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Before we do our invocation, I would like to recognize Mr. Herman Dale, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a country during the veterans war, Vietnam war from 1967 to 1969. Mr. Dale worked as a director of safety and health for co-mails from 1979, vice president of Dan River, labor relations from 1999 to 2006.

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It was set in Florida as a safety and health consultant from 2006 to 2019, and also talked

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OSHA, courses and GTCC from 2006 to 2024.

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Mr. Davis currently enjoy a retirement life with its wife of 59 years, Carol, their two children

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and their three grandchildren.

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I'm Mr. Davis.

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Thank you for your service to our country and our community, and after the medication we

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that you come forward and need us in the plate of belliges. Please stand for an

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application.

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Let us pray. Father, we come before you

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throng as counsel for our commissioners in this meeting. It is when we seek

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your counsel that you direct our path and order our steps. Thank you for our

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commissioners and their heart to serve and how they give with themselves to you and

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your people on a daily basis. Lord, you have shown us what is good and what you require

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of us, that we do justly, that we love mercy, and that we walk humbly with our God.

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So let us do good and what is required of us, Father, help us to remember that 80 years

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ago today, 2,500 American soldiers lost their lives on D-Day, but it would be this one

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historic event that would turn the tide of World War II and ensure our freedom from tyranny.

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Thank you for those brave and courageous men who laid down their lives for freedom.

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God our commissioners through this agenda and every decision made tonight grant them peace

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and knowing that they have done their very best with the resources given to them.

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Now, may the peace, mercy and grace of God abound in this government and among this

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people and your mighty marvelous and miraculous name we pray amen.

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Next item on our agenda is our speaker's from the floor. We do want to remind those

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that are speaking on behalf of the our budget. You will have your opportunity to do that.

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But those who are speaking on any other item, you have the opportunity to come for for three

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I have five other signed up for speakers from the floor, and we refer to you about your number batch, and I will call the fourth now speaker number one. Please come forward.

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Good evening, Chairman Austin and commissioners. My name is Paige Gillier, and I'm the Director of the Custody Advocacy Program with the Children's Law Center of Central North Carolina.

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I've been a member of the Children's Law Center team for over 13 years, and I've experienced

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first hand at the incredible development, growth, and impact of our work.

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CLC began serving children in Versailles County in 2005.

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In 2014, we expanded to Gilbert County to advocate for vulnerable children in domestic violence

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protective order cases.

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In 2023, we expanded again to provide crucial services for children in high-conflict custody

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cases here in Gilford County in response to the needs of so many children and the requests

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of the judges and family law bar. We are appointed by the District Court Judges to serve

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as guardians at Lightham, advocating for the best interests of children who may experience domestic

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violence, child abuse, substance abuse, and mental health challenges in their home.

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CLC provides a critical voice for children impacted by adverse childhood experiences and

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Our advocacy helps mitigate the negative effects of aces, including poll...

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More health outcomes later in life for the children we serve. Because our young clients know we listen to them, hear them, and care about them, they often develop a feeling of hope and empowerment enabling them to persevere.

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We interview parents, children, and others close to the children. We visit children in their homes, their schools, their daycares. We review records and collaborate with professionals and community partners to connect children and their families with support.

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We testify in court and provide a voice for children when they want and need to have a voice.

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But we also protect children from court involvement when they're caught in the middle.

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The most important and most enjoyable part of my job is really getting to know our CLC children.

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CLC's focus on children's safety, health, well-being, and the overall well-being of the family has a positive effect on the child, parents, extended family,

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neighborhood, and in the long term the community at large, that is a positive ripple effect.

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We are grateful to collaborate with so many partners in our work.

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We are a founding partner of the Guilford County Family Justice Centers in both

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Greensboro and High Point.

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Our Guilford County staff works on site in both locations.

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In addition, the Children's Law Center is a leading partner agency of Camp Hope,

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North Carolina, and the Pathways Program.

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I'm so excited to be attending camp for the eighth year this fall as an adult support staff member.

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My camp name is Fannie Pack.

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I genuinely appreciate this opportunity to speak with you today.

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We at Children's Law Center respectfully request approval of our application for fiscal year 2025 funding

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to expand our reach and continue our tenacious advocacy for children here in Gilbert County.

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Thank you.

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Good

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evening, Mr. Chairman, Chairman Austin, members of the Board of Commissioners,

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Pleasure to be here. My name is Marcus Shields. I'm an attorney here in Guilford County,

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a former District Court judge here in Guilford County. I'm also a member of the Board of Directors

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for the Children's Law Center. I'm here to support and bolster what you just heard

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and from my perspective, the lens of the District Court judge here in the cases that involve

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these children in Guilford County. As a judge, you get a snapshot of what's happening

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behind the scenes, oftentimes parents come to court and they're in or mind, intertwined,

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intertwined children into the mix, which we all know is not in their best interest.

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It is nice and was always pleasant to have the children's loss in or coming into court, being

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a voice for those children.

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Oftentimes, if you have a child in chambers, which is what we call it, meaning they're outside

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of the presence of their parents, talking to the judge 101, you find out that they've

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they've been coached or some parent has a motive and having them come to court and testify.

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It also takes away from their childhood innocence.

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They have to come to court face one or two parents in the courtroom.

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And that also isn't adverse effect on a child.

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They feel obligation to both parents oftentimes, but oftentimes one parent is not going to be the winner in the situation.

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The custody battle.

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The Children's Law Center is the voice of those children.

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They were always helpful, always prepared.

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They provided detail reports as requested from the courts.

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They also provided an avenue for children's voices to be heard without influence.

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They go into homes, they go into schools, they ensure that their things are going on, that

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those things are addressed with the court.

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And so I was support the request, not only just as the member of the Board of Directors, but

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as a former judge, that heard these cases that actually work as a partner with the Children's

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Law Center and the Family Justice Center, domestic violence is more common.

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that we think it happens behind the scenes and most people don't know about it until something

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really bad happens.

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The children's law center is there in the gaps, both here at Greensboro, High Point, of

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course, Forsyth County, but I experience and work with them both in Greensboro and High

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Point.

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And so just to bolster what you've just heard, we'd ask you to take seriously the

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consideration of funding their grant application.

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Thank you so much.

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Yeah.

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Speaking of number three.

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Good evening.

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My name is K-Brown, I'm the president of the Greensboro Branch of the NAACP.

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I'm thrilled to be here this evening to talk about something that is of the utmost

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and critical importance to residents of Guilford County.

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And that is the work of the MWB in his office, and to urge everyone here to continue to support

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actively and invest in that work that we know gives back to so many.

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It is the position of the MWCP that we must empower MWBE with the tools and skills needed to compete effectively for contracts, provide education and tools such as estimating classes and access to professional estimating tools that will help to level the playing field.

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For these businesses, we believe that support is not just about education, but doing all we can to ensure that MWBEs have the same opportunities and access to information that can help them succeed as larger firms have had many in the past.

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So we believe that support is an action word. So setting up a support desk for MWBEs to get help with estimating tools and understanding contracts and requirements would be a practical and impactful step.

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to help grow businesses and again,

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continue to level the playing field.

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The Greensboro NWCP is looking to be an active partner

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with any organization that is looking to enhance these efforts

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and also to thank the County Commission for the monumental

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steps that you all have taken so far.

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Our NWBE program is a beacon of light

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and hope across the state of North Carolina

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and I hope that each of you are proud

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that that new direction happened under U.S. leadership.

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And thank you Mr. Chairman for your guidance on that.

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I would also like to mention that I know it's going to be coming up soon, but we are

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related to support efforts such as the Juneteenth Farmer's Market by creating more opportunities

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like this.

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We are connected in farmers, with people who are in food deserts, and providing opportunities

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for more sustainable mechanism of feeding families in East Greensboro and across Guilford County.

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We truly believe that things like this are a win-win, and again, want to be so appreciative

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and thankful for the support of this, and we're looking forward to seeing and supporting more.

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Again, the NAACP is proud, and we hope that you are, too, that the NWBE program is leading

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to state and measuring its economic impact.

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We know that for every dollar, different county spends with the NWBE community, every

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term is 4.5 and economic impact.

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Every year investing in the NWBE department yields an extra 11% return to the county, and these

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numbers clearly demonstrate the value and effectiveness of this program.

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Again, we are thankful that you all also continue and will, I'll say, execute it,

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spare the study, and we hope that that study won't do as it has done in other municipalities

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where it has set on a shelf where nobody has actually utilized the recommendations, so

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we want to thank you for what you've done so far.

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Have a good night.

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We're going to have a four.

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Good evening.

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Thank you for your time and for your listening ear.

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My prayers that you truly hear my heart, and just a few in this meeting, you will receive a resolution, recognizing June, 2024's Pride Month, and encourage all residents to respect and honor our diverse community and to participate in relevant activities that build dialogue, strengthen alliances and advance the equal rights of all individuals.

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I just wanted to remind you all that there are people of faith who cannot participate in relevant activities regarding Pride and Month.

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My concern is that what is a resolution today is a preferred pronoun policy for Geofar County employees tomorrow.

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a pride parade to end the school year tomorrow.

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A drag, reading, story hour in our schools or community college in the name of advancing equal rights.

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Religious liberties cannot be trampled on in the name of strengthening alliances.

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Right above your heads are the ten commandments, and God is holding.

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and we just opened up with prayer.

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We can't celebrate what is not a virtue.

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The Lord cannot be mocked and he grieves my heart

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that I even have to speak about this.

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The Viper Religious Liberty is very near and dear to my heart

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because my husband's religious liberty was violated back in 2021.

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I don't have anything else to say because honestly

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It was not ready to speak so quickly, so I appreciate being able to speak very promptly.

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But please understand, people's religious liberties are just as important, and in some

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cases, for some people, they feel even more important than any other right.

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If we don't have the right to worship God freely with our bodies, the way He intended them

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to be, we have nothing.

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And it greets my heart that you truly want to fight and champion certain things, but not equally across the board.

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And perhaps that might be unintentionally.

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I don't want to assume that it is intentional.

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I want to give grace.

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But please remember my husband's name, Alvin Robinson,

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and please consider the right that we're taking away from him, his right.

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To work freely in Guilford County, his rights work freely in the city of Greensboro, and how his religious liberties were infringed upon during with a policy, a testing policy, a COVID testing policy, and the policy lasted about two months and he was fired, not considering his religious liberty and his need to worship the Lord.

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Thank you for your time.

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Thank you.

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Speak number five.

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Okay, my name is Alvin Robinson.

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Of course, there's no wife who just finished speaking there.

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She mentioned quite a bit there, and I'll just be in the continuation of that.

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As she already mentioned, we have placarded up there, the Ten Commandments.

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First of which, first commandment, you shall have no other gods before me.

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That's what the Lord God who has created all things,

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that said concerning all of humanity and so it is that he is the one who has prescribed

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how humanity should live. No man can or should prescribe that because God has and we all

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are responsible to him. I too stand up here right now in opposition of the adoption of the

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resolution to make Guilford County residents to be a part of this pride month. The Bible says

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that we acknowledge the Bible there and the Bible says that pride comes before a fall.

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The reason we're seeing a lot of the chaos that we're seeing around really the world,

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I was going to say the country right now because man has forgotten God and has become

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prideful in him and herself.

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And we see the falling of the nation, the falling of the world.

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Geofre County ought not be a part of that.

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I know some of you personally that are only commissioned, we spoken before, and as my wife

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already put forward. This is what we stand. This is what many residents of Gilford County

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stand and you all as the board need to recognize that. Mr.

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Gray Hill understand that

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you presented this and so I would encourage not only you directly and I call you out because

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is right here, but anyone who is choosing to live in such a way other than the way in which

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guys describe to repent of your sin and to turn to Jesus Christ, as many of us in here have

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heard before.

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Many of you know, turn to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, because He is Lord and Savior.

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And the same one that we're about to bolster our own self-prite against, we'll come

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back one day to judges. As my wife said, we beg of you to change your minds and to experience

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the grace and the mercy and the love of God. Thank you for your time.

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Thank you. Any other speakers from the floor?

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Please go for it.

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My name is Lenny Patterson and I am the Teachers Supply Warehouse Manager at Geoford Educational

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Alliance. The Teachers Supply Warehouse is a community collaboration that provides free supplies

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to GCS teachers and offset the costs of them paying out of pocket for school supplies.

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We provide supplies because many teachers pay up to $1,000 a year of their own money

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on classroom supplies for their students.

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We want them to know that our community cares about them and is grateful that we have chosen

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that they have chosen to teach our kids.

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Every day teachers come in and I see their acts of dedication to their students.

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to the Spanish teacher who sees a folder whose perfect for that one can in her class

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to the math teacher who snags a card trade game for his students who has been excited for the upcoming talent show.

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The teacher supply warehouse is grateful to partner with community to support teachers with free classroom supplies

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and we also know that that is just the tip of the iceberg in supporting them.

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We need to fully fund teacher supplements and raise classified pay rates to ensure that these critical staff members are paid fairly.

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Geofr County Schools is currently the largest employer in Geofr County.

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Paying our teachers a competitive wage ensures that they stay in our community.

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It helps them buy houses here, put down roots, pay taxes.

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If we don't pay a competitive wage to teachers and support staff, we risk them losing Geofr County.

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Leaving our schools without teachers, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers, taking their tax dollars elsewhere.

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Paying our teachers and support staff a fair wage is not only the right thing to do morally,

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it is the right thing to do for our economy.

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At the Teachers Supply Warehouse, I.C. educators after AITL.

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Long at day of teaching, come from all over the county to get paper, pencils, markers, you name it for

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their classrooms, and their students, they come on their days off, their own children until because

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they are dedicated to our community's future. As much commitment as they put into our schools

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and our students, we must do the same for them. We must insist on fully funding teacher supplements

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and raising classified pay rates. Thank you, Vera time.

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Any other speakers from the floor?

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The point about gender is now closed.

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Next item on gender is presentations.

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First one is proclamation.

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Celebrating June 19th, 2024.

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A June 10th.

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Here in Gephyr County, there's going to be presented by Vice Chair,

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Jay Carvena Foster.

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Thank you Mr. Chairman, and I think that our MWE coordinator is going to

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to come forward to receive this

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proclamation or someone from our office.

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There are two.

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Thank you.

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Proclamation celebrating Juneteenth.

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Whereas over two months after the civil war

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in on April 9, 1865,

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the United States Army General Gordon

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Ranger arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas,

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an issue general order number three

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June 19, 1865, declaring all slaves of free and whereas the ensuing celebration of the end of slavery,

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which became known as Juneteenth, is the oldest national celebration of the end of slavery in the United States,

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and whereas Juneteenth commemorates African-American freedom and remembers the courage of all who sacrificed

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and suffered injustices in their fighting against slavery.

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And we're as Juneteenth honors the historic heritage

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and contributions that Americans of African descent

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have made to help shape the cultural, academic,

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social, economic, and moral attributes of this nation.

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And we're as on this day, we celebrate our belief

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in the fundamental ideologies of liberty and equality for all

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and recognize that our shared history continues to unite us in the struggle for equity, diversity and inclusion.

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Now therefore, a bit resolved at the GIVA County Board of Commissioners do hear about proclaim June 19, 2024,

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as a day to celebrate Juneteenth in GIVA County and encourages all citizens to participate in commemorative and educational events

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While remembering that all Americans, regardless of race, should be equal parties to the

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immeasurable opportunities our nation has to offer.

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I adopted this the sixth day of June, 2024.

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In witness we're of, I hear in two, sit my hand and call us a corporate seal of the

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county of Gilford to be a fix.

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This is the sixth day of June, 2024, Melvin Skip Austin, Chairman, Gilford County Board of

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Commissioners.

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I have two copies.

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Commissioner Austin and other members of the Guilford County Commissioners.

