Minutes 05-29-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: Chris van Hasselt Phone Number: 9193605375 Message: As a parent with a daughter in the CHCCS school system, I have been very impressed with the quality of education my little girl has received from teachers at Carrboro Elementary. As a child, I attended a private Catholic elementary school. Our schools easily rival if not surpass the educational quality I received as a child. But that quality depends on funding, as you know. A vote to reduce funding will seriously undermine the reputation for school excellence that all of us - educators, parents, politicians, and school staff and administrators - have worked for over the years. I hope that you will work to find a way, even if it involves tax or fee increases, to fully fund the budget requests of our school districts. And I hope you will take a unanimous, principled stand by encouraging your fellow elected officials in Raleigh to fully support public education that is inclusive of our whole community. Sincerely, Chris G. van Hasselt Resident and taxpayer, living in Carrboro for over 20 years. From: Julie Primost Farkas Phone Number: 9199047039 Message: Dear Orange County Commissioners, As a former publicly educated student, a parent of two children in the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro City Schools, and a public school teacher (in Durham), a citizen, a neighbor and a voter, I enthusiastically support full funding for public education with my tax dollars and my votes. I vote in every local, state and national election. A quality, well-funded public educational system is the foundation of a strong democratic society and I urge you to use your authority as elected representatives to support our public schools with the financial resources needed and requested. A healthy, well-funded school system supports the economic development of a community, and to short-change the schools at this critical time in our nation's economic recovery would be penny-wise and pound-foolish. The dividends of an educated and skilled workforce for the future of our region are well worth the investment of financial resources in the present. I firmly believe that all citizens benefit from a quality public school system in maintaining property values, in providing skilled workers for the economic system, and in promoting the critical thinking skills of future voters and citizens. Even if I did not have children in the school system, even if I were not myself a public school teacher, I would nonetheless support our public schools as a member of this community. At this critical juncture, when the whole nation is looking at North Carolina (with incredulity, I might add - and some cities, Houston TX, for example, are actively recruiting NC teachers) it is more important than ever to reaffirm our support for public education. There is never enough money for all the projects one would like to fund, but budgeting is about choices and priorities. When I budget for my household, I prioritize my children and my family's future. Our community should similarly prioritize our children and our collective future. Sincerely, Julie Farkas Chapel Hill You must fund the budget shortfall. Being 46th in the nation is just humiliating! As a scientist, it is already hard to recruit experts to NC. This will get worse and worse as poor schools will lead to