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22 <br /> Commissioner McKee attended a community college embedded within NC State. He <br /> said he has taken classes at other community colleges as well. He said the BOCC always <br /> hears from the most passionate voices, who all made good points, just as Commissioner <br /> Dorosin did. He said this amendment is not about moving something back, but rather this <br /> project was moved forward last year. He said the K-12 schools needs are over$300 million, <br /> and the $120 million bond did not come close to covering them. He said the amendment calls <br /> for Durham Tech to be put back where it was in the plan a year ago, and is not about taking the <br /> project away. He said there is rental space that can be pursued if Durham Tech wants to start <br /> programming now. He said if the K-12 program does not work 100% well for all students, there <br /> will be little chance of success later in life. He said the BOCC must make sure all children are <br /> getting a strong start. He said he is not concerned about having wasted money in the past year <br /> on initial planning, and this information can still be useful. He said he would like to think <br /> creatively about how to make it work for Durham Tech students, including increased <br /> transportation to help them get to the Durham location. <br /> Chair Price said she said she sees this Durham Tech building as an investment, and it <br /> has been a topic of discussion for many years. She said the County needs the jobs, and needs <br /> to train people. She said not everyone is able to afford a Duke or a Cornell. She said in some <br /> cases the K-12 schools have failed, and the County needs to provide options for students to <br /> continue their education. She said as the Board looks towards economic development, people <br /> are unprepared for the available jobs, and the County needs to be able to provide a means for <br /> people to get skills and education. She said there will be jobs that come from building a second <br /> building, and many more thereafter as students receive skills through the education. She said if <br /> people have a job, they can afford a home. She said the poverty programs of the 1960s failed, <br /> due to too many handouts. She said the County needs to provide opportunities so people can <br /> rise. She said if the Board fails to invest in Orange County, people will move to Durham. She <br /> said the location in Hillsborough seems very appropriate to her. She said she supports the <br /> building expansion 110%. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said this is a hard decision. She said the County talks about <br /> investment in education, and has failed the K-12 education system by allowing older buildings <br /> to fall into disrepair, which is a health and safety issue. She said her children attended local <br /> schools, and there were problems then, but when she walked into a school building more <br /> recently, as a CHCCS BOE member, she almost fainted. She realized the physical buildings <br /> are at a point that she cannot support investing in anything else prior to improving the schools. <br /> She said if the County cannot get kids through K-12, the students will not be able to access a <br /> community college. She said the County does need programs to educate the workforce of the <br /> future. She said she encourages innovation and flexibility to be able to do so. She said it <br /> easier to move older children and adults, than it is to shuffle young children. She said when <br /> ARPA money runs out, tax money will have to be used. She said the Board has to invest <br /> smartly, and where there will be the greatest return. She said this is in the County's children <br /> and K-12 education. She said she has petitioned to create a plan for that. <br /> Commissioner Bedford referred to the idea of having $3 million available for potential <br /> matching funds for the State. She said Gary Donaldson said the LGC will not like that. She <br /> also asked if ARPA funds could be used, but they cannot. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Commissioner Fowler, to <br /> approve to move the Orange County Campus Building at Durham Technical Community college <br /> to Years 6 and 7 of the CIP. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said if this amendment gets approved, it does not lower the tax <br /> rate in the FY22 budget year. He said he wants to make sure people understand that. He <br />