Minutes - 06-07-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2. PUBLIC COMMENTS Kathy Bryan of Orange Enterprises distributed some information. She spoke about the request of $48,000 from the County, which was a $5,000 increase. She asked that the County Commissioners fully fund the request in order to address the Transition program. This program helps students with disabilities in the Orange County schools. The goal is that the students graduate with jobs in the community, and the program is working. She said that whatever happens in Raleigh will determine what happens to her agency. She said that it is a scary time right now and she is being forced to ask the staff to do more with less money. She said that she is going to have to ask the staff to do more with less money. She showed the Commissioners a clock that her organization is using in the current fundraising. She reminded the County Commissioners that Orange Enterprises has grown considerably and that it should be considered in the bond issue. The organization serves a total of 248 people. Chair Halkiotis told Kathy Bryan that the Manager was dedicated to finding a way to fund her request as the report comes to the County Commissioners. Dana Thompson spoke in support of Orange County Schools. She asked that others who were in support of Orange County schools to stand and almost everyone stood in the audience. There was applause and many held signs. She gave many examples of how the school system has been thoughtful and careful in planning. She said that the present budget shortfall, which threatens the opening of Pathways and delays the introduction of Spanish to the schools, is like asking them to rearrange dominos after they have begun to fall into place. She said that dominos represent that we hold in our hands important pieces, and if we want everything to fall into place in a neat and orderly fashion, we each have to play our pieces wisely. Tom Rankin is a parent of two children in the Orange County schools and a member of the Board of the Orange County Education Foundation. He said that he appreciates the tradition and record of the County Commissioners' support for public education. He urged support for the budget for the Orange County school system. He said that 50% of the total County budget for schools was an arbitrary tradition and should be put aside. He said that we must provide our talented, committed administrators, teachers, and staff with the appropriate resources to do the work that they do. He said that investment into the schools was well-placed investment toward the betterment of the entire County. Richard Ward is a parent of two children in the Orange County school system. Several years ago he helped build the video production facility at Efland-Cheeks. He said that his family is disheartened by the Manager's recommendation to drastically underfund the proposed school budget. He said that budgetary considerations should not be based on an arbitrary number, but on the true needs of the students and teachers of Orange County. He said that, under the Manager's budget, the school system could not even meet the legally mandated salaries for the teachers that are currently employed. He said that, even if it requires a modest tax increase, keeping students in school performing to their potential is far less expensive than dealing with the consequences of school dropout and juvenile crime. He said that for over twenty years he has operated a video production company in the Triangle area. Recent technology advances have made it possible for him to consider moving his studio from Qurham to Hillsborough. The proposed underfunding of the County's schools has given him cause for thought about whether this is a wise investment for him and his children. He said that if the school system cannot meet the needs of his children, his family is faced with the alternatives of moving or placing his children in private schools. Claire Johnson said that today she finished first grade and she really likes New Hope Elementary and she loves her teachers. She also would like to have a Spanish teacher because she wants to speak Spanish with her Uncle Carlos from Costa Rica. She also loves special classes like music and art. She asked the County Commissioners not to take away any of her teachers and to make sure there was enough money for the teachers and the special classes.