Who is Lenora Shipp, 2023 candidate for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board?

Name: Lenora Shipp

Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 65

Campaign website: www.shippcampaign.com

Occupation: Retired educator

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Barber Scotia College; a master’s degree and certification in Educational Administration with a concentration in management and supervision from Ohio State University; master’s of arts in K-12 curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; and continuous studies at local, state, and national institutions, including Queens College, the Executive Leadership Institute, and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Principal Executive Program.

Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)

Yes. I’ve been on the school board since 2019.

Please list your highlights of civic involvement

Highlights of my civic involvement include: Serving as vice president of the Winget Pond HOA Board and working to support the communities needs and concerns; serving as a member of the State Employee Credit Union Advisory Board where I have served on the SECU Education Foundation. I have the honor of awarding the SECU scholarship to deserving seniors. The SECU Foundation committee has also worked along with the Monarch Group to open the First residential Youth Crisis Center in Charlotte. I am a volunteer advisor and chaperone for Campus Connections and have served to provide workshops for parents and students in preparation for college.

What are your ideas for improving student performance if elected to the CMS board?

To continue our Student Outcomes Focused Government (SOFG) work and strong focus on academic achievement and effective monitoring of the goals and guardrails. We need to focus on our four pillars: Academic Excellence, People Excellence, Operational Excellence (Safety and Supervision) and Engagement Excellence, which is the key to impacting student achievement. We need to continue all strategies and programs for hiring and retaining the best and the brightest teachers and staff to work in our schools. There is a need for consistency, fidelity of operations, systems and sustainability to continue moving the school system forward. This work, along with the strong leadership of our superintendent, is necessary. “Excellence without Exception.”

Will you support the $2.5 billion bond that will be on the November ballot for school projects? Why or why not?

Yes, definitely as a board member that worked hard in support of this bond package. We need school buildings that enable innovative teaching and learning, promote safe environments, operations, and support student enrichment activities. Thirty projects will strengthen our impact on student achievement. I had the opportunity as a former principal to witness the impact of moving into a new replacement school that was opened because of bond funding. A state-of-the-art facility with needed additional classrooms — special provisions for Pre-K classrooms, and well ventilated spaces. The teachers, staff, students and parents experienced the positive impact on academic achievement, health and well-being. This school bond project will help provide equal opportunities and better outcomes for our students. Schools in fast-growing suburban communities across the county are overcrowded. Schools in older, established neighborhoods across Charlotte are outdated and don’t meet modern safety standards. This school bond addresses these needs.

What’s your opinion on school book bans or decisions to limit the audience for particular titles. And how would you approach the problem if a parent brought a book to your attention?

I am not for school book bans and advocate as an educator for providing rich, diverse, high interest levels of literature for all our students, age appropriate. There is policy A-ILM- Selection of Library Media Center and Supplementary Materials that provides a means for parents to object to textbooks and supplementary materials. The Central Media Advisory Committee will review request for appeal of a book. The library staff will restrict access to any titles that a parent/guardian does not want their child to access, upon request, at any time. I would inform the parent of the process by contacting the school for the appropriate steps to follow.

How will you prioritize projects if the bond referendum is approved in November? And how would you approach deciding on major construction needs more broadly?

We have projects that are being completed now, and we will continue that schedule. On our CMS bond construction website it shows the progress and schedule of projects. However, as we begin the new bond projects, funding from Mecklenburg County determines the order of projects. Costs are a factor due to escalation, based on what can be afforded and when it can be afforded. The proposed projects will take 5-10 years to complete. If passed, the funds are distributed according to the county spending plan over the duration of the plan. However, designers are already being engaged on the first round of projects so that we can be in the best possible starting position. We have our the Capital Needs Assessment, Capital Improvement Plan and community engagement process we follow to make decisions on major construction needs.

What are your ideas for CMS to foster good relationships with towns and different communities across Mecklenburg County?

I have been actively involved with attending community organizational meetings, town halls and events throughout the county to listen, share school district updates and information. Our Community Listening sessions we had as part of our Student Outcomes Focused Governance work has been very meaningful and provided much insight on our families, parents and community’s visions and values for our schools. I will continue to be engaged in this work. I have been on the MEAC (Municipal Education Advisory Committee) throughout my four years on the board, which has provided me with the opportunity to foster good relationship with my municipal and city officials across Mecklenburg County and attending community events, meetings in their towns.

What separates you from you opponents and makes you the best choice on November’s ballot?

My entire career as an educator has been very rewarding especially when I see the fruit of my labor through the success in the lives of students. From the classroom to the boardroom — experience counts. I have a record of closing the gap and raising the bar for student achievement as a principal. Now with four years as a school board member-at-large, I have learned governance — working with the board and superintendent to improve student outcomes; our mission as a school board. I am uniquely qualified to do this work for our school system and for our students. I bring the consistency of what is needed for continuous improvement. Most importantly I believe being a parent and putting your child through school is one of the most rewarding things you will do. I had the privilege to be able to do that in CMS. My daughter graduated May 2023 with a doctorate of medicine.