This body makes laws for the state. Like the United States Congress, the NCGA is divided into two parts:

• House of Representatives
• Senate

In the House of Representatives, 120 members serve 2-year terms. The House is presided by the Speaker, elected by the members. In 2010, Mecklenburg County has 10 House district representatives.

In the Senate, 50 members serve 2-year terms. The Senate is presided by the Lieutenant Governor, who is elected by NC citizens for a4-year term. He/she has no vote in the Senate, except to break a tie. The Senate also elects members to serve as officers, including the Senate Pro-Tem. In 2010, Mecklenburg County has 5 Senate representatives.

The General Assembly meets in January of each odd-numbered year, and reconvenes in each even-numbered year for a short session.

How does a bill become a law?

• Both the Senate and the House leadership elects committees among its members to cover important topics such as appropriations, education, public safety and transportation.
• The committees develop bills – sometimes with the assistance of public citizens. Each bill has one or more primary sponsor, and often one or more co-sponsors. A House bill will have House sponsors, and a Senate bill will have Senate sponsors. The sponsor introduces the bill on a day when the NCGA is in session.
• From there, the bill continues in committee where it is reviewed, discussed and modified. A House bill is matched with a similar Senate bill, and vice-versa, to ensure support of both bodies. If the bill involves money, it is sent to the Appropriations Committee.
• After a bill is reviewed, discussed and finalized, it may be approved into law. If it is not approved into law, the bill is dead and if the sponsor wishes to see it become approved into law, he or she may try again in another year.

More information about the General Assembly

Responsibilities of the BOCC include:

• Adopt the annual county budget
• Set the property tax rate
• Define county priorities and policies
• Hire the county manager, a professional who manages the daily operations of the county

What does county government do?

• Community health and safety – courts, social services, health
• Education and economic development – CMS and CPCC funding, job training, libraries
• Growth and environment – parks and greenways, historic preservation
• County government operations – staffing, budgets, tax collection, code enforcement, elections, public information, property and more

How are commissioners elected?

• Mecklenburg County Commissioners members serve 2-year terms.
• There are 9 members of the BOCC, including 3 at-large members and 6 district candidates.
• The next election for this office will be in 2010.

Getting involved in county government

• Watch or attend BOCC meetings – generally the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 6PM at the Government Center
• Visit Mecklenburg County Government on the web
• Check out MeckGov on social media

The Board of Education, or school board, is the elected governing body for the school district in Charlotte and Mecklenburg. This includes schools in Charlotte, the 6 Mecklenburg towns and unincorporated areas of the county.

Two kinds of representation

The school board is divided into two groups:

• District members are elected by only the voters who live in their district, or a particular area of the county. This helps to ensure that the school board is aware of, and can address, the concerns, issues and wishes of the residents in each part of the community.  There are 6 district members.
• At-large members represent everyone in the county, and are elected by a countywide vote. This helps to equalize representation and ensure that decisions balance the needs of each district. There are 3 at-large members.
• All school board members work together to provide policy decisions that benefit the district as a whole.

Board of Education on the ballot

• School board members serve 4-year terms and are elected on a rotating schedule.
• The offices are non-partisan, so there is no primary election.
• District representatives were elected in 2009.
• At-Large offices will be on the general election ballot in 2011.

Responsibilities of the Board of Education

The school board has specific areas of responsibility:

• Hiring, firing and evaluating the superintendent (CEO of the district)
• Establishing school district policy
• Determining the annual operating and capital budgets
• Approving student assignment boundaries
• Overseeing the management of the school district’s major systems including budget and finance, curriculum and instruction, personnel and auxiliary services.

Learn more

The school board meets twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. View meeting agendas and minutes, learn about the school district budget, contact school board members and more.

