Agenda - 09-17-2013 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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7 1 said that her son is high functioning autistic and has an Individualized Education Plan that 2 requires him to have specific support in the classroom. She said this support will not be 3 available in the face of some of the proposed cuts. She said this support is critical in allowing 4 special needs kids to access their education. She asked the Board tom to raise the special 5 district tax in order to pay for full school funding. 6 7 Lixia Yao lives in Chapel Hill and he said that research done by the National Education 8 Association shows the national average per capita tax revenue of state and local government in 9 2010 was $4,112; however, this same number was $3,403 in North Carolina, which ranks the 10 state as 35th. He said the average per-student revenue was $12,000 nationwide and only 11 $9,020 in N.C., which ranks the state as 50th. He hopes that Orange County can do its part to 12 mitigate the seeming disproportionate numbers. He said that the county is already paying less 13 personal income taxes while having higher income. He asked for full funding for the schools. 14 15 Jay Miller said he is on the Arts Center Board, and he has been involved for over 30 16 years with the center. He said that the center is asking for $10,000 through the outside agency 17 process. He said this will be used for arts and education, and this program is being expanded 18 into three Title 1 schools. He said this money will fund scholarships for underprivileged children. 19 He also has a daughter who is a special education teacher, and he would like to ask for full 20 funding of schools as well. 21 22 Monica Palmera spoke on behalf of the Jackson Center. She said the center asked for 23 $9000 through the outside agency process for the Jackson Center but funding was denied. She 24 said that the small amount requested funds 5 crucial programs. She explained what the 25 program does, and said that one of the initiatives is the publication of 600 monthly copies of the 26 Northside news, which was mentioned earlier by Keith Edwards. She said that she hopes that 27 her words resonate and that the Board can work with the center in the future. She said that the 28 center is a hub of activity, communication and education, focused on helping area residents that 29 are otherwise not reached and engaged. She said the goal is to contribute to community spirit 30 within the County and be a voice for social change. 31 32 Cindy Henshaw expressed her support for the school systems and asked the Board to 33 fully fund them. She said she is also here to ask for support for the Arts Center and its 34 afterschool programs, especially for those children with special needs. She said this program 35 develops creativity and problem solving skills, along with encouraging exploration of different art 36 forms and cultures. She said that the Arts Center is a treasure, and she hopes the Board will 37 approve the modest funding request. 38 39 Margaret Samuels is a parent of a child in the CHCCS. She thanked the Board of 40 County Commissioners for their support of the schools and asked them to continue to support 41 the schools through full funding. She said she would support property tax increases or district 42 tax increases in order to accomplish this. She said this is especially important with the opening 43 of Northside Elementary. She said that creative learning requires teachers and staff who aren't 44 worried about how things will be paid for. She said that the County cannot always control what 45 happens statewide, but it can have an impact for its residents. 46 47 Heather Moore is a resident of Chapel Hill and is speaking tonight on behalf of the Arts 48 Center. She echoed previous comments and said this program has been extremely beneficial 49 for her son, through exposure to different art forms and the family share night. She asked the 50 Board to fund this program. 51