Orange County NC Website
-., <br />-~ <br />~~ J ~~'~ <br />this position. The increase in teacher supplement from 3~ to 4~ wa.ll help <br />to address the teacher shortage. <br />8. LIZ WALTERS , teacher at Cameron Park School, expressed concern <br />that an inadequate budget could not meet the school needs of the children '~""~ <br />in orange County. She spoke in support of the budget as presented by the <br />School Board in its entirety. It does hold current operations to a . <br />reasonable level, and includes some programs of refinement and expansion. <br />She spoke in support of the salary increase for bus drivers stating that <br />securing reliable bus drivers is a problem. The increase in the teacher <br />supplement is needed to attract and keep quality teachers. Teacher Aides <br />are needed in the fourth and fifth grades. She asked that the <br />Commissioners take a stand for quality education. <br />9. BETTY COMPTON , spoke on behalf of the Adolescents in Need <br />Project. She asked that the Board consider the requested amount of <br />$37,000 in lieu of the proposed amount of~ $30,500. She explained that <br />from 1980 to 1984 the project received three years of funding from the <br />National Association for Child Abuse and Neglect in Washington. Following <br />that period County and State money called the "Children's Trust Fund" made <br />it possible to continue the services to children in Orange County. She <br />explained the programs offered. through the Adolescents in Need Project. <br />This is the last year of the matched funds from the Children's Trust Fund. <br />Orange County has helped develop eight other projects in the State using <br />the model in Orange. County. .The ultimate goal is to have in place a <br />program to ,address the needs of teens. Two hundred thirty adolescents <br />have been served with 30 finishing high school while a parent. The <br />pregnancy rate has dropped from 96 per 1000 to 43 per 1,000 in 1985. She <br />asked that consideration be given to the full amount requested. . <br />10. KEITH COLEMAN , parent of three children and member of the <br />Cameron Park PTO, made reference to the Capital Needs Task Force Report=---.~~ <br />which stated that each school system needed $750,000 per year for <br />recurring capital expense money. The County Manager's budget provides <br />$450,000 this year. The needs continue to fall further and further <br />behind. A way needs to be found to address the capital needs. Air <br />conditioning is needed in the schools. <br />11. LINDSAY TAPP , stated that the County Manager's budget places a <br />low priority on public education in Orange County. He asked that the <br />Board place a high value on public education and the children of Orange <br />County. <br />12. MYRA KIRKMAN stated full support of the school budget as <br />presented by the School Board. She indicated it important that education <br />become a high priority. Public education is a responsibility of the local <br />government. She expressed concern that some locally funded special <br />education teachers may have to be cut. She supported the need for the <br />teacher a~,de positions as requested in the budget and the increase in <br />salary-for the bus drivers. She asked that funding be provided for a new <br />elementary school and the necessary money to provide safe and adequate <br />schools. <br />13. JULIE LINEHAN , President of the Board of Directors of the Rape <br />Crisis Center,. spoke in support of an increase in the amount of money <br />requested for 1987-88. The Center has experienced a tremendous growth as <br />a result of the increased services. From 1984-1986 the client caseload - <br />increased by 35%, and the number of persons reached by the community <br />education programs increased by 145. With growth comes increased needs <br />and services which results in increased cost. Since 1984, the allocation <br />