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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 13, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 1 <br />SUBJECT: Continuation of Discussion Regarding School Equity Considerations <br />DEPARTMENT: Commissioners/Manager PUBLIC NEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />03/06/06 CHCCS Chair Memo <br />03/10/06 OCS Chair Letter <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 BOGC annual planning retreat and <br />several subsequent meetings regarding how the Board may wish to pursue the concept of <br />school equity. <br />BACKGROUND: The Board has discussed the topic of school equity at the annual planning <br />retreat on January 20, 2006, at the January 31 work session, and at the February 16 work <br />session. Additionally, 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 />The Chair has written to both school board chairs to solicit any feedback the Boards of <br />Education may have regarding the following questions: <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. (For the Orange County Board of Education) Do you want more funding? If so, <br />how do you see that coming about? <br />The BOCC has subsequently asked both school boards if they would have any interest in <br />having the authority to levy property taxes for school funding (assuming North Carolina law were <br />amended to permit such authority). <br />Communication from both school systems providing feedback to these questions is included for <br />the BOCC's review and may serve as a useful starting point for discussion at this March 13 work <br />session. <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 />