Minutes 05-18-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4 3. Public Comment Denise Moody said she and Sandy work at OE Enterprises, and they thanked the Board of County Commissioners for its continued support of this outside agency. Sandy said she worked at OE Enterprises last year, but is now employed at Harris Teeter, and she has her own apartment with a roommate. Bill Hendrickson said he is representing WCOM, community radio in Carrboro, and is here to support their staff. He said WCOM is a non-profit, volunteer run station. He said there are three underwriters for the station, who all depend on support of people like the Board of County Commissioners. He said guests on the station include residents from all over Orange County, from varied walks of life. He said WCOM is an Orange County station, and he is not asking for a specific amount of money, but is appreciative of the Board's financial support. Lisa Vandeman said she is the Executive Director of Kidzu Children's Museum, and this is Kidzu's first year of applying for an outside agency grant. She thanked the Manager for recommending 50% of Kidzu's funding request, but is here to request that 100% of the request be funded for their organization. Kate Sullivan read a letter, found in the agenda packet, from Carrboro Elementary, a Kidzu partner, who supports funding 100% of Kidzu's outside agency funding request. Andrea Tanner said she is here in support of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS's) full funding request, and specifically for teaching assistants. Colin Tanner is a fourth grader at Seawell Elementary, and spoke in support of more teaching assistants in the 4th and 5th grades at Seawell Elementary. Lauren Boening said she is a 3rd grade teacher in the CHCCS, and is asking the Board to fully fund the schools' funding request. Staff recognized that Ms. Boening is the CHCCS Teach of the Year. Miriam Thompson reviewed the following comments: I want to open my testimony tonight with a keen recognition of the challenges you face and responsibilities you bear to navigate compassionate budget choices: a. that acknowledge changes in our County's population demographics and critical service needs that assure the well-being of our entire community; b. that are impacted by our State General Assembly majority that is intent on tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest of our residents; c. that make some modest and overdue changes in school personnel salaries, while at the same time fail to fully fund public education; d. that fail to make adequate companion social investments that support the well- being of the vast majority of our children and families and the increasing number of the most vulnerable, particularly in the areas of health care access, affordable housing, living wage jobs, and a sustainable safe environment. I urge all go on line and read today's NC Policy Watch's grim analysis of the Senate Budget roll out. I have studied the County Manager's recommended budget and the CHCCS' BOE response that estimates a dramatic shortfall in the amount it requested from the County, including the budget compensation for salary and benefits. I am certain that our County Manager and her team, our new Superintendent, Dr. Pam Baldwin and her District staff recognize the budget and revenue challenges ahead, and have and will continue to look to use every public school dollar and staff position to assure equitable school outcomes for every young person in our 20 schools. I want to share a personal experience, a story about one school that puts a face on County/District budget negotiations, and whose needs cry out for attention. This is my story - a grandmother of a Chapel Hill High School sophomore. I have also worked with School Improvement Teams, tireless and devoted Principals and staff in my grandson's previous