Website: www.rhondalennonforschoolboard.com

E-mail: rhonda@rhondalennon.com

Phone Number:: 704-564-3382

Facebook Page or URL:: rhonda.lennon

Twitter name or URL:: rhondalennon

Current Occupation:: Realtor and Emergency Room Nurse

Education–Highest Degree:: BA Business Administration from UNCC

What District are you running in? District 1

Did/do you have children attending public school in the CMS system? Yes

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:
I have lived in Mecklenburg County for 31 years (19 in District 1) and am a CMS graduate with three children now in CMS Schools. I have a B.A. in Business from UNCC and lengthy work experience with Fortune 500 Companies. I have been involved in many civic and school groups with my focus on children and children’s issues. With the formation of FUME (Families United for North Mecklenburg Education) in 2003, I raised my involvement to a new level with my positive grassroots advocacy to successfully relieve overcrowding in suburban schools. I am the only candidate who has actively worked for and succeeded in getting several new schools built and improving public education in District 1. I have served on numerous committees (including CCBAC and SBSC) and have worked closely with county staff on budget issues.

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three):
1. Families United for North Mecklenburg Education (FUME) – founder
2. Huntersville School Advisory Committee (appointed by Town Board)
3. North Mecklenburg High School and Huntersville Elementary School PTA

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:
1. Founder and Leader of FUME: a successful grassroots public school advocacy group that got several new schools built in District 1
2. NC PTA Oak Leaf Award Winner for Outstanding Individual Volunteer
3. Service on Governor Martin’s School Building Solutions Committee, Dr Gorman’s School Standards Review Committee and Board of Education appointee to the Citizen’s Capital Budget Advisory Committee

What makes you the most qualified candidate?
I am a passionate supporter of public education in Mecklenburg County. I am a 31 year Mecklenburg resident who graduated from CMS and all three of my children attend CMS schools. Even as a working mom, I have been able to spend hours volunteering in my children’s schools. In 2003 I took my advocacy to a new level with the formation of Families United for North Mecklenburg Education (FUME). My goal with FUME was to be a positive voice for change and to establish collaborative working relationships with the school board, CMS staff and county staff to address the crisis of suburban overcrowding. I have been successful in getting new schools built and improving public education in District 1. I was also awarded the NC PTA Oak Leaf award for outstanding individual volunteer in 2004.
In addition to FUME, I have served on numerous school and budget related committees, including the Citizens’ Capital Budget Advisory Committee and Governor Martin’s School Building Solutions Committee. I also have a BA in Business from UNCC and work experience with several Fortune 500 companies. Our citizens need a voice on the school board with a solid business background and experience in budgeting. My involvement and the relationships I have established give me much needed experience on dealing with the budget concerns CMS is now facing and be an effective member of the school board.

What do you believe is the single most important investment the school district can make to improve student achievement?
Hiring and retaining the most highly effective, extensively prepared teachers possible who understand that EVERY child can learn and achieve.

Seven recommended goals in the CMS strategic plan 2014 are: Highly Effective Educators, Highly Effective Leaders, Performance Management, Developing Digital Citizens, Environmental Sustainability, Support Services for Positive Choices and Parent & Community Connections. Which of these is the most important to you and how would your leadership ensure that goal is met?
Performance Management: CMS must develop an effective model to assess all staff and all programs. I would push for a strategic analysis of all programs based on standard business practices of evaluating for efficacy and cost effectiveness. Using this type of performance based model would aid in preparing a more transparent budget.
We now track student performance on factors outside the student’s and family’s control like race, gender and family income. I would like to also correlate student performance to factors that the student and family can control, such as absenteeism, conduct, and homework completion.

How can residents in your district (including parents, students and others) be engaged in the work of elevating student achievement? What will you do to support their efforts?
1. Students need to come to the school house prepared and ready to learn. They need to do their homework and follow the rules of the school.
2. Parents need to be involved and make sure their students attend school, do their homework and have appropriate conduct. They need to have open communication with the teachers.
3. Residents can get involved by volunteering in the schools. Schools need volunteers in the early years to help with reading and offer individualized tutoring. We need strong business leaders to mentor students and develop co-op programs for older students to help them explore career paths.
4. Community leaders (Chamber, Rotary, etc.) and elected officials (town boards, city council, etc.) need to work collaboratively to keep schools and student success as a focus.
5. I will be involved and visible in my district, offering a level of responsiveness that the residents deserve. I use all current technology and am highly accessible. I will be committed to visiting every school and attending at least 1 PTA function in every school each year. In addition I plan to have routine “Coffee Talks” in the University City, Mountain Island and the 3 northern towns to give citizens an informal time to talk to me about their issues.

