253 Justice United leaders filled the sanctuary of Lattisville Grove Missionary Baptist Church for a public meeting with candidates for the Orange County Board of Education, the largest employer serving rural Orange County with close to 1,000 staff, and a key institution that shapes the futures and opportunities available to over 7,400 young people. 

Candidates committed to hire over 140 African American and Latino teachers within the next four years to resolve racial hiring disparities in the teaching staff, increasing access to jobs for people of color; as well as the hiring of bilingual front office staff for every school (currently only 2 of 12 schools have bi-lingual front office staff, and the student body is 20% Latino). Candidates also committed to develop a continuing education unit to assist guidance counselors in helping immigrant students navigate a path to higher education. 

Four of seven seats on the Board of Education are up for election this May. With only one incumbent running, it’s clear that change is coming to the leadership of Orange County schools. Justice United will continue to organize to hold Board members accountable to delivering on these solutions.