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Chair Brown asked for comments from the Orange County Schools <br />Keith Cook spoke about the Administration building. He said that the school boards do not <br />agree on having just one building. <br />Randy Copeland said that he was concerned that the Board might make a decision before <br />answering all of the questions. Also, there are a number of equity issues. He said that Orange <br />County is funded well compared to other counties. He challenged the Board to look at this hard <br />before making a decision. <br />Libbie Hough said that she has heard questions from parents about what would happen to the <br />new schools in the pipeline if there was merger. <br />John Link said that the report assumes that all projects in the pipeline would be addressed. <br />Libbie Hough would like to hear haw equity can be achieved, including Capital, by other means <br />besides merger. <br />Betty Tom Phelps Davidson said that whether we merge or not, we are all on the table. She <br />would like to know how many constituents will be impacted by merger. She agrees with <br />Commissioner Carey on what the real issue is -social injustice and civil rights. She applauds <br />the efforts to try and close the funding gap. She does not know the best way to achieve this. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked when answers would be forthcoming from the staff. John Link <br />said that the answers should be ready by the work session in November. He could not speak <br />for the information from the school superintendents. Superintendent Pedersen said that they <br />could probably get an answer within the next couple of weeks. <br />Superintendent Carraway said that some questions could be answered quickly and same <br />would take more time. For example, it would be difficult to get the information regarding <br />students in Orange County not taking the SAT. This will take a long time. They would also <br />have difficulty determining the percentage of students that might be affected in a merger. <br />Regarding the redistricting question, someone would have to create this information and they <br />would not have an answer to this. <br />John Link said that they could commit to having some answers by the public hearings and <br />others would be ready by November 21St <br />Commissioner Jacobs said that he was going to propose something on Wednesday that would <br />give another opportunity for the public to digest and comment. Regarding the rural buffer, he <br />said that the only threats to the rural buffer in recent times has been the CHCCS proposing <br />schools in the rural buffer. He challenged the two school boards to start sharing and <br />cooperating together. He challenged both school boards to some self-examination. <br />Commissioner Halkiatis said that Commissioner Carey brought forth a recommendation for a <br />Commissioners' goal at the retreat in January, and now everyone thinks that there is a rush to <br />merge both school systems. This is only a goal to generate an interesting discussion. He is <br />still committed to listening to all issues. He voted on a goal, and did not vote to merge the two <br />school systems. <br />Gloria Foley said that she appreciates Commissioner Jacobs' proposal far additional public <br />comment. Regarding collaboration, she said that over the last few years, bath school systems <br />have had a number of conversations regarding collaboration and alternate schools and they <br />