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W 19 <br /> Neil Pedersen asked what the Board of Commissioners response <br /> would be to an increase of 40 students in the Exceptional <br /> Program. Those students would need to be served regardless of <br /> predetermined priorities. He asked how the Board of <br /> Commissioners hoped to bring the systems together. They have had <br /> different goals for many years and it would take years to have <br /> each difference arbitrated. <br /> Moses Carey asked if anyone had information on how the merger in <br /> Durham was accomplished. Was the school board required to spend <br /> money in a way that meets the letter of the state law? <br /> Verla Insko suggested that through the review of the mission and <br /> goals, they could get a broad picture of categories and services <br /> that were being offered. Identifying the program areas would be <br /> difficult, however it would lead to much greater understanding. <br /> Verla Insko asked if the school systems were clear about their <br /> similarities and differences. <br /> Moses Carey mentioned that school systems may meet similar needs <br /> in different ways. <br /> Ralph Warren suggested that the school boards meet together to <br /> determine where the similarities and differences are and to see <br /> where each system is with their program overall. <br /> Neil Pedersen identified the following issues for discussion. <br /> *How the expansion budget will be funded <br /> *How equal funding for separate districts will be <br /> accomplished <br /> *Anticipating merger - How can districts be made similar <br /> *What future dialogue will be necessary to determine where <br /> each system is now <br /> Ralph Warren indicated that he believes that the Board of <br /> Commissioners wants to see that the entire population is being <br /> served effectively. He suggested documenting the population <br /> breakdown within each system and clearly stating where the <br /> population growth will occur. <br /> Mary Bushnell indicated that she wanted to be sure that the <br /> Chapel Hill/Carrboro system was not going to be constrained by <br /> the results of a study such as the one mentioned above. <br /> Moses Carey stressed that it is important to explain and justify <br /> the differences in the systems if they expect to pass the bond. <br /> If that cannot be done the job of passing the bond will be <br /> extremely difficult. Diversity will be respected by Orange <br /> County citizens, however, each School Board needs to be able to <br /> justify their priorities. <br /> 3 <br />