ABOUT BONNIE HAUSER
“Bonnie’s work on the school board builds on years of community service and work as a school volunteer. She combines senior management and finance leadership with a heart for schools and community.”
Bonnie has been serving Orange County schools and communities for years as a board member and volunteer. She retired to Orange County in 2003 after a successful career as a consultant and partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Today you are likely to find her volunteering at a community event or doing car rider or lunch duty in our schools.
BONNIE'S BACKGROUND
Bonnie holds an MBA in Finance from New York University and a BA, magna cum laude from the University at Buffalo. She lives in Bingham Township with her rescue dogs Brody and Daisy.
OCS Board Leadership
Bonnie has served on the OCS Board since 2020, including through the challenges of COVID.
Major Accomplishments
Amidst the many accomplishments, Bonnie is most proud of:
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Fixing teacher supplements to reflect years of service and increasing salaries for classified staff (teaching assistants, bus drivers, maintenance staff, and more).
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After repeated delays, assured that mobile units were finally secured for Efland Cheeks Elementary to ease overcrowding and launch long overdue construction.
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With the help of teachers and families, raised board and district awareness of obstacles facing OCS’ growing Newcomer (English Language Learner) population including assessments, orientation, staffing and communications.
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Improved financial controls and helping to bring transparency and equity to school budgets.
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Helped lead the collaboration with Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to create a single integrated, long term school facilities plan for the entire county. This plan will be the foundation for the upcoming bond referendum.
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Attended every board and committee meeting since elected.
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Many more…
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Committees and Task Forces
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Budget and Capital Needs Committee (Chair 2022-24)
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Policy Committee (2022-24)
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Student Achievement Committee (2021-24)
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Community Engagement Committee (2020-24)
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Family Success Alliance Liaison (2022-24)
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Capital Needs Task Force Committee with Orange County and CHCCS, (Vice Chair 2021-24)
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Business Advisory Council (23-24)
Community Service & Advocacy
Bonnie has been advocating for stronger Orange County communities for years. She loves to connect elected officials with the communities they serve. It started when she and others organized to protect rural Orange County from an unnecessary airport, followed by work to close the landfill in the Rogers Road community, and preventing Orange County from building a misplaced waste transfer station. She helped make sewer rates affordable in Efland, and to make the Efland community center a thriving resource.
She serves on the following community boards:
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United Voices of Efland-Cheeks (2016-present) Board Secretary, past Board Treasurer and Vice President. Operating the Efland Cheeks Community Center in service to the families, students, and seniors of Efland Cheeks.
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Schley Grange (2014-present) Program and Legislative Chair, supporting Orange County families and schools including FFA, HYAA and OCS.
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Northern Orange NAACP (life member, Communications Chair 2015-2018).
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Orange County Rural Alliance (2017-2019) Treasurer and Board member, providing meals and services for vulnerable rural seniors.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle (2014-2018) Board Member and volunteer.
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Orange County Justice United Strategy Team (2011-2013).
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Orange County Voice, Founder, board member and volunteer (2008-present).
with Therapy Dog Charlie
with Therapy Dog Charlie
with Therapy Dog Charlie
with Therapy Dog Charlie
School Volunteer
Prior to serving on the OCS Board, Bonnie spent years as a school volunteer. It started when she and her therapy dog Charlie volunteered as a Pet Pal in Orange County Schools. That’s where she noticed the magic of a school community where professionals work together to serve children. Her work with OCS and schools in general includes:
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Pet Pals volunteer at Orange County Schools (2011-2017) working with her therapy dog Charlie to provide reading, physical therapy, and social-emotional support to students K-12.
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Community School of Digital and Visual Arts (2018-present), Board Treasurer, Public charter school offering academic growth and college prep for at-risk African American students K-8.
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NC Center for Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Education, (2012-present), Board member and speaker. Providing Holocaust education and curriculum support for grades 7-12, universities, and civic organizations.
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Community Visioning and Strategic Plan for OCS (participant 2014-2015).