Minutes 05-20-2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I am writing because we need your help. For the first time in the life of the project (29 years) the funding from county government is at risk of coming to an end. This causes me grave concern about what will happen to this particular group of vulnerable students. The project serves approximately 150 students each year who are dealing with issues of violence, substance use, pregnancy, parenting, sadness, injurious behavior, divorce issues, and single parenting challenges. I have been engaged in dialogue with community and state leaders since last fall about the crucial role this project plays in the lives of our young people and how urgent is the matter of continuation funding to keep the project in place. Most particularly, I was invited to meet with Speaker Joe Hackney who has been a long-time supporter of this project and who speaks regularly of the impact this project has had in the lives of our youth in Orange County. He has recommended that the project staff seek funding from some of the 2010/2011 state initiatives, especially those grants that address mentoring, dropout prevention, and coop initiatives in the community. The funding cycles for these grant applications will be January 2011. To keep the project in place during this application process, we need financial support for the period of time from July 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011. There are no guarantees of funding, but it is promising in that Speaker Hackney has offered his endorsement of our projects' work. I am asking the Commissioners to continue funding of the project from July 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. I ask your help for two reasons. First, it will allow us time to seek funding from other sources. Second, and most important, it will allow us time to help these students as well as referral sources, to deal with the potential termination of the project. We cannot just bring this project abruptly to an end on June 30, 2010. It would be a travesty to suddenly leave those particularly vulnerable students with nowhere to turn in a crisis. The project cost is $100,000.00 a year to maintain the current staffing level. I am asking for$50,000.00 to $75,000.00 to help us keep the project in place while we look for other funding sources. Thank you for the 29 years of continuation funding that you have provided, as well as the commitment and loyalty you have demonstrated in helping us reach the vulnerable young people in our county. It is indeed some of your best-spent dollars in Orange County!! Your favorable response to this request is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Betty Compton, FNP, Professor, UNC School of Medicine, AIN Director" Krystal Lyons is CHCCS PTA Council President and thanked the Board of County Commissioners for recommending maintaining the per-pupil funding. She said that the citizens of Orange County place a high priority on quality education. She said that this has been a difficult budget process. She said that the council is pleased that the BOE, the budget Manager, and the County Commissioners are maintaining a long-term view in discussing the need for sustainability for the future. She asked the County Commissioners to please adopt this budget as proposed because it reflects the values of the residents of Orange County. She said that at the latest PTA meeting there was discussion about the possibility of raising property taxes and they would work with the Board of County Commissioners to adopt the '/4 cent sales tax in the fall. She said that with the postponement of Elementary School #11 there is still a compelling need for this project to go through in the future. Greg Dingfelder said that he has been in Orange County for about four years and he moved here for the quality of education. He said that the 48.1% for education is making the schools lose FTEs, and he is not sold on that amount. Jessica Lee is the dentist representative on the Orange County Board of Health. She has served on the Board of Health for the last eight years, including past Chair and past Vice- Chair. She said that she has served on this board through many budget cuts and she asked that the County not cut anymore. She said that they are at the very minimum right now and this