Minutes 05-29-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I know that you are facing similar impossible budgetary decisions about worthy projects and services throughout the county. I understand that the money must come from somewhere. I would be very much in favor of a property tax increase that would allow you to fully fund the CHCCS budget request and keep Orange County moving in the right direction. You are in a very difficult decision, and I want you to know that I have your back. Sincerely, Dena Papazoglou 216 Cobblestone Drive Chapel Hill, NC 27516 From: Laura Weaver Phone Number: 9199673684 Message: Please do not cut the theatre techs at the high school. No performance could go on without them. These school events, plays, music concerts and more are part of educating our whole child. Jeff Alguire at East Chapel Hill is a valuable leader, teacher and mentor to many, many students at East. My child has developed a very genuine passion for the arts, and real problem solving skills through her involvement in theatre with his direction. From: Rania Combs Phone Number: 8325453955 Message: Dear Commissioners, I am a parent of three children who attend Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. I am writing to urge you to fully fund the Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools budgets. I attended a town hall meeting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina recently. The focus of the meeting was to discuss the financial straits many of our state's teachers find themselves in as a result of low teacher pay. We heard about teachers who have to rely on food stamps to feed their families and who have to borrow money to pay for gas so they can drive to and from their jobs. Teachers spoke about needing to supplement their income with other jobs to make ends meet and how unappreciated and disrespected they feel because of the lack of fair compensation. One experienced teacher shared the reasons why she and her husband, also a teacher, will be teaching in another state next year, where they will be paid significantly more to do their jobs. My daughter's outstanding middle school math teacher was one of the many who resigned this year. Although he was well-qualified for jobs outside of education, his passion was teaching children. However, when he and his wife, also a teacher, found out they were expecting a baby, he quit. He did the math and realized he could not support a family on his income. The average public school teacher's salary dropped 15.7% from 2001-2012. This means that North Carolina was 51 st in the country in terms of growth in teacher pay during that decade. At the same time, the state is requiring more and more student testing and other expectations of teachers. Teachers are now getting paid less for more work. No one goes into teaching to get rich, but anyone would be demoralized under those conditions. Much of the CHCCS budget request would provide funding to support a raise for locally paid teachers and staff; funding to cover mandated medical and retirement matching increases; and funding to support positions that had been previously supported by fund balance. Not fully