Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
19 <br /> Commissioner Price acknowledged Piedmont Electric for the check it recently <br /> gave to the New Hope Fire Department. <br /> Commissioner Price said that early voting information is available on the County <br /> website. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said the County's election office is very efficient. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin referred to the school collaboration meeting, and shared <br /> some information received about demographics. He said in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City <br /> Schools (CHCCS) the percentage of students eligible to free or reduced lunches has <br /> increased from 17.6% in 2001 to 31% currently. He said Orange County Schools <br /> (OCS) as a district is at 44% free and reduced lunches, with elementary schools at just <br /> under 50%. He highlighted a variety of individual schools' statistics. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said CHCCS is on the cusp of becoming a majority non- <br /> white school district, and he said it is 50% white as of 2015, compared to 66% white in <br /> 2001. He said there are 1200 English language learners in CHCCS, 800 of whom are <br /> immigrants. He said OCS is 20% Hispanic, and 20% of that group is significant limited <br /> English proficiency. He said the need for English-as-a-second-language teachers is <br /> significant. He said teacher recruitment proved to be successful, and CHCCS had only <br /> 6 vacancies on opening day, with 1 being a teaching position. He said OCS reports 12 <br /> vacancies as of last week, 3 of which were the result of resignations since school <br /> opened. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said CHCCS has attempted to balance schools by <br /> socio-economic status. <br /> Commissioner Rich said the Community Home Trust is working on their annual <br /> retreat, which will be at the Carolina Inn, with a focus on affordable housing. <br /> Commissioner Rich said the Orange Durham Chapel Hill Work Group met and <br /> discussed the possible light rail extension to NCCU, as well as the affordable housing <br /> aspect around the light rail stops. She said this is an ongoing conversation, and <br /> Durham is land banking to keep affordable housing close to the stops. <br /> Commissioner Rich said Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG) met last week, <br /> and got a report on the draft interlocal agreement. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he is struck by the Board's silence on the <br /> concentration of reduced and free lunches in one school district. Commissioner Jacobs <br /> asked if this topic could be added to the joint meeting with the schools next week. He <br /> said it is time for a public discussion. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said the demographics for the region are being reviewed <br /> for the comprehensive transportation plan, and asked staff to get this plan onto an <br /> upcoming agenda. He said thoroughfare plans for the jurisdictions that make up the <br /> Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) are also included in this discussion. He <br /> said Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough have all adopted plans, but Orange County <br /> never adopted its thoroughfare plan due to the fact that it failed to meet various County <br /> values and goals. <br /> Chair McKee said several Commissioners attended the recent MTS meeting, <br /> which went very smoothly. <br /> 13. Information Items <br />