Minutes 05-23-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elisabeth Welsby is a 23-year resident of Orange County and spoke on behalf of the Phillip's Middle School Improvement Team. She read a prepared statement. In short, the statement said that the school appreciates the support in the past and they understand that the State has been making the cuts. She said the Manager's budget does call for an increase in per-pupil funding, but it is too small and would result in further cuts for students and teachers. Sherri Carmichael is a resident of Orange County with two kids in CHCCS. She said the school boards have assured a quality education during economic downturns. She said the County must support the schools. Despite the support, North Carolina currently rates 48th in per pupil spending and teacher pay. She asked the County Commissioners to please fully fund both school systems. She said she received an email from one of her daughter's teachers who remained anonymous that asked her to please speak in support of fully funding the schools. Jane McIver teaches third grade at Central Elementary and asked them to fully fund both school systems. She said they can save money by keeping the teacher assistants in the classrooms. She reviewed what her teacher assistant does in her classroom. Joe Barnett thanked the County Commissioners for their service. He spoke on behalf of Efland Cheeks. He said he is here particularly for SROs, nurses, social workers, and teacher assistants. He said Orange County needs more economic development to help. Fay Jones is principal of Grady Brown Elementary School. She spoke about the ABC's of education —Assistants Benefit Children. She asked the County Commissioners to imagine one teacher in a classroom of 25 five-year olds. She knows that the state legislature wants to cut 33 TAs in the OCS. She said TA positions were created when classrooms grew larger and now they want to take them away. She said TAs are desperately needed. Lora Pitman is a parent of children at Grady Brown and she volunteers every Tuesday to assist in reading. She said there are different levels of abilities in one classroom and there is teamwork in the classroom by teacher and teacher assistants. She said teacher assistants are necessary in elementary schools. Ella Tucker is a student at Grady Brown and she asked the County Commissioners to please fund their schools. Julie Tucker thanked the County Commissioners for their service. She said she is here because of the potential elimination of 27 teacher assistants. She said TAs are fundamental in classroom construction and children's welfare. They are partners with their teachers to building character and compassion in their children. The other option is to decrease class size and add more teachers. TAs fill in the gaps. Raymond Raidy is a regular substitute teacher at Cedar Ridge High School and also on the football staff. He is here in support of the additional gymnasium/classroom building at their school. He said there is a shortage of classrooms. Also, other teams have had to delay practice time because of the use of the gym. Annette Smith spoke in support of Culbreth Middle School's proposed science wing. She said currently her students are in classrooms without water and there is one science lab to serve all six science teachers and multiple classes. She said this science wing achieves equity for all middle school students. Isabel Bravo is a student at Culbreth Middle School and she is here in support of the proposed science wing at her school. She is in 8th grade, but she hopes that this science wing can be built for the students in the future. Beverly Rudolph is principal at Culbreth Middle School and she is speaking on behalf of one of her teachers, Mr. Tyson, who could not attend tonight. She read Mr. Tyson's statement. The current building makes it difficult for the science teachers to be creative in teaching. The best way to learn is in doing, and the science facilities at Culbreth are restrictive and unsafe. This new facility is needed.