Agenda - 06-15-2021; 8-a - Minutes

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12 1 on how funding has been spent in the past, and the district has added additional layers of fiscal 2 oversight, tied to student outcomes. She said CHCCS presented a thoughtful budget, and the 3 continuation budget will provide the basic needs. She said the district is doing intentional work 4 to close the achievement gap, and provide social and emotional support. She said these needs 5 existed prior to the pandemic, and are even more highlighted now. She said when the County 6 invests in education others reap the benefits. She urged the BOCC to fully fund the budget 7 request. 8 Brian Link said he is president-elect of the Chapel Hill Carrboro Board of Educators. He 9 said 2021 is not 2009, and does not warrant keeping per pupil funding flat. He said Wake 10 County is proposing $23 million in additional funding. He said the Commissions have a rhetoric 11 gap, having campaigned on promises of increased school funding, but having failed to raise the 12 special district tax since 2014. He said the BOCC promotes a living wage to all employees, but 13 the Board is offering zero future dollars. He said OCS and CHCCS have done their part, and 14 the County needs to step up. He said he stands in solidarity with Northside residents who are 15 facing huge property tax increases, and wants to see the County assess more fairly and 16 equitably. He said the Board often says it assigns funding, but does not tell the schools how to 17 spend it. He said this year the County is proposing to assign zero funding. He said zero is a 18 number CHCCS expects to hear from Raleigh, not Orange County. 19 Finley Lewis said he is a 5t" grader from Northside Elementary, and he read a letter from 20 himself and fellow students opposing tax raises on neighbors. He said this decision is unfair, 21 and is pushing people out of their homes. He said this is gentrification, and will result in the 22 tearing down of older houses. He said these residents are like family who visit the school, read 23 to students, share stories of the neighborhood, and fought for schools to be integrated. 24 Adelaide Zahren thanked the BOCC for its service. She said she lives in Carrboro, and 25 works as a teacher at Sewell Elementary. She said she devoted hours to complete Project 26 Advance. She said teachers are committed to being lifelong learners, in order to meet the 27 needs of students. She said teachers rely on the commitment of the BOCC to education. She 28 said teachers must be treated as professionals, and compensated for their work. She urged the 29 BOCC to raise the district tax to fully fund Project Advance. 30 Alyssa Gillikin said she is a middle school teacher with CHCCS. She thanked the BOCC 31 for its dedicated service. She said the County has a duty to aid and provide quality staff. She 32 said the current allocation would result in cuts to vital services. She said the district is required 33 to provide summer school, with no additional funding from the State or the County. She said the 34 County has $28 million from ARPA, and urged the BOCC not to spend this money on debt 35 service, but rather use it to retain excellent teachers. She said these funds must be used for 36 programs and people, and urged the BOCC to do right by its constituents. 37 38 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner McKee, to 39 close the public hearing. 40 41 Roll call ensued 42 43 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 44 45 Commissioner McKee asked if the number of schools employees not making $15/hour 46 could be provided. He said he would also like to know the exact amount of the CHCCS fund 47 balance, and if any of it is already allocated. 48 Bonnie Hammersley said she would bring this information to the May 13 work session. 49 Commissioner Greene asked if staff could provide a rough breakdown of the $28 million 50 ARPA funds, and where it will go. She asked if any of these funds are allocated to the towns 51 within the County.