Minutes - 20020325 - Laserfiche WebLink

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schools, which should have a say an merger and collaboration. He has not heard any support from rural Orange County far merger. Unless there is significant savings, he thinks there should not be merger. Commissioner Carey feels that it is acceptable to the County Commissioners to wait until the survey results came in. However, the County Commissioners should at least know what is going out to the public in the spirit of communication. With reference to a student going to another high school, he is familiar with students, which are registered at one college and can take courses at other colleges. He said that he knows that if they can work it out, the people in this room can figure it out. He asked for additional information on why the two systems are not in favor of combining their central offices. Valerie Foushee said that she is not opposed to sharing the draft survey with the County Commissioners as long as the process is not bogged down. With regard to the transfer of students, they do believe that it can be done, but there is no process in place at this time. Keith Cook made reference to the comments made by Commissioner Carey about students being able to move from college to college and said that these are adults and not children, so transportation is not an issue. Chair Jacobs reiterated that the school boards have agreed to let the County Commissioners see the survey before it goes out. He asked for the two school boards to try and work on getting a consultant to look at same of the collaborative opportunities. He would like for the school boards to finish that piece and bring it to the County Commissioners by the end of April {cost of consultant, scope, possible consultants, etc.}. He made reference to the survey in the fall and said that the County Commissioners are not trying to push the two school systems to put merger out into the public realm until we at least consider what is involved in merger. There are some very strong opinions about merger. He does not feel that there is enough information about the pray and cons of merger. Superintendent Bridges made reference to the possibility of locating the central offices together and said that there are issues about the location, size, and putting everybody in one building. He said that the first thing that popped into his mind was, "why?" He did not see the savings or advantages of it. No one really liked the idea. Chair Jacobs asked if this could be put in the second bullet as a consideration and Superintendent Bridges said yes. The consultant can at least look at the possibility and see if there would be any savings to locating the central offices together. c. Factors Affecting FY 2002-03 School Budgets John Link said that the counties and cities are experiencing cuts in revenues from the state. The County will have to address this, as the budget is prepared. The County Commissioners continue to have guidelines in place for funding current expense for both school systems. He is to pursue the target of 48.1 % of the total County budget for educational funding. Based on the Department of Public Instruction numbers, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School system is to expect a gain of 234 students and the Orange County School system is to expect a loss of 160 students. Based on that, the Orange County School system would lose funding. He said that he and the superintendents would come up with a creative recommendation to try and address the needs of the students. Superintendent Bridges said that they are aware of what the state has done to local budgets. Cedar Ridge High School will be opening this year and with the numbers from DPI, Cedar Ridge has basically become the budget for Orange County Schools. The Orange County school budget will reflect an increase for health care costs and funding far the opening of Cedar Ridge High School in August. Funding for the opening of Cedar Ridge High School is a big concern. Superintendent Pedersen said that he plans to submit a budget with the same per pupil amount as they received this past year. They are planning to keep the same level of service. The state is telling them to assume a 30% increase in insurance costs. They will be opening a new elementary school in 2003. They will do whatever the state does regarding salary increases. Commissioner Gordon asked both superintendents to explain what it means to a school system when its enrollment goes up and it gets more money or when enrollment goes dawn and it gets less money. Superintendent Bridges said that if there is a drastic change in student enrollment, they would lose teachers and that funding source. If the loss of students is spread out over the district, it is mare difficult to spread out the loss of funding.