Minutes - 20031016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

standards, it would be much smaller than Wake or Mecklenburg, but it is bigger than necessary or desirable. Few here would trade ours for those systems. Since both systems are growing, the merged system might start at about 17,000, but it would grow to about twice that. Thirty thousand is big. Commissioner Jacobs, you stated that the goal was to eliminate major disparities in funding and opportunities. I agree with that. I think it's pretty clear we all agree with that. Going about that in the least disruptive way seems to offer the most benefits. We now know that disparities can be eliminated and the integrity of the two systems, community based systems, can be maintained. Merger is not necessary to eliminate those disparities. Commissioner Brown, you asked what is the impact on the Adequate Facilities Ordinance. Applied Countywide, SAPFO would be a much weaker tool. It seems after we have spent years working out SAPFO based on two school systems to now consider radical change before it has had a chance to be effective, why did we bother? You are the one that taught me what concurrency meant. Let's give it a chance to work as adopted. And I want to say one last thing, and that is, I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Orange County school system, understand that its parents want the best education for their children too, and express and continued, and I stress continued willingness to help pay for excellent schools throughout the County. But we don't need to merge to do that. Thank you. Dan Evers: My name is Dan Evers. I recently moved to Chapel Hill with my wife, three kids, and we have one on the way. That vote right has been taken away from us in this particular issue and that kind of makes me mad. I'm a pretty simple guy; I like simple answers to anything I look into. The only two reasons I can figure that Commissioner Moses brought this thing up, and correct me if I'm wrong Commissioner, was that some County residents wanted County students to get the same money per student as Chapel Hill students. My simple answer, just like everybody before, or most everybody before, get a district tax. And don't be fooled, it can work in the County, they just have to raise it, it might be more than 20 cents per hundred because there's less tax base. A district tax in the County will work and could work. And if you spend half this time and effort that we're doing here and half the money that all that paperwork has cost you on getting a district tax in the County, I really think it would work. The second reason, it seems like some County residents, and I've heard more of this tonight and I just can't believe it, perceive race or class inequality between the two districts. Now, again, I just moved here a couple of months ago. My simple answer is, if you perceive this race or class inequality in the schools, move to Chapel Hill. It is America. Move to Chapel Hill. Anybody can move to Chapel Hill. You can rent in Chapel Hill. Someone mentioned the houses are $350,000 - I didn't buy a house in Chapel Hill, I can't afford it. But did move here because the schools are better? Yes I did. I'll be honest about that. And I'm renting a house in Chapel Hill. Believe it or not, you can rent in Chapel Hill still. So that's my answer. I really think County people could get together and raise a district tax.