Agenda - 09-27-2004-1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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located or, for the unincorporated areas, with the Sheriff. Alternative models exist in Durham, Wake, Cumberland, and perhaps other North Carolina counties, where the Sheriff's Departments are responsible for school safety through arrangements with the affected municipalities. The meeting participants agreed to initiate a deeper discussion of school safety among the elected boards within the County. All agreed that the schools should provide a briefing for the Board of County Commissioners on school security (including crossing guards) and funding at the next joint school districtsBOCC Assembly (September 27). All requested that this issue be on the agenda of the September 29 Assembly of (municipal and County) Governments. Mr, Jacobs offered to raise the issue with the Mayors of Chapel Hill and Carrboro at a September 2 breakfast meeting. Mr. Link said that following a request from Mr. Jacobs and the Mayors, the Sheriff and lead staff from each jurisdiction (school Superintendents, Town Managers and /or Police Chiefs, and himself) would have the appropriate mandate to proceed with talks about the best way to provide for school safety countywide. "New Paradigm" more generally The group next turned its attention to the "new paradigm" for funding schools, beyond its specific application to SRO's. Ms. Carter said that the school districts and BOCC should try to find a way to meet the districts' needs without diminishing the resources available to County departments, such as Public Health and the Department of Social Services, She noted that the school districts are already getting a "large slice" of the County budget, and suggested that the group consider the larger implications of any changes in finding patterns. She added that the "new paradigm" needs to be better defined for the community, and perhaps not applied separately across different needs (social workers, SRO's, nurses, mental health) but instead be pursued as a single package to address needs comprehensively. The group then sought to clarify "new paradigm." It is a way to supplement the funding that the County would provide in any year to each school district on an equalized per pupil basis. It means developing new revenue sources to help reduce the finding disparity that exists across the two school districts. One example of a new paradigm revenue source is a supplemental county wide tax that also reduces the City Schools district tax, New paradigm funds would advance the BOCC's and school districts' shared priorities. The method by which a new paradigm is carried out should be "iimovative and legal," perhaps an agreement across the three boards implemented after the regular budget process is completed. Funding for school operations would continue on a per pupil basis, and care would be taken so that competition with other County needs for the new funds against does not result. Mr'. Link asked the group what kinds of programs or needs would provide a community `rallying cry" for such a new paradigm revenue source. These ideas were generated by the group: • Mental health, more fundamental • After school, beyond 3:30 than substance abuse • (Public) safety • Nursing • Social workers