Minutes - 06-07-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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programs. Regarding the DPI's forecast of a loss of 40 students next year, he said that, in the wake of the end of grade test fiasco, it may be wise to check their math. Kellie Kimbrough, a representative from Efland-Cheeks Elementary School and soon to be Central Elementary School, brought 162 surveys from parents requesting Spanish instruction for next school year. She gave the surveys to Chair Halkiotis. Sybil Sink spoke representing the School Governance Committee at A. L. Stanback. She is the mother of three Orange County students. She is representing hundreds of other parents in Orange County and requested that the County Commissioners approve the budget request as originally submitted by Superintendent Bridges. She said that the proposed 15°~ increase was desperately needed for the schools, especially with respect to teacher supplements and incentives. She said that we must be able to attract and retain quality and gifted teachers for Orange County students. She urged the County Commissioners to please find a way to fund Superintendent Bridges' budget request because the teachers need it and the students deserve it. Bob Shreiner, Acting Chair of the Chapel Hill Public Library Board of Trustees, thanked the County Commissioners for last year's support. The funds were used for books, reference resources, and Internet access. They asked for increased library funding for all citizens of Orange County and mare equitable support far the Chapel Hill Public Library. He said that Orange County residents that do not pay Chapel Hill taxes constitute 37% of the Chapel Hill Public Library's use. However, Orange County provides only 14% of the library's funding. The service highlights include the largest circulation of books in the state of North Carolina. With the Board of Trustees, the Town Council is reviewing the 1999 Library Needs Assessment Task Force that will specify service needs and there will be a report later this year. He said that Chapel Hill Public Library provides significant services to residents of Orange County. He said that there continues to be an inequity between County funding for Chapel Hill Public Library compared to library use by non-Chapel Hill, County residents. Melissa Bryant is a parent of a child at Cameron Park Elementary School. She urged the County Commissioners to allocate enough money for the Orange County schools to hire and keep enough teachers to keep the class sizes small and enough money to hire afull-time Spanish teacher for each elementary school. Curry Bryant said that she just finished the first grade at Cameron Park Elementary School. She said that she loves her school and she wants it to be the best. Janet Kendall is a parent of a child at Cameron Park Elementary School. She said that she missed her son's last T-ball game to be here tonight because the funding for Orange County schools is an important issue to her. She attends PTGO meetings faithfully and volunteers whenever she can. She said that the recommendations of the Manager will not work and will not even cover the salary increases for current employees. This is not acceptable to her. She spoke in favor of the 15°~ increase in the budget. Phyllis Nemcheck, President of the PTSA at A. L. Stanback, has five children in Orange County schools and will soon have six. She said that they chose to live in Orange County because of the great schools and because Orange County cares about the schools and the children. She asked the County Commissioners to please not cut the funding from the schools. She said that the children deserve only the best. She said that the Spanish classes were needed in all of the elementary schools. Mitch Cox, teacher at Orange High School and a parent of two children, encouraged the County Commissioners to support the budget request of the Orange County schools. Theresa Cox, a parent of two children in Orange County schools and a third grade teacher at Hillsborough Elementary, said that she was very proud to be an Orange County educator. As a teacher and a parent she asks her children to give 100%. She asked the County Commissioners to do the same and fully fund the budget as proposed by the Superintendent. Andy Anthony was signed up but was not present to speak.