Minutes 05-12-2022 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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