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Item 7: Impact of Buffers. This presents an issue of potential long bus rides. There will also be <br />pressure over time to open up the rural buffer. <br />Item 8: Is Bigger Really Better? <br />Item 9: Representative Governance. Public should have an opportunity for feedback in a <br />reasonable way. <br />Item 10: Control of Education. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that it is unfortunate that the school board continues to <br />misrepresent the County Commissioners' position. The County Commissioners have <br />repeatedly expressed that 48.1 % is a target and is not a cap or a limit. John Link said that the <br />Board has exceeded 48.1 °~ every year. <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that it is not a cap and it alarms peaple unnecessarily when people <br />say that it is a cap. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked what the CHCCS Board was expecting in terms of a response to <br />the issues. Gloria Faley said that the most significant question is the effect of merger on quality <br />of education and whether the issue of equalized funding is separate from the issue of merger. <br />Commissioner Carey said that these are legitimate questians and he Gautioned all involved to <br />be Gognizant of the fact that some questions cannot be answered. He agreed with <br />Commissioner Jacobs about the 48.1 °~ not being a cap. He gave his perception on some of <br />the questians asked by the CHCCS Board. <br />Regarding quality of education, he asked any schaal board member to present information from <br />a merged system where the quality of education went dawn. He has not seen any documented <br />evidence of this. He said that in Orange County, there is a long and reputable history of <br />providing the best quality education for our children. He said that this would not change in a <br />merger. <br />On the issue of merger versus equal funding, he submitted that the issue is social justice and <br />civil rights inequities. He said that merger is a means to an end. This is his perception. <br />Regarding the issue of the Central Office, both systems have asked for funding and the Board <br />has said no and that there needs to be cooperation on one. <br />Regarding student reassignment, he thinks that only the new school board can make that <br />decision. Trying to estimate how many students would be bussed will only cause fear. <br />On the issue of buffers and the rural buffer, he does not think that merger will affect it. He said <br />that raising the issue will put fear in the people that have worked many years to put the rural <br />buffer in place. He thinks this Gan be put to rest. <br />Chair Brown said that the Board would likely look at these questions and get the Manager to <br />see what can be answered and what cannot and bring it back. <br />Gloria Faley said that there should be a study on mergers that have been successful. She <br />suggested looking at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, where there was a significant negative <br />impact. She said that the rural buffer would affect redistricting. The school board may have no <br />GhOICe. <br />