Minutes 05-29-2025-Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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13 use plan and land purchases through Lands Legacy, will be critical for supporting habitat conservation. He asked the Board to continue to support the Lands Legacy program. David Remington said the longtime homeowner assistance program is another program that helps residents stay in their homes. He said he has found it very encouraging that the commissioners continue to support that program. He thanked the Board for their efforts. Sarah Whitley said she is an EC teacher in the CHCCS and graduate of Elon College. She said that she loves what she does. She thanked the Board for what they do. She said that she reviewed their biographies and noted that none of them have served as an educator like she has. She said that she has served in all levels of schools and loves it. She asked the Board to support the continuation budget and said that it is important to have EC teachers, EC TAs, and OC classes. She said that there have been many cuts to these programs. She said that she fully supports public schools and thinks that more funding should go to the schools. She thanked Chair Bedford for her advocacy for education and students with disabilities. She said that she is a single parent and widow, and has a hard time making ends meet sometimes. She said that teachers should be appreciated, and salaries should be raised. Jenna Neilsen said that she is a 5th grade teacher and resident of Orange County. She said that she understands that the federal and state governments are not helping with the issues. She said that these are unprecedented times and asked the Board to look outside of the box at ways they can fund the continuation and expansion budgets. Bailey Normann said she is a school librarian and a resident of Orange County. She asked the Board to fully fund the continuation budget and the expansion budget. She said that they need highly trained teachers. She said that reinstating masters pay acknowledges the time spent to better themselves in ways that improve outcomes for kids. She said that elementary teacher assistants are incredibly valuable and without them, teachers are stretched too thin. She said they can also restore their technology facilitators. She said they are an essential part of making the classrooms vibrant and interactive. She said that cutting these positions would be a huge step back. She asked the Board to invest in the people that invest in the kids every day. Robin Jacobs said she served as the executive director of the Eno River Conservation Group for 15 years. She said that there are almost never any conservation or protection projects done without a partnership. She said that the Lands Legacy program in Orange County has facilitated many good projects. She said that Orange County has been an incredible partner for land trusts. She asked the Board to continue to support the Lands Legacy program and she wants them to understand how important it is. Ana Rosario said she is a parent and first year teacher in CHCCS Schools. She said she entered education from a different industry and has been amazed at the amount of work that the teachers do with such a small amount of resources. She said the pay does not even make sense. She said the experience has been amazing. She said it is like trying to explain motherhood—yes, it is hard, but it is amazing. She said that when she heard there is a risk that they may have even less next year, she immediately thought it would be impossible. She asked the Board to fund the continuation budget and the expansion budget. Katie Harrison said she is a social worker at Carrboro Elementary. She said that she is paying for a babysitter to be able to attend. She said the school is slotted to be rebuilt with the bond. She said they remind themselves everyday it will be fixed because they are dealing with problems daily. She said it floods and they have water issues. She said they need to keep the staff members that are there in the building next year. She said that they must make the building work and be safe and on top of that, teach. She asked the Board to do whatever can be done so that they can keep teaching kids in a safe space. Brian Link, president of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators, said that he has worked and lobbied to have a bi-partisan budget bill at the General Assembly that will reinstate masters pay. He said the work is getting done on that level. He said that the public can agree that cutting the Department of Education and taking funds from public education is not the