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attempt to sell this merger, because there was nothing to it to sell. It is time to turn the merger issue over to the two boards of education, have them give it substance, and put it to a referendum. While a referendum will not remove the politics from this issue, it will ensure that the decision is made by those who should make it -the voting citizens of Orange County. Thank you. Susan Payne: Good evening. My name is Susan Payne and this is Pang Yao. We both have kindergartners at Seawell Elementary; Pang also has a child who attends Smith Middle School. Like all parents who sit before you tonight, we are concerned and involved with our children's education -devoted if you will, far the long haul. And like all parents here tonight, we agree that there is a strong need to remedy school funding inequities and curriculum disparities between the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Orange County Schools. Further we agree, as most parents here tonight do, that all students deserve equal and quality educational opportunities. However, at this time, we do not agree that merger is the best route to this end. Because we feel strongly that all residents of Orange County should have a voice in the school merger issue, we initiated a petition drive to help gauge public opinion regarding school merger. Our petitions, one against merger and one for merger, were posted online an November 12t". We also solicited help to circulate the petitions from within, and outside, the Chapel Hill and Carrboro City limits. Parents just like us circulated these petitions and are still circulating these petitions door-to-door in their neighborhoods, at their kids' bus stops, on soccer fields, at book clubs, and at work -anywhere there are people who are concerned with the merger issue. And while we will continue this effort in hopes that all people who wish to sign will have a chance to do so, we wanted to present to you tonight copies of those signatures we have received to date. The total number of signatures in hand that appose merger at this time is 1,253. The total in support of merger at this time is 18. We realize you already know where the majority of people represented stand on this issue, and while we very much appreciate some of the proposals you put forth on November 11t", we felt it still important that you see the level of concern and involvement that exists at the grassroots level within the community that you serve. Some may call us selfish for being involved in our children's education, for caring where and how they get to school, and for trying to ensure that they too receive the best educational opportunities possible while still remaining close to home in a supportive community environment. As parents, we want the best education for our children; in fact, we want that for all kids. But merger is not the solution. We can see this from the legacy of merger and the larger school system it created in Wake County. It's almost 30 years post-merger in that district, and Wake's latest "redistricting for occupancy" will move some 10,000 students. The parents are disgruntled and feel left out of the loop. Same children must wake up as early as 5:00 a.m. to catch a bus to school, and then they don't stay after because their school is too far away from their homes to participate in activities after school. We think it's fair to say that those of us in the community who are apposed to merger are actively seeking ways to avoid this type of legacy here in Orange County. Every parent wants the best education far their kids. It is not a matter of selfishness, but rather a matter of love. And we stand here tonight representing a majority of parents who urge you to look beyond the idea of merger to find an alternative, better solution that will correct the inequities in our two systems while truly "holding harmless" each and every child in both systems. Thank you. Brian Voyce: First I'd like to thank Commissioner Gordon for her plan to advance the referendum for a County school district tax. And I'd like to thank Commissioners Brown and Jacobs for their plans to study means to further introduce cooperation. Surely