Orange County NC Website
_> <br />increase in the district tax. <br />20. DR. BILL HOLLISTER , teacher of mental health programming at the <br />University, appealed to the Board to replace the funds that were-dropped <br />out for the emergency services that he feels are so critical to this <br />community. Because of the increased growth in the community, the Mental <br />Health Center does not have the staff or facilities to handle the <br />increased load and responsibilities. The Center has been dependent upon <br />Memorial Hospital to provide these services. However, the load on that <br />clinic is high and there is a deficit in funds. He asked that the Board <br />reconsider seriously the cut that was made. <br />21. WILMA WILLHOIT spoke in support of the request for the Crisis <br />Emergency Service. She stated there is a service needed midway on the <br />continuum between the clinic visit and the emergency room visit where a <br />person in crisis can be talked down, supervised and taken care of. This <br />new program will not only take care of those chronically mentally i11. but <br />also will help those with acute problems. She stated that it would be cast <br />effective because first line caregivers will be nurses. A community is <br />known by what they do for those who cannot care for themselves. <br />22. JUDY JONES , high school teacher, parent, volunteer and citizen <br />of Chapel Hill-Carrboro. She made comments about the issue of equity. <br />Equity for the two school systems does not mean that everything has to be <br />equal. The ideal of equal opportunity to choose or to pursue goals is the <br />foundation of this nation. School districts serve different communities <br />with different priority lists. It is a requirement of governing bodies to <br />insure that every school district meet basic standards for a good <br />education. Beyond that, the communities themselves should have the right <br />to individualize. The citizens of Chapel Hill-Carrboro have clearly indi- <br />cated their support of the budget approved by their school board and the <br />people have indicated, by signing a recent petition, their willingness to <br />tax themselves to pay for this budget. Seventeen cents per $100 valuation <br />is needed from the district tax. She asked that the Board respect the <br />wishes of the community and not hesitate to fund the budget in full. <br />23. DR. JANOWSKY , made brief comments about the need for the crisis <br />center as proposed by OPC. The center will offer an alternative to those <br />who normally come to the hospital. The chronically mental ill in a crisis <br />situation could be served at this center. The people will be trained to <br />handle the situation. <br />24. MARY ELLEN PR2ESLEY , retired professor of English and <br />literature, indicated she knows of no tax she would rather pay than that <br />for education. She stated that education cannot stand still if the young <br />people are to be prepared to make a living and learn how to live. The <br />schools need the very best teachers who are also the very best people. <br />Necessary backup people and equipment are needed. She spoke in support of <br />the increase in teacher salaries and the funding of the expansion budget. <br />25. DAN HOOKER asked that the Commissioners not try to make Chapel <br />Hill-Carrboro accept less for the sake of equity but to try to upgrade <br />education in general. He stated his willingness to pay additional taxes <br />so that both school systems are funded as they have requested. <br />26. ROSEMARY PLADNA spoke on behalf of the troubled preschooler. She <br />- described the problem she had in finding a daycare for her son who was <br />later diagnosed as being hyperactive. Children who have emotional <br />problems need to be reached before they enter kindergarten or they will be <br />