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3 <br />Commissioner Gordon reminded the citizens that the Board of County Commissioners <br />give a per pupil allotment which is a lump.sum of money to each of the schools districts. <br />There are sometimes projects which are specifically funded, for example, a new school <br />facility: She expressed her ongoing concern regarding older schools and mentioned that <br />she has proposed a "substantial equivalency policy" that would have all schools in both <br />systems be evaluated. There would then be some attempt to bring the older schools up to <br />an equitable status with the new schools. That is under advisement now. The Chapel Hill <br />Carrboro City Schools are considering it; the Orange County Schools have rejected it in <br />favor of a policy in which they make the request to us on an as needed basis. If substantial <br />equivalency were implemented each school would be evaluated to determine how each <br />could be brought up to a higher standard. However, that is the prerogative of the Orange <br />County School Board and at the present time they have declined to participate in this <br />project. <br />Mr. Tim Pressley, an Orange County citizen, asked that the Board of County <br />Commissioners look very carefully at each request for additional staff. In particular, he <br />asked that the services provided by the Emergency Management Services Department not <br />be duplicated by the services that the Chapel Hill Fire Department is now providing. He <br />also asked that the Board of County Commissioners consider changing the 911 emergency <br />telephone system. He felt that it was a poor use of the telecommunicator's time to have <br />non-emergency calls be answered on the 911 system. He suggested that another system <br />be implemented that would redirect calls of anon-emergency nature. He felt that citizens <br />could decide for themselves if the call was an emergency. <br />Ms. Dianne Jackson, President of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Federation of Teachers, <br />expressed concern over the funding recommendation. She thanked the Board of County <br />Commissioners for what they have already accomplished for education in Orange County. <br />She requested that additional funds be allocated to the school's expansion budget. <br />Mr. Lars Perlmutt, a student at Chapel Hill High School, spoke in support of the school's <br />budget request. He suggested that supplements be increased and that the budget be fully <br />funded. <br />Ms. Susan Spalt spoke in support of fully funding the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools <br />budget request. She asked the Board of County Commissioners to vote as though they <br />were going to explain their vote to a class of students. She voiced the need for more <br />school nurses. <br />Ms. Stephanie Willis, a teacher in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, commented that <br />she had first hand knowledge of many of the needs of this school system. She has served <br />on numerous committees and assured the Board of County Commissioners that the needs <br />are real. She spoke of the need for reading teachers, special education teachers and <br />school nurses. <br />Mr. Terry Raphael-Groon, Chair of the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Heath Advisory <br />Committee, spoke in support of more school nurses. He pointed out that school nurses <br />facilitate the adaptation of students with chronic illnesses as well as make sure that <br />