Agenda 02-20-24; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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55 1 somehow under the control of the BOCC, or the state of NC, or both. This is simply not true. There 2 are in fact funding differences in annual operating budgets (i.e., per pupil expenditures) between 3 the districts, however, this is solely due to the CHCCS Special District Tax which has been in 4 place since 1909. This tax is only paid by residents of the CHCCS district and is not a financial 5 burden on other residents of Orange County. Thank you in advance for your consideration of 6 options D, or, C2. And for more on why, I yield the floor to Vice Chair Riza Jenkins." 7 Riza Jenkins, CHCCS Board Vice-Chair read the following Statement: 8 "Thank you George, and good evening everyone. I'm Riza Jenkins, and I'm Vice Chair of 9 the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. 1, too, am here to urge the 10 Commissioners to strongly consider scenario "D", followed by C-2. I'm also here to publicly thank 11 the Commissioners who accepted invitations, from our administration and our PTA leaders, to 12 tour school facilities for a first-hand look at the needs in Chapel Hill-Carrboro, as we've been 13 having this conversation for a very long time: 14 • Thank you to Chair Bedford for her visits to Phillips Middle, Estes Hills Elementary and 15 Ephesus Elementary back in March of 2022. 16 • Thank you to Commissioner Hamilton for her visits to Carrboro, Glenwood and Seawell 17 elementary schools in March of 2022. 18• Thank you to Commissioner Portie-Ascott for her visits to Culbreth Middle and Carrboro 19 Elementary back on May 4 of 2023. And then again for visits to Phoenix Academy High School 20 and McDougle Middle on November 20. 21• Commissioner Green, we were delighted to host you back on October 5 for a visit to Ephesus 22 Elementary. 23• Same for Commissioner Richards, who visited Carrboro Elementary on October 29. 24 Together we saw first-hand the aging facilities that make up a substantial portion of our 25 district. Those facilities, which have existed for generations, are loved and cared for ... but no 26 amount of maintenance and upkeep will outpace the speed of innovation in public education. The 27 Board of County Commissioners made it clear to us two years ago that we were to use the allotted 28 funds now, and not bank them for any type of new construction or major renovation project down 29 the road. Indeed, CHCCS has been spending our capital deferred maintenance dollars as 30 expected and directed. We have used the funds for roof replacements, HVAC replacements, 31 playground replacements, safety upgrades and more. We have done that in good faith and have 32 been excellent stewards of public funds. We understand you want to develop a preferred plan of 33 finance by the end of this month. We would appreciate and be available to participate in greater 34 detail at any time, including possibly your scheduled retreat on January 19, or any subsequent 35 meetings. We've reached a pivotal moment. Let's be honest about the 21 st century needs of our 36 school district. Together, we'll make our students, families and stakeholders proud." 37 CHCCS Board member, Rani Dasi, said she is not only a board member but also a parent 38 of 4 students who have attended CHCCS schools. She spoke about the experiences of her 39 children in school facilities. She said there is now a clear picture of the needs and plans to address 40 them. She said they have had flooding issues, unreliable heating and cooling, and failing sewage 41 systems that backed up. She said that delayed investment in school facilities continues to create 42 significantly more needs. She said she knows the board cares deeply about education and she 43 thanked them. 44 45 Commissioner Fowler asked if multiple options can be given on a bond resolution. 46 Travis Myren said it is a yes or no question for a bond. 47 Chair Bedford said looking at C-2, it could be $75 million for the county and the difference 48 is .57 cents. 49 Travis Myren said that would line up with the scenario that Commissioner Hamilton 50 mentioned.