HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-15-2005-E1ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date:
March 15, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No. 1
SUBJECT: Educational Excellence Work
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
ATTACHMENT(S):
Executive Summary
Report
(both provided under separate cover)
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N)
No
INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Link or Rod Visser, ext 2300
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough
Chapel Hill
Durham
Mebane
732-8181
968-4501
688-7331
336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To receive a report from the UNC School of Education team that has been working
to provide research and analysis about the resources available to the two school systems in
Orange County,
BACKGROUND: In February 2004, the Board of Commissioners endorsed the creation of an
Educational Excellence Work Group to examine the resources made available to the Orange
County Schools and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. As originally proposed, the Task
Force's mission was to provide a review of both Orange County school systems, investigating
the educational resources available in both school systems and making recommendations for
improvement and how these resources could become equally accessible to all Orange County
students,
In the March 2004 inaugural meeting of this work group, it was determined that representatives
of the UNC School of Education would develop a proposal to pursue the research and analysis
upon which the envisioned recommendations could be developed. In June 2004, the Board of
Commissioners approved an agreement with UNC incorporating the research proposal
prepared by Dr. Madeline Grumet, Dean Emeritus of the School of Education.
Dr. Grumet has been leading the research team from the beginning of the project in July 2004
to date, The research team briefed elected representatives from the BOGC and bath school
systems on progress in early November 2004, and briefed the Board of Commissioners at the
Board's annual planning retreat on January 22, 2005, Work Group members reviewed
preliminary findings and provided feedback to the research team for consideration in the final
report and executive summary, Those documents have been completed, and are provided
under separate cover, Dr, Grumet and her team will report on their findings and respond to
questions and comments from the BOCC at this March 15 work session,
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact directly related to the receipt and
discussion of this report. Decisions that the BOCC may make in the future regarding
observations and recommendations from the research team may have implications for school
funding in future annual County operating budgets.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive and discuss the
report.