At the first meeting after elections, the council adopted a resolution to release funds to begin work projects in the city, including for the Windsor-Chavis-Nocho Community Complex Project. The combination of Windsor Recreation Center, the Vance Chavis Library, and Nocho Park is a one-stop, joint facility that will celebrate and promote innovation, education, health and wellness, recreation, art, and cultural expressions.
The GPD released a report in May 2022, that noted a 15 percent decrease in homicides since 2021. However, by July 2022, homicide numbers had surpassed the previous year with 25 compared to 23 homicides. The GPD implemented a new initiative that will allow officers across various police departments to work with each other in real-time to solve cases.
The City of Greensboro launched a new Office of Community Safety to convene police, community, and city leadership to discuss crime, mental health, and the root causes of violence. The goal is to create an alternative approach to traditional policing.
Voters approved a $1.7 billion school facilities bond package in May. The funds are intended to pay for construction needs, upgrades to existing facilities and to address long deferred maintenance issues.
In August, GCS broke ground on six new facilities: Kiser Middle School, Claxton Elementary School, and Brooks Global Studies; in August 23, Foust Elementary School, Peck Elementary School, and a Visual and Performing Arts Academy (formerly Peeler Open Elementary School). The construction is being funded by the $300 million school bond that voters approved in 2020.
Former Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Whitney Oakley was named as the new superintendent of Guilford County Schools in August 2022. Oakley took on the role of Acting Superintendent during the district’s national search for a replacement for her predecessor, Superintendent Dr. Sharon Contreras, who announced her departure from the district in January after seven years in the position.
District 8 representative Deena Hayes was elected to serve as chairperson of the Guilford County Board of Education. Hayes has served on the school board since 2002 and was first elected as the board chairperson in the summer of 2018. District 7 representative Bettye Jenkins was elected as vice chairperson. This is Jenkins’ second term on the board and her first term as vice chairperson.
Guilford County Commissioners agreed to dedicate $8 million of American Rescue Plan money for a Housing and Homelessness Task Force, to help develop plans to address homelessness. The task force launched in November and will include representatives from Guilford County and the cities of Greensboro and High Point and is staffed by county and city subject matter experts, and Continuum of Care (CoC) partners.
After COVID-19 impacted public gatherings in 2021, some of the city’s largest annual events got back underway in 2022, including: the Fun Fourth Festival, N.C. Folk Festival, North Carolina A&T State University’s Homecoming, the Veterans Day parade, and the Christmas parade.