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I am lowly to Wykins, co-convene of the triad Black faith leaders in Black Farmers Network,

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and I accept this Juneteenth Proclamation. On Wednesday, June 19, 2024,

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while we were recognized to feed and delay water to African Americans in this country

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with the official ending of slavery that has worked still to be done.

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Our network's goals are to address hunger, access to healthy food, and marginalised communities

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and providing economic opportunities for black farmers in good for county.

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We are thankful today for this proclamation and ask for your assist to your support of our

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work here in good for county.

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And we are inviting everyone to our Juneteenth farmers market at Hayes Taylor YMCA.

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Starting at 10 a.m. Continuing to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19th. We'll have farmers, vendors, bank goods and entertainment. So thank you all so much.

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Thank you. Appreciate the work this you all do.

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Thank you.

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Let me say thank you too as a result of this proclamation. It tells us that the work we're trying to do in the community makes a difference.

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My name is Max Sims.

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I serve as the president of E-Screen's world now.

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It's community development corporation

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of addressing economic development, housing,

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entrepreneurship, and community engagement.

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And while we've been in E-Screen's world now,

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we've expanded our territory to East and Gifford County,

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and now we're going to High Point.

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Now only if our market is going to be this June 19,

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we're going to High Point and August 4,

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bringing the same market to the community as well.

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Because it's important to address

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insecurities and food, but we also economic ability is what we're trying to do and make sure that people

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live in neighborhoods and get safe and not as food to do that. So we greatly appreciate that.

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And I would say that the MWB program that's initiated by Giver County means a whole lot.

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We see it's initiation being important to this community at large. It makes a difference and it will continue to make a difference

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on that. Because we are in an artificial field as well. So it makes a difference there that we are addressing that.

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When we bring black farmers out to the community, we are showing them that they can survive

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in Guilford County and can bring a product that people want to get for county.

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So, as we do this and we continue to do this, we will make a difference and this is just

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the beginning.

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But we understand how black farmers have not been recognized throughout this country.

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And now we are trying to make sure that happens, understand how to be entrepreneurs, understand

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how to make a difference in our community, understand how to serve our community.

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So, this is the beginning, not the end, and we thank you for this

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proclamation.

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Thank you, Mr. Sam.

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Thank you for the work that you all also do at these degrees for now.

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Next, I want to add to our generous resolution, recognizing June 20, 24, as

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Prime Month in Giffy County that's going to be presented by Commissioner Brandon Gray

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Hill.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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It's my honor to read this resolution tonight.

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Resolution recognizing June 20, 24, as Pride Month in Giffy County.

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Whereas Gilford County supports the rights of every citizen to experience equality and freedom

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from discrimination and whereas the county accepts and welcomes people of diverse backgrounds and believes a diverse population leads to a more vibrant community

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and whereas Gilford County recognizes that all people regardless of age, gender, identity, race, color, religion,

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Marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, or physical challenges makes significant

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contributions to the cultural and economic success of this community, and whereas all

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Gulford County citizens should be able to live without fear, prejudice, and discrimination,

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and should continue to seek educational and awareness opportunities that champion the civil

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rights for all people. Now therefore it be resolved that the Gulford County Board of Commission

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and hers recognizes June 2024 as Pride Month in Guildford County, and encourages all residents

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to respect and honor our diverse community and to participate in relevant activities that

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build dialogue, strength, and alliances and advance the equal rights of all individuals.

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Adopted this the sixth day of June 2024 and witness where I hear unto set my hand and cause

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the corporate seal of Guilford County to be effects this, the sixth day of June, 2024 Melton

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Skip Austin Chairman of the Yolford County Board of Commissioners.

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Thank you, Mr. Greg here.

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Next item on agenda is our consent agenda of any items on the consent agenda, any

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any commission I'd like to approve of a separate consideration,

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a little approval.

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We're going to have a proper second.

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Let me call you attention also to our agenda with the pink pages here that it would also

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be included in this motion. In discussion on emotion. Here and I'm pleased

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Gashiba.

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That passed so many anonymous food.

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Next time on our

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Janis I have our public hearing on economic development, incentive grants to

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merely a clean product's LLC.

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Mr. Dunston and Mr. Price. The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. You'd like to present first.

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Good evening.

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I'm Marvin J. Price. I'm the Executive Vice President of Economic Development for the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.

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We also have any audience, our President and CEO, Brent Christiansen.

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Before I start, I would like to remind the commissioners that all economic development incentives for economic, for a Guilford County are performing space.

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That means that any company must meet the requirements that are specified in your legal agreements

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that includes paying their taxes and creating the jobs that pay at or above the county average wage

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before they receive their economic development incentives.

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These incentives are subject to the North Carolina but for statutes,

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meaning that the company would not come but for these economic development incentives.

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This has allowed our officials to create an amazing business climate that has led North Carolina

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to be the first ever state-to-win, best in business two years in a row by CNBC and we're

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one of the hottest counties in the United States if I do say so myself.

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So, project Mercury, clearly clean, it is an advanced manufacturer.

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Clearly clean is a leader in sustainable packaging solutions that provide eco-friendly alternatives

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to their traditional packaging material.

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This include a patent, 100% recyclable smooth-age PET trades, which have been widely embraced

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as a drop-in replacement for the non-recyclable,

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phone plastic trays that we see a lot of times in restaurants.

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This company, in addition to winning numerous awards,

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has grown its employee base by 30%.

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Hence the reason why they need to expand.

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They hear quarters are currently located in Pennsylvania.

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They're considering the location off of 3, 6, 1, 7,

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McConnell wrote in Greensboro,

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where they would occupy over 300,000 square feet.

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There are requesting incentives,

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an investment of a minimum of

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their requesting incentives to assist with the

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investment of a minimum of 26 million,

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940,000, and new real property

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improvements, equipment, and machinery

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by the end of December 31, 2021.

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They will create at least 80 new jobs full-time

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paying an average wage of 58,876 of the county average wage and no job will pay under $18 an hour.

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This project exceeds the minimum criteria for incentives, guidelines for a

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Guilford County and is a target industry for the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance,

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which falls in advance manufacturing.

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Some of those jobs include maintenance technicians,

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process technicians, machine operators, and forklift operators, all in line with the training

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that Guilford Tech Community Colleges provide.

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Our competition for this project is in the Atlanta Metro in Georgia

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and is our recommendation,

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the consideration of an incentive in the amount of $373,000, $855.

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Execution of a performing based incentive agreement with clawback provisions.

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Aiding new jobs must be retained throughout the installment period.

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New jobs must be posted with guilty works career centers.

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And at least one targeted job there must be hailed in all hiring phases.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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This is a public hearing where proponents shall be heard first and shall be provided total 20 minutes not with standing number person

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design to be heard.

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Opponents shall be heard after the proponents and shall be provided total 20 minutes not with standing number person to

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design to be heard.

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And each side would be allowed three minutes for rebuttal.

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Call the four of those now, those proponents.

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Those in favor, please come forward.

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the chair of the vice chairman who's a good kind of commissioner. My name is Luther Falls,

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Jr. and I'm the secretary of the marketing director for the vice for that work and co-operated.

397
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And I'm very happy to hear about this proposal and it'll be...

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Meeting about it. It actually is in close proximity to my neighborhood, and not community while it's raised in.

399
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And I'm happy to see that we're getting the exposure and the decisions that need to be made to drive economic development in our community and in that part of the county.

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And I am a CNBC fan, so I'm happy to see things happening statewide, especially in our county and especially in our community, which includes the African-American community.

401
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I hope you will do this for all. Thank you.

402
00:35:31,860 --> 00:35:36,520
Yeah. Any other speakers and proponents?

403
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Send on that portion of the public here is now closed those in opposition.

404
00:35:44,590 --> 00:35:46,010
Opponents please come forward.

405
00:35:51,750 --> 00:35:54,750
Send on the clear now the public here and it's been closed.

406
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Commissioner here, motion.

407
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To remove that property, second. Discussion on the motion.

408
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Thank you so much.

409
00:36:20,850 --> 00:36:22,650
Please come back real soon.

410
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We like economic incentives.

411
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Before we get into our next public hearing,

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I would like to invite our county manager

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to share just a quick review of the county's recommended budget.

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You know, in March, we held a series of community meetings at schools around the county.

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On March 11th, we held a community meeting at Harrison Meadows School,

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on March 12th.

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We held a community meeting at Paige Haneschool, and on March 18th,

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as a civilian man, there's new commerce schools.

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I think this is a great information that we share with our community.

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during that time period that allowed the manager to put forth his recommended budget.

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Then it gives us an opportunity now for the citizens here this evening and the citizens

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that's listening on our own television, they kind of hear exactly what the county managers

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would but it was all about and what we do with your tax sales money.

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I'm Mr. Manaji, I'd like to proceed.

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Thank you, Mr. Chairman, thank you board for asking me to give some initial

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comments for the public hearing. And thank you to our community for being here. I appreciate

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00:37:42,530 --> 00:37:48,530
the engagement looking forward to hear your comments. I'm looking forward to that. My staff

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looking forward to as well in the commissioners here as well, and so we'll work through this

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00:37:51,950 --> 00:37:59,030
process over the next three weeks or so. So do want to talk about, I think at this point.

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So the

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budget you're seeing tonight who have presented to the board really is the culmination of several

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years of work by this Board of Commissioners, along with this community partners, to try

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out a course for Gilford County.

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And that course was informed by resident feedback, not only at our town halls, but after

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enduring the pandemic, one of the most extensive community surveying processes and engagement

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00:38:32,420 --> 00:38:38,520
processes that Gilford County has engaged in over the last several decades, as well as

437
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comments that come to the Commissioners every budget year.

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And it is really structured around building out a good framework and resources for a community to support the broader purpose and why we're here in Gyofer County and that is to empower successful people to thrive in a strong community supported by quality government.

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And that's how our local government and my administration is organized in these successful people strong community and quality government domains.

440
00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:36,160
That's what we do, one of the things that also guides my building of this budget as well as the boards consideration of the budget is our core values, so how do we do this, how do we work with each other, how do we work with our community, how do we process what it means to be a good steward of the public resources in our community, and I do want to mention those, because you'll see these reflected in my recommendation. Transparency and communication, we're here tonight, and we have all of this information on this.

441
00:39:36,160 --> 00:39:44,780
We're here tonight and have all of this information on our website because we believe in transparency and communicating with transparency.

442
00:39:45,580 --> 00:39:51,000
Open access to information that's driven by this community sharing.

443
00:39:51,300 --> 00:39:54,520
Please visit the website for more information about this budget.

444
00:39:55,600 --> 00:39:59,300
You have also provided you this evening with a handout.

445
00:40:00,110 --> 00:40:30,090
Chair, a little bit more of that information, a little bit later, but it gives you some information about the budget and brief. And if you turn it on the back, you can actually see how much money we're spending for all of our different programs, how much outside revenue we get, and then you as an individual, how much you would be paying on average reach of these services. Equity and inclusion. So we celebrate the diversity of our community, our county team members, and we strive for equitable and inclusive stakeholder in our services accountability. We are public stewards.

446
00:40:30,110 --> 00:40:35,890
of the public's resources. And we take that responsibility very seriously. We accept that responsibility

447
00:40:35,890 --> 00:40:39,970
for maintaining the fiscal and physical health of our community.

448
00:40:40,550 --> 00:40:46,130
Service and outcomes excellence, Gilford County is known as a community of first, innovative services.

449
00:40:46,610 --> 00:40:51,890
We strive for compassionate and professional service delivery that continues that tradition of innovation

450
00:40:51,890 --> 00:40:58,050
and service excellence and finally our people matter. So we want to make sure that those people serving our residents

451
00:40:58,850 --> 00:41:03,130
are well, and that we provide a compassionate work environment that supports the financial

452
00:41:03,130 --> 00:41:06,210
physical mental and social well-being of our team members.

453
00:41:07,890 --> 00:41:12,790
That comes together in the Board of Commissioners' vision for each of these service areas,

454
00:41:12,790 --> 00:41:18,130
and this was informed by the Budget Town Halls that Chairman Allison had mentioned in

455
00:41:18,130 --> 00:41:19,530
other engagement with our residents.

456
00:41:20,270 --> 00:41:23,610
I won't read through these, but these are in our budget document, and so these have

457
00:41:23,610 --> 00:41:29,410
not only my recommendation, but also I believe the board's consideration and framework for how it

458
00:41:29,410 --> 00:41:35,150
allocates dollars in our community. But they speak to what if we achieve our goal of successful

459
00:41:35,150 --> 00:41:40,350
people thriving in a strong community, supported by quality government, what that looks and feels like and

460
00:41:40,350 --> 00:41:46,130
how we engage with each other and how we're represented externally and how well we manage your money.

461
00:41:46,630 --> 00:41:52,870
So please say sometimes to read those or be able to go online. So a little bit of the technical aspects

462
00:41:52,870 --> 00:41:58,170
of building the budget. So this budget process, one is a multi-year budget process because

463
00:41:58,170 --> 00:42:01,690
we have a lot of things that have been in play over the last several years and we're making

464
00:42:01,690 --> 00:42:06,210
incremental investments for those improvements in our community. But when we shrink it down to

465
00:42:06,210 --> 00:42:10,830
what happens in a year, this starts back in the fall with an analysis of the economy and what

466
00:42:10,830 --> 00:42:16,390
we expect revenue to be. It continues to dispring as we build continuation budgets. You'll hear

467
00:42:16,390 --> 00:42:20,890
in a moment that the county really is an agent of the state and there are many things that we

468
00:42:20,890 --> 00:42:24,250
to do and that we have to provide and so we build those initial budgets.

469
00:42:24,790 --> 00:42:28,990
We work to hear from the community through our budget work sessions and budget town halls

470
00:42:28,990 --> 00:42:30,670
about what's important to the community.

471
00:42:31,010 --> 00:42:33,470
We build in those budget priorities wherever it is allowed.

472
00:42:34,590 --> 00:42:36,630
And then we end up here at the public hearing.

473
00:42:36,850 --> 00:42:40,690
We're going to hear from our residents and our community about my recommendation

474
00:42:40,690 --> 00:42:42,510
and about what's important to you.

475
00:42:42,850 --> 00:42:46,230
And then the Board of Commissioners eventually adopts a budget by June 30.

476
00:42:46,890 --> 00:42:49,230
Our fiscal year is not on a calendar year.

477
00:42:49,230 --> 00:42:53,670
begins July 1st and it runs for 12 months through June 30th.

478
00:42:55,370 --> 00:42:56,470
So who does what?

479
00:42:57,030 --> 00:43:00,850
We're in Greensboro, we're in Guilford County, we're in North Carolina.

480
00:43:01,710 --> 00:43:07,570
So when we talk about the county's budget, really what we focused on, a lot of information

481
00:43:07,570 --> 00:43:10,470
on there, but the point being the county is really the yellow area.

482
00:43:10,730 --> 00:43:15,370
And so the counties in North Carolina are essentially agents of the state that are assigned

483
00:43:15,370 --> 00:43:19,270
the responsibility for carrying out state functions at the local level.

484
00:43:19,270 --> 00:43:25,050
And so those functions when you think about them are public health or social services or behavioral health items,

485
00:43:25,590 --> 00:43:31,230
foster care, child welfare, adult and aging services, responsibilities for funding school systems,

486
00:43:31,450 --> 00:43:35,010
for funding the community college system, emergency management,

487
00:43:35,290 --> 00:43:40,590
for preparing for and anticipating and mitigating disasters and shock to our community,

488
00:43:41,030 --> 00:43:46,190
things like juvenile detention, soil and water, cooperative extension are really reserved for the

489
00:43:46,190 --> 00:43:50,750
County in the state, and then there's a host of other things that we do as well that's

490
00:43:50,750 --> 00:43:55,430
kind of in this orange area in the middle, this intersection, things like support of

491
00:43:55,430 --> 00:44:00,550
our community's libraries, our parks and recreation departments, counties run the ambulance

492
00:44:00,550 --> 00:44:06,350
service and go for county, our community and economic development, you just heard about new

493
00:44:06,350 --> 00:44:12,050
jobs coming to the community and support for the expansion of our economic base, animal

494
00:44:12,050 --> 00:44:14,650
services, animal controls, so a host of things.

