Orange County NC Website
2 <br /> Commissioner Hamilton said she attended the Town and Gown baseball game. She <br /> said she met and spoke with the UNC Chancellor about the concerns about the schools and <br /> mental health. She said that she wants to petition the Board to hold small group meetings with <br /> school board members 1-2 times a year. She said this would be in addition to the joint meetings <br /> with the school boards. She said they could use these meetings to talk about issues in the <br /> budget. She said that her aim is to facilitate a process and small groups allow a better <br /> understanding of what is going on with the school's budget, a chance to ask in-depth questions, <br /> for relationship building, among many other things. She said that she recommends 2-3 <br /> commissioners and 2-3 members of the school board, and appropriate staff. She said that the <br /> spirit behind this is to improve collaboration. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he seconded Commissioner Hamilton's petition. <br /> Commissioner Greene thanked James Williams for organizing the 75t" anniversary for <br /> the fellowship for reconciliation. She said there were powerful performances. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she went to the welcome center grand opening with <br /> Commissioners Bedford, Richards, and Greene. She said that she went on a hike at the <br /> Moorefields and saw the easement from Seven Mile Creek. She said folks should go check it <br /> out. <br /> Commissioner Richards noted that the following day was the second anniversary of <br /> George Floyd's murder. She said these things are related along with what happened in the <br /> county 75 years ago and still echoing through society now. She said she has been trying to <br /> collect herself around that and the imagery is still very vivid for her. She said that for everyone <br /> who cares about their communities and wants things to be better, there is a lot of work to do. <br /> Chair Price said that she and the mayors presented a proclamation naming June 1, <br /> 2022 as Representative Verla Insko day in Orange County. She said that she is set to retire on <br /> May 31st after decades of service to the people of Orange County. She said that two buildings <br /> on UNC's campus have been renamed appropriately. She said one is named after Henry Owl, <br /> the first Native American to attend the university, and Hortense McClinton, the first female <br /> African American faculty member. She said that the next day at 103 years old, Ms. McClinton <br /> walked to the microphone and addressed everyone at the recognition dinner. She said she <br /> really impressed everyone. She said that she will soon be 104 and that she is a true trailblazer <br /> and an amazing person. <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> This item was added at the beginning of the meeting. <br /> a. Resolution Supporting Enactment of the Leandro Plan <br /> The Board considered a draft resolution expressing support for enactment of the Leandro Plan. <br /> BACKGROUND: Both the North Carolina State Constitution and North Carolina General <br /> Statutes place the responsibility to fund a public school system that provides every child in the <br /> state with access to a sound basic education with the State of North Carolina, both the <br /> executive and legislative branches. On March 15, 2021, the State of North Carolina submitted <br /> a long-term comprehensive remedial plan (the "Leandro Plan") detailing specific steps State <br /> leaders must enact to remedy the ongoing constitutional violations in the State's public school <br /> system and ensure that all students have access to the education they are owed under the <br /> State Constitution <br /> On June 7, 2021, Judge W. David Lee ordered the state to implement the Leandro Plan "in full <br /> and in accordance with the timelines set forth therein". Judge Michael Robinson subsequently <br />