North Carolina: Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board members facing recall effort

Petitioners have launched an effort to recall Chairwoman Margaret Samuels and Board Members James Barrett and Pat Heinrich over a decision to make one existing school a Mandarin language magnet school. Petitioners need 10% of turnout in 30 days to get on the ballot. The recall would be filled by appointment and all three are up for reelection in the fall (one is running for state school superintendent in 2000 instead).

Chapel-Hill is one of only two school boards to allow recalls in the state (the law was passed in 1993). Also of note is that 24 North Carolina cities allow for recalls.