495
00:44:15,370 --> 00:44:18,610
Cities, we ring Greensboro, and so if you've got concerns

496
00:44:18,610 --> 00:44:23,270
about roads or electric systems or cable, we're happy

497
00:44:23,270 --> 00:44:26,410
to take those, but it's across the Plaza that we have

498
00:44:26,410 --> 00:44:27,170
that conversation.

499
00:44:27,590 --> 00:44:29,290
And so hopefully this gives you some sense of what we're

500
00:44:29,290 --> 00:44:32,150
talking about tonight, but also the complexity of counting

501
00:44:32,150 --> 00:44:35,250
government and the range of things that not only we do,

502
00:44:35,370 --> 00:44:38,150
but we're required to do, by the state of North Carolina.

503
00:44:39,730 --> 00:44:41,890
So we talked about the budget and brief that you have in

504
00:44:41,890 --> 00:44:48,230
chair, barature chairs. So it talks about the 24 budget, the percent of the budget that

505
00:44:48,230 --> 00:44:54,130
these particular expenditures account for. So for instance, education, we'll talk about this

506
00:44:54,130 --> 00:44:59,970
a little bit more between education, go for county schools and go for technical community college. It's about 50%

507
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:06,260
And of this operating budget that we have, which is our general fund budget, as well as what we have our dense

508
00:45:06,260 --> 00:45:11,980
service budget. So the biggest part of our budget clearly is education. If you read across

509
00:45:11,980 --> 00:45:22,140
that line, it shows you that overall about $449 million in education, and that there's

510
00:45:22,140 --> 00:45:28,520
about $755 per capita expenditure for that by far the largest part of the county's budget.

511
00:45:29,770 --> 00:45:36,630
So, a little bit broader picture of the county's budget in total, we're looking at $895 million.

512
00:45:37,170 --> 00:45:41,050
We talked about geofr county schools being the largest part of that.

513
00:45:41,090 --> 00:45:46,410
You can see that in the yellow squares by far the largest part of our allocation of funding.

514
00:45:47,290 --> 00:45:49,990
Not only is it about half of our total budget.

515
00:45:50,810 --> 00:45:54,790
And we think about total budget, includes things like social services, public health.

516
00:45:54,790 --> 00:46:00,350
Well, a lot of that budget is very specifically mandated and we can't use those revenues to support that for anything else.

517
00:46:00,850 --> 00:46:08,810
So if we think about the most flexible revenues that the Board of Commissioners have, and it's really limited for counties in North Carolina, it's property tax and sales tax.

518
00:46:09,330 --> 00:46:19,470
Education accounts for about 60% of those dollars. So about six of every 10 dollars that the Commissioners collect goes to education and yield for county.

519
00:46:19,470 --> 00:46:23,910
And then the rest of it has to accommodate 30 plus other departments.

520
00:46:24,870 --> 00:46:29,090
So that gives you some scale about the priorities that are established in this budget.

521
00:46:30,430 --> 00:46:35,150
When we talk about our successful people domain, we talk about things like social services.

522
00:46:35,650 --> 00:46:40,850
I mentioned our child predicted welfare, adult welfare, public health, communicable disease,

523
00:46:41,010 --> 00:46:45,430
control, or vendor services functions are behavioral health, urgent care, a crisis,

524
00:46:45,590 --> 00:46:47,830
care that we run, family, justice center you heard.

525
00:46:47,830 --> 00:46:52,590
We talk about our strong community, we talk about our Sheriff's Office, the law enforcement

526
00:46:52,590 --> 00:46:57,530
community, the operation of our two detention facilities, our emergency services department

527
00:46:57,530 --> 00:47:03,630
again, our ambulance service, our fire service, disaster planning, mitigation, planning and

528
00:47:03,630 --> 00:47:08,870
development inspections, animal control and services and extensive parks system in the community.

529
00:47:09,630 --> 00:47:12,990
We talk about quality government, it's all those things that we need to support that.

530
00:47:12,990 --> 00:47:20,050
keep your data safe, so our IT, our cyber security work, managing your money, our finance,

531
00:47:20,310 --> 00:47:25,370
our human resources, counties are also responsible for funding and running elections, registered

532
00:47:25,370 --> 00:47:27,630
these programs tax on other items.

533
00:47:29,030 --> 00:47:30,310
So, how do we pay for these?

534
00:47:30,330 --> 00:47:36,550
I alluded to a lot of flexibility in local government, about 60% of our revenues come from

535
00:47:36,550 --> 00:47:37,510
the property tax.

536
00:47:37,950 --> 00:47:42,170
This budget does not include a property tax rate increase for the general property tax, so

537
00:47:42,170 --> 00:47:45,150
at the same rate as it was last year.

538
00:47:46,310 --> 00:47:50,630
Fifth sales tax is the next largest about 15% and so when I talked about the most flexible

539
00:47:50,630 --> 00:47:54,930
revenues of the commissioners have, it's those budget revenues there.

540
00:47:55,510 --> 00:47:59,430
Federal and state funds because we do get significant reimbursements for things like

541
00:47:59,430 --> 00:48:04,230
our child welfare, our adult services, behavioral health things like that.

542
00:48:05,070 --> 00:48:09,710
User fees and charges, so if you use an ambulance, we collect revenues for that, inspections,

543
00:48:09,710 --> 00:48:16,510
we charge a fee for that, and then some other revenues also in appropriation of savings, essentially

544
00:48:16,510 --> 00:48:21,390
to help us balance the budget, and that is something we have to be careful about because

545
00:48:21,390 --> 00:48:25,390
just like in your own home budgets, you don't want to be using your savings to pay your electric

546
00:48:25,390 --> 00:48:29,950
bill all the time, because eventually it keeps coming back every year, and if you're not replenishing

547
00:48:29,950 --> 00:48:37,130
that, you're going to run out of your savings. So another stat that we have, and when we think about

548
00:48:37,130 --> 00:48:43,650
really flexible dollars. 90 cents of every dollar that the commissioners bring in goes to support

549
00:48:43,650 --> 00:48:50,970
the seven or so eight services that you see underneath the green bar. So our education

550
00:48:50,970 --> 00:48:55,190
function that we just talked about, and that includes not only go for county schools, but

551
00:48:55,190 --> 00:48:58,470
the Board of Commissioners has a mandate and responsibility and also helps support the

552
00:48:58,470 --> 00:49:02,790
geofrotechnical community college system. A law enforcement, we talked about public

553
00:49:02,790 --> 00:49:09,050
health social services, emergency services, the information technology and the facility support

554
00:49:09,050 --> 00:49:14,810
services for where we do this stuff and people receive care and then our behavioral health

555
00:49:14,810 --> 00:49:21,350
facility. That means the remaining 10 cents has to go to support all of these 30 other

556
00:49:21,350 --> 00:49:27,030
functions, many of which are still mandated in North Carolina, so things like our economic

557
00:49:27,030 --> 00:49:34,290
development, or parks program, elections, or libraries, juvenile detention, solid waste, fleet

558
00:49:34,290 --> 00:49:38,130
operations, our veterans support, child support enforcement.

559
00:49:39,690 --> 00:49:43,170
So, diving in a little bit deeper into what is the highest priority in the budget, in

560
00:49:43,170 --> 00:49:47,890
the largest use of county funds, it's the Guilford County Schools, and so this shows you

561
00:49:47,890 --> 00:49:53,590
a five-year history of funding for the Guilford County Schools, and FY25, and my recommended

562
00:49:53,590 --> 00:49:57,630
budget, there's an increase for Guilford County School's funding, both in the operating

563
00:49:57,630 --> 00:49:59,730
funding and in the overall capital.

564
00:50:00,020 --> 00:50:27,200
And debt service funding for the school system. That current total support for Guilford County schools, including operating budget, the capital budget, as well as the debt service budget, and the set aside to help us move this $2 billion bond program that the boat voters approved as fast as possible, and as broadly as possible across the community requires some set aside dollars. And that's what this budget also supports.

565
00:50:27,200 --> 00:50:35,380
that $420 million represents about $140 million increase since 2021.

566
00:50:35,700 --> 00:50:40,300
That's a 50% increase in funding for and support for the Guilford County

567
00:50:40,300 --> 00:50:43,160
School system in the overall bond program for our community.

568
00:50:44,060 --> 00:50:49,260
I talked about that being again with education about 60% of the flexible

569
00:50:49,260 --> 00:50:51,100
dollars that you have.

570
00:50:51,840 --> 00:50:55,260
I do want to spend a little bit of time on what's in the budget for funding

571
00:50:55,260 --> 00:51:00,480
this massive $2 billion school renovation program that's in place.

572
00:51:01,480 --> 00:51:05,520
The red arrow shows we're three years into this multi-year plan,

573
00:51:07,620 --> 00:51:09,760
but the $2 billion required

574
00:51:10,380 --> 00:51:15,400
a lot of work between the Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education over the last

575
00:51:15,400 --> 00:51:16,400
several years.

576
00:51:16,740 --> 00:51:20,660
In fact, a very collaborative process, a very open transparent process that talked about,

577
00:51:20,660 --> 00:51:26,080
What was the highest priority facing our community right now as it relates to education, supported

578
00:51:26,080 --> 00:51:26,820
in our community?

579
00:51:27,320 --> 00:51:32,620
And the Board decided it was, in fact, the condition of our school buildings and then took

580
00:51:32,620 --> 00:51:38,060
back to the voters and the voters passed, essentially, $300 million and then $1.7 billion.

581
00:51:38,840 --> 00:51:43,740
That is a huge amount of investment in our community.

582
00:51:43,740 --> 00:51:48,440
It also requires a lot of advanced planning and making sure that we're allocating dollars

583
00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:52,980
every year so that we don't get in a financially untenable situation.

584
00:51:53,420 --> 00:51:57,580
The work of the Kudos to this Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners for their

585
00:51:57,580 --> 00:52:04,080
work, the plan that you see on the screen and this fiscally responsible and sustainable

586
00:52:04,080 --> 00:52:09,900
plan, one a national award, one of seven in the country, for the creativity, the forward

587
00:52:09,900 --> 00:52:12,800
thinking and the responsible financial management.

588
00:52:12,800 --> 00:52:24,680
And so this budget includes 52 million dollars, which creates kind of a savings account for us to pay where you see those orange lines go above this green line.

589
00:52:24,980 --> 00:52:34,200
So when this bond program peaks, the county is setting aside dollars right now that allow us to pay that the peak and debt service.

590
00:52:34,260 --> 00:52:40,360
If the county were not doing that, we would have to halt a lot of that bond program and wouldn't be able to move as fast as we can.

591
00:52:43,050 --> 00:52:46,550
A few more slides, and then we'll get to your thoughts on the budget.

592
00:52:46,710 --> 00:52:52,770
One of the things that's also available for you online is a analysis of where the county

593
00:52:52,770 --> 00:52:56,050
spends the money, and we hear these things about mandated services, and I mentioned

594
00:52:56,050 --> 00:53:01,310
the county being an agent of the state, so we have information online that's readily available

595
00:53:01,310 --> 00:53:06,210
for everybody to help you understand the levels of mandated, what things are most mandated

596
00:53:06,210 --> 00:53:06,870
for us.

597
00:53:06,970 --> 00:53:11,490
For instance, the debt I just showed, once the Board of Commissioners issues that debt, the

598
00:53:11,490 --> 00:53:15,090
County has no choice but to repay that debt and build that into its budget.

599
00:53:15,850 --> 00:53:20,110
We have a slightly lower level of mandate service, and we think of the Board of Education

600
00:53:20,110 --> 00:53:24,290
Community College, the County is required to fund certain things, primarily related

601
00:53:24,290 --> 00:53:30,830
to their facilities, which is why this budget is so heavy on our facility support.

602
00:53:31,690 --> 00:53:35,510
But there's some flexibility in that, and then you get into other areas in C&D, where

603
00:53:35,510 --> 00:53:36,550
there's less flexibility.

604
00:53:37,730 --> 00:53:43,390
And we talk about flexibility, there are things like how fast do you want an ambulance to get to your house?

605
00:53:43,810 --> 00:53:47,290
The county has to ensure that that service is provided in the community.

606
00:53:47,810 --> 00:53:53,350
But we don't have to get there like we do now about 80 to 90 percent of the time within nine minutes.

607
00:53:53,850 --> 00:53:56,130
We could take two or three hours to get there.

608
00:53:56,390 --> 00:53:59,210
So we talk about flexibility and discretion in our budget.

609
00:53:59,310 --> 00:54:01,690
That's really what we're talking about as a level of service.

610
00:54:02,010 --> 00:54:03,470
We want to provide for our residents.

611
00:54:03,470 --> 00:54:09,810
So overall, we've got about 243 distinct services that the county funds, about 122,

612
00:54:09,930 --> 00:54:14,830
where there's mandated in some of those high-level mandated categories, and that takes

613
00:54:14,830 --> 00:54:18,410
about 75% of our total funding, or about a half million dollars.

614
00:54:18,830 --> 00:54:23,830
And we're talking about things like social services, child welfare, adult services, education,

615
00:54:24,070 --> 00:54:26,830
public health, sheriff, and a lot of talk.

616
00:54:28,450 --> 00:54:30,830
So a little more information on there, what does that look like?

617
00:54:30,830 --> 00:54:35,050
It looks like about 83,000 emergency medical calls during a year,

618
00:54:35,510 --> 00:54:40,610
67,000 law enforcement calls, 420 child welfare cases,

619
00:54:41,190 --> 00:54:45,030
about 600 kids in our county's care, 170,000 residents

620
00:54:45,030 --> 00:54:47,870
and rolling in Medicaid benefits to our community,

621
00:54:48,170 --> 00:54:51,170
which represents a ballot, a connection of about three quarters

622
00:54:51,170 --> 00:54:55,730
of a billion dollars to resources for our residents,

623
00:54:55,930 --> 00:54:59,390
most in the internet community, 5,200 food and lodging

624
00:54:59,390 --> 00:54:59,890
inspection.

625
00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:09,100
308,000 building inspections in about 13,000 animal control calls in a year. The remaining 25% of the budget is in

626
00:55:09,100 --> 00:55:16,340
quadrant C and D and so think things that make our community a nice place to be parks. Things like

627
00:55:16,340 --> 00:55:21,040
our animal shelter and so that community engagement or family justice center that we heard about tonight.

628
00:55:21,940 --> 00:55:27,340
Our infant mortality program to reduce disparities in infant debt between black, brown, and white babies.

629
00:55:27,340 --> 00:55:31,660
Our behavioral health, urgent care center libraries, and our community-based organizations.

630
00:55:33,500 --> 00:55:37,440
So, whoops, I didn't jump through, so thank you for joining tonight, and I hope that

631
00:55:37,440 --> 00:55:40,240
wasn't too long, and that we've got people waiting to have comments.

632
00:55:40,860 --> 00:55:45,200
But please read the information that we've got online, please dig into this, we're available

633
00:55:45,200 --> 00:55:48,040
for questions, and thank you, Mr. Chairman and Board of Commissioners.

634
00:55:48,600 --> 00:55:54,560
Thank you, Mr. Manantir, and unlike our community meetings, we had questions and answers.

635
00:55:54,560 --> 00:55:57,100
We won't have questions that asked us tonight.

636
00:55:57,460 --> 00:56:00,360
We do want to hear from you.

637
00:56:00,680 --> 00:56:04,060
The general public, your thoughts in the questions you might have

638
00:56:04,060 --> 00:56:09,000
you might refer to as to a clerk by calling on the phone or email

639
00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:11,020
in each one of your commissioners.

