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<br />Orange County Schools <br />200 East King Street, Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Phone: 919-732-8126 | Fax: 919-732-8120 | todd.wirt@orange.k12.nc.us <br />www.orangecountyfirst.com <br /> <br />Dr. Todd Wirt, Superintendent <br /> <br /> <br />April, 2019 <br /> <br />As planning and preparation begins for the 2019/2020 school year, Orange County Schools finds itself <br />facing many challenges, not all of which are unique to our county. Of the 117 Local Education <br />Agencies that comprise the public schools system in NC, seventy plus are projected to see no growth in <br />the 2019/2020 school year. The Office of State Budget and Management recently released NC 13 year’s <br />cumulative birth cohorts which reflect the cohorts leveling and remaining relatively constant for the <br />period 2019-2027. Factor this with the forecasted change in NC population for ages 0-17 and a <br />continued decline in student enrollment can be expected for the majority of systems across the state. <br /> <br />Required budget reductions in the 2018/2019 school year presented new challenges for the district. <br />Class sizes in grades 4-8 were increased in order to reduce three local teaching positions and teacher <br />assistants were no longer permitted to work or use accumulated leave on non-student days. Even as we <br />faced these restraints, the district continued to improve academic achievement. We celebrate the <br />achievement that ten of our thirteen schools met or exceed growth and we outpaced the state in College <br />and Career ready as well as grade level proficient students. <br /> <br />Under the leadership and commitment of our Board of Education, Orange County Schools continues to <br />reflect commitment to the district vision and mission out lined in its Strategic Plan. Such commitment is <br />evidenced in: <br /> Implementation of a Dual Language Program at New Hope Elementary School. A two-way <br />dual immersion model for English and Spanish. <br /> Universal Breakfast Program in every elementary school providing a free hot breakfast or grab <br />and go option for every student. <br /> A summer feeding program which provided over 5,700 breakfast and 8,400 lunches to students. <br /> <br />February of this year, the Board of Education unanimously approved the district Equity Policy renewing <br />the focus on equity. Our continuation budget encompasses an Equity Director to lead and implement a <br />continual focus on equity, inclusion and cultural awareness. In collaboration with Chapel Hill Carrboro <br />City Schools, we plan to provide a series of Professional Development sessions for staff across the <br />district. <br /> <br />Orange County Commissioners have and continue to be responsive to our educational needs, but <br />we continue to face new mandates at the state and federal level. Our budget ask for the 2019/2020 <br />school year includes $34.9 million in support of continued operations and $1.2 million in <br />expansion requests for a total request of $36.1 million. <br /> <br />Our budget request is comprised of the following: <br /> <br />$34,874,932 Continuation budget incorporating: <br /> An Orange County Schools Equity Director <br /> Universal Breakfast in every elementary school. <br /> Anticipated State mandated salary increases: <br />o Five percent certified staff <br />o Two percent all other staff <br /> Employer retirement contribution increased to 20.36% per eligible employee 3