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8 <br /> 1 <br /> 2 Please help your voters by preserving an educational system in which our children and <br /> 3 our teachers can thrive. Please help us by allocating additional funding for the schools. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 Many thanks and warm regards, <br /> 6 Katie Jamieson <br /> 7 <br /> 8 Dear Board of Orange County Commissioners, <br /> 9 <br /> 10 Thank you for your continued support of our schools. As the officers of the PTA at <br /> 11 Glenwood Elementary School, we have seen first-hand the impact that financial support <br /> 12 of our schools has on the day-to-day educational experience of our <br /> 13 students. Unfortunately, we believe that the proposed budget falls well below the current <br /> 14 needs of our schools and our students. <br /> 15 <br /> 16 The current Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools request—an increase of$302 per student <br /> 17 —takes into account the many cuts being proposed a the state level and the shortfalls for <br /> 18 which we must account. The citizens of Orange County are proud of the educational <br /> 19 experiences and outcomes of our students, and sufficient funding is essential to maintain <br /> 20 these standards and continue to improve. Extremely concerning to us is the potential <br /> 21 loss of 12 teachers or 25 teacher assistants, based on funding cuts. Such a loss could <br /> 22 prove crippling for schools already struggling to retain outstanding teachers who are <br /> 23 being recruited to other, better-funded areas of the country. The proposed funding also <br /> 24 would allow us to continue initiatives already in place to help close the Achievement <br /> 25 Gap. The results of these initiatives will not be immediate and the efforts need to carry <br /> 26 on for several years in order for us to see the benefits. To cut funding now would be to <br /> 27 undo valuable progress already made. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Additionally, we would like to express our support for the entire 2016 bond going towards <br /> 30 the schools. This money is necessary for the revitalization of many old buildings in the <br /> 31 district. If this money is diverted to other areas, our schools will continue to exist in a <br /> 32 state of disrepair. (Did you know that Glenwood's 62-year-old school building has no <br /> 33 ADA accessible restroom facilities, for either children or adults?) Our schools are a <br /> 34 sense of local pride and also a very real draw for those considering the area —we <br /> 35 recently met with a family relocating from California that chose Orange County over <br /> 36 Wake County based on our schools. Please help our schools to remain strong and our <br /> 37 area to continue to attract new families by investing in the future with the entire 2016 <br /> 38 Bond. <br /> 39 <br /> 40 Thank you for your service and your support of education in Orange County. <br /> 41 <br /> 42 Best, <br /> 43 Shannon Eubanks, Dana Gelin, Katie Jamieson, Casey Saussy and Susan Swafford <br /> 44 <br /> 45 I am writing to request that the Board of Commissioners fund the FULL budget request <br /> 46 of both CHCCS and Orange County Schools. This is important to our schools and our <br /> 47 children, and therefore to maintain quality of life in our community. <br /> 48 <br /> 49 Richard Goldberg <br /> 50 1075 Brace Lane <br /> 51 Chapel Hill NC 27516 <br />