Minutes - 19780613 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~'w I J '~ Randal Wall stated that the budget shows that the two school systems and the local health department have been supported quite well. The purpose of this meeting is to decide between legitimate expenditures and bureaucracy. He stated that not one speaker tonight has justified excess attorney fees, excess salary increases, the Data Processing Department err the excess adminis-- trative positions. He stated that he felt citizens should attempt to find out haw they could effectively channel their talents to help the Commissioners and administrators to do a more efficient job. Norman Weatherly, a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board, spoke regarding the capital outlay allocation to the Chapel Hill system over the last 10 to 12 years. He stated the increase of monies allocated to Chapel Hill was because of the greater increase of children in southern prangs as opposed to the lesser increase in northern prance during this same period. He suggested the County school system follow the example of the Chapel Hill system by modifying buildings to accomodate exceptional children. He stated the Chapel Hill system was inclined to put up incomplete buildings which showed an increase in capital outlay. Dr. Weatherly stated that people from southern Orange were willing to see an increase in the district tax and he encouzaged the Berard to study the possibility of increasing the district tax. He added that the members to the Board of Commissioners should vote their own con- victions and not be influenced by other opinions. Bi11 Strickland, a member of the Chapel Hill Board of Education, stated he was ready to support the Commissioners as they do what they have to do. He stated that it is imperative upon those who bear the public trust to see that there is legitimacy in the programs that are presented and the budgets to support those programs, to cut out the fat and make sure there is legitimate outcome fflr that which is put in. He stated the County programs were growing and have new needs which must be met. He stated that the proposed 8 cent tax increase was not sufficient and that more funds are needed to do the job which must be done."" He added that the southern Orange request to be taxed at a higher rate in the District tax should be honored. In conclusion, Mr. Strickland stated that the Commissioners could do something about the situation and that Chapel Hill--Carrboro residents are willing to pay the money to support the programs. Peggy Pollister stated that she wanted to speak far human services for all of Orange County. She asked the Berard to allocate at ].east 8 cents in order to improve services. Barbara Krivonak, a Chapel Hill teacher and a parent of a handicapped child, stated that with the existing number of exceptional students needing services and the projected numbers for next years, it is essential that staff and space be increased. The needs are. currently not being met because of the number of students and the complex problems the students have require a great deal of time. She stated the problem must either be dealt with in school on the preventative bases or out of school with unemployment, police problems, etc. She urged the Board to support the program for exceptional children. Barbara Thornton, President of the Chapel Hill Federation of Teachers, asked the Berard for funding of four specific programs: 1) Regarding the proposal for alternative classrooms in the junior high schools, 2) support of the remedial summer school program for high school seniors who are expected to fail the competency test and not graduate, 3) Reading Aides for the firs' grade classes and 4) A 5~ increase in teacher's supplement of those teachers who have four years of service or more.