640
00:56:11,380 --> 00:56:18,620
But before we get into our open public hearing, I would like to refer to who

641
00:56:18,620 --> 00:56:22,360
I call our teaching residents, commission of very

642
00:56:22,360 --> 00:56:28,500
staff, Murphy, who has prepared an op-and-piece on behalf of the board, which also further

643
00:56:28,500 --> 00:56:31,080
advocates for school funding commissioner Murphy.

644
00:56:31,660 --> 00:56:32,580
Thank you so much.

645
00:56:33,040 --> 00:56:38,920
As I look out tonight at the many red shirts, it's clear that we have a room full of people

646
00:56:38,920 --> 00:56:41,320
who are supporters of public education.

647
00:56:43,120 --> 00:56:47,160
I'm guessing that many of you came tonight to share that support for our public schools during

648
00:56:47,160 --> 00:56:49,840
the budget hearing that we're going to have in just a moment.

649
00:56:49,840 --> 00:56:56,880
But before the Chairman opens the hearing, I want to share a statement on behalf of the full board of commissioners.

650
00:56:57,340 --> 00:57:03,420
My colleagues and I might not always agree on everything, but we see and united in our support of public education.

651
00:57:03,940 --> 00:57:07,660
It's my honor to read this statement on behalf of our entire board.

652
00:57:09,870 --> 00:57:19,910
Since 2021, the Guildford County Board of Commissioners has made historic investments in public education by increasing local funding for K12 schools

653
00:57:19,910 --> 00:57:25,150
but more than $115 million in just three budget cycles.

654
00:57:25,910 --> 00:57:32,130
The manager's proposed budget for FY25 would bring that investment up to $140 million,

655
00:57:32,470 --> 00:57:38,950
a 50% increase over four years. Unfortunately, the same cannot be true,

656
00:57:39,250 --> 00:57:44,410
cannot be said for the North Carolina General Assembly. As cost to operate schools,

657
00:57:44,530 --> 00:57:47,990
rise and the needs of learners require additional investment,

658
00:57:47,990 --> 00:57:53,850
The General Assembly continues to fail to meet its responsibility to provide a sound

659
00:57:53,850 --> 00:57:59,950
education to all children. This failure of our state government to adequately fund public

660
00:57:59,950 --> 00:58:05,750
schools, which is there, constitutional mandate, leaves local governments and ultimately

661
00:58:05,750 --> 00:58:13,010
gilford county tax payers in an impossible position. Local boards like ours are attempting

662
00:58:13,010 --> 00:58:19,370
to stand in the gap and to cover the shortfalls in operating costs such as staffing and technology

663
00:58:19,370 --> 00:58:24,830
equipment while still fulfilling our mandated responsibility to maintain school buildings.

664
00:58:25,870 --> 00:58:31,970
In addition to the numerous other mandated services that the county provides. Simply put,

665
00:58:32,190 --> 00:58:38,870
the gap is entirely too great. The shortfall in education funding left by the state has

666
00:58:38,870 --> 00:58:45,230
dire implications for both our students and county services, and the solution is clear.

667
00:58:46,050 --> 00:58:52,250
The general assembly must comply with the Leandro mandate and provide sufficient funding

668
00:58:52,250 --> 00:58:56,670
to meet the ever-increasing demands within North Carolina's public schools.

669
00:58:57,970 --> 00:59:02,810
We, the Gilford County Board of Commissioners, call on the North Carolina General Assembly

670
00:59:02,810 --> 00:59:04,530
to number one.

671
00:59:04,530 --> 00:59:26,330
In Vestate dollars to begin implementing the Leandro comprehensive remedial plan, which outlines what is needed to meet the constitutional mandate to provide a sound basic education to all children, and to commit to ongoing investment until North Carolina schools are wholly funded and all remedial actions have been realized.

672
00:59:26,330 --> 00:59:35,910
and number two. To revise the low-wealth supplement formula, which left Guilford County out of much needed extra funds for teacher supplements.

673
00:59:36,710 --> 00:59:46,050
Even though 31% of county residents are Medicaid eligible and 57.4% of students are eligible for your reduced lunch.

674
00:59:46,050 --> 00:59:54,690
Further, we call in our colleagues and other counties across the state to join us in this advocacy to the General Assembly.

675
00:59:55,410 --> 00:59:59,890
We believe that North Carolina can be America's top state for both.

676
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:07,960
Business, and education, in unison, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners. Thank you.

677
01:00:08,340 --> 01:00:10,980
Let me thank Commissioner Murphy for.

678
01:00:13,660 --> 01:00:14,340
And

679
01:00:16,960 --> 01:00:24,180
a very well drafted, Miss Murphy, and then we want to make sure we get this an all to the media

680
01:00:25,020 --> 01:00:30,420
throughout the GIF account here, press release, whatever we might be able to do, because we

681
01:00:30,420 --> 01:00:36,680
do need to hold our general assembly accountable, and my understanding they held back

682
01:00:36,680 --> 01:00:43,480
about $1.3 billion in their budget that they could have given to education.

683
01:00:44,160 --> 01:00:49,000
So we need to hold our accountable, and that's what we intend to do here again, Ms. Murphy.

684
01:00:49,100 --> 01:00:50,080
Thank you.

685
01:00:50,320 --> 01:00:51,380
We're putting that together.

686
01:00:51,380 --> 01:00:58,140
Before we open the public hearing on the gift accounting of physical year 2425 proposed budget,

687
01:00:59,000 --> 01:01:06,780
I would like to remind everyone of our rooms and procedures to ensure all speakers have an opportunity to speak and to be heard.

688
01:01:07,160 --> 01:01:13,780
Members on audience should refrain from making unsolicited comments or any conduct that disrupt the public hearing.

689
01:01:13,780 --> 01:01:21,240
The conduct may include, but not limited, cheers, hissing, boin, or clacking, hand-tapping

690
01:01:21,240 --> 01:01:22,020
signs.

691
01:01:24,620 --> 01:01:31,080
Audience members must also refrain from displaying any signs that obstruct the view of others

692
01:01:31,080 --> 01:01:33,540
in attendance or present a safety hazard.

693
01:01:34,120 --> 01:01:39,060
Each person will be allowed two minutes to address the proposed budget, and the public

694
01:01:39,060 --> 01:01:42,580
care will remain open until every person is heard.

695
01:01:42,580 --> 01:01:52,760
I have signed up here, it's registered about 25 persons, and again, I will refer to you

696
01:01:52,760 --> 01:01:57,740
my understanding amount of the cleric, they have been given batch numbers, so we refer

697
01:01:57,740 --> 01:02:03,980
to you by your batch number, and now I'll call for a speaker at number 1, please come forward.

698
01:02:10,140 --> 01:02:10,580
Thank you.

699
01:02:10,620 --> 01:02:13,380
Thank you so much for your opportunity to speak tonight.

700
01:02:13,480 --> 01:02:18,300
I'm the a carper, I'm a Guilford County resident educator, and I'm the 2021 North Carolina

701
01:02:18,300 --> 01:02:26,080
state teacher of the year but years ago I was a student in a high point elementary school and I showed

702
01:02:26,080 --> 01:02:31,960
up to school hungry and I showed up to school wearing dirty clothes and I showed up to school

703
01:02:31,960 --> 01:02:39,060
carrying no pencils, carrying grief, carrying fear, carrying a lot with me, but I still showed up

704
01:02:39,060 --> 01:02:46,040
to school and when I showed up to school my teachers showed up for me. They showed up in so many ways.

705
01:02:46,040 --> 01:02:51,660
They saw my potential and they helped me actualize my potential, statistically based on my

706
01:02:51,660 --> 01:02:56,720
poverty level and other demographics, I wasn't supposed to be anybody.

707
01:02:57,940 --> 01:03:02,620
But because my teachers showed up for me, because educators showed up for me, I was able

708
01:03:02,620 --> 01:03:04,900
to do something great.

709
01:03:06,060 --> 01:03:07,200
But my story is not unique.

710
01:03:07,300 --> 01:03:11,760
It's a story of so many students sitting in our Guilford County schools classrooms every

711
01:03:11,760 --> 01:03:14,560
single day who need all of us to show up for them.

712
01:03:14,560 --> 01:03:25,460
You have shown up for us in so many ways, and now we're asking for you to show up just a little bit more to help us to help us do the best for our students.

713
01:03:25,900 --> 01:03:31,120
So that's why I'm here tonight to employ you to reconsider parts of your education budget.

714
01:03:31,520 --> 01:03:40,040
As it stands, it falls short in providing resources, our schools need to truly help our students reach the infinite possibilities that they possess.

715
01:03:40,040 --> 01:03:47,200
It lacks funding for those teacher supplements that we absolutely need so all of our students can have the best teacher to show up for them.

716
01:03:48,540 --> 01:03:55,780
The proposed 2.5 million capital outlay is the lowest in over a decade, just one quarter of the amount from two years ago

717
01:03:55,780 --> 01:03:59,300
and costs have risen so sharply and I know you know that.

718
01:03:59,640 --> 01:04:03,800
It's been very difficult for us to keep up with the demands that our buildings have.

719
01:04:03,800 --> 01:04:11,080
Our students deserve to be learning and classrooms that are the best places for them to be successful.

720
01:04:11,580 --> 01:04:12,040
Thank you so much.

721
01:04:12,620 --> 01:04:12,880
Thank you.

722
01:04:13,100 --> 01:04:13,660
Thank you, Michelle.

723
01:04:14,660 --> 01:04:15,640
Speak to them at two.

724
01:04:24,410 --> 01:04:26,010
Hello, and thank you for your time today.

725
01:04:26,430 --> 01:04:27,750
My name is Ebony Burnett.

726
01:04:28,330 --> 01:04:30,750
And I live at 102 Carson Farms in Burlington.

727
01:04:31,570 --> 01:04:34,250
I know what you do as community leaders is hard work.

728
01:04:34,590 --> 01:04:38,270
You are working with the community to try to solve very real and very hard problems.

729
01:04:38,270 --> 01:04:42,610
and I sincerely thank you. I want you to know that you'll have to carry that burden alone,

730
01:04:42,850 --> 01:04:47,890
nor you carry that burden forever. Soon, you'll find school students are going to be carrying the

731
01:04:47,890 --> 01:04:52,710
load and they're going to be leaving our county to places we can only dream of. Taking a page

732
01:04:52,710 --> 01:04:58,010
from philosopher 50 cent behind our students is infinite power before them is endless possibility

733
01:04:58,010 --> 01:04:59,970
And the round them is bound this up.

734
01:05:00,700 --> 01:05:29,180
Our teachers are behind our students giving them infinite power and possibility. They are pushing them to bound this opportunity. We need to ensure that our teachers are rewarded and supported in a manner in which they were promised. This includes a competitive salaries, school support, personnel, safety and resources. Our teachers are developing critical, critical thinkers, problem solvers and communicators, leaders and infrastructural builders who will one day be carrying the load and we'll be carrying our community.

735
01:05:29,640 --> 01:05:33,100
Let's ensure they are prepared to successfully walk in our shoes.

736
01:05:33,840 --> 01:05:37,180
Finally, I would like to thank my children's teachers Ms. Moore and Ms. Messer, I guess

737
01:05:37,180 --> 01:05:41,720
in Bill Elementary School. Together, we work to push my kids to great level reading for

738
01:05:41,720 --> 01:05:46,980
the first time in their early academic careers. They were behind them with infinite power.

739
01:05:47,380 --> 01:05:51,080
Ms. Messer, who loved them, who loved both of my children and taught both of them,

740
01:05:51,260 --> 01:05:56,120
sent home a note with my daughter today. And it ended with the one thing I tried to teach you

741
01:05:56,120 --> 01:06:00,780
to last your whole life through is to know that you are special just because you are you.

742
01:06:01,440 --> 01:06:04,340
These are the kinds of teachers we have living on our students.

743
01:06:05,040 --> 01:06:10,040
Please approve the budget that Skilford County Schools has requested or as close as possible.

744
01:06:10,200 --> 01:06:16,260
This will ensure you are fulfilling the county's vision for a successful people, strong communities and quality government.

745
01:06:17,080 --> 01:06:21,720
And you will also be telling our children, you are special just because you are you.

746
01:06:22,040 --> 01:06:22,800
Thank you.

747
01:06:23,000 --> 01:06:24,120
Thank you.

748
01:06:49,480 --> 01:06:54,820
Hello everyone, my name is Jordan Cameron, and I'm here to advocate for the approval of the

749
01:06:54,820 --> 01:06:58,960
Guilford County Schools operating budget for 2024, 2025 school year.

750
01:06:59,400 --> 01:07:04,080
The approval of this budget is not just a financial decision, it is a crucial investment

751
01:07:04,080 --> 01:07:05,520
in the future of our community.

752
01:07:06,220 --> 01:07:11,580
Our schools are the bedrock upon which we build the future, and the foundation of this bedrock

753
01:07:11,580 --> 01:07:15,640
is our teacher's students and the infrastructure that supports them.

754
01:07:15,640 --> 01:07:20,200
This proposed budget will ensure that our teachers receive the bonuses they

755
01:07:20,200 --> 01:07:25,020
reach to deserve, sustain vital programs, and provide for necessary

756
01:07:25,020 --> 01:07:30,340
renovations and upkeep. Recently on the Student Advisory Council, student

757
01:07:30,340 --> 01:07:33,740
voice their concerns about the state of their living, of their learning

758
01:07:33,740 --> 01:07:38,940
conditions. They spoke on inadequate resources, leaps in their buildings, and

759
01:07:38,940 --> 01:07:43,280
improper heating and cooling equipment. No child should feel discouraged to

760
01:07:43,280 --> 01:07:50,160
their school building each day. Our school should be places of inspiration and pride not neglect.

761
01:07:50,860 --> 01:07:55,380
The state of our schools directly reflects our commitment to our children. They are a future

762
01:07:55,380 --> 01:08:01,300
and everything we do should pour back into them. When we invest in our schools, we create a trickle down effect

763
01:08:01,300 --> 01:08:07,560
that benefits the entire community. Happy Will Supportate Teachers are more effective educators

764
01:08:07,560 --> 01:08:11,480
and will maintain resource, resource, rich schools,

765
01:08:12,260 --> 01:08:14,340
foster better learning environments.

766
01:08:14,920 --> 01:08:17,540
We cannot expect our teachers to show up every day

767
01:08:17,540 --> 01:08:19,660
and impart wisdom and knowledge to our students

768
01:08:19,660 --> 01:08:21,600
when their own needs are not being met.

769
01:08:22,160 --> 01:08:23,760
It is a literal chain of effect

770
01:08:23,760 --> 01:08:26,280
when we support our teachers, they in turn

771
01:08:26,280 --> 01:08:27,840
can better support our students

772
01:08:27,840 --> 01:08:30,640
when our students feel valued and cared for.

773
01:08:30,880 --> 01:08:33,340
They perform better academically and emotionally.

774
01:08:34,060 --> 01:08:36,540
Therefore, I challenge you all to take the necessary steps

775
01:08:36,540 --> 01:08:40,140
to support the holistic progression of our educational system by

776
01:08:40,140 --> 01:08:43,200
approving the operating budgets suggested by the Board of Education,

777
01:08:43,740 --> 01:08:46,840
let us stand together and make the bold choice to invest in our future,

778
01:08:47,040 --> 01:08:51,160
our teachers, and our students, and our community, and our community deserve nothing less.

779
01:08:51,260 --> 01:08:51,760
Thank you.

780
01:08:52,920 --> 01:08:53,740
Thank you.

781
01:08:54,600 --> 01:08:55,380
Speaker number four.

782
01:08:57,180 --> 01:08:57,580
Yes?

783
01:08:59,100 --> 01:09:02,140
Could we have numbers speakers number four through 10

784
01:09:02,900 --> 01:09:09,340
come and line up along this wall here just so we can have everyone sign up.

785
01:09:14,260 --> 01:09:14,280
Good

786
01:09:21,800 --> 01:09:23,180
evening.

787
01:09:23,680 --> 01:09:26,840
First, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today.

788
01:09:27,180 --> 01:09:28,340
My name is Michael Hall.

789
01:09:28,360 --> 01:09:32,860
I'm a rising senior and I'm here to address the critical issues of our failing school

790
01:09:32,860 --> 01:09:38,300
system and why the distribution of Guilford County school's budget needs to prioritize equity over

791
01:09:38,300 --> 01:09:44,320
a quality. Allow me to introduce the goal means gap theory, which is a sociological concept,

792
01:09:44,600 --> 01:09:49,780
based on that idea that we are all sold this American dream of success, yet we're not

793
01:09:49,780 --> 01:09:54,760
all given the same legitimate means to achieve it, and that is where the gap comes in.

794
01:09:55,080 --> 01:09:59,980
Despite compulsory education laws, and actually nearly 180 years ago, it was a

795
01:10:00,000 --> 01:10:11,280
Go to reduce educational disparities. These disparities persist largely due to property tax-based school funding. Approximately 67% of students in

796
01:10:11,280 --> 01:10:16,780
Guilford County are considered low income. Low income students, statistically have lower graduation rates,

797
01:10:17,120 --> 01:10:23,160
poor test scores, higher absences, not due to their inferiority, but because of the lack of equitable funding.

798
01:10:23,160 --> 01:10:29,940
Prioritizing these schools benefits not only the students, but the communities and their county's economy.

799
01:10:30,220 --> 01:10:34,880
Research shows that there's a positive correlation between high school dropout rates,

800
01:10:36,380 --> 01:10:37,900
with lifelong poverty.

801
01:10:38,780 --> 01:10:42,020
Higher levels of education rates with lower crime rates.

802
01:10:42,360 --> 01:10:47,440
Access to quality education enables individuals to actively engage in the workforce

803
01:10:48,160 --> 01:10:51,280
as a skilled workforce is crucial for thriving economy.

804
01:10:51,280 --> 01:10:58,700
Studies show the individuals with higher levels of education tend to earn more throughout their lifetime due to enhanced job opportunities.

805
01:10:59,300 --> 01:11:08,440
By providing low income students with quality education, we equip them with essential skills needed to break free from the cycle of poverty.

806
01:11:09,020 --> 01:11:17,300
That is why I stand before you today urging for an equitable distribution of funds to bridge the funding gap between low income and affluent schools.

807
01:11:17,300 --> 01:11:21,820
And I thank you for allowing me to advocate for those often unheard.

808
01:11:21,940 --> 01:11:23,300
Thank you.

809
01:11:24,740 --> 01:11:24,840
Thank you.

810
01:11:24,840 --> 01:11:25,860
Speak of number five.

811
01:11:30,380 --> 01:11:31,160
Thank you for having me today.

812
01:11:31,340 --> 01:11:32,420
My name is Giovanni Robinson.

813
01:11:32,920 --> 01:11:34,500
I'm just going to speak from straight from Horas.

814
01:11:34,760 --> 01:11:35,480
I didn't prepare anything.

815
01:11:35,680 --> 01:11:37,340
I feel I had to come in a second.

816
01:11:38,080 --> 01:11:42,360
And so I want to understand that, of course, I have always been saying to raise the budgets for

817
01:11:42,360 --> 01:11:49,500
loud kids to being a better environment because as you get these students and through these

818
01:11:49,500 --> 01:11:55,640
environments are a good for them, they're a proper there, are infrastructurally safe and well-being

819
01:11:55,640 --> 01:12:01,300
and teachers that help with education students, they not themselves grow, but also help others

820
01:12:01,300 --> 01:12:06,720
to grow because from my personal experience, having teachers that help me with my speech,

821
01:12:06,920 --> 01:12:11,940
have teachers that help me understand how to think, understand how to know my knowledge and not

822
01:12:11,940 --> 01:12:13,920
just for me from our low siblings I have,

823
01:12:13,960 --> 01:12:17,520
one of my siblings have autism that those teachers have helped

824
01:12:17,520 --> 01:12:20,920
grow them through providing a higher budget and through

825
01:12:20,920 --> 01:12:25,780
from the teachers being in a safe and a friendly environment

826
01:12:25,780 --> 01:12:31,100
is what generally helps students to know how to perform or how to

827
01:12:31,100 --> 01:12:33,860
really grow themselves, not being so scared,

828
01:12:34,000 --> 01:12:38,220
to even come to school, not being so scared to even try to

829
01:12:38,220 --> 01:12:40,960
attempt to get out bed because they don't want to be in that

830
01:12:40,960 --> 01:12:45,680
environment as they feel unsafe because no student wants to feel unsafe into

831
01:12:45,680 --> 01:12:49,200
environment that has liquid oils. No student wants to feel unsafe that they

832
01:12:49,200 --> 01:12:52,660
have to hold their pee all throughout the day because there's only one

833
01:12:52,660 --> 01:12:57,980
totally left throughout the schools. And so now when I come here today as myself I

834
01:12:57,980 --> 01:13:03,780
come here today as my family I come here today as for friends, for people all

835
01:13:03,780 --> 01:13:07,820
around that have dealt with these type of environments they feel unsafe. They feel

836
01:13:07,820 --> 01:13:12,640
like they're not getting proper education that they deserve, that they need throughout our

837
01:13:12,640 --> 01:13:13,660
throughout our school system.

838
01:13:14,060 --> 01:13:14,840
Thank you for your time.

839
01:13:15,180 --> 01:13:15,260
Have a good time.

840
01:13:15,260 --> 01:13:17,200
Thank you.

841
01:13:17,520 --> 01:13:19,020
Speaker number six.

842
01:13:32,250 --> 01:13:33,290
Speaker number six.

843
01:13:42,090 --> 01:13:42,590
Righties.

844
01:13:42,810 --> 01:13:44,490
Speaker number seven.

845
01:13:50,060 --> 01:13:51,220
Good evening, Chairman Alston.

846
01:13:51,680 --> 01:13:53,140
And give our county board a commissioners.

847
01:13:53,140 --> 01:13:53,820
I'm Kimberly Robertson.

848
01:13:54,740 --> 01:13:56,860
That's a stakeholders and a future of GeFor County.

849
01:13:57,120 --> 01:14:03,600
I feel compelled to address the nithical concerns regarding the 2425 budget recommendations presented by the county manager.

850
01:14:03,600 --> 01:14:14,620
The proposed allocations are in stark contrast with the established goals of nurturing successful people and fostering a strong community as outlined in your first strategic objectives.

851
01:14:15,200 --> 01:14:24,800
The Board of Education's original budget requires aim to enhance teacher supplements, advance the classified salary plan and continue essential safety and learning recovery initiatives.

852
01:14:25,360 --> 01:14:32,860
These components are fundamental to maintain high quality education, which is inextricably linked to the communities overall success.

853
01:14:32,860 --> 01:14:37,260
regrettably, these critical requests were not reflected in accounting managers' recommendations,

854
01:14:37,720 --> 01:14:40,600
leaving our schools underfunded by nearly 3.5 million.

855
01:14:41,080 --> 01:14:45,220
This shortfall undermines our ability to provide competitive salaries and a safe and

856
01:14:45,220 --> 01:14:50,360
conducive learning environment. Key elements for attracting every tiny top talent and ensuring

857
01:14:50,360 --> 01:14:57,260
students success. Moreover, the recommended 2.5 million for capital expenditures is alarmingly

858
01:14:57,260 --> 01:14:59,960
insufficient for the Earth of Repairs required in many of them.

859
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:10,840
In fact, we have a lot to do with our facilities. Such neglectfully to escalate future calls and jeopardizes the safety of our students. Quality public excuse me, quality public schools are the cornerstone of a thriving community.

860
01:15:11,400 --> 01:15:15,760
They attract families, foster economic development, and ensure well-prepared workforce.

861
01:15:16,220 --> 01:15:25,780
By underfunding our educational system, we're risked diminishing the quality of life in our county and hindering our ability to compete successfully in a global marketplace.

862
01:15:25,780 --> 01:15:31,240
This approach is at odds with the county's vision of becoming a community of first,

863
01:15:31,460 --> 01:15:33,460
celebrated for innovation and excellence.

864
01:15:34,280 --> 01:15:39,100
A lot of these concerns are strongly or the Board of Commissioners to reallocate the

865
01:15:39,100 --> 01:15:41,100
necessary funds to meet the original request.

866
01:15:41,620 --> 01:15:45,900
We appreciate your attention to this matter, this critical matter, and our hopeful for a

867
01:15:45,900 --> 01:15:49,020
collaborative resolution that reflects the interest of the county's residents.

868
01:15:50,500 --> 01:15:51,660
Thank you.

869
01:15:52,140 --> 01:15:53,160
Thank you.

870
01:15:54,120 --> 01:15:58,820
It looks like Speaker number eight has been crossed out here, so I'll call on Speaker

871
01:15:58,820 --> 01:15:59,740
number nine.

872
01:16:05,170 --> 01:16:12,630
Mr. Chair, Madam Vice Chair, my dear brother, thank you, Joe, and my mentor, K. Cassian.

873
01:16:13,070 --> 01:16:16,230
My name is Luther Wallace, Jr., Secretary of the Marketing Director for the March

874
01:16:16,230 --> 01:16:19,410
Award for Networking, Corporate and Small Business Network and also the financial network

875
01:16:19,410 --> 01:16:20,150
insurance group.

876
01:16:20,710 --> 01:16:27,510
I am happy to see that you all are giving deliberate consideration to the school budget, but

877
01:16:27,510 --> 01:16:34,810
I also want to support our funding of the MWBE program for the county, which we've been working with for many, many years.

878
01:16:34,910 --> 01:16:39,850
All we're back to previous director, Shaila Parker, and if you're playing with the MWBE program.

879
01:16:40,390 --> 01:16:47,650
And I'll also work very closely with Mr. Johnson and the family justice center, census and seption.

880
01:16:48,690 --> 01:16:52,690
And as far as the education budget goes, I'm a proud and longness of James B. Delhi.

881
01:16:52,690 --> 01:16:58,330
I don't see me here many times talking about Delhi and how it's been instrumental in my development.

882
01:16:58,810 --> 01:17:05,050
And we had our first men and women's track champions in the 3A this year in the state.

883
01:17:05,830 --> 01:17:08,670
So I wanted to make sure I gave that.

884
01:17:09,230 --> 01:17:12,070
I can remember Louford.

885
01:17:12,510 --> 01:17:15,470
Now, Louford still, which I'm happy to see some STEM academy.

886
01:17:16,030 --> 01:17:17,710
That was where I started out.

887
01:17:17,710 --> 01:17:22,650
And then what's not academy Lincoln was Lincoln's junior high school, and then on to

888
01:17:22,650 --> 01:17:23,110
Dully.

889
01:17:23,570 --> 01:17:25,530
And after the U.S., he chopped wheel of many, many by the time.

890
01:17:26,350 --> 01:17:31,770
And the young lady they were talking about students that are experiencing achievement gap issues.

891
01:17:32,770 --> 01:17:36,510
Definitely needs to be addressed because they just don't know about the current.

892
01:17:37,510 --> 01:17:42,050
And if they continue to fall behind, that's not only bad for them, but it's bad for our

893
01:17:42,050 --> 01:17:43,570
local economy as well.

894
01:17:44,050 --> 01:17:48,930
And you'll understand from the federal government funding that you get, I wouldn't encourage

895
01:17:48,930 --> 01:17:49,770
people to go.

896
01:17:50,370 --> 01:17:51,930
We have a next year's end coming up.

897
01:17:52,150 --> 01:17:57,050
Talk to your family and friends across the state about being more proactive with their representatives

898
01:17:57,050 --> 01:18:00,670
who are in the general assembly, who they can use decisions about the funding that the county

899
01:18:00,670 --> 01:18:01,450
get.

900
01:18:02,090 --> 01:18:03,970
That is one way to weaken assist.

901
01:18:04,390 --> 01:18:05,430
We also have to be aware.

902
01:18:05,930 --> 01:18:06,650
Thank you.

903
01:18:06,650 --> 01:18:09,150
Thank you very much.

904
01:18:09,610 --> 01:18:10,510
Speaking of a 10.

905
01:18:14,820 --> 01:18:15,040
Good evening.

906
01:18:15,440 --> 01:18:17,360
My name is Leo, Jealousinski.

907
01:18:18,340 --> 01:18:19,580
I'm a Vietnam veteran.

908
01:18:21,380 --> 01:18:33,300
80 years ago, thousands of young men stormed the beaches of Normandy because they knew that thousands of people were not allowed to freely speak or challenge those who govern their lives.

909
01:18:33,300 --> 01:18:41,640
Only 13% of today's world population are allowed to do what we the people are doing tonight.

910
01:18:42,580 --> 01:18:49,020
Because we, the people, pledge allegiance to this flag and to this republic for which it stands,

911
01:18:49,720 --> 01:19:00,780
one nation, under God, not over God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all, including those who consider themselves to be the elite.

912
01:19:00,780 --> 01:19:07,980
This body of commissioners has been given the responsibility to resent, represent we, the people,

913
01:19:08,760 --> 01:19:10,920
not just a few special interests.

914
01:19:12,340 --> 01:19:16,860
You will be making decisions that will impact the personal lives of those you must consider

915
01:19:16,860 --> 01:19:18,680
to be your neighbors.

916
01:19:19,600 --> 01:19:22,280
I moved to this community over 10 years ago.

917
01:19:22,660 --> 01:19:25,140
My wife and I live on a fixed income.

918
01:19:25,140 --> 01:19:31,800
Remember that all of you will, one day, also, be living on a fixed income.

919
01:19:32,720 --> 01:19:39,460
Remember also that burdensome taxes sparked a revolution against a government that did not

920
01:19:39,460 --> 01:19:41,720
listen to we, the people.

921
01:19:42,700 --> 01:19:48,220
This body cannot continue to raise the taxes of the people who call Greensboro home every

922
01:19:48,220 --> 01:19:50,340
year, year after year.

923
01:19:50,340 --> 01:19:59,980
When decisions are being made about whether to buy food or gas because of inflation, you have the power to listen to we the people.

924
01:20:00,660 --> 01:20:06,100
And not raise our taxes again this year in some form or another.

925
01:20:07,000 --> 01:20:15,500
We, the people, humbly asked that you consider the needs of all the citizens that you have been calling to represent, as you make your decisions tonight.

926
01:20:16,260 --> 01:20:16,640
Thank you.

927
01:20:16,820 --> 01:20:18,000
Thank you.

928
01:20:18,980 --> 01:20:23,320
Speaker, number 11. Can we have the next 10 to please line up?

929
01:20:23,500 --> 01:20:24,660
Hi, I'm Senator Walgreens.

930
01:20:30,700 --> 01:20:31,100
Good evening.

931
01:20:32,560 --> 01:20:38,520
I wish I could stay home and trust that you would spend our money wisely, and we didn't have

932
01:20:38,520 --> 01:20:42,860
to worry about being tagged out of our homes and our properties, but unfortunately that doesn't

933
01:20:42,860 --> 01:20:47,980
seem to be the case. I ran it today that in the last four years since this majority of

934
01:20:47,980 --> 01:20:52,960
Democrat board took over control of the Board of Commissioners, the board has increased the

935
01:20:52,960 --> 01:20:58,320
county budget roughly $200 million more than four times greater than the previous Republican

936
01:20:58,320 --> 01:21:03,820
led board of commissioners did in the eight years controlling the board from 2012 to 2020.

937
01:21:04,960 --> 01:21:10,280
There is no tax decrease in the budget, even though Gelford County is getting $92 million

938
01:21:10,280 --> 01:21:17,140
extra every year due to the fact that property in the county was revalued at a time when housing

939
01:21:17,140 --> 01:21:24,580
prices were sky high. During that year, the most recent countywide property revaluation, you did

940
01:21:24,580 --> 01:21:28,840
not adjust the tax rate to compensate for the higher property values.

