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26 <br /> Chair Will Atherton said that at the beginning of the year they were unable to do so, but <br /> recently identified lapsed salary that could be used. He said they also put some guiderails <br /> around it so that if a teacher has more than one planning period and they are asked to cover, <br /> they will be paid for both. He said the teachers really want a planning period. He said it is best <br /> for students to have a teacher rather than a long term substitute so they can build a <br /> relationship. <br /> Commissioner Bedford asked if they had the $500,000, could they do some of the <br /> things Bonnie Hauser spoke about, but maintain the increased driver pay and the 4% mandate <br /> until June. <br /> Will Atherton said yes. He said that additional teacher supplements had to be scaled <br /> back but they still believe they are key and critical. <br /> Commissioner Bedford asked about the vacancies in each school district. <br /> Dr. Felder said for Orange County, 37.5 certified vacancies and 28.5 are teacher <br /> vacancies. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said some of the other vacancies might be support positions <br /> along with the 15 bus driver positions. <br /> Carrie Doyle said she thinks they can do the classroom coverage at about 2/3s the rate <br /> of when they had the ESSER funds to do it. She said they have had to scale that back. <br /> Commissioner Bedford asked if it is not the full hourly rate. <br /> Will Atherton said that originally they were offering a $60 raise, but they had to drop it to <br /> $40. <br /> Dr. Hamlett said for Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools, there are 109 vacancies, with a <br /> little over 80 for certified. She said she will provide the classified number later. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said there is no need to provide additional because she knows <br /> how busy they are. She said that information points out how severe the hiring crisis is in North <br /> Carolina. <br /> Dr. Felder said the tutors from EdCorp are about $400,000 and are funded by ESSER <br /> funds. <br /> Bonnie Hauser said $500,000 is their estimate for the 4% increase in state raises. She <br /> said that this is an additional burden from the state and it was unexpected. She also noted that <br /> this expense came from the state after the county's budget was already adopted. <br /> Chair Price asked how much is needed to fill vacancies. <br /> Sarah Smylie said that the reason they have the vacancies is not because they don't <br /> have the budget for them but they are unable to recruit teachers due to the supplement. <br /> Chair Price asked how much is needed to be made whole and to sustain that. <br /> Sarah Smylie said the difference is the state amount of $500,000 and then they would <br /> have to look at just how far off they are for compression issues. <br /> Bonnie Hauser said $2 million. <br /> Deon Temne said each district has a letter requesting more funding. He said Chapel <br /> Hill Carrboro City Schools' request was $1 million. <br /> Will Atherton said they have asked for what will cover the state's mandated increase. <br /> 2. School Safety— Chair Will Atherton, OCS <br /> a. Access during school hours and school programs, trespassing <br /> Sarah Smylie discussed the enhanced security measures in Orange County Schools. <br /> She said they have hired a new director of security. She said that they are making sure that <br /> teachers are teaching with the doors locked and that all doors going into the school are locked <br /> during the day. She said they updated camera systems, door controls, campus and district <br />