Agenda - 09-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 1 life for all of us. But I feel compelled to express to you that some of these ideas, unfortunately, 2 need to wait for a better day when it comes to funding. 3 As you know, children in Orange County have had some protection from the agenda of 4 our State Legislature to privatize education. That is to say, creating failure of public schools via 5 de-funding. Some protection of our children owes a debt of gratitude to you, our County 6 Commissioners. Other aspects of this protection have come from the two school boards, 7 educators, and parents. Unfortunately the reserves are gone, and we have hit a point of crisis. 8 Where we value the provision of quality services for all children, and would like to do as 9 much as possible to create opportunities for the next generation, we are now in a position to 10 desperately hold onto the shreds that are left after all "extras" are gone. We are to the point of 11 no more textbooks (causing teachers to require time to create curriculum), significantly reduced 12 funding of school libraries (inability to purchase books), reduced number of teachers/increased 13 class size, reduced number of teacher liaisons to assist with children who have time-consuming 14 needs (e.g., a fourth grader who cannot read in a classroom of 29 other children who are 15 reading at or above grade level), reduced number of school office staff(e.g., no one left to spare 16 if there is a need to stay with an emotionally disturbed child - who would be suspended from a 17 charter school(!), or sick child until a parent arrives, or proctor an exam for a child with special 18 needs)... The list goes on and on, honestly making me feel sick. 19 Please, where it is in your power to do so, fully fund all schools in Orange County. The 20 provision of quality education — how can it even be in question that it is important? You have 21 many lovely ideas in front of you, all requiring funding, but our schools are in crisis. Thank you 22 for taking on this very difficult job. Your work makes a difference in the life of your community. 23 Sincerely yours 24 Kenneth and Alexis Poss 25 Chapel Hill 26 27 28 From: Greg McAvoy 29 Phone Number: 9199678349 30 Message: 31 Dear Orange County Commissioners, 32 33 I appreciate the difficult choices that you have to make, balancing people's ability to pay 34 additional taxes with the need to provide necessary services. 35 Our son attends Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools. We couldn't be more impressed with the quality 36 of teachers and the schools he has attended. However, even with the great teachers he has 37 had. However, he is a highly gifted student and even with current staffing it has been a 38 challenge to meet his academic needs. Although he had a tremendous teacher in second 39 grade, he would come home saying that he wished he had more challenging work. In third 40 grade, his teacher was Candace White at Glenwood Elementary, the winner of teacher of the 41 year at Glenwood the year she was our son's teacher. She was even more skilled as a teacher, 42 particularly at providing gifted students with extra work. In our third quarter meeting with her, 43 she said that she thought of herself as someone who could meet the needs of high-level 44 students, but she found it difficult to keep up with our son. It was only with the help of Ms. Bittle, 45 the gifted specialist at Glenwood at his needs were more fully met. The lesson here is that even 46 at current staffing levels the needs of the district's best students are not effectively being met, 47 and it is disturbing to think that due to a budget shortfall the district is considering eliminating 48 some or all of the gift specialists. The services that they provide are necessary, not luxuries that 49 students can do without. 50 I urge you to fully fund the school district's budget request even though this means an increase 51 in taxes for residents of the county. The failure of the General Assembly to think responsibly