HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-16-2006-1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 16, 2006
Action Agenda
Item No. 1
SUBJECT: Continuation of Discussion Regarding School Equity Considerations
DEPARTMENT: Commissioners/Manager PUBLIC BEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
None
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry Jacobs, Chair, 919-245-2125
John Link or Rod Visser, 919-245-2300
PURPOSE: To continue discussion from the January 20 BOCC annual planning retreat and
several subsequent meetings regarding how the Board may wish to pursue the concept of
school equity.
BACKGROUND: As discussed at the Board's annual planning retreat on January 20, 2006
and at the January 31 work session, the first topic of discussion for the February 16 work
session is school equity. At the February 9 regular meeting, the Board determined that the
possibility of merging the County's two school systems is not an aspect of school equity that is
to receive further discussion at this time.
Commissioners agreed to contemplate several questions related to equity in preparation for this
work session item, Those included:
1. What is your definition of equity?
2, What school programming aspects would you be most interested in having funded
outside of the per pupil allocation for school current expense?
3. If the Orange County Board of Education indicate that they want mare funding,
how might that come about?
The Ghair has also written to both school board chairs to solicit any feedback the Boards of
Education may have regarding the questions mentioned above,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated directly with discussion of this
item, However, decisions that the Board may make subsequently will have significant impacts
on school funding, which comprises roughly half of Orange County's annual operating budget.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board discuss the school equity
topic and provide appropriate direction to staff.