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RES-2021-065 DRAFT 3 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS, STAFF,AND BOARD OF EDUCATION OF ORANGE <br /> COUNTY SCHOOLS WHOSE SCHOOL CLIMATE HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY <br /> PROTESTORS <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County Schools is located in the northern and western part of the county and <br /> serves more than 7,400 students and approximately 800 teachers and administrative staff; and <br /> WHEREAS, respect for diversity and emotional and physical safety are central elements in the Safe <br /> and Supportive Learning Environments adopted by the US Department of Education in 2015; and <br /> WHEREAS, Orange County Schools Board of Education meetings and events in September and <br /> October were disrupted by protestors displaying hostile and intimidating behavior including racist <br /> and homophobic language; and <br /> WHEREAS,in the Resolution to Address Harm Caused to Students by Incidents of Hostile and Racist <br /> Behavior, passed by the Orange County Schools Board of Education on October 11, 2 02 1, staff and <br /> students attested to the emotional and psychological harm done by the protestors; and <br /> WHEREAS, as stated in Section12-3 of the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, the policy of <br /> Orange County is to promote the equal treatment of all individuals; to prohibit discrimination in <br /> Orange County based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, familial status, and <br /> veteran status; to protect residents' lawful interests and their personal dignity so as to make <br /> available to the County their full productive and creative capacities, and to prevent public and <br /> domestic strife, crime, and unrest within Orange County; and <br /> WHEREAS,the Orange County Human Relations Commission was established by the Orange County <br /> Board of Commissioners to make recommendations designed to promote goodwill and harmony <br /> among all groups in the County; <br /> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners <br /> (BOCC) shall work with Orange County Schools, the Orange County Sheriff's Office,and the broader <br /> community to promote peaceful and civil discourse and behavior, and support our students and <br /> school staff; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County BOCC calls upon the Orange County Department <br /> of Human Rights and Relations and the Human Relations Commission to continue to study and <br /> recommend to the Orange County BOCC, within the next six months, measures that will promote <br /> civility among all groups in the County; and <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners directs the Clerk to the Board to share <br /> this resolution with the Orange County Schools, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, the Orange <br /> County Sheriff's Office, and the towns of Hillsborough, Mebane, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. <br /> This the 4th day of November, 2021. <br /> Renee A. Price, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />