Agenda - 02-12-2004-6 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 12, 2004 Action Agenda Item No. 6 SUBJECT: Commissioner Proposals on Equal Opportunity in Education DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners/ PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No County Manager ATTACHMENT(S): Commissioner Proposals Verbatim Transcript of 12/09/03 BOCC Discussion on Schools Table — Distribution of Proceeds from Hypothetical Countywide Supplemental Tax INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Jacobs or Margaret Brown, 245 -2125 John Link or Rod Visser, 245 -2300 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732 -8181 Chapel Hill 968 -4501 Durham 688 -7331 Mebane 336 - 227 -2031 PURPOSE: To discuss next steps regarding the examination of potential impacts resulting from a possible merger of the Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools. BACKGROUND: On November 11, 2003, the Board of Commissioners conducted a work session on the potential implications of a possible merger between the Orange County Schools (OCS) and the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). Commissioners discussed the staff report on this subject that was presented on September 15, 2003, public input received since the publication of the report, and additional background information compiled by County and schools staff at the BOCC's request since September. Four Commissioners distributed and briefly explained the major elements of specific proposals that each presented to their fellow board members with regard to how the full Board of Commissioners should proceed on the merger question and related issues. The Board held further discussions on this topic at their regular meeting on December 9, 2003, Commissioner Carey presented an additional proposal for the Board's consideration and Commissioner Gordon provided additional explanation of her November 11 proposal. No specific decisions were made at that meeting on how to proceed, Additional discussion of the subject was scheduled for the Board's Annual Planning Retreat on January 31, 2004, but time constraints resulted in postponement of that discussion until this February 12 work session. The Board may wish to organize its discussion at this meeting around the BOCC- initiated proposals, including related topics such as: collaboration (facilitated discussions involving the Board Chairs are already underway); a proposed Educational Excellence Evaluation Group; a proposed School Efficiency Study; and a proposed Countywide school supplemental tax.