HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2021-065 Resolution in Support of the Students, Staff, and Board of Education of Orange County Schools Whose School Climate has been Adversely Affected by Protestors i
RES - 2021 - 065
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENTS , STAFF, AND BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS WHOSE SCHOOL CLIMATE HAS BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY
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PROTESTORS
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WHEREAS, Orange County Schools is located in the northern and western part of the county and
serves more than 7 , 400 students and approximately 800 teachers and administrative staff; and
WHEREAS, respect for diversity and emotional and physical safety are central elements in the Safe
and Supportive Learning Environments adopted by the US Department of Education in 20152 and
WHEREAS, Orange County Schools Board of Education meetings and events in September and
October were disrupted by protestors displaying hostile and intimidating behavior including racist
and homophobic languages and
WHEREAS, in the Resolution to Address Harm Caused to Students by Incidents of Hostile and Racist
Behavior, passed by the Orange County Schools Board of Education on October 11 , 2021 , staff and
students attested to the emotional and psychological harm done by the protestors ; and
WHEREAS, as stated in Sect= 12 - 3 of the Orange County Civil Rights Ordinance, the policy of
Orange County is to promote the equal treatment of all individuals ; to prohibit discrimination in
Orange County based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, familial status, and
veteran status ; to protect residents ' lawful interests and their personal dignity so as to make
available to the County their full productive and creative capacities, and to prevent public and
domestic strife, crime, and unrest within Orange County, and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Relations Commission was established by the Orange County
Board of Commissioners to make recommendations designed to promote goodwill and harmony
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among all groups in the County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners
(BOCC) shall work with Orange County Schools , the Orange County Sheriff' s Office, and the broader
community to promote peaceful and civil discourse and behavior, and support our students and
school staff; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County BOCC calls upon the Orange Count Department
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of Human Rights and Relations and the Human Relations Commission to continue to study and
recommend to the Orange County BOCC, within the next six months , measures that will promote
civility among all groups in the County, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners directs the Clerk to the Board to share
this resolution with the Orange County Schools , the Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools, the Orange
County Sheriff' s Office, and the towns of Hil , rough, Mebane, Chapel Hill and Carrboro .
This the 4th day of November, 2021 . E , •
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r _ Renee A. Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners