Minutes 06-08-2021 Virtual Bussiness meeting

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8 MOTION PASSES Chair Price read the amendment to use $3,000,000 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to be divided by ADM between CHCCS and OCS to support students' social, emotional, and mental health; for technology to ensure access to remote learning, and/or other permissible uses that promote student learning and address the opportunity gap. Commissioner Hamilton said the County serves 20,000 children, and the needs are immense. She said the funds the schools have will be used quickly to address educational deficits. She said she hopes some of these funds can serve pre-K students as well. A motion was made by Commissioner Hamilton, seconded by Commissioner Bedford, in order to have further discussion, to approve the amendment. Commissioner Bedford said she values public education, but does not support the motion. She said CHCCS has $11 million in fund balance, and hoped they would spend that down. She said CHCCS will receive $3.2 million in ESSER II funding, and $7.2 million in ARPA funding. She said CHCCS can use the ARPA money and fund balance. She said Orange County Schools has less in its fund balance, but also has $3.7 million in ESSERS II and $8.2 million in ARPA, due to low-income students. She said this is enough money to get through one year. She said the districts will be okay, and she would look to support the schools in future years. She said the districts are still below the national average, and children are part of the vulnerable populations. She said if enrollment increases, this Board will see if a budget amendment is needed. Commissioner McKee said Orange County is the backstop for the schools, and will not let the schools fail. He said should the need arise, the schools can approach the County for support. He said he is sure he would vote for that support, and the Board would as well. Commissioner Fowler said Commissioner Hamilton, Commissioner Bedford, and Commissioner McKee all make good points. She said she likes the idea of expanding pre-K, but this might not be the right time to do so. She said given the arguments Commissioner Bedford made, she would be prefer if this amendment was slightly less. She said she is worried about Orange County Schools. Commissioner Greene said she appreciated Commissioner Bedford's comments on this issue. She said the Board does not know how the schools would spend this money. She said it is not wise to allocate the money in this way right now. She said the Board can continue to monitor things as the year goes on. Commissioner Hamilton said she understands the arguments, but the schools do have a plan. She said the districts talked about having more mental health professionals. She said these funds would be targeted to mental health needs and broadband. She said Orange County Schools had to provide hot spots, and will continue to do so. She said this money is targeted, and will meet specific needs. Commissioner Hamilton said these kinds of services require planning and people in place to deal with the mental health needs of children. She said the schools need the money up front. Chair Price agreed there is a need, but she would rather wait until the fall once the Board knows where some of the other money is going, and then work with the schools on determining the next best steps. She said additional funding can be provided at a later date. She said if the Board provides funds to the schools, it has no control of how it is used. Commissioner Greene re-read the amendment, which contains language that is wide open, and was the basis for why she said she did not know what the plan was. Chair Price said she would be happy to look at this again in the fall.