>> THIS WEEK ON OFF THE RECORD, WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST WEEK AND NOW RALEIGH'S DECIDING WHAT TEACHERS AND CAN'T SAY IN THE CLASSROOM WHEN IT COMESLA TO RACE AND GENDER.

ANDND THAT DISCUSSION IN RALEIGH GOT A LITTLE UGLY.

ALSO MECKLENBURG MAKES THE FIRST MOVE ON LOCAL LGBTQ PROTECTS.

IT'S APR RESOLUTION FOR NOWOR COULD HAVE COUNTY ORDINANCE BE NEXT?

MEANWHILE, WHAT ABOUT CITY COUNCIL?

TURNS OUT CHARLOTTE'S NEWEST COUNCILMEMBER VOTED NO THE LAST TIME.

IN COVID NEWS, THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, THE GOP SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND THET STATE'S TOP DOCTOR ALL SAY IT'S TIME FOR SCHOOLS TO REOPEN.

WHAT DOES CMS SAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE AMONG THE NEXT GROUP ELIGIBLE FOR A COVID VACCINE.

WILL THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE MAYBE?

YOU CAN GET A FREE F SHOT AT THE STADIUM AND A BUS RIDE STRAIGHT TO THE VACCINE CENTER.

SO WHY AREN'T MINORITY PATIENTS GETTING THEIR COVID SHOTS?

PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT NEXT ON PBS CHARLOTTE.

>> HI.

I'M JEFF SONNIER AND WE'RE OFF THE RECORD TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WEEK AND IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS, READ THE NEWS AND LISTEN TO THE NEWS YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THE NAMES AND FACES AROUND OUR VIRTUAL TABLE THIS WEEK.

MARK BOECHER FROM WSOC AND ASHLEY FEIGH AND ELI FROM THE UNC-CHARLOTTE URBAN INSTITUTE AND THANKS FOR JOINING OUR CREW.

YOU CAN JOIN OUR CONVERSATION AT HOME.

EMAIL YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS TO OFFTHERECORD@WTVI.

COM.

WE'LL PICK UP THIS WEEK WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A STORY THAT DEDRICK BROUGHT TOK B US ABOUT CHANGING IN THE CURRICULUM FOR SOCIAL STUD STUDIES IN INCOME BEING IN.

AGAIN, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HEADLINE NEWS UNTIL YOU DIG INTO THE DETAILS.

THIS WEEK, THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD MADE A DECISION ON WHAT TEACHERS CAN AND CAN'T SAY WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS.

DEDRICK, DO YOU WANT TO PICK USIC UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF?

>> YES.

EVERY SO OFTEN THERE'S A VERY RIGS OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM AND WITH THE SPACE THAT WE'RE IN AND THE RIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, BOARD MEMBERS WANTED TO MORE INCLUSIVE AND NOT EXCLUSIVE AND TELL STUDENTS THE WHOLE STORY.

IT WAS A BATTLE OF THE WORDS AND THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION AND GENDER IDENTITY.

AND THERE WASR ID PUSHBACKK BECAUSE SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERS THOUGHT THAT WAS A LEFT WING AGENDA, TEACHING OUR STUDENTS THAT AMERICA WAS BAD AND TEACHING OUR STUDENTS THAT AMERICA WASN'T A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE IN AND SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SYSTEMIC RACISM HERE IN MERICA.

SO THEY WANTED TO SCRATCH THOSE WORDS FROM THE CURRICULUM.

SO I GUESS THERE WAS SOME COMPROMISE THERE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE DEMOCRATS FOUGHT TO TRY TO KEEP THE WORD SYSTEMIC AND GENDER IDENTITY IN THERE BUT THEY LOST THAT BATTLE.

BUT THE BATTLE THEY DID WIN IS TEACHERS CAN TEACH ABOUT RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND IDENTITY.

SO I GUESS AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO TEACH ABOUT RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION AND I GUESS ITCR WILL BE TO THE TEACHERS TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAR AND WHAT YOU WANT TO INCLUDE WHEN TEACHING RACISM TO OUR STUDENTS.

