HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003 NS Goal on Possible School MergerORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 24, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. ~~_
SUBJECT: Confirmation of Analytical Elements of Board Goal on Possible School Merger
DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Blacklined Goal Statement (reflects
changes made by BOCC on 3/05/03)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Margaret Brown, Chair 245-2125
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To confirm the specific language of a formal Board of Commissioner goal that calls
for an examination of the implications of merging the Orange County Schools and the Chapel
Hill-Carrboro City Schools into one school system.
BACKGROUND: At the January 25, 2003 annual planning retreat of the Orange County Board
of Commissioners, the BOCC discussed a proposal by Commissioner Carey that would lead to
merger between Orange County's two school systems. The County Attorney briefly outlined the
alternative processes laid out in the North Carolina General Statutes for initiating and
completing a merger of school systems. Individual commissioners expressed differing degrees
of interest in pursuing school merger, but there was consensus that the Board should obtain a
detailed analysis of the pros, cons, and other implications of a potential merger before
considering a formal decision on whether or not to merge the school systems.
At their regular meeting on March 5, 2003, the BOCC approved a goal statement charging the
Manager and staff to work with the school systems and other interested parties to perform the
necessary analysis. The timeline established in the goal statement calls for the Board to
receive a report on this matter in August 2003. The Board made numerous changes at the
March 5 meeting to the draft goal statement presented in the agenda materials that evening.
As requested by the Board, staff has prepared a blacklined version of the approved goal
statement that reflects the changes to the March 5 draft as staff understood those changes.
This agenda item is not intended to provide for a re-examination of whether and under what
circumstances to conduct an analysis of the implications of a possible merger of the County's
two school systems. Rather, it is intended to provide the Board with the opportunity to formally
approve the exact language of the analytical elements that staff should examine in the coming
months. Staff plans to present a formal report on the subject to the BOCC no sooner than late
August 2003, with at least two interim reports planned, one at the end of June 2003 and one at
the end of July 2003.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with confirming the elements of
this adopted Board goal.. However, a subsequent decision on whether or not to merge the two
school systems is likely to have substantial financial impacts given that public education
comprises approximately fifty percent of the County's $120 million annual operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION(S):. The Manager recommends that the Board confirm that the language
in the revised goal statement accurately reflects the elements of analysis needed for the Board
to make an informed decision on whether or not the Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-
Carrboro Schools ,should be merged; or that the Board provide additional clarification if other
changes in wording are needed.
CY 2003
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROPOSED GOAL
Prepared: 02/l 3i03
Revised: 03/20/03
SCHOOL MERGER IMPLICATIONS
OBJECTIVE 1: To examine the pros, cons, and other implications of a
potential merger of the Orange County Schools and the Chapel Hill
Carrboro City Schools
TASK A:: County staff, in collaboration with school staffs, conducts an analysis of potential
school merger implications centered around five headings: Finance, Governance and
Implementation, Public Information/Education and Public Input, Educational/Student Impacts,
Other Impacts and Implications. Analysis will include, but not necessarily be limited to, an
examination of the pros and cons for each of the following topics:
Finance
1. A detailed analysis of the tax differential and impacts on all Orange County citizens created
by a possible merger
2. A proposed method for equalizing funding at the highest level of the two districts, including
the tax increase required for a possible merger
3. A review of the financial issues/impacts (both operating and capital) of a possible merger
on the County, school districts, and other entities
4. An analysis of what changes might be needed, and how much it would cost, to equalize
facilities and programs for both districts
5. Review opportunities to equalize funding for both districts that do not include a possible
merger
Governance and Implementation
1. A potential implementation timetable that would be associated with a possible merger
2. A step by step process (including legal) to follow for a possible merger
3. A review of potential roles for the two school boards in the process to be followed for a
possible merger
4. A detailed analysis of the governance structure/who's in charge scenarios of a possible
merger
5. Review possible methods for electing a school board with a possible merger
6. A review of how the superintendent might be selected and what might happen to
employees in both districts in a possible merger
7. Timing of engagement of the State Board of Education
8. What relationship, if any, merger would have to SAPFO
Public Information/Education and Public Input
1. An investigation of t~both the truths and the fallacies. of a possible merger, including
impacts on property values, busing and affordable housing° and testing assumptions
regarding both school systems (examples: demographics academics etc )
2. A detailed explanation of what a possible merger would do and what it would not do
3. Proposals to educate the public on the issues of a possible merger
4. Develop and detail specific proposals on how public opinion will be included during the
decision-making process related to a possible merger, including potential public hearings
5. Describe how a referendum on merger could be included in the decision-making process.
CY 2003
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSLONERS
PROPOSED GOAL
Prepared: 02' i 3!0 3
Revised: 03/20/03
6. Review information and conclusions from the 1986 School Merger Study
7. Develop and detail specific ideas on potential public education efforts related to a possible
merger
Educational/Student Impacts
1. The educational impacts that possible merger would have on both districts
2. An analysis of the impacts that a possible merger would have on current class size and the
current curriculum offered in both districts
3. A detailed analysis of the effects of a possible merger on students in both districts,
including potential redistricting and the resulting transportation patterns for students in the
two districts, including the degree to which extensive additional busing will be necessitated
Other Impacts and Implications
1. Benefits and any negative impacts to each district that possible merger would provide
2. A detailed assessment of intended and unintended consequences of a possible merger
3. A detailed analysis of the impacts of a possible merger on land use, including *"~~
the effects on the growth and development patterns of the entire
county
4. A detailed description of the benefits and cost for children and the entire community
associated with a possible merger
5. A detailed description of the effect on promoting equal opportunity for children and the
entire community associated with a possible merger
TASK A TIMEFRAME: February 2003 -August 2003
TASK B: Prepare and present staff report on merger implications at a work session or
regular meeting of the BOCC
TASK B TIMEFRAME: August 2003
OBJECTIVE 2: To determine, in light of the prepared analysis of the
implications, whether or not to pursue merger of the Orange County
Schools and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
TASK A: Subsequent to receipt of merger implications report and receipt of appropriate
public input, determine whether merger should be pursued and if so, under what statutorily
established mechanism
TASK A TIMEFRAME: September 2003 -October 2003