Orange County NC Website
16 <br /> needed to fund aforementioned non-classroom teachers and teacher supplements for the <br /> additional teaching positions. <br /> Todd LoFrese presented an overview of the changes as provided in the Board's <br /> agenda packet, Attachment 4-f, followed by the local capacity impact. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if there could be clarification about funded versus max <br /> size versus max individual size. <br /> Todd LoFrese said a current CHCCS kindergarten class has an average of 21 <br /> students. He said the State gives additional teacher positions in K-3 classrooms than what the <br /> max average class size can be. He said those additional teacher positions are used for art, <br /> music, or PE. He said the actual class sizes are allocated at the max average. He said there <br /> are not class size maximums in grades 4-12. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked if this is going to be a huge unfunded mandate from the <br /> State. <br /> Todd LoFrese said he is very concerned about this, and the districts would need to <br /> discuss if implementing such a mandate would even be possible. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he assumes the State will give counties time to implement. <br /> Todd LoFrese said this change is supposed to take place in 2017-18. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said there is about a year to try and come up with a plan, and <br /> perhaps mobile classrooms will return. <br /> Todd LoFrese said there is not room for 46 mobile classrooms or funds. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said the current legislature passed this legislation, and this is <br /> an area to collaborate on giving their voice to their legislative delegation. <br /> Orange County Schools <br /> Todd Wirt referred to page 19 of the BOCC packet, which contains the OCS <br /> information. He reviewed the following information: <br /> • Legislative Update <br /> Todd Wirt said their local impact is on page 19 of the agenda packet, and the lobbying <br /> has begun. He said the impact of this legislation for OCS is an additional nine teachers. He <br /> said there are several teaching positions in OCS that are funded by sources other than the <br /> State. <br /> • Demographics <br /> Todd Wirt reviewed the Demographics on Page 17 of the agenda packet. <br /> Chair McKee asked if the hiring success is attributed to the supplement increase. <br /> Todd Wirt said this is difficult to analyze, but he has heard it has been a driving factor. <br /> He said overall recruiting efforts have been improved. <br /> James Barrett said this is true for CHCCS as well. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked what are the overall demographics for OCS. <br /> Dr. Wirt said OCS is 20% Hispanic; 15% African-American; 58% White; and 7% other <br /> races. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin asked if there are concerns about the range of Free-Reduced <br /> Lunches (FRL) in the elementary schools, especially when considering equity. <br /> Todd Wirt said Hillsborough Elementary is an application only, year round school, and <br /> he said an analysis is being done as to why minority families are not accessing this school. He <br /> said efforts are being made to make the school, and the application process, better publicized <br /> and more easily accessible. <br />