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are moved out of the hospital, the money is not available. She said that they are struggling to figure out haw to build the capacity without the money to support it. She said that Durham County has made a priority to cut hospital admissions and keep people in the treatment community. In order to do this, they have made a proposal to the state indicating that if they cut their hospital admissions the state might fund their capacity issues so that they can provide treatment. They have described a pilot project to the state and the state has approved the pilot project to see if Durham County can demonstrate and get the money flowing. Commissioner Halkiotis said that the whole game has shifted around so much and one person is making the mandates {the Secretary). He does not understand how OPC can negotiate an alliance. He thinks they are just making the best of a bad situation. John Link said that Judy Truitt and her staff are doing an extraordinary job with this situation and the lack of funds. Judy Truitt said that the new Medicaid service definitions are now approved and will be going into effect on March 20, 2006. This is a huge systemic change for the state. There are some concerns about the implementation and her staff is trying to project the impact of these new definitions. Chair Jacobs suggested that as they go forward that they try to develop press releases with OPC so that the public can be informed. Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness: Housing and Community Development Director Tara Fikes said that the Partnership to End Homelessness has begun work to develop aten-year plan to end homelessness in the community. They are striving to outline some strategies for reducing homelessness. The process began last October and they hope to have a plan completed in October 2006. A major part of the plan will be implementation, which will take place over the next ten years. She said that some of the strategies include transitional housing, permanent housing, and support services and this will take some community investment. Chair Jacobs asked if anyone was actively working to access bond monies for SRO's now. Tara Fikes said that some of their non-profits are still trying to develop housing projects for all sectors of the population. She has not heard anything specifically about SRO's. INITIAL DISCUSSION ON SCHOOL EQUITY Overview Establish Working Definition of Equity Thinking About Equity in Different Ways Preparation for Additional Discussion at February 2046 Work Session John Link said that they have given the Board a brief background {book} on what has been done at this point with regards to school equity. The outstanding issue is for the Board to agree upon a common working definition of school equity. One of the things that have been discussed is fiscal equity. Other areas have been discussed that both systems share as needs that are being addressed in different ways such as School Resource Officers. They have talked about how to help these systems create greater efficiencies through purchasing together, etc. Another element is looking at the study from Dr. Grumet that looks at the programmatic issues of equity. The inequities in staff begin at the middle school level, with CHCCS having more staff resources. Chair Jacobs said that they anticipated more discussions on this before the budget process. Perhaps this issue can be taken up again at a work session in February.