941
01:21:29,520 --> 01:21:35,760
You kept the rate the same, which equal to 14 cent tax increase per $100 of assess property

942
01:21:35,760 --> 01:21:36,440
value.

943
01:21:37,100 --> 01:21:42,760
That's the largest tax increase this century by far, and perhaps the greatest tax increase

944
01:21:42,760 --> 01:21:45,060
ever seen in the history of Gulford County.

945
01:21:46,660 --> 01:21:51,580
I would also like to know why we need over a million dollars for minority women own businesses.

946
01:21:51,580 --> 01:22:02,140
I own a business, and I don't expect to gain customers because I'm a woman, but rather because I offer a good product and good customer service.

947
01:22:03,200 --> 01:22:05,780
Our law enforcement gets a 3% increase.

948
01:22:06,620 --> 01:22:07,660
Who gets that?

949
01:22:07,700 --> 01:22:08,700
Is that the staff?

950
01:22:09,080 --> 01:22:11,900
Is that our law enforcement officers that protect us?

951
01:22:12,480 --> 01:22:18,880
Also, I'd like to know if any of our money is being given through HHS to the Hebrew Academy,

952
01:22:18,880 --> 01:22:25,660
which nobody can gain any information from. Nobody. Nobody knows what's going on but there's millions

953
01:22:25,660 --> 01:22:32,080
of money being funneled into that. Over one million dollars to non-profits do we get to vote on those

954
01:22:32,080 --> 01:22:50,170
who those are? Doesn't appear that it's the goal of this commission to save money for the people of

955
01:22:50,170 --> 01:22:53,850
county's experience, major economic growth.

956
01:22:54,370 --> 01:22:56,350
The companies want a strong workforce.

957
01:22:57,210 --> 01:23:00,950
Our teachers are the developers of that workforce.

958
01:23:01,850 --> 01:23:06,750
We are seeing a major inflation in housing, food, and insurance.

959
01:23:08,010 --> 01:23:11,150
Our teachers are filling the stress of that inflation.

960
01:23:12,250 --> 01:23:15,250
GCS has the lowest teacher supplement

961
01:23:15,250 --> 01:23:18,830
among the large districts and many other districts.

962
01:23:20,430 --> 01:23:21,830
We did not see an increase.

963
01:23:22,930 --> 01:23:24,750
You did give us one in 21.

964
01:23:25,270 --> 01:23:27,830
However, that just barely got us over the limit.

965
01:23:28,850 --> 01:23:31,710
So, Wake and Durham have already stepped up to the plate

966
01:23:31,710 --> 01:23:36,210
and have an already assured that they would increase the supplement.

967
01:23:36,590 --> 01:23:39,450
And we do expect the other districts to follow it.

968
01:23:40,590 --> 01:23:42,250
Without no supplement increase,

969
01:23:42,250 --> 01:23:47,090
GCS will be $1,500 to $2,000 behind our neighbors.

970
01:23:48,730 --> 01:23:52,510
Their districts will be more attractive to our teachers.

971
01:23:53,770 --> 01:23:58,330
GCS cannot afford to lose strong teachers at this time.

972
01:23:58,590 --> 01:24:03,890
When we will be seeing a population growth and other and then workforce need.

973
01:24:05,570 --> 01:24:11,910
So we need to step up like other districts and provide a supplement for our teachers to get us

974
01:24:11,910 --> 01:24:18,770
is barely. I mean, we are under the ground on this supplement. Okay? On the 2.5 million

975
01:24:18,770 --> 01:24:28,010
for 126 schools. It will probably at least 75 be between 30 and 50 years old. We cannot

976
01:24:28,010 --> 01:24:32,930
use that bond. It's great that that's the bond money. We cannot use that bond money to fix

977
01:24:32,930 --> 01:24:40,250
a patch on a roof or to get some free on in a cooler or to do any of the minor things.

978
01:24:40,250 --> 01:24:42,250
And if we know what maintenance costs,

979
01:24:42,330 --> 01:24:44,790
if you've had someone at your house lately,

980
01:24:45,150 --> 01:24:46,090
it is outrageous.

981
01:24:46,610 --> 01:24:49,130
So the 2.5 is absolutely ridiculous,

982
01:24:49,310 --> 01:24:51,570
the list for 426 schools.

983
01:24:52,110 --> 01:24:52,410
Thank you.

984
01:24:52,550 --> 01:24:53,170
Thank you.

985
01:24:54,230 --> 01:24:55,050
So we can go out 13.

986
01:24:57,340 --> 01:24:57,920
Good evening.

987
01:24:58,500 --> 01:24:59,980
I am Timmy Shaduk's, and I know-

988
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:20,540
We will not only stand here as a candidate for House District 59 right here in Guilford County, but also a former educator of Guilford County schools. And I want to thank the Board for their support of our school construction needs in Guilford County. I love the energy tonight and our advocacy for our schools and hope that we carry it forward to the general assembly.

989
01:25:20,540 --> 01:25:27,900
It is important that we elect representatives who will support and advocate for not only our teachers, but our public schools.

990
01:25:28,500 --> 01:25:33,240
More and more people are moving into my district for work and to raise their families.

991
01:25:33,780 --> 01:25:39,460
And without our schools being fully and equitably funded by our state, our infrastructure will fail.

992
01:25:40,040 --> 01:25:47,220
We cannot let our public education become an afterthought, and we can all agree that the people of Guildford County do deserve better.

993
01:25:47,220 --> 01:25:55,120
So thank you for tonight and thank you for the work even if it's just a little bit more than we can give to our schools in Guilford County, thank you.

994
01:25:55,240 --> 01:25:56,740
Thank you.

995
01:25:57,020 --> 01:25:58,380
Speaker number of 14.

996
01:26:02,560 --> 01:26:03,240
Good evening.

997
01:26:03,740 --> 01:26:08,500
Dr. Elma Harrison, High Point School Partnership Board.

998
01:26:08,780 --> 01:26:12,340
Mr. Chairman, Madam Vice Chair and County Commissioners.

999
01:26:12,500 --> 01:26:15,560
First of all, thank you so much for all the work that you do.

1000
01:26:16,080 --> 01:26:18,080
And for your support of public education.

1001
01:26:18,080 --> 01:26:23,960
I want to amplify the need for essential outlay that the school bond does not cover.

1002
01:26:24,520 --> 01:26:29,860
I'm motivated to stand here before you because I read the Juneteenth story to second graders

1003
01:26:29,860 --> 01:26:37,000
at Southwest Elementary School, and I am encouraged what I saw.

1004
01:26:37,500 --> 01:26:42,500
To keep this spirit of excellence alive, there is a need for funding that exceeds

1005
01:26:42,500 --> 01:26:50,480
proposed to $1.5 million down from the $6.5 million this past year. The funds go toward

1006
01:26:50,480 --> 01:26:56,500
upkeep of car school needs like HVAP repairs and supplies. The school bond pays for

1007
01:26:56,500 --> 01:27:02,640
big ticket repairs, but not for the regular maintenance that upkeep life things such

1008
01:27:02,640 --> 01:27:08,860
as the roof and HVAP parts. Students deserve a safe learning environment. Teachers' salaries

1009
01:27:08,860 --> 01:27:14,180
are still in limbo because of the supplement for teachers was placed on hold to support

1010
01:27:14,180 --> 01:27:20,140
classified staff increases. All of what I have described is connected to excellence in education.

1011
01:27:20,840 --> 01:27:24,700
Our goal is to create excellence in all aspects of education, where there is from

1012
01:27:24,700 --> 01:27:30,120
scholastic achievement to preparation for workforce, recruiting and maintaining the best

1013
01:27:30,120 --> 01:27:34,920
in the brightest teachers. Providing a safe and functioning work environment is key to obtaining

1014
01:27:34,920 --> 01:27:41,920
of these objectives. I ask you to consider the level of funding to its original figure 6.5 million

1015
01:27:41,920 --> 01:27:47,540
to ensure that we achieve the goal of excellence which our children should be accustomed to.

1016
01:27:47,680 --> 01:27:53,360
Martin Luther King says, and I quote, now is always the right thing. Now is always the time to do

1017
01:27:53,360 --> 01:27:59,040
the right thing. In this regard, make educational priority by the additional funding needed to do so.

1018
01:27:59,040 --> 01:28:00,040
Thank you.

1019
01:28:02,220 --> 01:28:03,220
Speaking of our 15.

1020
01:28:09,940 --> 01:28:10,280
Good evening.

1021
01:28:10,780 --> 01:28:15,580
My name is Tessa Penley, and tomorrow will be the last day of my 10th year teaching English

1022
01:28:15,580 --> 01:28:17,340
learners in Guilford County Schools.

1023
01:28:18,400 --> 01:28:23,020
After a decade in our public schools, I can say for sure that I have learned a lot and seen

1024
01:28:23,020 --> 01:28:23,640
a lot.

1025
01:28:24,180 --> 01:28:31,100
And it has become more and more clear to me that we can't hard work or hard work our way

1026
01:28:31,100 --> 01:28:32,920
to the schools our students deserve.

1027
01:28:32,920 --> 01:28:35,680
to put it plainly, we need funding.

1028
01:28:36,720 --> 01:28:41,180
As an example, just last month, I was in an IEP meeting for a third grade student of mine

1029
01:28:41,180 --> 01:28:43,360
who has significant developmental differences.

1030
01:28:43,900 --> 01:28:47,760
This was a meeting to determine if she would get to participate in the three week extended

1031
01:28:47,760 --> 01:28:49,080
school year program or not.

1032
01:28:49,600 --> 01:28:53,560
A determination which hinges on whether or not there's documented stagnation or regression

1033
01:28:53,560 --> 01:28:54,700
in her learning outcomes.

1034
01:28:55,420 --> 01:28:59,320
As in, we have to demonstrate that this third grade student can count to 15 instead of

1035
01:28:59,320 --> 01:29:06,700
So that she can access just three extra weeks of desperately needed schooling, therapy, and general support.

1036
01:29:07,640 --> 01:29:09,240
I found myself enraged.

1037
01:29:09,800 --> 01:29:14,240
She needs and deserves so much more than our funding allows us to provide,

1038
01:29:14,780 --> 01:29:19,960
and it is maddening and heartbreaking to watch this play out over and over again,

1039
01:29:20,300 --> 01:29:22,180
knowing it doesn't have to be this way.

1040
01:29:23,060 --> 01:29:26,280
According to the most recent making the Greater Port by the Education Law Center,

1041
01:29:26,280 --> 01:29:33,220
North Carolina ranks criminally low at 49th nationwide in funding effort for education.

1042
01:29:34,800 --> 01:29:39,700
49th, it doesn't have to be this way. The good news is that the negligence of the

1043
01:29:39,700 --> 01:29:45,100
General Assembly is not replicated by this board. And the bad news is that the fact that

1044
01:29:45,100 --> 01:29:49,980
the public school forum ranks gulfed at 9th out of 100 in the state for local funding

1045
01:29:49,980 --> 01:29:55,020
effort is not enough to make up for the deficit left by the NCEGA.

1046
01:29:55,580 --> 01:29:57,300
It doesn't have to be this way.

1047
01:29:58,240 --> 01:29:59,920
As we shared at our town hall.

1048
01:30:00,050 --> 01:30:17,130
We need two things from this board in order to make it not be this way. First, we need you to look at that ranking of 9th out of 100, and ask yourselves, with what we have, what else is possible, so that Guilford County students can get just a little bit closer to having what they need and deserve.

1049
01:30:17,870 --> 01:30:30,030
And the second thing we need for you to do, as you demonstrated in your statement tonight, is stand with us in saying, it doesn't have to be this way. Use your elected position, use your power, and use your connections to melt pressure.

1050
01:30:30,030 --> 01:30:34,210
are on our general assembly to uphold their constitutional responsibility to the students

1051
01:30:34,210 --> 01:30:36,910
of our state and the students of Gelford County.

1052
01:30:37,490 --> 01:30:40,750
We all know that they need and deserve nothing less.

1053
01:30:41,510 --> 01:30:42,750
Thank you.

1054
01:30:43,550 --> 01:30:44,210
Let's speak at number 16.

1055
01:30:48,640 --> 01:30:51,460
My name is Samantha Petina Perez and I live in District 8.

1056
01:30:51,980 --> 01:30:55,080
I'm a high school math teacher at the Middle College at GTCC James Town.

1057
01:30:55,580 --> 01:30:59,080
I've taught Gelford County for five years and have lived in the county my entire life.

1058
01:30:59,780 --> 01:31:06,740
I've stood here several times and spoken about my mother, who worked tirelessly for 13 years at Easter and go for high school as a custodian.

1059
01:31:07,780 --> 01:31:10,020
As you can see, I am a product of this school district.

1060
01:31:11,060 --> 01:31:14,740
I began advocating for public schools pretty early on in my career as a second year teacher.

1061
01:31:16,200 --> 01:31:20,920
Maybe that is the reason that I have forgotten just how scary it can be to stand here in front of you.

1062
01:31:21,480 --> 01:31:26,520
I just terrifying to stand up and say that there is something desperately wrong with the way things are.

1063
01:31:27,080 --> 01:31:29,400
But then I remember that I'm not alone.

1064
01:31:30,440 --> 01:31:34,860
I stayed here with Ms. Harden, the kindergarten teacher that never forgot my name or face.

1065
01:31:35,680 --> 01:31:39,360
With Ms. Walters, the fifth grade teacher that taught me the importance of caring for others.

1066
01:31:39,680 --> 01:31:43,400
I think of Ms. Servesino, the eighth grade algebra teacher that taught me to love math.

1067
01:31:44,180 --> 01:31:47,080
I carry with me the names and teachings of so many.

1068
01:31:48,100 --> 01:31:54,860
Ms. Fengado, Ms. Dean, Ms. Abel, Mr. Ball, Ms. Williams, Ms. Bodhi, Ms. Jones, Ms. Sunshine, Ms. McWroy.

1069
01:31:55,360 --> 01:31:58,660
These are the names of only a few of the people that helped me get to this point.

1070
01:31:59,240 --> 01:32:01,880
These are the names that the general assembly has failed.

1071
01:32:02,760 --> 01:32:04,400
And should have to face.

1072
01:32:05,460 --> 01:32:11,460
Our students and all the people that make their education possible deserve more than the shortcomings of the state.

1073
01:32:12,840 --> 01:32:14,460
Today I asked this board for two things.

1074
01:32:14,960 --> 01:32:16,760
I know you did not create this problem.

1075
01:32:17,320 --> 01:32:20,480
I know you have fought for public schools in the past.

1076
01:32:21,040 --> 01:32:31,780
one, do it again, do everything you can to fund our schools, and stand with us, act with us as we take this fight to the state.

1077
01:32:32,640 --> 01:32:34,620
We only win if we stand together.

1078
01:32:35,240 --> 01:32:36,220
Thank you.

1079
01:32:38,000 --> 01:32:38,700
Speak at number 17.

1080
01:32:44,020 --> 01:32:47,080
My name is Chavon Spate, and I reside at 212 Luke and Drive.

1081
01:32:47,360 --> 01:32:51,220
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you regarding the business of public schools and give for county.

1082
01:32:51,220 --> 01:33:01,220
As a longstanding NCAA member, I made a commitment to be the voice of fellow educators across the district so here I stand on behalf of the employees of GCS asking for your support.

1083
01:33:01,740 --> 01:33:05,040
We need you to continue to be generous and thank you for your generosity.

1084
01:33:05,720 --> 01:33:15,100
We need you to be more generous in funding the school budget as well as hold the general assembly accountable for providing additional money we need to provide our students with the sound basic education.

1085
01:33:15,520 --> 01:33:17,360
It looks like we will on our way.

