Decision Makers:
Rodney N. Trice
We are parents and guardians of students in Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. We ask the district to review and update the senior portrait policy so that every family has clear information and equitable choices for how their students appear in the high school yearbook.
This year, families received limited notice that senior photos would be offered through a single vendor, with personal photo submissions restricted unless families purchased a senior ad. Communications about the policy came through a Google Classroom announcement on August 24, and many families found the information unclear. Determining what options were actually available required significant effort to piece together from scattered messages.
Our core concerns are:
- The free "Yearbook Only" portrait session was announced for sometime in early November, but no specific date has been shared with families. Families cannot plan or prepare without knowing when this session will occur.
- The free session offers limited time slots—too few for every senior to participate—while paid senior portraits receive full scheduling availability. This creates a two-tier system based on family income.
- Families learned on October 5 that free yearbook photos will be taken in different settings and conditions than paid senior portraits. This visible inequality carries forward into the yearbook itself, where students are divided by what their families could afford.
- Families must commit to their photo choice by November 16, but without knowing the free session date, they cannot make an informed decision between their actual options.
We respectfully request that the district:
- Restore the option for families to submit senior photos not taken by the vendor, using the same submission process and guidelines as in prior years.
- Offer the free yearbook session in the same setting and with comparable quality to paid sessions, with adequate time slots for every senior who wants to participate.
- Announce the free session date immediately and extend the November 16 deadline so families can decide after they have full information.
We ask for accountability, transparency, genuine choice, and equal access for every student and family. Thank you for your time and attention.
Updates
Senior portrait deadlines are approaching: Families need a choice NOW
October 16, 2026
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition for Fair and Transparent Options for Senior Portraits in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools so far. Your support has shown the district that families want a real say in this decision. Time is short. On-site photos end November 6, and portraits must be taken by November 16 to appear in the yearbook. Families who haven’t yet booked, or who are still deciding, need to know their options now, not after the deadlines pass. Here’s how you can help today: 1. Sign the petition if you haven’t already, and add your comment about your experience. 2. Share it with one or two families you know who have students in high school as this will likely impact future years' policies. 3. Post it in CHCCS and parent groups on Facebook, Nextdoor, and your school group chats. Every signature and every message helps. Please pass this along today so more families have time to make an informed decision.
7 Comments
This situation causes an insane amount of stress for parents and students and the quality of CADY photos is unacceptable for the cost. The surprise trifold portfolio that gets shipped to your house and billed to you if you don’t return feels like it should be illegal. Something needs to change!
In a time where kids should be more allowed than ever to express their individuality, they should be able to reflect that in their senior portrait as well. This should not be one size fits all, with cost being the thing that distinguishes them.
In a district that has often struggled with equity issues, all seniors and their families deserve a transparent and accessible senior photo process.
I don’t want to use CADY for my senior’s yearbook photo and don’t think it should be required.
Families should be able choose to submit senior photos and follow the appropriate guidelines and deadlines for submission.
Let's make yearbook pictures equitable with transparent fees, background and scheduling.
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Decision Makers:
Rodney N. Trice
We are parents and guardians of students in Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. We ask the district to review and update the senior portrait policy so that every family has clear information and equitable choices for how their students appear in the high school yearbook.
This year, families received limited notice that senior photos would be offered through a single vendor, with personal photo submissions restricted unless families purchased a senior ad. Communications about the policy came through a Google Classroom announcement on August 24, and many families found the information unclear. Determining what options were actually available required significant effort to piece together from scattered messages.
Our core concerns are:
- The free "Yearbook Only" portrait session was announced for sometime in early November, but no specific date has been shared with families. Families cannot plan or prepare without knowing when this session will occur.
- The free session offers limited time slots—too few for every senior to participate—while paid senior portraits receive full scheduling availability. This creates a two-tier system based on family income.
- Families learned on October 5 that free yearbook photos will be taken in different settings and conditions than paid senior portraits. This visible inequality carries forward into the yearbook itself, where students are divided by what their families could afford.
- Families must commit to their photo choice by November 16, but without knowing the free session date, they cannot make an informed decision between their actual options.
We respectfully request that the district:
- Restore the option for families to submit senior photos not taken by the vendor, using the same submission process and guidelines as in prior years.
- Offer the free yearbook session in the same setting and with comparable quality to paid sessions, with adequate time slots for every senior who wants to participate.
- Announce the free session date immediately and extend the November 16 deadline so families can decide after they have full information.
We ask for accountability, transparency, genuine choice, and equal access for every student and family. Thank you for your time and attention.
Updates
Senior portrait deadlines are approaching: Families need a choice NOW
October 16, 2026
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition for Fair and Transparent Options for Senior Portraits in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools so far. Your support has shown the district that families want a real say in this decision. Time is short. On-site photos end November 6, and portraits must be taken by November 16 to appear in the yearbook. Families who haven’t yet booked, or who are still deciding, need to know their options now, not after the deadlines pass. Here’s how you can help today: 1. Sign the petition if you haven’t already, and add your comment about your experience. 2. Share it with one or two families you know who have students in high school as this will likely impact future years' policies. 3. Post it in CHCCS and parent groups on Facebook, Nextdoor, and your school group chats. Every signature and every message helps. Please pass this along today so more families have time to make an informed decision.
7 Comments
· petition starter
The district required CADY for senior portraits without consulting families. CADY’s quality is inconsistent at best and poor at worst, and its business practices are aggressive and predatory. Handing timing, policy, and process communication to an outside vendor has created confusion and frustration. We ask the district to withdraw the the requirement to use CADY and restore direct communication with families.
This situation causes an insane amount of stress for parents and students and the quality of CADY photos is unacceptable for the cost. The surprise trifold portfolio that gets shipped to your house and billed to you if you don’t return feels like it should be illegal. Something needs to change!
In a time where kids should be more allowed than ever to express their individuality, they should be able to reflect that in their senior portrait as well. This should not be one size fits all, with cost being the thing that distinguishes them.
In a district that has often struggled with equity issues, all seniors and their families deserve a transparent and accessible senior photo process.
I don’t want to use CADY for my senior’s yearbook photo and don’t think it should be required.
Families should be able choose to submit senior photos and follow the appropriate guidelines and deadlines for submission.
Let's make yearbook pictures equitable with transparent fees, background and scheduling.
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The district required CADY for senior portraits without consulting families. CADY’s quality is inconsistent at best and poor at worst, and its business practices are aggressive and predatory. Handing timing, policy, and process communication to an outside vendor has created confusion and frustration. We ask the district to withdraw the the requirement to use CADY and restore direct communication with families.