>> YEAH.

JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD TOOK OUT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND GENDER IDENTITY.

SHE SAID, SO THEY COULD DISCUSS ALL SORTS OF RACISM AND ALL SORTS OF IDENTITY ISSUES AND ALSO WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY INTERESTING AND YES, THEY DID GET INTO WHAT THEY DID PASS, THEY TOOK BROAD GOALS THAT USED TO BE IN THE CURRICULUM AND MADE THEM VERY SPECIFIC.E SO NOW THE NEW-- EVEN THOSE WORDS, SYSTEMIC AND GENDER ARE GONE, THERE ARE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW TEACHING EQUALITY ABOUT RACE, WOMEN, TRIBES, IDENTITY, ABILITY AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SPECIFIC STUDY OF SLAVERY, SEGREGATION AND VOTER SUPPRESSION.

ONE OTHER CHANGE THEY WENT FROM HOW POLICIES SHAPE THE NATION AND THE STATE TO HOW THEY SUPPRESS AND EXPLOIT CERTAIN GROUPS.

SO IT DOES SOUND LIKE BOTH GROUPS KIND OF GOT WHAT THEY WANTED.

THOSE ACTUAL WORDS SYSTEMIC AND GENDER ARE GONE.

BUT THERE ARE SOME VERY CLEAR GUIDELINES ON THOSE KINDS OF WHAT SHOULD BE TAUGHT AS PART OF THE SUBJECT, ITSELF, IS CONCERNED >> AS A GUY WHO'S NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL FOREE A LONG TIME AND EVEN M TY KIDS ARE OUT OF SCHOOL, WHAT WERE WE TEACHING?

WHAT WERE WE SAYING ABOUT THIS STUFF?

WERE WE PRETENDING IT DIDN'T HAPPEN?

OF COURSE NOT.

WAS IT BEING GLOSSED OVER?

I THINK THAT BEGS THE QUESTION AS TO WHAT HAS BEEN TAUGHT.

WITH ALL THAT, THIS IS A PRODUCT OF OUR TIME AND IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS AND TO HAVE THIS A YEAR AGO I THINK BEFORE BLACK LIVES MATTERS REGAINED ITS MOMENTUM, WOULD WE HAVE HAD THIS DISCUSSION?

WOULD WE-- WOULD THEY HAVE FUSSED OVER THESE WORDS?

PROBABLY NOT.

MAYBE THAT'S A SIGN OF WHERE WE HAVE GROWN A LITTLE BIT, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT DO KIDS THINK?

WHAT TO THE KIDS THINK?

THEY WILL BE HEARING THIS.

THEY'RE THE AUDIENCE AND ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TEACHING.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO EVOLVE.EV I FIND IT FASCINATING THAT WE'RE HERE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> I THINK WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE RECOGNITION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST YEAR OF SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF OUR HISTORY THAT HAVE BEEN DE-EMPHASIZED, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THE WILMINGTON COUP WHERE A WHITE SUPREMACIST OVERTHREW THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND MURDERED A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE AND BASICALLY HAD ONE OF THE ONLY, IF NOT THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL COUPs IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND I PEOPLE ARE SAYING I DIDN'T LEARN ABOUT THAT IN SCHOOL.

WHY NOT?

AND I THINK THAT IT'S KIND OF A FALLACY TO THINK THAT WE CAN TEACH HISTORY AS A NEUTRAL SERIES OF EVENTS.

WHATEVER YOU EMPHASIZE OR DE-EMPHASIZE THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON ULTIMATELY THE STORY PEOPLE ARE LEARNING.

AS WE HAVE SEEN ABOUT DEBATES OVER NAMES OVER STREET NAMES IN CHARLOTTERL THAT AREOT CONNECTED TO CONFEDERATE OFFICIALS, STATUES AS WE SEE NATIONWIDE, WE'RE REALLY AS PART OF THIS RACIAL RECKONING, LOOKING AT WHOSE HISTORY ARE WE TEACHING AND WHAT STORY ARE WE TELLING WITH THAT NARRATIVE?

>> THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK THAT THIS VOTE SHOWS THAT WE HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT WE TEACH OUR KIDS.

AS ELI SAID THIS PAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, SOME STUDENTS WERE SAYING, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL OFEA TAKING DOWN THIS CONFEDERATE MONUMENT?

WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE DOES THAT HAVE?

AND WITH THE STATES THAT WE'RE IN NOW AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BUILD ON WHAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT I THINK THAT STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW THE WHOLE STORY SO THEY CAN BE ABLE TO THINK STRAIGHT ANDD THINK CLEARLY AND COME UP WITH THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS KNOWING THE WHOLE TRUTH.

A PLAYED, YOU KNOW, THAT T THEY WILLHA BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS KNOW THE WHOLE STORY ABOUT AMERICA.

>> ELI MENTIONED THE WILMINGTON COUP THAT'S SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED NOW IN THE NEW CURRICULA.

IT WILL BE TAUGHT.

IT WON'T BE AT THE DISCRETION OF TEACHERS.

IT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIFIED IN EVERY CLASSROOM WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHING SOCIAL STUDIES.

A LOT OF THESE CHANGES CAME AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, THE DISCUSSION THAT LED UP TO THE VOTE GOT KIND OF UGLY.

THERE WAS A CARTOON IN RALEIGH THAT DEPICTED GOP BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AS KLANEM MEMBERS AS WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS IS THE NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WHO IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND HE OBJECTED TO THAT.

I THOUGHT EVEN THE FOLKS WHO DISAGREED ON THIS CAME TOGETHER WHEN IT CAME TOGETHER WITH THOSE SORTS OF OUTSIDE DEPICTIONS OF THEM.

ERIC DAVIS, WHO IS FROM CHARLOTTE WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, WHO VOTED FOR THESE CHANGES, DEFENDED THE FOLKS WHO VOTED AGAINST THEM FOR THAT KIND OF CHARACTERIZATION.

I THOUGHT AT LEAST AT SOME LEVEL THERE WAS SOME CIVILITY AMONG THE FOLKS WHO OBVIOUSLY DISAGREE ON WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD BE TAUGHT AND HOW IT SHOULD BE VOICED TO KIDS.

GENERALLY, I THINK EVERYONE AGREES WHETHER THERE'S POLITICAL DIFFERENCES OR NOT, ALL OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE THE KIDS' BEST INTEREST AND LIVES HERE ANYWAY.

INTERESTING DISCUSSION AND AGAIN, GOT SOME EMAILS ABOUT FOLKS WHO HADN'T HEARD THIS DISCUSSION ELSEWHERE UNTILL THEY HEARD IT HERE LAST WEEK.

L SO GLAD TO BRING IT TO LIGHT GOING FORWARD, WE'LL SEE HOW THE TEACHERS REACT IN THE CLASSROOM AND HOW THE KIDS ULTIMATELY REACT LONG TERM TO THESE NEW CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM.

I WANT TO SHIFT GEARS AND COME BACK TO EDUCATION A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SHOW.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY COMMISSION MAKING SOME NEWS THIS WEEK.

WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT LGBTQ PROTECTIONS COMING BEFORE CITY COUNCIL SOON BUT THE COUNTY COMMISSION KIND OF BEAT THEM TO THE PUNCH AND PASSED A RESOLUTION THIS WEEK.

ASHLEY, WERE YOU THERE TO COVER THAT THING VIRTUALLY?

>> YEAH.?

SO THE COUNTY DID PASS A RESOLUTION THIS WEEK.

OFEK COURSE, IT'S NOT BINDING OR ANYTHING AS SPECIFIC ASS AN ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S KIND OF WHAT THEY'RE SAYING A FIRST STEP, IF YOU WILL.

IT'S SETTING THE STAGE FOR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN THE COUNTY AND PERHAPS THE COUNTY, ITSELF TORSION ESTABLISH SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE, SOMETHING WITH MORE TEETH TO IT, IF YOU WILL.

