Minutes - 20020617 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Commissioner Carey said that he was at a meeting sponsored by the Institute of Medicine which focused on efforts of the State on increasing the tax on cigarettes. They talked about a new initiative to prevent our youth from smoking through advertising. It showed the number of school districts that have declared themselves as smoke-free environments and they listed Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools as the only system in Orange County which has done that and it did not include the Orange County system. He asked the Orange County School Board about this. Randy Bridges said that they da not allow students to smoke but adults are allowed to smoke in designated areas outside of the buildings. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools does not allow any smoking on any of their property. Commissioner Carey said that we pay a high price because of the impacts of smoking. He asked that Orange County schools reconsider their policy because of the message it sends to our young people. Also, women are being disproportionately influenced because of the advertising. Dana Thompson said that their school board will further discuss this issue. Commissioner Gordon made reference to the CIP and was interested in classroom additions and renovations, new schools, new space, system wide needs related to health and safety, athletics, technology, and other. She asked for a picture of the ten-year CIP of these categories. John Link said that he could confer with the two school systems and come back with some figures Commissioner Gordon asked whatever happened to alternative sources of revenue in the Orange County schools and how that issue stands. Brenda Stephens said that the status of a district tax was that the school board decided to wait until Segal gave their report and then they will move forward sometime very soon. Commissioner Halkiotis said that maintaining a school building is an expensive proposition. He cautioned that when repairs are delayed, they can cost more in the long run. In most school operations, replacementlrepairs are costly. He said that it was ridiculous that the State sent a directive for school systems to use parts from buses which are not in service to repair those being used on a daily basis. Susan Halkiotis expressed resignation about the budget for this year. She said that school board members and parents have resigned themselves to the fact that nothing can be done about the budget crisis this year. She said that the State allocation is not going to be pleasant, and they know they need $880,000 and they are getting $115,000. They also know that they have a huge gap in funding the startup costs for Cedar Ridge High School and the budget forecast for next year does not look any better. She said that Orange County schools will reduce their fund balance to cover the deficit they are faced with, and they could go lower and not fully fund the startup costs. She wonders where they are going to recover the deficits they are going to suffer from last year, this year, and next year. She is worried where they are going because it appears to be downhill. She asked the County Commissioners to consider the opportunity to look at funding for both school systems in the way they have approached building standards, land use issues, and collaboration issues, and talk about the future and what happens if their journey continues on a downhill course. She said that the Chair mentioned that following the presentation from Segal, the Orange County School Board will be discussing whether they will be asking the County Commissioners to include on a referendum the district tax for the Orange County system. She feels they need to further discuss the funding inequity between the two school systems. Chair Jacobs said that the County Commissioners are aware of what is happening in the schools with regards to funding and they are also worried. No one anticipated what the 9111 event