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Commissioners will work toward solving the equity problem and fully fund the OCS budget. Rick Kennedy is an OCS parent. He said that over the past 13 years, he has witnessed his oldest daughter navigate the Orange County school system. He has come to these public hearings over the years to talk about funding. He said that they are no closer to the idea of a quality education far all. He said that this County is segregated, not by race, but by socioeconomic status, and no debate will change that. The typical income of city dwellers is double that of those in the County. According to the most recent census, Orange County has the greatest discrepancy between rich and poor in all of North Carolina. He said that quality education should be for everyone and not just for those whose parents can afford it. He said that a gradual reduction of the district tax and a commensurate increase in the property tax would alleviate the disparity between City and County school funding, although some oppose it. Those in opposition say that the County is free to choose regarding its own district tax. He said that the Town reaps the economic vigor from the security of water and sewer lines, public services, the rural buffer, the extraterritorial jurisdiction, conservation easements, and a protected watershed. In contrast, the surrounding County endures the landfill, the Public Works site, prohibitions against water and sewer lines, thousands of acres of watershed restrictions, low density restrictions, restrictions of conservation easements, and thousands of acres of restrictions in the rural buffer. He said that County citizens have no choice but to accept these massive economic burdens for the Town's benefit. He said that this year's tactic is defining equity and tiered funding, and replaces last year's tactic of asking for collaboration and a study comparing the two school systems. He asked the County Commissioners to do what is right and provide equal education for all. Sue Cunningham is a member of the Orange County Schools Parent Leadership Council, the Chairperson of Cameron Park's Parent/Teacher Governance Organization, and an OCS parent. She asked the Board to fully fund the OCS budget and to follow the recommendations of the Educational Excellence Task Force, and focus on a way to distribute educational resources equally between the two districts. She said that Dr. Grumet agrees that the students need more, not less, opportunity to succeed. This means providing more highly qualified staff and specialists, and providing this will require that the budget be fully funded. The County Commissioners' decision will affect the lives of many families. She asked the County Commissioners to remember their commitment from last year to fund the Spanish teachers and social workers and programs funded by the OCS fund balance. She does not mind paying extra taxes if they are used wisely. Marc ter Horst is a CHCCS parent. He had questions about the tiered approach to school funding. He understands that the tiers allow the County to determine funding based on previous funding sources for certain services, staff positions, and programs. He asked if the County Commissioners would hold the school boards responsible for spending the money on those specific items. If so, he asked if lack of flexibility in identifying specific needs across the school districts would force the school boards to fund some items over others. He said that this approach might put high school reform in competition with school resource officers or band uniforms and instruments with Spanish books and classroom supplies. He said that, should school-funding fall short of each district's request, then the County Commissioners should give the school boards the flexibility to use the limited funding as needed. He said that the tiered approach combined with the discretionary fund proposed in the budget is a departure from the usual per pupil funding method. He encouraged the County Commissioners to be creative in meeting the needs of Orange County and both school districts. Ken Latta is representing his daughter who is academically gifted and his learning disabled son, who works very hard to maintain an honor roll status. He made