A LOT OF THE COMMISSIONERS, INCLUDING SUSAN RODRIGUEZ-MCDOWELL SAID THEY GOT A LOT OFEL EMAILS FROM PEOPLE SAYING THEY'RE OPPOSED TO THIS.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE NEED TO BEE PASSING RIGHT NOW , AND SHE SAID THAT EXPLAINED EXACTLY WHY THEY NEEDED TO PASS SUCH A RESOLUTION, EVEN IF IT JUST AN INITIAL STEP IN WHAT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE COUNCIL COMING UP THIS SPRING WITH AN ORDINANCE AND POTENTIALLY OTHERS.

YES.

IT IS KIND OF THE FIRST STEP OF WHAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOINGN TO SEE A LOT OF ACTION LOCALLY ON THE FRONT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES.

COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT MODIFYING THEIR EXISTING ORDINANCES TO INCLUDE OBVIOUSLY PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ AND ALSO FOR THINGS LIKE HAIRSTYLES AND CULTURAL HAIRSTYLES LIKE AFROS, YOU KNOW, DON'T DISCRIMINATE PEOPLE FOR THAT AND THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKED ON TO THE SPRING.

THIS IS A FIRST STEP.

THE COUNTY ATTORNEY IS LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ORDINANCE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL AS WELL.

>> THIS ALL COULD BE ABOUT MONEY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HB2 CAME ON SCENE BUT PEOPLE SAID NO, I'M NOT COMING TO CHARLOTTE.

I'M NOT COMING TO NORTH CAROLINA AND AS WEH COME TO THE END OF THIS PANDEMIC, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE BACK IN BUSINESS AND SO THEREFORE, WHEN WE COME BACK IN BUSINESS, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW TW T THAT YOU CAN COME AND DO BUSINESS HERE IN CHARLOTTEOTTE BECAUSE WE HAVE A RESOLUTIONUT IN PLACE TO MAKEI SURE THAT WE DO S NOT DISCRIMINATE FROM YOUR HAIR TO THE COLOR-- TO YOUR RELIGION SO YOU KNOW, MONEY TALKS AND PEOPLE WILL RAISE THEIR HAND TO SAY, YES, WHEN IT COMES TO MONEY BECAUSE MONEY DOES A LOT FOR CHARLOTTE AND WE WANT TO PUT THAT SHOT IN THE ARM THAT MONEY, YOU KNOW, DEALING WITH WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS PAST YEAR.

>> I LIKE YOUR HAIR >> YOU HAVE THE BEST HAIR ON THE PANEL.

AND CHARLOTTE HAS A BIG ASK OF THE TRANSIT FUNDING AND I WILL WAIT TO SEE HOW THOSE DISCUSSIONS GO WITH THE LANGUAGE AND WHAT WILL BE COVERED IN THE ORDINANCE >> WE COVER HB2 WHEN THAT CAME THROUGH FROM THE STATE AND I THINK WE CAN REMEMBER JUST REALLY BECAME A NUCLEAR , OR RATHER NATIONAL ISSUE WITH ALL THAT'SL GOING ON BETWEEN THE PANDEMIC AND THE ELECTION AND EVERYTHING GOING ON, I CAN'T CONCEIVE OF THIS ISSUE GETTING TO THAT LEVEL AGAIN.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH OXYGEN IN THE ROOM.

MAYBE THAT WILL CHANGE IN SIX MONTHS.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S DIFFICULT TORE ME TO REPEAT OF 2016.

>> HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH?

THE BIGGESTER ISSUE THAT COMES IN IS IN CONTROL.NL.

INN 2016, THE STATE SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, CHARLOTTE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

YOU CANNOT DO THAT UNILATERALLY.

I THINK WE HAVEE A DEMOCRATIC MECKLENBURG COUNTY COMMISSION.

WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE IN RALEIGH, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, AND THE ISSUE IS HOW MUCH CONTROL LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES CAN HAVE, AND I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUES WHETHER ITSU COMES TO THAT TAX INCREASE WHICH THEY'RE TALKING ABOUTHICH OR THIS ANDND THAT'S WHERE THE RUBBER WILL REALLY HIT THE ROAD.

