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20 <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners - Vacancy Application <br /> 4. What do you see as the most urgent unmet needs facing Orange County. Please limit to 5 or less and <br /> prioritize these needs, particularly if listing more than 3. <br /> The Orange County Broadband Initiative is one of the most important activities in the county, in <br /> light of the widening digital divide from the Covid pandemic and the ability of internet to offer <br /> social connection as well as educational and economic opportunities. <br /> I would love to see universal Pre-K in effect in Orange County, and also additional support and <br /> resources for parents during the first year after having a baby, such as regular nurse home <br /> visits. <br /> I also think it is essential to establish alternatives to the criminal legal system.The drug <br /> treatment courts are an excellent example of this, and additional alternatives could include <br /> restorative justice programs and mental health crisis response teams. <br /> 5. If you could change one thing about the current county budget,what would that be? <br /> I would like to see an increase in funding for reentry programs following incarceration. <br /> Formerly incarcerated folks have a wide variety of needs, including housing, assistance finding <br /> and retainign employment, meeting ongoing terms of probation or parole, and general support <br /> through a major life transition. More robust reentry programs may help reduce recidivism and <br /> ongoing expenses related to housing inmates. <br /> 6. What is your assessment of the county's funding practices with regard to the two school systems? <br /> How do you propose the BOCC meet over$300 million in K-12 public schools capital needs? <br /> Considering the population distribution, I think the county's funding practices of the CHCCS and <br /> OHS districts makes sense,though it is important to keep in mind that the rural OHS faces <br /> logistical challenges not present to the same degree in CHCCS.The intersection of public <br /> schools and public needs could provide some opportunities for cross-funding of projects, such <br /> as imrpoving internet service through a combination of Broadband Taskforce and school <br /> allotments.The county could also lobby the state government to increase funding for schools <br /> to allow the county to reallocate money spent on instructional funds toward capital <br /> improvements. More traditional methods like a bond initiative could also be considered. <br /> 7. Do you support the 1909 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools special district tax? How should it be <br /> used? <br /> While I fundamentally support any initiative that puts more resources toward education, it is <br /> hard fully support the 1909 special district tax knowing it was implemented with racist <br /> objectives to promote education of white students. Intentional spending of special tax funds <br /> can help reduce disparities by supporting educational programs that increase resources for <br /> at-risk populations like low-income students, racial minorities, and students who speak English <br /> as a second or third language.Also, it may be worthwhile to consider whether a similar special <br /> tax may be implemented in the OHS district to reduce disparities among school systems. <br /> Applications are due to the Orange County Clerk to the Board by 5 pm on January 6, 2023. Completed <br /> applications can be emailed to clerk@orangecountync.gov or delivered to 300 W. Tryon St.,2"d Flr., <br /> Hillsborough, NC 27278. <br />