BOCC Meeting Budget Hearing Live (updated throughout the meeting)

The 1st of 2 budget hearings, this one at the Southern Human Services Center, filled to capacity over 30 minutes before the meeting. The hallway is full, too, and people are standing outside as of the start of the meeting. 80 people signed up to speak as of 15 mins before the meeting.

John Link presented the budget using the presentation on www.co.orange.nc.us/budget/index.htm

One person spoke for $2K more for elcentrolatino.org/

Karl Knapp, CHCCS PTA Council president spoke on behalf of the council in favor of full funding for both districts.

A 7th grader from Smith Middle school spoke very eloquently in favor of more funding.

2 OCS parents have asked for more funding for Spanish and other programs.

There are many Orange County Recycling employees outside as well as a number of Special Olympics advocates, so they will probably be speaking. There are balloons that say “Help Families Pay For Child Care”. There were signs along the entrance saying “Full Funding For Schools” and “No TA Layoffs”. There are 40 people with school funding signs.

The child care representative is giving the stats on the amount that working families pay for. 25% of many families income is spent on child care. $8-10K/year(?) is spent on childcare.

Pics:

• Panorama of full room before meeting (new)
• Full room before meeting
• Full hallway
• People standing outside window
• Signatures of folks who could not get in.

Ray Martin, leader of teacher organization spoke, indicating that there is a many tens of billions of dollar lawsuit that the county can join in money set aside for NCLB that is not made available.

Several other CHCCS parents have spoken. Comment at 8:39pm 5/31/2005 by markpeters

More school speakers.

Marc ter Horst spoke about Science being a new requirement for elementary and that it will be on the EOGs. Science specialists are on the chopping block.

The Orange County Special Olympics is the 4th largest in the US. Chapel Hill is contributing to a full time position and needs Orange County to contribute part of the position. Several speakers spoke on behalf of this. John Link (county mgr), commented that Orange County will probably contribute one or part of one of their staff in lieue of $.

260 people were outside and most of them signed a piece of posterboard that someone got out of their car. The parking lot and drive was full and people had to park all along Homestead and over at Homestead park. Apparently only 70 people can fit in the room.

Seawell Elementary SGC co-chair Jennifer Jansen presented a petition with almost 300 signatures on it requesting full funding.

Many other SGCs, PTAs, and PTSAs spoke with official resolutions by their groups.

WTVD had a great segment tonight, showing a student and others speaking. Bryan Voyce, a Chapel Hill parent, was interviewed on camera, and said that he doesn't understand why the county commissioners aren't funding what the elected school boards have determined what they need. They had face shots of most of the commissioners and footage of parents and students speaking.

I left at 9:45 and they were still going strong and the room was still almost full.