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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 16, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 1 <br />SUBJECT: Continuation of Discussion Regarding School Equity Considerations <br />DEPARTMENT: Commissioners/Manager PUBLIC BEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />None <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Barry Jacobs, Chair, 919-245-2125 <br />John Link or Rod Visser, 919-245-2300 <br />PURPOSE: To continue discussion from the January 20 BOCC annual planning retreat and <br />several subsequent meetings regarding how the Board may wish to pursue the concept of <br />school equity. <br />BACKGROUND: As discussed at the Board's annual planning retreat on January 20, 2006 <br />and at the January 31 work session, the first topic of discussion for the February 16 work <br />session is school equity. At the February 9 regular meeting, the Board determined that the <br />possibility of merging the County's two school systems is not an aspect of school equity that is <br />to receive further discussion at this time. <br />Commissioners agreed to contemplate several questions related to equity in preparation for this <br />work session item, Those included: <br />1. What is your definition of equity? <br />2, What school programming aspects would you be most interested in having funded <br />outside of the per pupil allocation for school current expense? <br />3. If the Orange County Board of Education indicate that they want mare funding, <br />how might that come about? <br />The Ghair has also written to both school board chairs to solicit any feedback the Boards of <br />Education may have regarding the questions mentioned above, <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated directly with discussion of this <br />item, However, decisions that the Board may make subsequently will have significant impacts <br />on school funding, which comprises roughly half of Orange County's annual operating budget. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the school equity <br />topic and provide appropriate direction to staff. <br />