Minutes - 19990527 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Keith Cook, a member of the Orange County School Board, acknowledged the citizens who have spoken in support of the School Board's budget request. He also thanked the Board of County Commissioners for their support over the years. This budget request is intended to help the Orange County school system continue programs that have already been implemented as well as continue improving their overall services. He acknowledged that the Commissioners were faced with a difficult task. However, he asked that education and the children be the number one priority and that the Commissioners keep education the number one priority until all of Orange County's children have an equal opportunity to learn. He mentioned that social promotion is a thing of the past, as well it should be. Those children who were promoted for social, rather than academic reasons, often became permanent members of the underclass and were both underemployed and unable to fully care for themselves and families. In the past, schools taught those who were easy to teach and did not request additional resources. Three years ago, Orange County voted to discontinue the practice of social promotions and now the State of North Carolina has also ended the practice of social promotion. All students have a right to a sound, basic education and this requires that everyone contribute more resources. The children who were once socially promoted are capable of learning but they need extra resources to make it happen. He asked that the Board of County Commissioners fully fund the School Board's budget request so that the needs of these children can be met. He acknowledged that the Manager was recommending a budget that would fund all of the mandates for the Orange County Schools. He thanked the Manager for having recommended that level of funding. However, he voiced his concern that only $498,000 was left to fund the expansion budget which totals $1.2 million dollars. This is a shortfall of $775,000 which represents many necessary programs. He mentioned that some of the programs included those for exceptional children, additional teachers, foreign language instructions, and technology technicians. One of the real issues in northern Orange is the number of children who start school without reading skills. The Orange County school system is addressing this problem in a very small way by adding a pre-K teacher, however, they really need four or five pre-K teachers. This budget request also includes an increase in the local supplement for their teachers. The school administration must maintain competitiveness in order to retain their excellent teachers. That will cost approximately $311,000. He asked that the Commissioners not settle for an arbitrary dollar amount for the Orange County School's budget. He asked that they remember the many unmet needs of both exceptional and special students and fund the entire budget as presented. Eleanor McConnell, a parent of students in the Orange County schools system, spoke in support of full funding for the Orange County schools budget request. In particular, she asked that the band program at C.W. Stanford be funded at a level that would allow an assistant to be hired. Eileen Kugler, Chair of the Human Relations Commission, thanked the Board of County Commissioners for their past and current support of the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance and the Department of Human Rights and Relations. She asked for their continued support, in particular, for the new positions being requested for this Department. They are requesting that the Investigator position be converted from time-limited to permanent. In addition, they are requesting another Investigator position and for increased hours for the administrative position. She said that these positions are crucial to fulfilling the mission of the Commission. Karen Latta, a parent of a student at New Hope Elementary, spoke in support of fully funding the School Board's budget request. She stated that education is one of the most important facets of our children's growth. She agreed that an increase in teacher's supplements is necessary so that the best teachers can be attracted and retained. She asked that the exceptional children's programs be funded to the highest level possible so that additional teachers can be hired.. She felt that these children often are overlooked because they are doing so well. Kathleen Turner, Executive Director of the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, spoke in support of increased funding for the Orange County Historical Museum and the Burroughs School historical site. Although the Alliance's funding request is relatively modest it goes a long way toward reaching their goals. She thanked the Board of County Commissioners and said that the Alliance is requesting a small increase in their request for both the museum and the school. They are expanding and changing the