Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
In the packet are the various proposals and a verbatim transcript of the December 9t" discussion <br />and an answer to how the dollars in a countywide supplemental tax would be distributed to the <br />school systems on a per pupil basis. <br />Chair Jacobs said at their places is a salmon sheet with a memo from Commissioner Brown and <br />a yellow sheet from Rod Visser concerning Commissioner proposals on equal opportunities in <br />education and the formation of an Educational Excellence Committee. <br />Rod Visser made reference to the yellow sheet and said that a couple of the proposals from the <br />County Commissioners had to do with the creation of an Educational Excellence task force. <br />Other proposals included verifying the efficiency of the utilization of resources. The suggestion <br />was made to staff to touch base with the Public School Forum. He said that he touched base <br />with the Executive Director, who was aware of the County's merger discussions. He said that <br />the Public School Forum does not get involved in merger discussions. The Executive Director <br />did express interest in studying equal access to quality education. He said that the Executive <br />Director brought up the term "school collaboration" and that the Public School Forum had been <br />engaged by the Gates Foundation to administer $11 million worth of grants for public education <br />initiatives in North Carolina. The Public School Forum is very interested in pursuing the middle <br />college program and there could be some grant funding for this. <br />Commissioner Carey made reference to his proposal in November and said that he is not going <br />to ask the Board to vote an merger tonight. He said that he is still interested in pursuing equal <br />funding far both school systems and equal opportunities for educational achievement for all <br />children in Orange County. The other proposal that he made in December was to submit to the <br />voters for a public referendum the option of merger or a countywide district tax. He thinks that <br />this is an interesting possibility and he gathers this will not be easy and that the Board may not <br />have the legislative authority to do this. He asked for the County Attorney's perspective on this. <br />Geaf Gledhill said that a County Commissioner initiated merger does not provide for a <br />referendum, but a board of education initiated merger can call for a referendum. The third way <br />to accomplish merger is through the General Assembly. If the General Assembly were asked to <br />approve a bill which would enable Orange County to hold an election on merger, then an <br />election could be held. There is no inherent authority in Boards of County Commissioners to <br />hold elections. He said that a bill having an election on merger would probably not pass the <br />rules of a General Assembly far a short session because these types of bills in short session <br />cannot be controversial. <br />John Link asked if there was any additional legislative requirement that would have to be in <br />place prior to the County Commissioners adopting a countywide supplemental tax. Geof <br />Gledhill said that there is authority for an election for a countywide supplemental tax. <br />Commissioner Gordon referred to her proposal on December 9t" and said that she still supports <br />this proposal. She would like far the Board of County Commissioners to give direction to staff <br />about a countywide supplemental tax at some upcoming election, perhaps in November. She <br />made reference to page 14 and said that they would need to explain to the voters why the tax <br />was being put in. Equity would need to be defined as well as the total tax increase necessary to <br />achieve equity. The Board would also have to set the maximum tax rate. She said that there <br />would also have to be an educational campaign to explain what is involved. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis said that he is intrigued by a countywide supplemental tax, but he would <br />not give one penny more to either school district until they have carried out the proposed school <br />