Minutes - 20031204 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

wear and tear, and leading to breakdowns and the need to purchase new busses. As of 2002, a new school bus costs between $50-60,000. Where is this money going to come from? This will need to be factored in when looking at how much a merger will cost and if it is worth it. Also, the affect on air quality will need to be looked at as well. More busses mean more pollution. Also, higher fuel costs. Again, these issues need to be looked at completely before decisions are made. I also believe just as strongly those issues such as affect on curriculum, sports, and other after school activities need to be look at as well. And one important issue that needs to be addressed is the adverse affect on parent involvement in the schools because their children will be in a school further away. Parent involvement is essential to our schools. Parents are reading and writing partners; they provide and participate in the fund raising, which provides much needed items such as books, supplies, and safe playground equipment. Parents also landscape, and if you've ever been to Frank Porter Graham, you know that's a necessity at Frank Porter Graham. If parents cannot conveniently get to school, they are much less likely to participate. And for minority parents, many of whom do not have reliable transportation, it will be impossible. We have tried very hard at Frank Porter Graham to involve Latino families in our school. One reason they are able to participate is that they live close to the school. I would hate to see this effort go to waste because of redistricting due to merger. And let me say, I come from New York, from a big school district. Bigger is not better. Bigger means more bureaucracy, less accessibility for parents, and teachers, and students. So it really isn't better. Please keep that in mind. I also feel that we should look at more ways to cooperate and ways for our two communities to come together. I work in Orange County, I live in Chapel Hill. I have friends in both. And I really think we can work together. And lastly, as a registered voter here in Orange County, I insist that all candidates for County Commissioner take a position on merger via public record before the primary. We as voters have the right to know where our candidates stand on important issues so we can make informed decisions. Thank you. Kelly Monroe Porco: I'm going to get right to the point tonight. Denying equity in school funding is a social justice issue, and discriminatory, and unconstitutional based on states equal protection guarantees. In 1973, during a case entitled San Antonio vs. Rodriguez, Justice Thorogood Marshall stated, "Personal poverty that exists in some school districts may entail much the same social stigma as historically attached to certain racial or ethnic groups. Furthermore, discrimination and the opportunity to learn that is afforded a child must be our standard." As Ms. Chambless already told you, 13 of 17 courts have ruled in favor of Justice Marshall's ruling that a positive correlation between expenditures and educational opportunity exists. Also, I would like to point out that there are several parallels between these court cases and the situation we are now facing. California High Court Priest vs. Serrano 2 disagrees with the argument that we've heard that we will lose local control if we merge and equalize funding. They state, "It is a cruel illusion, which for far being from necessary to promote local control actually deprives the less wealthy district of the option. Spending disparities actually deny local control to poorer schools. Districts that have political clout within a legislature continue to influence the design of school financed formulas. And less powerful districts are forced to use other means to shape the financial system." Another argument against equalized funding -expenditures are only one small part of educational quality. The Wyoming Supreme Court has addressed this issue. They say, "It is nothing more than