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the County Commissioners continue to support these efforts. She pointed out that the social <br />worker situation in OCS is still one social worker for 930 students, which is about 200 more than <br />what one social worker has in CHCCS. She has seen the effects of children not getting what <br />they need. There are many unmet needs, and this has been verified by the study <br />commissioned by the County Commissioners to look into the differences between the two <br />school systems. The most notable difference is the needed support resources to help the <br />children survive. The $95 increase in per pupil funding does not even help to purchase two <br />textbooks. She spoke about the history of inadequate funding for the past six years, which <br />totals 49% under funding. <br />Michelle Rivest is Executive Director of the Orange County Partnership for Young <br />Children. She thanked the County Commissioners for the support for childcare subsidies this <br />past year. She hopes that this is made a permanent part of the DSS budget. The subsidies <br />helped support 40 children in the community this year. There are currently over 300 preschool <br />children on the waiting list in Orange County, despite the $4 million that Smart Start and other <br />entities provided. The investment benefits working parents in being able to stop the cycle of <br />poverty far their family. These families earn around $20,000 a year and cannot afford $700 a <br />month for childcare. The investment also benefits the local employers because it provides the <br />workforce in the community. She shared the data and the County's contribution with the local <br />Chamber of Commerce, and they were very interested and totally unaware of the impact that <br />childcare subsidy makes to the County, and they are creating a committee to see how <br />employers can be part of the solution. She thinks that additional support can be generated if the <br />subsidy continues. <br />Mark Hyman is a psychiatrist. He and his wife moved to Chapel Hill from Durham two <br />years ago almost entirely because of the schools. They have two children at McDougle <br />Elementary and they are happy with the education. It is obvious that the teacher assistants are <br />an integral part of what happens in the classroom. He thinks that the CHCCS system is a very <br />large draw for people like himself. He drives a half hour to work because he wants his children <br />to be in school here. He does not think that the County Commissioners want to do anything to <br />downgrade the school system. He asked for full funding of the schools. <br />Dennis Whitling is an OCS board member. He thanked the County Commissioners for <br />supporting HYAA. They are expanding the program to include 15-17 year olds. Regarding the <br />school budget, he reiterated that the budget that his board presented dovetails with the strategic <br />plan that was put in place several years ago. It also dovetails with the educational excellence <br />report to provide positions that they need to advance the education of their students. His main <br />objective is to discuss the equity gap and what to do about it. He thinks that everyone can <br />agree that the scheme far funding the schools does not provide equity. The educational <br />excellence report made this very clear. He thinks it is incumbent upon the County <br />Commissioners to close the gap beginning with this budget cycle. He said that all children in <br />the County deserve equal treatment. <br />4. Adjournment <br />The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. <br />Moses Carey, Jr., Chair <br />Donna S. Baker <br />Clerk to the Board <br />