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Diane Willis: My name is Diane Willis, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Phillips <br />Middle School PTSA. It is our role as a PTSA to advocate for all children. We have <br />serious reservations about the merger process as it is proceeding. We are concerned <br />that a coerced and undemocratic process in which a very small minority makes a <br />decision for tens of thousands of citizens may exacerbate tensions and divisiveness <br />within our communities instead of achieving a unified result. We are concerned that <br />same academic programs may be disrupted or discontinued. We are concerned that <br />the momentum we have developed to address minority achievement will be diminished. <br />We are concerned about having to completely realign curriculum, having just plunged <br />into that process last year. We are concerned about the effects of teacher <br />reassignment and programs at our schools. We are concerned about a loss of control <br />and input from our duly elected school boards who are knowledgeable about our <br />schools' programs and initiatives. We are concerned about the negative effects of <br />administrative chaos through the loss of one or both of our superintendents. We are <br />concerned about redistricting and the lack of stability for our children. We are <br />concerned that a larger district will be less responsive, less accessible, and less <br />accountable to the constituents. We are concerned about the effects of so called <br />equalized funding on the program for exceptional Ed and English non-proficient <br />students, which are more numerous in the City schools and for which State funding is <br />insufficient. We are concerned that increased distance from homes to schools will <br />constrain and reduce parental involvement. We are concerned that bussing across the <br />rural buffer will increase pressure to develop the buffer. We are concerned about the <br />effects of bussing on air quality. We are concerned about much wasted time and long <br />bus rides for some children with inherent increased risk of accidents and we question <br />how you can keep schools balanced with respect to race and economic status in as <br />large a geographic area as Orange County without bussing same children excessive <br />distances. In conclusion, we agree that Orange County schools need sufficient funds to <br />support their needs and priorities. However, merger is an excessive solution to a <br />funding problem. There are many ways to bring necessary funding to Orange County <br />schools that do not require merging the two school systems. The disruption that merger <br />would cause for students in both school systems is extreme and unnecessary. We urge <br />you to implement a less disruptive solution that will benefit all of our children. Thank <br />you. <br />Thomas Volk: Hi, my name is Thomas Volk. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. <br />The statute allows three people to make a merger happen. Unfortunately, the statute is <br />silent as to the level of motivation and consensus in the community required to achieve <br />the successful implementation of such a decision. My own opinion is that unless you <br />take the time necessary to build some degree of consensus, or at least thoroughly <br />review and consider all less disruptive alternatives, the result will be less than desirable. <br />It appears to me ideas are still being generated. At the last meeting, one speaker <br />outlined a plan under which the Chapel Hill district tax would truly be treated as a <br />supplemental tax, thereby not impacting the extent to which the County funding request <br />is met. While it would not actually equalize funding, it would eliminate the negative <br />impact of the City district tax on the County. It appeared to me to have little downside. <br />Lack of collaboration between the systems has also been highlighted as an issue. What <br />