E-mail

Phone Number:: 704-392-7253

Facebook Page or URL:: www.Facebook.com/votemcelrath

Current Occupation:: Retired

Education–Highest Degree:: Master of Education Administration

What District are you running in?: District 2

Did/do you have children attending public school in the CMS system?: Yes

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:
Retired from: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (34yrs. Math teacher)
Education: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Degree: Master of Education Administration
Minor: Political Science
Master Teacher Certificate
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Majors: Intermediate Education
Social Studies
Math
Minor: Art

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three):
•Member Charlotte Black Political Caucus
Chairman of Education Committee
•Charlotte NAACP (Life Time Member-Paid-Up)
Past: Chairman of Education Committee
•Served as : Member of School Building Solutions committee
•Served as : Member of Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:
•Advisory Committee for CMS Parent University
•Swann Fellowship
•Founder: West Side Environment Coalition
•Founder : People United for Education

What makes you the most qualified candidate?
• Education
• Knowledge
• Experience
• Passion
• Ability to bring people together
My experience has taught me that children who come from high poverty high minority neighborhoods are considered “high achiever” if they score 3 or 4 on the End of Grade (EOG) test; while their counter parts that come from low poverty low minority neighborhoods that score a 3 or 4 on the EOG have met minimum requirements. I want to be a voice on the board that calls for high expectations for all of our children. I strongly believe that expectations drive the quality of resources you provide and outcome you achieve.

Website

E-mail: waddelljoyce@hotmail.com

Phone Number:: (704) 549-4777

Facebook Page or URL:: Joyce Waddell

Current Occupation:: Educational Consultant

Education–Highest Degree:: PhD

What District are you running in?: District 3

Did/do you have children attending public school in the CMS system?: Select

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:
Joyce Waddell has more than 3 decades of experience in education with more than two of them in the Charlotte Mecklenburg schools. she continues to take assignments in the school system and has had experience working at the elementary school level, middle school level, high school level and more than a decade in administration including training teachers in innovation classroom strategies. She has worked under the leadership of seven superintendents. She has excellent knowledge of budgets, she is a team player, she has participated in studying pupil assignments and will be a great member of the School Board.

Most important organizations you belong to (up to three):
She currently serves as the 2nd vice chair of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Political Caucus, a long time member of the League of Women voters, a board member of the Democratic Women of Charlotte.

List up to three (3) of your most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:
She served as the Chair of the Housing Appeals Board for the City of Charlotte and was chair for three years ending 2009. Awarded the Silver Star Honor by the Democratic Women of Charlotte June 2009, NAACP of Charlotte awarded her the Community Service Award – 2008.

What makes you the most qualified candidate?
Knowledge and experience related to the duties and functions of a school board member makes Joyce Waddell the most qualified candidate. Expertise in supervision, budgets, pupil assignment, and hiring practices all related to duties of a school board member possed by Joyce Waddell. Being a small business owner provides knowledge about business transactions. Holding 2 masters degrees and a PhD relates to continues educational training.

What do you believe is the single most important investment the school district can make to improve student achievement?
After school tutoring seems to have been very effective.

Seven recommended goals in the CMS strategic plan 2014 are: Highly Effective Educators, Highly Effective Leaders, Performance Management, Developing Digital Citizens, Environmental Sustainability, Support Services for Positive Choices and Parent & Community Connections. Which of these is the most important to you and how would your leadership ensure that goal is met?
Performance Management is very important because it provides for measurement and assessment. It shows that which is accomplished and provides methods of that which needs to be accomplished.

How can residents in your district (including parents, students and others) be engaged in the work of elevating student achievement? What will you do to support their efforts?
School committees composed of parents, teachers and students in dialogue on a weekly basis will be very effective as they address concerns and monitor programs in their respective schools.