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26 <br /> Andy Overstreet indicated that the Orange County Schools are <br /> anticipating an increase in growth greater than projected in <br /> recent years. He mentioned that if he was going to suggest a <br /> change in category it would be to include a "redirected funds" <br /> category . That would include funds from programs which have been <br /> ended or have been determined to be a less important priority . <br /> Verla Insko indicated that when the budget is presented , the <br /> Commissioners have no effective way of seeing where funds from <br /> last year ' s budget have been redirected . Creating a mechanism to <br /> highlight those funds would be helpful . <br /> Moses Carey indicated that the differences in each system, as <br /> well as the reasons for these differences , need to be clearly <br /> articulated. The job of educating the voting public about the <br /> proposed bond requires answers to these questions and to the <br /> questions about what is being done to close the gap where it is <br /> clear that it needs to be closed . <br /> Mary Bushnell indicated that she believes that the public is more <br /> interested in the systems cooperating and not duplicating efforts <br /> than they are in the systems merging . <br /> Andy Overstreet mentioned ways in which the systems are currently <br /> cooperating in the sharing of resources. He indicated that as <br /> those cooperative ventures are firmly established the public will <br /> be made aware of them. He also commented that the current trend <br /> is to do more decentralization of education which will lead to <br /> greater differences in schools even within the same system. <br /> Neil Pedersen suggested that each month an attempt be made to <br /> inform the public about one of the issues confronting the two <br /> school systems . He also pointed out that the School Boards need <br /> to be responsive to their students ' parents . If there is a need <br /> for certain courses in Chapel Hill , it would be inappropriate to <br /> deny that request based on the fact that Orange County does not <br /> have a need for that particular course of education . <br /> Verla Insko asked that the superintendents and managers discuss <br /> how to keep the Board of Commissioners informed when the school <br /> • systems redirect money, either at the time of the budget <br /> presentation or during the course of the year. <br /> Moses Carey asked that an education Impact Study be included when <br /> proposals for new programs come to the Board of Commissioners. <br /> Questions about the impact are sure to be voiced and being <br /> prepared will streamline the process. <br /> The Task Force agreed to compare several areas in both systems. <br /> The consensus was to investigate the Pre-Kindergarten programs , <br /> Vocational Education , Exceptional Education, and the Salary and <br /> Supplemental Salary scales. <br /> 3 <br />