Agenda - 06-21-2022; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

47 1 Commissioner Hamilton asked about the Governor's proposed budget and the increase 2 for schools. She asked what it would do to the continuation budget and is there a way to get 3 those numbers. 4 Travis Myren said this is common that the state budget is approved after the county 5 budget is adopted. He said they oftentimes have to use fund balance to make up the difference 6 because you can't go back and change the tax rate. 7 Commissioner Hamilton asked if that impact could be given to the Board. 8 Chair Price said it is the Governor's proposed budget but that it will go through some 9 changes. 10 Commissioner Bedford said that staff, students, and everyone has been incredibly 11 flexible. She said she did not recognize a year ago that there would be a personnel crisis. She 12 said that it is eye opening to see how little people make. She said that the classified staff 13 studies are very important. She said that there are options depending on the amount that gets 14 budgeted. She said she likes seeing the continuation budget and the other increases. She said 15 it did not seem like they were in priority order, but she could see that personnel was important. 16 She said that she very much supports the manager's recommendation to increase tax, but she 17 recognizes that is a burden. She said that they could use $4 million to try to make sure they can 18 sustain folks that need assistance. She said they will still be below the national average for pay 19 due to the general assembly. She said they are at a time where they need to increase the tax 20 rate in order to meet needs. She said she took a tour of the schools and she is glad there is a 21 capital work group. She said the $3 million has been the same since 2005. She said that they 22 will need to take a look at what it takes to maintain day to day and what it will take to 23 deconstruct the schools. She said that focus on social and emotional growth and focusing on 24 staff is important. She said that she is glad to try to support but acknowledges that it may not be 25 enough to fund the whole request. She said that they need to be ready for future emergencies 26 to help. She said that Orange County Schools does not have a cushion end the fund balance. 27 She said that the teachers and families that came to talk at the public hearing seemed 28 demoralized. She said they seem that they feel that because they have to cover the other 29 classes and can't do the best they can do, being able to give them more money should help. 30 She said that she appreciates the focus on students. She said that Chapel Hill-Canrboro may 31 need to take a look at if they can do social and emotional learning with the balance of all of the 32 other needs. She said the manager is certainly looking for funds to give to the schools. She said 33 she has never liked the 48.1% but before becoming a Commissioner she did not understand the 34 depth of poverty in the county. 35 Chair Price said she has enjoyed the superintendents being very frank about needs. She 36 said she is very pleased that everyone is working together to educate children and she is 37 looking forward to getting beyond this period we are in. She said that trying to navigate beyond 38 COVID is the goal. She complimented the schools and their staff and said it is obvious how 39 caring everyone is. She said that centering equity must be done so that we can move forward 40 as one people. She wished those graduating well. 41 Dr. Nyah Hamlett thanked the Commissioners for time to share their needs and 42 champion their people. She said that most importantly, to center the work on the children. She 43 said that today was the first time that she and Dr. Felder had ever met in person. She said that 44 they are colleagues and partners. 45 Dr. Monique Felder echoed Dr. Hamlett's sentiments. She said that she really 46 appreciates the opportunity to share the needs of Orange County Schools. She said they are all 47 sitting there with a common focus on children. She said that is encouraging to know we are all 48 focused on the children. 49 50 51 3. Closed Session (added at the beginning of the meeting)