YEAH.

IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY, BUT IT'S ABOUT CONTROL.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THIS IS A RESOLUTION AND WE'LL TIP TOE TO WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO DO IN A MOMENT.

RESOLUTION VERSUS ORDINANCE.AN I MEAN, RESOLUTION IS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, NUDGE NUDGE TOWARD THESE GOALS.

AN ORDINANCE PUTS SOME TEETH IN IT.

MAKES IT A VIRTUAL LAW IF YOU WILL.F IS THAT THE DIFFERENCE?

IS THAT WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GETS INVOLVED AND MAYBE GOES BACK TO SOME OF THE SAME CONTROL ISSUES THAT MARK JUST TALKED ABOUT FROM 2016?

I JUST WONDER IF THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE MIGHT BE SOON AND WHERE WE WERE IN 2016.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I THINK SO BECAUSE I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF THE STATE CAME IN TO DENOUNCE A RESOLUTION THAT OUR CITY OR TOWN OR COUNTY PASSED.

BUT WHERE WE SAW THE ISSUES BEFORE WAS, OF COURSE, WHEN ITN BECAME, AS YOU SAID, A VIRTUAL LAW AND OTHER CITIES AND TOWNS IN THE STATE HAVE PASSED SINCE DECEMBER NON-DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCES AND AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY SORT OF RETALIATION YET AT THE STATE LEVEL.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, I THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN WHENS THERE ANHE ORDINANCE HAD THE WORKS OR PASSED.

AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO ME THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE WHAT IT WAS IN 2016.

>> SAVE IT FOR WHEN IT BLOWS UP AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] >> DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

I THINK THE LAST TIME AROUND IN 2016 IT WAS THE SPECIFICITY IN THE CHARLOTTE ORDINANCE ABOUT WHO CAN USE WHAT BATHROOM WHEN THAT WAS REALLY THE CRUX OF THE OBJECTION THAT LED TO THE WHOLE BLOWUP, AND YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET THAT SPECIFIC IN ORDER TO STILL STAND UP FOR THE GROUPS THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS ORDINANCE.

I THINKDI THAT'S A LESSON LEARNED FOR EVERYBODY.

WE'LL SEE IF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AGREES, AS HE STUDIES THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ORDINANCE ON THE COUNTY SIDE.

THEOU CITY, OBVIOUSLY, IS KIND OF MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AS WELL.

ALTHOUGH, THE NEWEST COUNCILMEMBER WHO WAS SELECTED THIS WEEK VOTED AGAINST IT LAST TIME AND A LOT OF FOLKS SAW THAT AS A SIGNAL OR A SYMBOL OF WHERE COUNCIL MIGHT BE THIS TIME.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEWLY APPOINTED COUNCILMEMBER GREG PHIPPS.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LGBTQ AND IT HAD ITS OWN SET OF CONTROVERSY THIS WEEK AS COUNCIL VOTED 5-5 AND THE MAYOR BROKE THE TIE.

NOTHING EVER SEEMS EASY AT CITY COUNCIL LIKE THIS, RIGHT?

>> YOU SEE THIS CAMP, IF YOU WILL, OF PEOPLE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR MAYBE MORE STABILITY IN REGARD TO THIS DECISION.

STABILITY, WE NEED TO JUMP RIGHT IN.

WE HAVE A MASSIVE AGENDA IN 2021.

WE HAVE A BUDGET WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE A HUGE MOBILITY AND TRANSIT PLAN.

WE HAVE THE 2040 PLAN AND THE UDO.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN GET ON THE GROUND AND LIKE KNOWS IT AND CAN JUST DO THE JOB AND IS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN IN NOVEMBER.

BUT THEN YOU HAD OTHERS ON COUNCIL WHO SAID, WELL, THIS IS-- THIS IS STATUS QUO..

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING EVERY TIME.

WHY HAVE 143 PEOPLE APPLY FUNDAMENTAL WE'RE NOT GOING TO SERIOUSLY VET THEM AND CONSIDER THEM AS ACTUAL CANDIDATES.

THERE IS QUITE A HEATED DEBATE BETWEEN I WOULD SAY THOSE TWO THOUGHTS ON COUNCIL AND ULTIMATELY, MAYOR DID HAVE TO BREAK THE TIE BY VOTING FOR PHIPPS.

IT WAS 6-5, BRAXTON WINSTON DECIDED NOT TO VOTE AT ALL HE WAS JUST FED UP WITH THE PROCESS.

YEAH.

YOU'RE JUST SEEING A LOT OF THESE KINDS OF DEBATES OCCUR IN COUNCIL ABOUT KIND OF KEEP DOING THE RIGHT THING AND BRINGING IN NEW VOICES, FRESH PERSPECTIVES, ET CETERA.

>> I THINK THE KEY WORD IS SERIOUSLY.

HOW SERIOUS WAS COUNCIL IN LOOKING AT THOSE HUNDRED OR SO CANDIDATES VERSUS THE ONE CANDIDATE WHO HAD COUNCIL EXPERIENCE IN THIS CASE.

>> THEY WEREN'T EXPECTINGEC THAT MANYTI APPLICATIONS AS THEY ULTIMATELY GOT.

THAT WAS A POINT YOU HEARD A LOT WHICH WAS IF YOU EXPECTED TO JUST REAPPOINT SOMEONE WHO HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, IF THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO.

>> YEAH.

>>>> WE'RE NOT REALLY REAL LEGALLY REQUIRED TO HOLD THE APPLICATION AND HOLD A HEARING WHERE EVERYONE SHOWED UP TO SPEAK.

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY HAD TO DO.

THEY COULD HAVE APPOINT WHOEVER THEY WANT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF DISSATISFACTION PEOPLE WHO WERE SAYING THIS WAS NOT REALLY EVER AN OPEN PROCESS AS PORTRAYED >> P AND GREG PHIPPS DIDN'T SPEAK FOR TWO MINUTE ON THE HEARINGS ON FRIDAY.

I THINK ALMOST 70 PEOPLEPL SPOKE IN TOTAL.

AND HE SAID HE MISSED THE DEADLINE AND DIDN'T SPEAK.

ALSO SAID MY EXPERIENCE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE IN A TWO-MINUTE PRESENTATION.

>> IT WAS VERY INTERESTING THAT JAMES MITCHELL, SMUDGIE MITCHELL RECOMMENDED JESSICA DAVIS TO TAKE HIS SEAT.

THERE'S BEEN TRADITION THAT THE OUTGOING PERSON CANNOT NOMINATE OR RECOMMEND, BUT IT WAS DOWN TO JESSICA DAVIS AND PHIPPS AND THE MAYOR CHOSE AND WITH THIS BUDGET SEASON THAT MAYBE THE MAYOR JUSTOR WANTED A YES PERSON AND THE BUDGET DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO ROCK THE VOTE WITH THE BUDGET AND MAYBE THAT'S WHY T THE MAYOR DID CHOOSE PHIPPS BECAUSE HE WON'T GET ANY TRACTION OR ANY PUSHBACK WHEN ITUS COMES TO WHAT THE MAYOR WANTS IN HER BUDGET.

SO IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT.

>> PHIPPS KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.

HE HAS BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT.

HE HIT ON THE PROCESS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST-- WHAT MIGHT APPEAR TO SOME TO BE A CHARADE.

OKAY, EVERYBODY APPLIES AND TRY TO A BE INCLUSIVE WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN 2020 AND 2021 TO BE INCLUSIVE AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT FEEL LIKE IT WAS SORT OF A DONE DEAL AS THEY SAY OR CLOSE TO IT.

>> I THINK AMONG THOSE WHO WANTED MORE OPENNESS AND AN OPEN PROCESS MAY BE THE ONLY THING NOT HAVING THAT IS WHAT THEY CONSIDER WINDOW DRESSING.

IT OPENS YOU UP TO MORE CRITICISM.

IF THE PROCESS, ITSELF, IS TO JUST PLACATE PEOPLE AND DOESN'T ADDRESS THE ISSUES THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT, WHY HAVE THE PROCESS AT ALL?

FROM WHERE I SIT AT LEAST, THAT'S THE RUB.

GOING FORWARD, WE'LL SEE WHAT GREG PHIPPS DOES.

HE'S ONLY GOING TO BE HERE FOR ABOUT AE YEAR BECAUSE COUNCIL ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP AND HE ALREADY SAID HE WON'T RUN FOR RE-ELECTION.

I SUPPOSE A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE AMONG THOSE 100 MIGHT BE ON THE BALLOT OR CONSIDERING BEING ON BALLOT COME NOVEMBER.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE MAYOR'S POLITICAL REPUTATION SURVIVES AGAIN THIS KIND OF OLD SCHOOL VERSUS NEW SCHOOL SPRINT ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

LET'S MOVE ON TO ACTUALLYL BACKLY TO EDUCATION.

THE GOVERNOR, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN.

THE TOP DOCTOR, MANDY COHEN, ALL SAYING THIS WEEK, QUOTE, TIME TO GET OUR BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM.

WHAT A BIT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON SCHOOL BOARDS, INCLUDING CMS WHO FOR MOST PART, KEPT KIDS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM SINCE MARCH REALLY.

WHY THE SHIFT?

WHAT AFFECT A DO YOU THINK IT WILL HAVE LOCALLY IN PARTICULAR?

>> GO, DEDRICK.

[LAUGHTER]RI >> TIME WILL TELL.

I TALKED TO CMS OFFICIALS AND THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR DEADLINE WHEN THEY START BACK TO SCHOOL.

THEY WANT TO START BY FEBRUARY 12 OR 14.

THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THAT DATE.

THEY WON'T BRING IT UP EARLIER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT TEACHERS WANT TO BE VACCINATED BEFORE HEADING BACK AND YOUEF KNOW, THE NORTH CAROLINA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, YOU KNOW, SAID THAT ABOUTAI 20 TEACHERS HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF COVID-19, BOTH PRIVATE AND IN CHARTER SCHOOLS HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.

AND AS THE TEACHER, IF YOU ARE LOOK AT THAT NUMBER, YOU KNOW, COULD I BE NEXT?

YOU KNOW, UNION COUNTY, YOU KNOW, CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHER PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF COVID.

I GUESS CMS DID SEND A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE OUR CMS TEACHERS VACCINATED BEFORE HEADING BACK TO THE SCHOOL AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY-- NO RESPONSE YET.

WE DO KNOW THAT OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA AND THEY ARE VACCINATING THE TEACHERS IN UNION COUNTY PUBLICOU SCHOOLS BACK TO TEACHER BEFORE THEY GO BACK AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A SMALLER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG IS SO BIG THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ENOUGH DOSES TO VACCINATE ALL THECI TEACHERS BEFORE THEY HEAD BACK.

BUT I GUESS THE CDC CAME BACK AND SAID TEACHERS CAN GO BACK AND TEACH SAFE AND SOUND WITHOUT BEING VACCINATED AND THE GOVERNOR ALREADY SAID HE WOULD FOLLOW SCIENCE, AND WHEN WE HAVE THE SCIENCE SAYING THAT HE HAS TO STAND BY HIS WORD.

HE HAS TO FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.

>> I THINK YOU'RE SEEING A A SHIFT NATIONALLY THAT THIS IS PART OF CHICAGO IS IN A STANDOFF WITH THEIR TEACHERS RIGHT NOWER TRYING TO GET THEM BACK IN SCHOOL AND COULD LEAD TO A STRIKE.

CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO IS SUING ITS SCHOOL BOARD TRYING TO FORCE A REOPENING PLAN THERE.

THE CDC CAME BACK AND SAID VACCINATION IS NOT A PREREQUISITE FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS.SCHO I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL BUILDING UP AND THIS ISS PART OF IT.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR.

