Agenda - 09-06-2022; 8-a - Minutes

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3 1 concluded that the State budget adopted in 2021 underfunded the comprehensive remedial plan 2 (CRP) for Leandro by approximately $785 million. 3 4 The attached resolution proposes that Orange County join with multiple North Carolina school 5 boards, other North Carolina governmental units and other entities across the state requesting 6 that the North Carolina General Assembly fully enact the policy and funding reforms included in 7 the Leandro Plan to ensure that all North Carolina students have access to a sound basic 8 education by the 2028 school year 9 10 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 11 RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE TO FULFILL ITS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO 12 PROVIDE EVERY CHILD ACCESS TO A SOUND BASIC EDUCATION 13 WHEREAS, for more than 25 years, North Carolina lawmakers from both parties have failed to 14 meet their constitutional obligation to provide all children in the state with a sound basic 15 education; and 16 WHEREAS, far too many students, particularly students of color, students from economically- 17 disadvantaged families, students with disabilities, English learners, and rural students, have 18 been denied the opportunities promised to them under the North Carolina Constitution; and 19 WHEREAS, the North Carolina State Constitution and North Carolina General Statutes place 20 the responsibility to fund a public school system that provides every child in the state with 21 access to a sound basic education with the State of North Carolina, both the executive and 22 legislative branches; and 23 WHEREAS, on March 15, 2021, the State submitted to the court a long-term comprehensive 24 remedial plan ("Leandro Plan") detailing specific steps State leaders must enact to remedy the 25 ongoing constitutional violations in our public school system and ensure that all students have 26 access to the education they are owed under the State Constitution; and 27 WHEREAS Governor Roy Cooper's Budget Recommendations for 2021-23 demonstrated that 28 the Leandro Plan could be fully implemented within then-existing State resources; and 29 WHEREAS, on June 7, 2021, Judge W. David Lee ordered the state to implement the Leandro 30 Plan "in full and in accordance with the timelines set forth therein"; and 31 WHEREAS, Judge Michael Robinson has found that the state budget passed in 2021 32 underfunds the comprehensive remedial plan (CRP) for Leandro by approximately $785 million; 33 and 34 WHEREAS, receiving a quality education is paramount to catalyzing the full growth and self- 35 actualization of students, families, as well as being critical for workforce development and the 36 economic prosperity of our communities and our State as a whole; 37 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County 38 Commissioners stands with the Orange County Schools Board of Education and the Chapel Hill 39 Carrboro City Schools Board of Education and requests that the North Carolina General 40 Assembly fully enact the policy and funding reforms included in the Leandro Plan to ensure that 41 all North Carolina students have access to a sound basic education by the 2028 school year. 42 Adopted this 24th day of May, 2022.