1086
01:33:17,360 --> 01:33:29,400
I often think to myself that the people out there whom they are and wherever out there is have no idea what happens in public schools or what we as educators do to make it all happen day by day.

1087
01:33:29,640 --> 01:33:41,580
And around this time every year at the end of the year we pack up like we're moving put most of our belongings and boxes, push and stack them all in the corner and our rooms or our floors can be clean and if by chance we do not teach summer reading camp.

1088
01:33:41,580 --> 01:33:47,360
We attend how to be a better teacher seminar and professionally develop most of our summer vacation.

1089
01:33:47,460 --> 01:33:53,960
A few weeks later we come back to school, unpack, add a few things to make it fresh and we start all over again.

1090
01:33:54,520 --> 01:33:56,860
New lessons for new year with the group of students.

1091
01:33:57,780 --> 01:34:04,880
With all kinds of gifts and talents, special needs, social and emotional adversities, trauma, mental health and or behavior challenges.

1092
01:34:04,880 --> 01:34:11,780
the workload is great, and so it not only seems, but it's often impossible to get it all done.

1093
01:34:12,260 --> 01:34:17,200
Even when you stay late, and you leave feeling good about all that you have accomplished in that day,

1094
01:34:17,260 --> 01:34:20,660
the next day is loaded with more tasks that need your attention.

1095
01:34:22,100 --> 01:34:27,360
Sometime long ago, when I was working at Clergy Pick, the custodian acts, Ms. Spate, do you have family?

1096
01:34:28,260 --> 01:34:34,100
Why do you always stay so late? And from that day to now, my answer remains the same, I'm just trying to get it all done.

1097
01:34:34,100 --> 01:34:39,060
For me, this year marks the end of 28 years with GCS, and we've been doing more with less

1098
01:34:39,060 --> 01:34:40,600
with longer than I can remember.

1099
01:34:40,840 --> 01:34:45,380
The sad part about all of this you've heard it all before, it doesn't have to be this way.

1100
01:34:45,800 --> 01:34:47,600
Guilford schools need Guilford's help.

1101
01:34:47,860 --> 01:34:49,140
We need you to be our voice.

1102
01:34:49,440 --> 01:34:53,460
We need you to speak up for us and keep my public monies and public schools.

1103
01:34:53,900 --> 01:34:54,700
Thank you.

1104
01:34:54,800 --> 01:34:55,720
Thank you.

1105
01:34:55,820 --> 01:34:56,540
Speak up on my 18.

1106
01:35:04,460 --> 01:35:13,860
Hello, thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak in front of you all tonight. My name is Latasha Barnes Smith. I am a teacher assistant at Harrison Middle School.

1107
01:35:15,400 --> 01:35:22,020
And I'm also the chair leading coach and the softball assistant coach. So I come here with a slightly different viewpoint.

1108
01:35:22,900 --> 01:35:28,120
My ask of you all what this budget is that we can make sure that the funds are fairly distributed.

1109
01:35:30,320 --> 01:35:34,980
We didn't have the money that we needed for our kids to play sports this year.

1110
01:35:35,440 --> 01:35:40,340
This ingestion for our home plate was that we should get a piece of wood to nail down the

1111
01:35:40,340 --> 01:35:45,520
home plate and bury it under the rocks that we play in, which also resulted in us not

1112
01:35:45,520 --> 01:35:47,480
being able to play in a few games this year.

1113
01:35:49,480 --> 01:35:57,060
I am a product of Guilford County and my childhood growing up was tumultuous to say the least,

1114
01:35:57,060 --> 01:36:02,080
but sports gave me an outlet and it gave me a reason to want to come to school every day.

1115
01:36:02,560 --> 01:36:07,960
And in the area of town that I am in, it is very obvious that they are not cared for.

1116
01:36:08,180 --> 01:36:14,480
There's needles in our fields. We didn't have money to turn our football lights on for us to be able to play games.

1117
01:36:14,500 --> 01:36:19,140
We had to play games at Dudley High School and so the last person at Dudley was killed.

1118
01:36:19,680 --> 01:36:23,660
And then somehow I guess we found the money to turn the lights on at our school on the football field.

1119
01:36:25,920 --> 01:36:29,140
But in all of this, it's just the message that we are sending these kids.

1120
01:36:29,320 --> 01:36:32,080
Eventually, these kids are going to become our future.

1121
01:36:32,260 --> 01:36:33,960
They're going to be the one taking care of us.

1122
01:36:34,220 --> 01:36:38,600
I believe that crime could be greatly reduced, especially with our juvenile community, if we

1123
01:36:38,600 --> 01:36:43,220
actually gave them the support and the positive outlets to be kids.

1124
01:36:46,350 --> 01:36:54,370
Equality and equity is huge, and I really sincerely just ask that whenever we do get this

1125
01:36:54,370 --> 01:36:56,830
because I believe in speaking things into existence.

1126
01:36:57,010 --> 01:36:59,790
But when this money comes, I genuinely ask you to make sure

1127
01:36:59,790 --> 01:37:01,710
that these funds are distributed equally

1128
01:37:01,710 --> 01:37:03,830
between all of the Gilbert County schools.

1129
01:37:04,170 --> 01:37:05,610
It's not fair that we should have the travel

1130
01:37:05,610 --> 01:37:08,810
to every other school and see that they have more

1131
01:37:08,810 --> 01:37:09,910
than what we have.

1132
01:37:09,930 --> 01:37:11,050
We don't even have the bare minimum.

1133
01:37:12,310 --> 01:37:14,230
So, that's all I have.

1134
01:37:14,490 --> 01:37:14,970
Thank you.

1135
01:37:15,190 --> 01:37:16,370
Thank you very much.

1136
01:37:18,030 --> 01:37:18,770
Speak of number 19.

1137
01:37:24,820 --> 01:37:25,660
It's the chairman in board.

1138
01:37:26,040 --> 01:37:27,200
I don't have a speech.

1139
01:37:27,200 --> 01:37:28,920
from speaking from personal experience.

1140
01:37:29,400 --> 01:37:32,760
My name is Karen Page, I am a co-teacher and pre-K

1141
01:37:32,760 --> 01:37:33,840
event day elementary.

1142
01:37:34,260 --> 01:37:36,300
I'm celebrating 33 years this year.

1143
01:37:37,280 --> 01:37:39,280
I'm speaking from safe places.

1144
01:37:39,920 --> 01:37:43,820
We work with children from all walks of the world.

1145
01:37:44,620 --> 01:37:46,740
And when our children come to us,

1146
01:37:47,480 --> 01:37:49,020
we are their safe places.

1147
01:37:50,180 --> 01:37:53,840
When they need something, we are their safe places.

1148
01:37:54,540 --> 01:37:59,740
When they're hungry, we continue to make them a safe place.

1149
01:38:01,200 --> 01:38:05,280
When the parents can't parent, we have to parent the parents.

1150
01:38:06,620 --> 01:38:11,000
But when an employee has a classified employee comes to me and say,

1151
01:38:11,480 --> 01:38:15,720
I cannot keep my job because I don't make enough money.

1152
01:38:16,400 --> 01:38:17,740
I don't have enough money.

1153
01:38:18,360 --> 01:38:20,160
My rent is already behind.

1154
01:38:20,160 --> 01:38:25,340
They're about to repossess my car and while they're telling me their problems

1155
01:38:25,340 --> 01:38:33,360
I'm still thinking about my children. They're still in our safe place and after I've listened to everybody's problem

1156
01:38:34,000 --> 01:38:40,820
I think about my description at the drug store with my insulin that I have to pay for and I have like spending

1157
01:38:40,820 --> 01:38:43,700
What I'm still thinking about the children?

1158
01:38:44,400 --> 01:38:46,260
That's with us in our safe places

1159
01:38:46,260 --> 01:38:57,000
We need somebody to continue to advocate for us, to speak with us, to stand up with us, to address the general assembly, to ask them and tell them, we need help.

1160
01:38:57,460 --> 01:39:02,320
I don't know what to tell my employees was asked, hang in there, stick this out.

1161
01:39:02,840 --> 01:39:06,400
It's not going to happen overnight. You cannot just walk away.

1162
01:39:07,080 --> 01:39:12,900
When these children come to us in the morning of the bus and some in the back seat of somebody's car,

1163
01:39:13,740 --> 01:39:23,050
They think we know everything and we don't, we're playing it by hand so that we can make

1164
01:39:23,050 --> 01:39:26,770
sure they stay in this safe place.

1165
01:39:28,110 --> 01:39:29,070
Thank you.

1166
01:39:29,270 --> 01:39:30,230
Thank you.

1167
01:39:31,780 --> 01:39:32,600
Speak to them at 20.

1168
01:39:36,880 --> 01:39:37,280
Good evening.

1169
01:39:37,360 --> 01:39:41,760
My name is Heather Skavoni and I moved to Gilford County for college, but I stayed because I

1170
01:39:41,760 --> 01:39:42,180
love it.

1171
01:39:42,180 --> 01:39:43,740
My husband and I are going to retire here.

1172
01:39:43,760 --> 01:39:45,840
We have three kids in GCS schools.

1173
01:39:46,400 --> 01:39:50,320
I'm here to urge you to adopt the GCS proposed budget.

1174
01:39:50,800 --> 01:39:55,400
And if you can't adopt it in whole, I'm going to urge you to speak specifically to

1175
01:39:55,400 --> 01:39:57,920
four critical line items that we cannot do without.

1176
01:39:57,960 --> 01:39:59,340
You've heard about some of them already.

1177
01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:08,680
These are teacher supplements. Second, the capital outlay line item at $17.5 million. Third, the phase 2 classified

1178
01:40:08,680 --> 01:40:14,720
plan for frontline workers. You just heard about that. And fourth, high dosage tutoring, which

1179
01:40:14,720 --> 01:40:19,760
is a critical benefit. So first, teacher supplements, three years ago, the commissioners

1180
01:40:19,760 --> 01:40:25,100
agreed to a gradual increase over five years to attract and retain excellent teachers in

1181
01:40:25,100 --> 01:40:30,920
for county. Last year there were $0 in the budget for teacher supplements and the proposed

1182
01:40:30,920 --> 01:40:35,760
budget from the county manager. This year has $0 for teacher supplements. Meanwhile,

1183
01:40:36,240 --> 01:40:42,740
most recently we learned we have an 18.3% attrition rate year over year and go for county.

1184
01:40:43,280 --> 01:40:48,200
So, in a span of five to six years we could see our whole teacher work force turnover. That's

1185
01:40:48,200 --> 01:40:52,640
a much higher attrition rate than our peer counties and some of our neighboring counties. So,

1186
01:40:52,640 --> 01:40:59,820
need to retract and retain teachers by keeping our promise teacher supplement. Next, the capital

1187
01:40:59,820 --> 01:41:07,240
outlay line item for non-bond projects. So this is a line item for facility repairs. The proposed

1188
01:41:07,240 --> 01:41:12,520
budget has the lowest amount of funding in more than a decade for facilities maintenance. Only

1189
01:41:12,520 --> 01:41:17,920
two years ago that line item was $10 million and the county manager has proposed $2.5 million

1190
01:41:17,920 --> 01:41:25,120
this year, respectively, that is shocking. We've had significant inflation in the past couple

1191
01:41:25,120 --> 01:41:31,020
years. We're in tear, hasn't magically disappeared on our facilities. I'm in attorney and

1192
01:41:31,020 --> 01:41:36,520
we are famously bad at math, but this is math that I can do. And when you see that this line

1193
01:41:36,520 --> 01:41:41,500
item has dropped to 20% of what it was three years ago, despite increased costs. It doesn't make

1194
01:41:41,500 --> 01:41:46,560
fiscal sense. So we need to repair the hole in the roof, not wait till the roof caves in. That's

1195
01:41:46,560 --> 01:41:52,600
fiscal sense and please also fund the phase two for classified workers for frontline workers

1196
01:41:52,600 --> 01:41:58,640
and fund high dosage tutoring that will help close the achievement gap. It's proven and works. Thank you.

1197
01:41:59,660 --> 01:42:00,780
Thank you. Speaking of a 21.

1198
01:42:08,900 --> 01:42:10,480
A 21. All right. Speaking of a 22.

1199
01:42:14,820 --> 01:42:20,140
Good evening. My name is Joanna Pendleton. I'm a school librarian by trade and the president of our

1200
01:42:20,140 --> 01:42:24,500
public school workers union, GCAE, the Guildford County Association of Educators.

1201
01:42:24,500 --> 01:42:32,220
I'm here tonight to present to you a petition from the workers of Guildford County Schools with over 2,300 signatures.

1202
01:42:33,260 --> 01:42:49,820
The two petition demands we are delivering to you this evening are one fully fund the Board of Education's budget request to adopt a resolution committing to keeping public dollars in public schools by not funding capital outlay for charter schools.

1203
01:42:49,820 --> 01:42:54,980
We have a copy of this petition for you and it has been delivered to the clerk.

1204
01:42:55,600 --> 01:42:59,220
It is a thing of beauty so please be sure to take a look.

1205
01:43:00,140 --> 01:43:03,600
Now we know that there is some budget nuance as always.

1206
01:43:04,060 --> 01:43:08,460
And I'm not here to give you anyone's talking points except the workers of GCS.

1207
01:43:09,720 --> 01:43:15,360
And what my co-workers and I know is that Guildford Schools need Guildford's help.

1208
01:43:16,600 --> 01:43:22,540
We are calling on you to stand in the gap we know is caused by state underfunding, because

1209
01:43:22,540 --> 01:43:28,660
at the end of the day, no matter who's fault it is, the people suffering are our public

1210
01:43:28,660 --> 01:43:30,760
school workers and students.

1211
01:43:32,080 --> 01:43:35,680
Thank you commissioners for keeping the lines of communication open with public school

1212
01:43:35,680 --> 01:43:39,280
workers, especially at the town hall we hosted a couple of weeks ago.

1213
01:43:39,960 --> 01:43:44,960
Thank you for a serious conversation about meeting the needs of our kids and taking steps

1214
01:43:44,960 --> 01:43:48,140
to raise the issue of the funding gap to the state.

1215
01:43:48,880 --> 01:43:52,960
Thank you also for the word's commissioner Murphy shared a few minutes ago.

1216
01:43:53,740 --> 01:43:59,320
We are united with you and demanding full funding for public schools from our state, and

1217
01:43:59,320 --> 01:44:06,000
knowing what we know about this crisis situation, we are calling on you to stand in the gap

1218
01:44:06,000 --> 01:44:07,220
for our students.

1219
01:44:07,700 --> 01:44:10,580
Guilford schools need, Guilford's help.

1220
01:44:11,260 --> 01:44:12,060
Thank you.

1221
01:44:12,060 --> 01:44:13,860
Thank you.

1222
01:44:14,080 --> 01:44:14,880
Speaker number 23.

1223
01:44:19,530 --> 01:44:20,250
24.

1224
01:44:28,430 --> 01:44:29,950
Good evening commissioners.

1225
01:44:30,790 --> 01:44:32,430
My name is Capri Regates.

1226
01:44:32,790 --> 01:44:39,150
I'm an independent registered voter and I know mom who's college educated.

1227
01:44:39,590 --> 01:44:47,010
And I would like to comment on the allocation of the budget for the 18 to 20% on successful people.

1228
01:44:47,010 --> 01:44:51,670
I believe successful people are of the result of successful parents.

1229
01:44:52,630 --> 01:44:59,970
It is my passion to develop a program to develop our parents to have effect.