THAT'S JUST A REALLY LONG TIME.

>> THE PRESIDENT CAME OUT AND SAID, LET'S GET KIDS BACK INID SCHOOL, RIGHT?

AND THE ARGUMENT TO CLOSE BUSINESSES, TO KEEP SCHOOLS CLOSED WAS FOLLOW THE SCIENCE.SC ASIE DEDRICK POINT OUT, THE CDC REPORT NOW SUGGESTS THAT SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THEY'RE CONTROLLED AND YOU CAN TELL A CHILD, MOST OF THEM, SIT IN YOUR DESK-- SIT AT YOUR DESK, APART FROM JOHNNY WHO IS NEXT TO YOU AND WEAR A MASK.

THAT'S A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT.LE AS SOON AS HE LEAVES THE SCHOOL, THERE IS NO CONTROL.

AND SO THAT'S PART AND PARCEL OF WHY THEY FEEL SCHOOLS CAN BE REGULATED AND SAFE.

>> WHAT TEXT DOES THIS SEND TO OUR TEACHERS?

YOU KNOW, TEACHERS, THEY DON'T GET RICH BY TEACHING.

THEY HAVE TO BE SOCIAL WORKERS.

THEY HAVEWO SOMETIMES FEED THEIR KIDS, CLOTHE THEIR KIDS, SO WHAT TEXT DOES THIS SEND TO OUR TEACHERS?

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM.

WE WANT TO SHOW OUR TEACHERS THAT THIS IS A PROFESSION THAT WE CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOU'RE AT THE FRONT OF THEF T LINE.

TO ME, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE IN THIS PREDICAMENT.

TOED GIVE THAT TEXT TO TEACHERS, HEY, WE'LL MOVE YOU UP THE LINE.

WE'LL GIVE YOU THE VACCINE.

IF YOU ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT BRINGING ALL KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL, THEN YOUR ACTIONS , IN MY OPINION, SHOULD BACK UP YOUR WORDS.

THAT'S WHAT I GET OUT OF IT.

>> YOU'LL EAT YOUR WORDS, RIGHT?

>>>> TWO QUICK THINGS.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE PUSHING A BILL THROUGH RALEIGH THAT MIGHT REQUIRE SCHOOL SYSTEMS INCLUDING CMS TO PROVIDE AT LEAST AN OPTION OF IN-CLASS TEACHING FOR KIDS ANDG WE'LL SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES WITH THAT.

IF IT DOES PASS THE GOP LEGISLATURE AND ALSO BY THE WAY, TEACHERS ARE LEVEL 3 OF THE VACCINATION PRIORITY, WHICH MEANS P AT LEAST IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, THE HEALTH DIRECTOR SAID THIS WEEK, DON'T EXPECT LEVEL THREE VACCINES.

THEY'RE COMING BUT PROBABLY WE'RE TALKING P ABOUT MARCH OR APRIL WHEN WE REALLY GET DEEPLY THAT NEXT LEVEL OF VACCINES AND THAT WILL BE AFTER A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS ARE MADE REGARDING SCHOOLS GOING FORWARD.

>> THAT'S A HUGE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

R >> YEAH.

IT'S GOING TO-- >> YOU KNOW WHO IS ALSO IN THAT GROUP, POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED AND THEY'RE GETTING MIXED SIGNALS AND SOME OF THEM ARE CONCERNED AND SOME SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE TERRIBLY CONCERNED.

YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, YEAH.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, FOLKS.

WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN MINORITIES AND OTHERS WHO ARE THE LEFTS AT WHICH THEY'RE GETTING SK AFFECTED.

THAT'S AN ONGOING STORY.

WE WILL FIND TIME FOR THAT NEXT WEEK.AT IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GLAD YOU FOUND TIME FOR US THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

OUR REGULAR CREW OF REPORTERS IN TOWN AND AT HOME, THANKS, AGAIN, FOR JOINING US AS WELL.

SEE YOU NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE H ON OFF THE RECORD.

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