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103 Rings Mtn. Ct. <br />Chapel Hill, NC 27516 <br />June 11, 1991 <br />Dear Orange County Commissioner: <br />As president of the PTA Council of the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City <br />Schools, I am deeply concerned that our schools would <br />suffer significantly if the budget proposed by the county manager is <br />adopted. While I realize that tough economic times require tough <br />decisions, I believe that our children, who represent our community's <br />future, must be given every consideration. , <br />It is clear that the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools are at a <br />turning point. For years, the community has attempted to deal with <br />increasing enrollment, escalating demands for federally mandated <br />special services, and shrinking dollars from state and federal sources <br />as commitment to education has wavered. The PTAs themselves have tried <br />to maintain school excellence in the face of such pressures by raising <br />and spending nearly $500,000 a year for our schools. PTA dollars have <br />gone for essential services, including xerox copiers, staff positions, <br />staff development, capital improvements, computers, and clerical help. <br />The situation is serious, and has been made even more so now by <br />state budget cuts. Simply put, the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools <br />cannot sustain a $1.3 million shortfall in funding. This would not <br />allow us to provide our children with the education that they deserve. <br />In all likelihood, we would be forced to pack more students into <br />already crowded classrooms, eliminate positions such as special <br />teachers, guidance counselors and teacher aides, ignore the needs of <br />our foreign - speaking students, and switch over to a middle - school <br />format with no support. These are not prescriptions for a healthy <br />system. <br />Today, we must ask ourselves whether we truly want to take the <br />steps needed to educate those citizens who will lead us into the 21st <br />centurny. Certainly a free and public education has been the <br />sustaining force in the democratic history of the United States. I ask <br />you therefore to raise the revenues needed at this time. Without <br />adequate funding, I believe we will fail in our attempts to better our <br />community and our county. Thank you. <br />Sincerel , <br />Linda Haac <br />PTA Council President, <br />Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools <br />