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CSE, Citizens for a Sound Economy, the group I represent, is opposed to merger. We believe that smaller government and local control of our lives and property, especially where are children are concerned, is a paramount concern. The school merger the BOCC, or Moses Carey, proposes removes that local control of our schools both for Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro school districts. As all of you may have noted, there is a small but very vocal group that is pro-merger. Their outcries of social injustice and unfair distribution of funds has been long and loud. Make no mistake here. They do not speak for the majority of Orange County parents or voters. They would and do say that Orange County school is under funded. In terms of local funding, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School is the first best funded in North Carolina and Orange County is the third best funded in North Carolina. Why not look around us? Durham ranks fifth best funded, while Chatham ranks ninth. And then there's Alamance/Burlington ranking 50t". It is clear that Orange County Schools ranks very well in North Carolina. Statistics have shown spending is not analogous with achievement. There was clear evidence of this presented at the informal forum, which some of you may have attended. But I would like to expand on this point. Our international ranking in spending is at the top in the world, yet our achievement ranking averages in the middle of industrialized nations. In September 2003, the Associated Press published, and I quote, "this analysis encompassed 25 nations." The U. S. spent on average $10,240 per student from elementary through college in the year 2000. The average for the other 25 nations was $6,361. The U. S. spends more on public and private education than other major countries, but its performance doesn't measure up. In math, we rank 19t", reading, 15t", science, 14t". Let us search for more compelling avenues of bringing the best we can afford to Orange County Schools, but merger is not the answer. Please keep parental input paramount. Let our individual communities decide how best to improve our schools. In the meantime, Orange County school district has a new superintendent who to date, under great pressure, has performed brilliantly in her short term with us. Dr. Carraway deserves the time and respect to prove her value to the County. It does not take a merger to accomplish improvement of our schools. Thank you. Bob Tyson: I'm Bob Tyson, husband of Terri Tyson, candidate for Chapel Hill Town Council. She is not able to be here because there is a forum tonight, which I'm sure you'll watch on tape after this. She asked me to read this statement. Terri Tyson, candidate for Chapel Hill Town Council, opposes the proposed merger of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Orange County School systems. The merger will require extensive long-distance bussing to attain socioeconomic balance and equalized test scores across the County. The long bus rides are a harsh addition to children's already busy lives and will deprive them of sleep and after school activities. Also, volunteering will decline in the sense of a neighborhood school will be gone. The merger may also erode the Town's residential tax base. A merger perceived by the real estate market as a success, may unleash extensive development in the central and northern parts of the County. Terri rejects the notion that merger is a County issue and not a Town issue. Rather, she believes that the proposed merger is the most serious issue that confronts the citizens of Chapel Hill. It's been suggested that merger is a civil rights issue and opposition to merger is bigotry. Terri doesn't agree with this but contends that the right