HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-05-2016 - 4-b - Resolution Calling for the General Assembly To Fully Fund North Carolina Public Schools. 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 5, 2016
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-b
SUBJECT: Resolution Calling for the General Assembly To Fully Fund North Carolina
Public Schools
DEPARTMENT: BOCC
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
- Draft Resolution Donna Baker, Clerk to the Orange
County Board of Commissioners, 919-
245-2130
PURPOSE: To consider approval of a Resolution Calling for the General Assembly To Fully
Fund North Carolina Public Schools.
BACKGROUND: At the Board's April 19, 2016 regular meeting, Commissioner Penny Rich
petitioned that the Board consider adoption of a resolution regarding per pupil funding and fully
funding public schools in North Carolina. Commissioner Rich also circulated a draft resolution
at the meeting.
Board Chair Earl McKee and Board Vice Chair Mark Dorosin reviewed the petition and asked
staff to schedule the resolution for Board consideration at this May 5th meeting agenda. The
draft resolution provided by Commissioner Rich, with some subsequent revisions and formatting
updates, is attached for Board consideration.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
resolution.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goals are applicable
to this agenda item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board consider approving and
authorizing the Chair to sign the attached resolution.
RES-2016-033 DRAFT 2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO FULLY FUND
NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Whereas, the North Carolina Constitution includes an obligation to provide a sound, basic education to all
school aged children in our state, acknowledging that talent and ingenuity can be found among all our
children; and
Whereas, public education is the cornerstone for our democracy and economic future; and
Whereas, state and federal elected politicians have failed to follow constitutional and statutory mandates
to fully fund public education and public school teachers and disregarded poverty among our public school
children; and
Whereas, inflation-adjusted per pupil spending is still below pre-recession levels; and
Whereas, the national average for school funding per student is$11,841; and
Whereas, in terms of per pupil spending, a National Education Agency report ranks North Carolina 46th in
the United States in 2014-15, spending $8,632 per student, compared to $8,620 per student in 2013-14;
and
Whereas, in 2008, North Carolina teacher salaries ranked 25th in the nation but had fallen to 46th in 2014-
15; and
Whereas, that despite research showing cost—effectiveness of Pre-K services, the North Carolina General
Assembly has cut funding and reduced the number of state-funded pre-kindergarten seats by 5,400 since
2008 resulting in continued waiting lists; and
Whereas, approximately 60 percent of public education funding comes from the state, while the remainder
is funded at the local level and by the federal government; and
Whereas, as the state has abandoned its Constitutional obligation to fund our public schools forcing many
local government leaders to shoulder more of the burden by increasing property taxes or cutting important
programs or positions;
Now Therefore, be it resolved that:
➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls for the N.C. General Assembly to fully fund public
education in Local Education Agencies to reflect growth and student needs; and
➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls upon the General Assembly to reinstate K-12
enrollment growth (ADM funding) as part of the continuation budget; and
➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls upon the legislators of both parties to reject the
trend toward shifting education spending to counties; and
➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls upon the General Assembly to raise additional
state revenue in an equitable fashion in order to avoid regressive tax shifts to counties.
Approved this the 5th day of May 2016.
Earl McKee, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners