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21 <br /> 1 Commissioner Dorosin read from an email from Liz Maylin De Jesus Sanchez regarding <br /> 2 her experience at Durham Technical Community College: <br /> 3 <br /> 4 As a sophomore in high school, I was presented with the opportunity to take classes at Durham <br /> 5 Tech Community College to complete college credits in order to help students with future career <br /> 6 and college prospects. This option was comparable to the other programs offered by high <br /> 7 school as it also allowed for us to complete an Associates Degree which we could then transfer <br /> 8 to other colleges and universities in the North Carolina education system. This is an incredible <br /> 9 opportunity, which allows students to save money and time in their career prospects!...This <br /> 10 option was particularly valuable to me as a first generation low-income student who knew <br /> 11 nothing about what college was or even if I could get there. Through this opportunity, I was able <br /> 12 to expand my knowledge and create a strong foundation for my future through the Associates in <br /> 13 Arts program of study. I was able to do very well in my classes at Durham Tech, which showed 1 <br /> 14 was ready for higher levels of thinking required at four-year universities. This also allowed me to <br /> 15 raise my GPA to become a competitive student when applying universities and scholarships. 1 <br /> 16 was able to get 2 full-ride scholarships to Wellesley College, a private four-year university <br /> 17 located in Massachusetts. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 1 know first hand that a second building would be an extremely valuable addition to the Orange <br /> 20 County Campus. An issue that I ran into when completing my associates' degree was that many <br /> 21 of the classes I needed to take to finish were only offered at the main campus. As a student at <br /> 22 Cedar Ridge High School, the main campus was very far away. This meant that these <br /> 23 opportunities were only opened to students who had the privilege of reliable transportation, a <br /> 24 driver's license, insurance, and gas money. All of these are expenses that many students do not <br /> 25 have or are not able to have. A second building would allow for the Orange County Campus to <br /> 26 grow and provide more opportunities for students who really need it. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Commissioner Dorosin said having access in Orange County is critical. He highlighted <br /> 29 the economic impact of having this building in the community. He said this project is not a <br /> 30 luxury, but a necessity. He said the economic savings only happen if there are no other projects <br /> 31 added, and assumes that the CIP is frozen in place. He said any project removed from the CIP <br /> 32 would have the same impact. He said when this project was moved up last year, several other <br /> 33 projects were delayed, and funding has been allotted to do research and planning this year. He <br /> 34 said that work will be in vain if this project is pushed back again. He urged the Commissioners <br /> 35 to read comments and emails about the benefits of the Community College system. He said for <br /> 36 the Board to not proceed is a grave disservice, and is hypocritical. He said he cannot support <br /> 37 the amendment, and hopes it does not pass. <br /> 38 Commissioner Greene said she appreciated Commissioner Dorosin's comments and the <br /> 39 emails from people discussing the impact of having a Durham Tech campus in Orange County. <br /> 40 She said if the State passes a school construction bond, she would like for the project to be <br /> 41 shovel ready. She said she wants to leave the $3 million for the year to use as matching <br /> 42 money, in case the State does fund it. She said she does not support the amendment. <br /> 43 Commissioner Fowler said supports the amendment. She said she wants a plan to <br /> 44 address all K-12 needs, and there are projects that were identified over 14 years ago that are <br /> 45 not on the CIP. She said Durham Tech can use other spaces. She asked if Hillsborough is the <br /> 46 best site, or if Chapel Hill-Carrboro may be better. She asked if it should be located closer to <br /> 47 where the population lives. She said she has a son who is going to Alamance Community <br /> 48 College next year. She said she is also a pediatrician who sees the great value of the <br /> 49 community college system. She said she wants to pause and evaluate all education goals. <br /> 50 Commissioner McKee attended a community college embedded within NC State. He <br /> 51 said he has taken classes at other community colleges as well. He said the BOCC always <br />