Orange County NC Website
1 increase the salaries of employees to make sure all are paid a living wage. He said an <br /> 2 additional $150,000 is also being requested for the Orange County Connect Scholarship. <br /> 3 Dr. Ingram said Durham Tech is requesting that the construction of a 40,000-50,000 <br /> 4 square foot building be added to Orange County's CIP for next year. He said this will enable <br /> 5 Durham Tech to offer additional programming and courses, and to move the middle college <br /> 6 there. <br /> 7 Commissioner Rich thanked Durham Tech for being committed to paying all of its <br /> 8 employees a living wage. <br /> 9 Commissioner Jacobs referred to the expansion of the facility, and asked if Durham <br /> 10 Tech is going with the same plan of leveling the trees and putting in a parking lot. <br /> 11 Dr. Ingram said last year Durham Tech presented a high level conceptual plan to the <br /> 12 BOCC, and thus far, have not done any site planning. He said, with funding, the process will <br /> 13 move forward at the appropriate time, and Durham Tech acknowledges the importance of <br /> 14 "green space." He said there is also an historic Native American trading path, which cuts <br /> 15 through campus, and will be taken into consideration during planning. <br /> 16 Commissioner Jacobs asked if Durham Tech has initiated any discussions with the <br /> 17 University of North Carolina (UNC) to help train students at UNC hospitals. <br /> 18 Dr. Ingram said no, there have only been conversations regarding Emergency <br /> 19 Management Services (EMS) workers thus far. He said there are some new administrators at <br /> 20 the hospital, and the conversation is on hold during the transition. <br /> 21 Commissioner Jacobs said he thought Durham Tech was going to try to serve some of <br /> 22 the needs held by the hospital, in the second iteration of Durham Tech buildings. He said UNC <br /> 23 desires to be the largest healthcare provider in the southeast, in which case, it will be making <br /> 24 some large facilities investments, and the time is opportune for a partnership. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Andrew Davidson arrived at 7:18 p.m. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Dr. Ingram said they will be focusing on Allied Health, and will engage them in that <br /> 29 conversation both programmatic and financially. <br /> 30 Annetta Streater said the middle college concept coming to the Orange County campus <br /> 31 is very important and exciting. She hopes more students will take advantage of this opportunity. <br /> 32 Commissioner Price said as the representative on the Durham Tech Board of Trustees <br /> 33 (BOT), she commends what staff has done in trying to make sure that the options available to <br /> 34 students keep up with the economic trends. She is happy to be paying a living wage. She said <br /> 35 the BOCC should support Durham Tech at a level that keeps it affordable for students to <br /> 36 attend. <br /> 37 Dr. Ingram said that over 50% of Durham Tech students are on Federal financial aid, <br /> 38 which does not include Durham or Orange Connect scholarships. He said the students do face <br /> 39 significant financial challenges, and there is always room to be creative in meeting their needs. <br /> 40 Chair Dorosin asked if Orange County Connect Scholarship is available to students with <br /> 41 their GED as well. <br /> 42 Dr. Ingram said yes, any Orange County resident that gets their GED is eligible to get <br /> 43 this scholarship. He said Durham Tech works with the Department of Social Services to better <br /> 44 serve students and their families. <br /> 45 Durham Tech staff left at 7:24 p.m. <br /> 46 <br /> 47 2. Information Item —2017 Legislative Update: K-12 Education Bills <br /> 48 • House Bills 406 and 436 Impact Fees <br /> 49 • House Bill 13 Class Size Reductions <br /> 50 o Others <br />