Agenda - 12-01-2008 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 1 In answer to a question about the Superintendent, Mike Mathers said that he talked to 2 Superintendent Rhodes, who was in favor of the school board rescinding its decision. 3 A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Chair Jacobs to adopt the 4 proposed resolution on behalf of KidsCope and forward to the Orange County School Board. 5 6 RESOLUTION 7 REQUESTING THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD RECONSIDER 8 REQUIRING KIDSCOPE TO MAKE ANNUAL RENT PAYMENTS TO HILLSBOROUGH 9 ELEMENTARY AND RECOMMIT TO RENT-FREE OCCUPANCY 10 11 WHEREAS, KidsCope is an early intervention program created in 1988 by a coalition of 12 professionals and child advocates to address a documented need for specialized services to 13 young children experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties; and 14 15 WHEREAS, KidsCope is comprised of a number of specialized components; i.e., parent-child 16 therapies, technical and assistance and training for child care providers, and customized 17 counseling and education for families, but community outreach remains its core service; and 18 19 WHEREAS, in 2005 KidsCope was divested from the OPC Area Program as required under 20 statewide mental health reform and became a program of the Chapel Hill Trainirig and 21 Outreach Program; and 22 23 WHEREAS, statewide mental health reform as mandated has created untold financial stressors 24 and strains on a severely weakened local provider network; and 25 26 WHEREAS, KidsCope continues to receive funding from the NC Division of Mental Health, 27 Orange County government, the Towns of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, the Children's Trust Fund, 28 and to a larger part, as allowable, Medicaid; and 29 30 WHEREAS, in 2007 after an 11-year agreement to allow KidsCope to occupy a building on the 31 Hillsborough Elementary campus rent-free, Orange County Schools requested rent payments in 32 the amount of $25,200 annually, thereby placing KidsCope in an increasingly fragile financial 33 position; and 34 35 WHEREAS, Orange County government, due to considerable financial constraints has been 36 unable to provide supplemental funding to KidsCope to relieve the non-profit of this major 37 expense; 38 39 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED~the Board of County Commissioners requests the 40 Orange County School Board as a show of support for services to children with special needs, 41 respectfully reconsider its decision to charge KidsCope annual rent for space occupied at 42 Hillsborough Elementary, and recommit to allowing KidsCope to provide these vital services in 43 existing space rent free. 44 45 VOTE: Ayes, 3; Nays, 2 (Commissioner Nelson and Commissioner Carey) 46 47 Chair Jacobs suggested that Laura Blackmon talk with the Superintendent to see if 48 there is a preferred way to communicate with the school system, other than Chair to Chair. He 49 also said that it was his understanding that the correct way to make this request to reconsider 50 was to put it in writing.