Minutes - 20031111 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

save money for the system. He cautioned that nobody knows what the State is going to da, and the proposed 4 cents could just get eaten up by the State. Commissioner Halkiotis said that he thinks Commissioner Jacobs has some validity in asking for a single central office as part of a ten-year CIP plan. He would take it a step further and ask far an alternative school. The central office, the alternative school, and the pre-K facility could be on the same campus. He made reference to the field trip to Greensboro to look at a middle college. He said that he was disappointed that the Durham Tech people were not enthusiastic about this facility. He said that a single alternative school is a no-brainer. Chair Brown said that the point of the goal that was brought up a year ago is so significant because it really brought action right then. She said that what Commissioner Carey brought forward is to really da an analysis of the school systems. She thinks this is the time to da an analysis. She thinks everyone agrees to doing this. Chair Brown made reference to the supplemental tax and she asked what happens if this vote does not pass. She thinks there needs to be a back up option. She would not like to put all of their hopes on a vote. She would also like to do an analysis of how the Countywide supplement could be used. She asked Geof Gledhill to clarify the per-pupil allocation. Geof Gledhill said that the boards of education would decide where to spend the supplemental tax money. Commissioner Carey asked if the Board of County Commissioners could decide to put forth a public vote on the tax or if they would need concurrence from the school boards. Geof Gledhill said that the Board of County Commissioners is empowered to call the election. Commissioner Gordon said that the reason that she wanted to do something concrete is that she has been persuaded by the public that the $1.5 million would be needed by the OCS. She felt that one of the reasons why people wanted merger was because they wanted substantial funding far the OCS. She was trying to figure out haw to get mare funding for the OCS. Commissioner Gordon said that the major reason to have a central office is for a merged system. She would rather say that no more capital funds would be used for additional administrative office space. She proposes that we gather information and then have a public hearing and go from there. Commissioner Jacobs asked about the Countywide supplemental tax and if it could be used for capital projects and Geaf Gledhill said that the ballot could be structured this way. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to Armistice Day and the fact that the word "collaboration" signifies something bad. He said that it may be a subliminal message. Maybe the ward "cooperation" should be used instead. He said that he and Chair Brown talked about encouraging the Board to articulate what issues the task force should address. One issue would be whether smaller school systems promote the kind of parental involvement that the public is saying is so essential to student achievement. Also, because some communities are re-segregating because of how housing is built, we may be creating new inequities within our systems. Another issue is the possibility of socioeconomic inequities. He would like to hear more about how to address this. Also, the whole issue of spending - is it de facto that if you spend more money there will be better education? He would like some guidance from professionals about targeted spending.