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failing students to master their curriculum is also a high priority. In addition to those needs, there is a morale problem with the teachers whose salary has been capped. She spoke in support of that cap being removed. Jan Dunn spoke in support of full funding for both of the school systems. She said that she was willing to pay more for quality education. She stated that her children were already receiving a quality education in Orange County and that she was committed to that quality education continuing. Sherry Walters, a parent of children in the Orange County schools, spoke in support of full funding for the School Board's funding request. There have been times during the last six years when the Reading Recovery position at her son's school has been vacant and he was not able to get the help that he needed. Full funding of this budget request would help to alleviate this situation. Great strides have been made in the last several years and full funding would help to continue this trend. Melissa Link, a fourth grade teacher at Central Elementary School, spoke in support of the School Board's proposed budget. She specifically addressed the need to maintain the additional first grade teaching position. It is critical that the trend toward smaller class sizes be continued, particularly in the primary grades. She asked that the Board of County Commissioners support this request. Greg Samsa, a parent of four children in the Orange County school system, spoke in support of the Orange County School Board's request being fully funded. He stated that he has been very active both in the school itself and with the PTA and school administration. He was very impressed with the quality of the education his children are receiving. His middle school children attend C.W. Stanford and participate in both sports and the band. His first grader at Hillsborough Elementary started out a year behind his class in his reading skills. Through the Reading Recovery Program he has advanced several years ahead of his grade. He mentioned that the music teacher at C.W. Stanfrord has done an excellent job with all of the students. He asked that the Board of County Commissioners assure that she receive the assistant that she needs. He said that each of the items in the education budget have been carefully thought out and need to be fully funded. Stephanie Doyle, a teacher at A. L. Stanback, spoke as an advocate for public education in general and the exceptional children programs, in particular. A. L. Stanback has both a year-round and a traditional school in one building. There is a need for an exceptional children's teacher for each program. There is currently only one resource teacher teaching both programs. She asked that the Board of County Commissioners fund the entire budget request. Kathy Henderson, co-President of Orange County Association of Educators, spoke in support of both the Orange County School System and its teachers. Orange County schools have a very effective budget process which included teachers, parents and administrators. She stated that full funding of the School Board's budget request is necessary in order for the schools to stay competitive. Susan DeBartolo, a teacher in the Orange County Schools, spoke in support of the Orange County funding request. She stated that she had attended many School Board meetings over the years. The Board spends many hours going over the requests from each of the nine schools. The budget forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners reflects only those items which are necessary to maintain a standard of excellence. She asked that the Board of County Commissioners fully fund the School Board's budget request. Jennifer Miller, a parent with a daughter at Orange High School, spoke in support of the Orange County Schools budget request. She mentioned that her daughter is in the Seminar Program at Orange High which is a program that teaches in an interdisciplinary way. This has been an extremely effective program. She asked the Board of County Commissioners to fund the entire budget request so that this program can be offered to all of the students who would like to participate.