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Greg Britz spoke about the changes that are coming and the things that we need to do <br />to make the County a better place to live. He said that education should be thought of more <br />broadly and as an investment in the future. He spoke about changing same of the statutes and <br />laws, or whatever it takes to come up with the necessary funds. <br />Sonia Peedin spoke about needing a Spanish teacher at New Hope Elementary School. <br />Florence 5oltys, Chair of the Advisory Board on Aging, thanked the County <br />Commissioners and the County Manager for the support of the Master Aging Plan. She <br />reminded the County Commissioners that we are moving up to 14,000 senior citizens in Orange <br />County. She asked the Board of County Commissioners to think about the seniors and the <br />changes they have brought about in Orange County. She said that people who do not think <br />about history do not think about the future either. She spoke about the adult day care senior <br />center in Northern Orange County and the $50, 000 that is needed for this facility. She ended <br />with a poem. <br />Mariah McPherson commended the County Commissioners, the County Manager, and <br />the County staff for their work. She said that she supports the schools, but there are people that <br />are aged and need things. She spoke in support of the adult day care for seniors in Northern <br />Orange County and the $50,000 needed. <br />Jack Chestnut spoke about the adult day care center. He said that this center would <br />promote social, physical, and emotional well being. The program will also provide transportation <br />to the facility. There will be breakfast, lunch, and snacks served at this facility. He said that <br />without this facility there are many elderly people who will be sitting home alone. <br />Sean Smith spoke in favor of the Orange County school budget being funded in full. He <br />spoke specifically about Pathways Elementary School and said that in last year's budget, there <br />was the knowledge, and he assumes the commitment, that Pathways would open fully in the <br />2001-2002 school year. As he understands the Manager's budget for Orange County schools, <br />Pathways could not be opened fully next year. He said that there were children going to school <br />in mobile classrooms. He said that in last year's budget he saw a commitment on the part of the <br />Commissioners to open Pathways fully. He is asking the Commissioners to follow through on <br />that commitment in this year's budget. He said that his children would be going to another <br />elementary school as part of the redistricting. He said that the redistricting plan is dependent an <br />the full opening of Pathways. He said that if the superintendent's budget was not funded, none <br />of what his children are expecting next year will happen. <br />Keith Houck is a parent of children in the Orange County school system. He said that he <br />strongly supports approval of the complete budget request of the Orange County school system, <br />and he also supports exploration of new revenue sources for the Orange County school system <br />to fund education improvement for the future. <br />Dan Cheek was signed up but was not present to speak. <br />Kathy Hartkopf said that she moved here from Durham because the Orange County <br />schools have been first and because the Orange County Commissioners have made them that <br />way. She appreciates the commitment to the schools. She pleaded with the County <br />Commissioners to not let them down this year. She is overwhelmingly pleased with <br />Hillsborough Elementary School. She believes in public schools and strongly supports the <br />school budget as recommended. She said that she understands the need for the 50°1° cutoff, <br />but apparently 50% is just not enough. She said that 50% is not actually the law. <br />Lori King, a parent at Hillsborough Elementary School, said that she just wanted the <br />Board of County Commissioners to know that she supports the Orange County school budget. <br />Arlene Furman was signed up but was not present to speak. <br />Matthew Freytag, a parent of two children in the Orange County schools, spoke against <br />the proposed cuts in the Orange County school budget. He said that the proposed budget <br />requires a 10°!° cut in everything that the schools do if the required cost-of-living salary increase <br />is implemented. He said that the district could cut all physical education in all the schools and <br />still not come close to coming up with enough funding. He said that Spanish was not a frill <br />