Minutes - 09-24-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

that there are sa many negatives associated with merger and the concept. He said that, in his opinion, merger is not being addressed. Chair Halkiotis said that the issue of school merger demands and expects a significant amount of time and study. He said that there was nothing wrong with looking at it in anon-threatening way. He said that if the two school districts did merge, it would take several years and many people would be involved. He is not convinced that a lot of money would be saved by merger, but he thinks people need to at least have an open mind and be willing to look at it. He thinks this is a wonderful opportunity for school collaboration. He thinks there would be a much freer sharing of ideas and thoughts without County Commissioners being present in the process. Commissioner Gordon said that if the committee of school board members had an opinion about merger then she suggested they take up merger as one of the topics to express their opinions about it. Brenda Stephens said that this would be added to the Orange County School board's agenda for next week. Dana Thompson said that what she hears the County Commissioners asking of the two school boards is what if all the grownups take responsibility far all the kids in our County. She said that we should stay focused on this question. Gloria Foley made reference to the merger study and said that it struck her when it said that whether there is merger or not, what you really want to do is look towards having small collaborative units in which you build small successes. She said that oftentimes, joint programs cost more money. Also, the date of May 1St concerns her and she suggested a successful timetable to have as much information as possible to make concrete and realistic decisions. Nick Didow said that he feels it would be helpful to have one County Commissioner or two County Commissioners serve an the committee. He agrees that many of the things on the list of collaboration efforts have been done in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School system {i.e., efficiencies in ordering of supplies and services). The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City school board would gladly share these ideas with the Orange County school board. c. School Health and Safety includin Nursin John Link said that this speaks to the ongoing interest of safety matters affecting all students. The first item is related to the priorities for renovation funding. The other item is related to the expansion of the nursing staff in both systems over the next four years to be sure that we have the presence of a school nurse at all schools. The County Commissioners approved three new nursing positions in the budget approved last July. This is to be accomplished through a contract arrangement with the Board of Health. Superintendent Neil Pedersen said that they have expanded one position from half time to full-time and there is a recommendation pending for another full-time position. They are on schedule. Superintendent Randy Bridges reported that they were on schedule as well. d. Priorit Projects for Bond Renovation Funds and Alternative Financing John Link made reference to a letter from Chair Halkiotis dated September 11th asking each school system to prioritize the bond funding for renovation of certain schools and to indicate how each school system would address issues of health and safety. The other item related to how each system had earmarked fund balance revenues for the final budget as adopted by each school system. We have received responses from both systems. Superintendent Bridges said that in the memo provided to the County Commissioners tonight, the Orange County school board has decided that the $900,000 of renovation money would go for Hillsborough Elementary School. He asked about additional funding for completing the renovations for Hillsborough Elementary and Orange High School. Commissioner Gordon said that the County Commissioners had discussed alternative financing and she had suggested funding for renovations recommended by the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force but not included on the bond. She also said that the Commissioners had removed the central office renovations from the list. The County Commissioners wanted to take a tour of school facilities before making a commitment of funding. She asked for an explanation of the renovations at Hillsborough Elementary. Superintendent Bridges said that Hillsborough Elementary is their only year round school. They have a waiting list each year. The Central Office expansion piece was tied to the renovations. They have thirteen classrooms being used by central office staff that they would like to move from that facility to allow