Niharika Vattikonda
Articles
Zoombombing at Cedar Ridge High raises cybersecurity concerns in area schools
On Aug. 17, Cedar Ridge High School experienced a Zoombombing incident where disrupters yelled obscenities and the N-word and posted inappropriate images to a shared discussion board. This incident raised questions about how cybersecurity and digital safety are being handled during online learning.
From "crisis teaching" to a remote fall, here's what local schools will look like Monday
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will have a fully-remote fall semester ending Jan. 15. Orange County Schools will have a fully-remote first nine weeks of the school year. The district will return to school for in-person instruction when it is safe to do so, according to the OCS website.
Column: We want to hear your thoughts on the switch to remote learning
We want to hear how you’ve been impacted by this shift to remote education — fill out our online survey to share your experiences.
Orange County looks towards decontaminating, reusing PPE for first responders amid shortage
As Orange County's stockpile of personal protective equipment diminishes, community leaders look to alternate, safe solutions to reuse PPE while supplies are limited.
CHCCS Board discusses new budget and leadership changes
The Board approved a recommended budget that included: $230,000 to address compliance with Orange County Living Wage State-mandated costs for retirement or hospitalization $78,000 to complete Chapel Hill High School’s renovation And $1,580,000 to reduce class sizes.
North Carolina comes in 36th place nationwide in census responses
North Carolina is currently underperforming in responses to the 2020 Census. The lack of responses comes from complications due to COVID-19, several hard-to-count communities and insufficient internet access, among other things.
CHCCS Board of Education to fund WiFi hotspots for students without internet access
In preparation for the implementation of at-home learning until May 15, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education estimated the need for 225 MiFi hotspots to address the technology gap among elementary school students. The Board is also setting up approximately 500 Chromebooks for elementary school students that will tentatively be available for pick-up at the Lincoln Center or may be delivered to students directly.
School districts work for equitable remote education amid coronavirus closings
With the closing of all public schools until March 30, students in CHCCS and OCS face a new struggle: remote learning.
Last surviving Rosenwald school in Durham County celebrates Black History Month
The Historic Russell School is one of many Rosenwald schools, constructed during the Jim Crow era to provide Black students with the opportunity to receive an education. These schools were a result of a partnership between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, former chairperson and part-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Here's what you need to know about this year's Orange County School Board primary
Three of the seats on the Orange County Schools Board of Education are up for election this year. With concerns about achievement gaps, school safety and funding, candidates are hoping to provide a path forward for the future of Orange County schools.
Media
candidate meet and greet.jpg
First Baptist Church held a meet and greet for Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough candidates on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019.