RES-2021-065 Resolution in Support of the Students, Staff, and Board of Education of Orange County Schools Whose School Climate has been Adversely Affected by Protestors

Browse Search

i RES - 2021 - 065 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS , STAFF, AND BOARD OF EDUCATION OF ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS WHOSE SCHOOL CLIMATE HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY i, PROTESTORS i WHEREAS, Orange County Schools is located in the northern and western part of the county and serves more than 7 , 400 students and approximately 800 teachers and administrative staff; and WHEREAS, respect for diversity and emotional and physical safety are central elements in the Safe and Supportive Learning Environments adopted by the US Department of Education in 20152 and WHEREAS, Orange County Schools Board of Education meetings and events in September and October were disrupted by protestors displaying hostile and intimidating behavior including racist and homophobic languages and WHEREAS, in the Resolution to Address Harm Caused to Students by Incidents of Hostile and Racist Behavior, passed by the Orange County Schools Board of Education on October 11 , 2021 , staff and students attested to the emotional and psychological harm done by the protestors ; and WHEREAS, as stated in Sect= 12 - 3 of the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, the policy of Orange County is to promote the equal treatment of all individuals ; to prohibit discrimination in Orange County based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, familial status, and veteran status ; to protect residents ' lawful interests and their personal dignity so as to make available to the County their full productive and creative capacities, and to prevent public and domestic strife, crime, and unrest within Orange County, and WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission was established by the Orange County Board of Commissioners to make recommendations designed to promote goodwill and harmony is among all groups in the County; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) shall work with Orange County Schools , the Orange County Sheriff' s Office, and the broader community to promote peaceful and civil discourse and behavior, and support our students and school staff; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County BOCC calls upon the Orange Count Department g tY p g Y p of Human Rights and Relations and the Human Relations Commission to continue to study and recommend to the Orange County BOCC, within the next six months , measures that will promote civility among all groups in the County, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners directs the Clerk to the Board to share this resolution with the Orange County Schools , the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools, the Orange County Sheriff' s Office, and the towns of Hil , rough, Mebane, Chapel Hill and Carrboro . This the 4th day of November, 2021 . E , • yu- . welt r _ Renee A. Price, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners