway (City DEIO)
A special mee?ng was co-convened by C-RAC and the New Hanover County Schools Equity,
Diversity, and Inclusion subcommi?ee of the Board of Educa?on (EDI) for the purpose of sharing
the findings from the August 2023 Listening Session co-convened by C-RAC and NHC-SEPTA. In
addi?on to C-RAC members two school board members, three school administrators, mul?ple
teachers, parents, and community members a?ended the mee?ng.
Liz Carbone and Malcolm Johnson (EDI) welcomed the group. Shawn Lamb (EDI) and Denise
Yannone (NHC-SEPTA) provided an overview of the August Listening Session, and small groups
of mee?ng a?endees generated suggested ac?ons to promote inclusion, equity, and quality of
life for students par?cipa?ng in special educa?on and related services in New Hanover County.
A table of all suggested ac?ons with the number of endorsements for immediate ac?on (green)
and further study (blue) follows.
Suggested Ac?on Green Blue
Increase staff to support 8 0
instruc?on
Provide support for parent 2 2
engagement (e.g.,
interpreters)
Convene a blue ribbon task 0 8
force to study impact of
funding on student outcomes
Create parent resource 0 5
centers
Increase digital access and 5 0
digital literacy
Increase collabora?on among 4 0
parents, teachers,
community (e.g., listening
session)
Increase family/caregiver 3 0
access and engagement
around decision-making on
behalf of student
Improve communica?on with 4 1
families/caregivers
Acknowledge and li? up 3 1
individuality
Stop wai?ng for kids to fail 4 2
before we serve them
Foster understanding that 0 5
educa?on funding and
support is not a zero-sum
game (if your kids gets it then
mine won’t)
Increase staff and volunteers 3 2
to support student behavior
and well-being