1230
01:45:00,880 --> 01:45:08,500
Deparenting. Domestic violence is a silent epidemic. Our education system is broken, but why. I believe

1231
01:45:08,500 --> 01:45:15,240
it is not your job commissioners to parent or police our children. I believe it is my responsibility

1232
01:45:15,240 --> 01:45:23,480
as a parent to teach my child. Not the teachers, not social services, not anyone else, but the parent

1233
01:45:23,480 --> 01:45:33,040
me. So, instead of allocating that 20% to developing, I believe it you called it, successful people,

1234
01:45:33,660 --> 01:45:41,600
I instead of a proposal program to go back to basics, let the parents be the one who parent

1235
01:45:41,600 --> 01:45:50,460
their children and teach their children invest in homeschooling, virtual schools, cut funding

1236
01:45:50,460 --> 01:45:57,060
for performing schools and in best more and I will black farmers, and best more in vocational

1237
01:45:58,860 --> 01:46:04,800
training, basically go back to a basic program, which gives the power back to the parents

1238
01:46:04,800 --> 01:46:06,900
to allow them to teach their children.

1239
01:46:07,640 --> 01:46:08,820
Thank you.

1240
01:46:10,800 --> 01:46:12,140
Speaker number 25.

1241
01:46:20,100 --> 01:46:21,100
Good evening board members.

1242
01:46:21,320 --> 01:46:22,900
It's really nice to be here tonight.

1243
01:46:23,160 --> 01:46:24,360
My name is Lane Brown.

1244
01:46:24,360 --> 01:46:28,760
I work at Gilford County Schools, I'm the senior director of public affairs and philanthropy.

1245
01:46:29,980 --> 01:46:35,160
I write a lot of grants, I work with teams across our district to create funding opportunities,

1246
01:46:35,920 --> 01:46:40,740
and we work really hard at it, and we've been growing, and we're making great strides.

1247
01:46:41,760 --> 01:46:46,360
I want to talk to you tonight about the things that grants can fund, and the things that grants can't fund.

1248
01:46:46,520 --> 01:46:50,620
Because it's often tempting, in my line of work, for people to say, oh, we'll fund a grant.

1249
01:46:50,940 --> 01:46:53,500
Oh, don't worry, we'll get a grant. There are a lot of grants. You can get a grant.

1250
01:46:53,500 --> 01:47:00,060
And we know that grants are time-bound, we know they find innovation, they find special projects,

1251
01:47:00,460 --> 01:47:05,940
they help us think about new ways to engage students to promote safety and mental health,

1252
01:47:06,560 --> 01:47:07,700
wellness for our students.

1253
01:47:08,320 --> 01:47:12,640
They don't find sustainable operational costs.

1254
01:47:13,820 --> 01:47:20,380
I've seen situations where organizations have worked for have tried to find sustainable costs

1255
01:47:20,380 --> 01:47:22,620
through grants and the grants end.

1256
01:47:22,620 --> 01:47:28,420
And the funders don't want to continue funding things that are no longer special projects.

1257
01:47:29,520 --> 01:47:35,920
So I'd just like to submit to you that when I look at the gaps, the teacher supplements, the classified staff salary plan,

1258
01:47:36,480 --> 01:47:43,940
and some of the numbers in other areas, I want to ask you to share the vision that I already know you have with us,

1259
01:47:44,120 --> 01:47:51,660
and stand in the space that Ms. Pendleton talked about, because I hope your advocacy with the general assembly works.

1260
01:47:51,660 --> 01:48:01,540
But today the future is unfolding in our classrooms across this district and our students futures are taking shape and they need you and we need you.

1261
01:48:01,960 --> 01:48:13,080
I think about the times I go into schools in my work and I see the people who have great relationships with students and yes, there are teachers who are dynamic and fantastic and they are pivotal.

1262
01:48:13,080 --> 01:48:18,240
So we're cafeteria workers, so we're bus drivers, so we're custodians.

1263
01:48:18,980 --> 01:48:25,100
I'm going to invoke my previous boss, Nora Carr, the late Chief of Staff at GCS,

1264
01:48:25,300 --> 01:48:29,200
who often said, if every child could have a caring adult in their lives,

1265
01:48:29,380 --> 01:48:33,620
what a difference it would make, and it takes all of these people every day

1266
01:48:33,620 --> 01:48:36,740
to make it happen. Please help us. Thank you.

1267
01:48:36,740 --> 01:48:45,880
Yeah. Those are the last speakers that I've, we have listed on any others that want to speak.

1268
01:48:58,880 --> 01:49:04,020
Good evening to air, vice chair and commissioners. My name is Rebecca Clark.

1269
01:49:04,120 --> 01:49:07,340
I'm executive director of the Piedmont Tribe Film Commission.

1270
01:49:08,800 --> 01:49:18,500
And we are the only economic development organization in the region that works specifically to recruit film, television,

1271
01:49:18,500 --> 01:49:25,760
and commercial business. There's a lot more to that industry than what I just said but that kind

1272
01:49:25,760 --> 01:49:32,080
of summarizes it. Anyway, I'm very grateful to the support that you've given out through

1273
01:49:32,080 --> 01:49:38,880
the years. That investment in the Pima Triad Film Commission enables me to recruit more business

1274
01:49:38,880 --> 01:49:45,620
to the area and keep some of our film school graduates in the area and other film professionals

1275
01:49:45,620 --> 01:49:54,420
keep them creating and living here. I wanted to let you know that last year I've worked with

1276
01:49:54,420 --> 01:49:59,980
the legislators to try to have a bill to improve.

1277
01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:07,460
I move upon the film incentives, and I had support of Guilford County representatives and for

1278
01:50:07,460 --> 01:50:14,440
South County representatives, and not that they crafted a bill based on my suggestions. Ultimately, it

1279
01:50:14,440 --> 01:50:21,380
didn't go through the Senate, but however, a making strides in other ways to get business here.

1280
01:50:29,980 --> 01:50:29,980
And

1281
01:50:29,980 --> 01:50:32,900
But five feature film production companies,

1282
01:50:34,780 --> 01:50:39,140
a scouted today with one on swive as run in a little late,

1283
01:50:40,560 --> 01:50:42,020
and they're here through the weekend.

1284
01:50:42,500 --> 01:50:44,540
Next week, I've got other filmmakers coming,

1285
01:50:45,560 --> 01:50:48,160
and then I'm going to be meeting Wednesday and Thursday

1286
01:50:48,160 --> 01:50:50,440
with some other filmmakers that

1287
01:50:50,440 --> 01:50:53,020
are going to have a connection to Guilford County.

1288
01:50:53,920 --> 01:50:57,400
You'll know more soon as soon as I could talk about it.

1289
01:50:57,400 --> 01:51:03,500
But just wanted to say thank you so much for all you do, and I appreciate it, and I appreciate your time.

1290
01:51:03,780 --> 01:51:05,180
Thank you.

1291
01:51:05,480 --> 01:51:06,320
I'll speak here.

1292
01:51:12,070 --> 01:51:14,690
You mean, thank you for your time. My name is Katie Kleinert.

1293
01:51:15,150 --> 01:51:22,190
I am a mother of two Guildford County school students, and I also worked as a high dosage tutor for the 2324 school year.

1294
01:51:22,390 --> 01:51:32,870
And I also want to speak to this budget deficit that we're facing, and it's shocking to see that it's 4 million dollars less for non bonded projects than it was last year.

1295
01:51:32,870 --> 01:51:38,120
I know the county manager mentioned communication and transparency in this process, and I appreciate that.

1296
01:51:38,910 --> 01:51:46,270
However, the current recommendation includes so few of the priorities that I know the Board of Education has requested in this budget.

1297
01:51:47,170 --> 01:51:59,010
This year as a high dosage tutor, I have the opportunity to work with roughly 70 students to varying degrees, many attending regular sessions, and so many of these students are chronically underserved.

1298
01:51:59,010 --> 01:52:04,830
and it was such a wonderful opportunity to be able to be another caring adult in their life,

1299
01:52:04,950 --> 01:52:09,550
to be able to provide the opportunity for smaller group instruction,

1300
01:52:10,230 --> 01:52:14,030
and to see them make these wonderful increases, however, this current.

1301
01:52:14,250 --> 01:52:16,130
Budget proposal eliminates my job.

1302
01:52:16,330 --> 01:52:18,750
I won't have an opportunity to teach as a tutor next year,

1303
01:52:19,570 --> 01:52:23,530
because the grant that funded to a high dosage tutoring has run out.

1304
01:52:23,530 --> 01:52:37,610
And so I hope that there will be a room in the budget for you to add that along with these other priorities that have been mentioned endlessly this evening, and even if I do such tutoring is for some reason not funded, I would love to see it.

1305
01:52:37,890 --> 01:52:41,910
Our teachers deserve our support now more than ever.

1306
01:52:42,290 --> 01:52:47,610
It should not just be kids with access to the most resources who have access to a good education.

1307
01:52:47,610 --> 01:52:52,350
And every single student in Guildford County deserves a high quality public education.

1308
01:52:52,970 --> 01:52:58,650
I appreciate the effort that you've made to stand in the gap, and I hope that you'll be able

1309
01:52:58,650 --> 01:53:00,350
to vote to fund our schools.

1310
01:53:00,570 --> 01:53:01,550
Thank you for your time.

1311
01:53:03,750 --> 01:53:04,210
I was speaker.

1312
01:53:13,480 --> 01:53:14,480
Thank you for your time.

1313
01:53:14,740 --> 01:53:22,140
I'm a first year teacher at a local high school where I was tasked with revitalizing my program,

1314
01:53:22,480 --> 01:53:26,520
getting a student engagement up within the automotive department.

1315
01:53:27,480 --> 01:53:38,120
I was chosen as rookie teacher of the year this year and I've been pushing hard as a teacher coming in from the mechanics field or the technicians field.

1316
01:53:38,940 --> 01:53:45,520
I just want to say that our students are dealing with some inadequate circumstances within their school.

1317
01:53:46,300 --> 01:53:51,860
Simple things like age-fact issues, students going from cold environments to warm environments.

1318
01:53:52,660 --> 01:53:56,480
If we know anything about respiratory issues, that can be caused.

1319
01:53:56,580 --> 01:53:59,220
Students are getting sick, they're out of school, that's just one issue.

1320
01:53:59,940 --> 01:54:03,620
Teacher burnout is one thing I will say and get out of the way.

1321
01:54:04,360 --> 01:54:07,220
I'm a new teacher and I'm already burnout.

1322
01:54:08,160 --> 01:54:15,420
I'm working hard as a technician to apply my efficiency and effectiveness within my job.

1323
01:54:15,960 --> 01:54:21,260
And for me to do that, it burns me out, we're not getting what we need, we're not getting

1324
01:54:21,260 --> 01:54:24,080
the money we need to survive, and I'm a new teacher.

1325
01:54:25,380 --> 01:54:31,660
So battling, jumping back into the field, rather than trying to be a better and more efficient

1326
01:54:31,660 --> 01:54:35,160
teacher for my students, I'm not going to trouble your time any longer.

1327
01:54:35,740 --> 01:54:42,700
Thank you for debating this, but our teachers need help, our students need better conditions

1328
01:54:42,700 --> 01:54:47,440
because if our students are better conditions, we're going to have a better society, a better

1329
01:54:47,440 --> 01:54:50,700
Greensboro, a better good for county. Blessings.

1330
01:54:52,600 --> 01:54:53,240
Thank you.

1331
01:54:54,040 --> 01:54:54,540
Next speaker.

1332
01:54:55,760 --> 01:54:55,920
D.

1333
01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:09,900
I hadn't played on speak at night with us on Mr. Johnson's step up here. That was my replacement, Southern Goodford High School. He's made it one year. Why?

1334
01:55:11,480 --> 01:55:24,800
Conditions at the school pay for teachers. He worked one year and he's out the door. I can't blame me. If he can make more money somewhere else, you have to look out for yourself.

1335
01:55:25,480 --> 01:55:33,160
We need to take care of our teachers, we need to pay our teachers, we need to talk about the HVAC and the HVAC.

1336
01:55:33,620 --> 01:55:35,740
I experienced those problems.

1337
01:55:35,760 --> 01:55:37,580
I had those problems for years.

1338
01:55:38,100 --> 01:55:41,220
I had a shop with no AC, half the time.

1339
01:55:41,500 --> 01:55:43,500
I had a classroom with no heat.

1340
01:55:44,280 --> 01:55:47,820
I had to use a fan, the blown hot air into the shop,

1341
01:55:47,960 --> 01:55:51,740
or out of the shop, dependent on which one was working that day.

1342
01:55:52,560 --> 01:56:00,180
So, two and a half million to fix 126 schools and keep on going, that's an embarrassment.

1343
01:56:01,780 --> 01:56:03,280
School's need more.

1344
01:56:03,560 --> 01:56:04,700
Thank you.

1345
01:56:07,680 --> 01:56:08,340
All the speakers?

1346
01:56:19,230 --> 01:56:19,670
Good evening.

1347
01:56:19,690 --> 01:56:22,890
My name is Christopher Scott, and I'm a principal at Southeast Coast for High School.

1348
01:56:22,910 --> 01:56:23,430
Good evening.

1349
01:56:23,570 --> 01:56:23,670
Good evening.

1350
01:56:23,670 --> 01:56:26,790
My name is Christopher Scott, and I'm a principal at Southeast Coast for High School.

1351
01:56:26,790 --> 01:56:26,870
Good evening.

1352
01:56:31,370 --> 01:56:32,450
Good evening.

1353
01:56:32,450 --> 01:56:36,150
job over the past three years of supporting us in our schools.

1354
01:56:36,730 --> 01:56:41,970
From the bond to becoming proximate during that process,

1355
01:56:42,650 --> 01:56:47,510
being coming into the buildings, I'm very proud of that moment.

1356
01:56:47,730 --> 01:56:50,370
And I think as we take our steps forward,

1357
01:56:50,950 --> 01:56:53,670
we together have to be proximate with each other.

1358
01:56:54,290 --> 01:57:01,290
We is the schools and the teachers and the staff that you

1359
01:57:01,290 --> 01:57:05,750
You know, we're in about their pay to our buildings and those conditions.

1360
01:57:06,310 --> 01:57:15,130
We do have to go and together to our general assembly or major issues with that.

1361
01:57:15,590 --> 01:57:19,950
I would say that as we put forth a bunches, go for county,

1362
01:57:20,450 --> 01:57:23,130
we're approximate to the issues that we are facing.

1363
01:57:24,170 --> 01:57:28,070
And we bring that recommendation to you all in the city manager.

1364
01:57:28,070 --> 01:57:34,070
we are proximate to the challenges we face and those are recommendations.

1365
01:57:35,410 --> 01:57:42,910
If you are going to continue to have that progress, you all have to stay proximate to what we face.

1366
01:57:43,410 --> 01:57:47,530
City manager, you have to stay proximate to what we face.

1367
01:57:48,870 --> 01:57:53,130
So when we brought that recommendation forward, we're proximate to the issues you see.

1368
01:57:53,130 --> 01:57:59,250
We are going to ask that you guys find more things, especially around teacher salary, and

1369
01:57:59,250 --> 01:58:02,910
2.5 million to take care of our schools, it's very difficult.

1370
01:58:03,250 --> 01:58:07,430
I know the city manager is building what I was a middle school principal and he got to

1371
01:58:07,430 --> 01:58:12,690
see firsthand just the building itself and how hard that is to find.

1372
01:58:13,150 --> 01:58:18,210
So look forward to working with you as we continue this journey to do what's best for

1373
01:58:18,210 --> 01:58:20,590
our students and truly be better together in our community.

1374
01:58:21,210 --> 01:58:21,770
Thank you.

1375
01:58:21,770 --> 01:58:22,770
Thank you.

1376
01:58:25,240 --> 01:58:25,800
Other speakers?

1377
01:58:35,450 --> 01:58:36,090
My name is Britain.

1378
01:58:36,930 --> 01:58:38,590
I was not planning on speaking tonight.

1379
01:58:39,530 --> 01:58:40,070
I'm emotional.

1380
01:58:41,050 --> 01:58:42,310
I love what I do.

1381
01:58:42,490 --> 01:58:49,690
It's my dream to bring a program teaching emergency medical technology to Guilford County,

1382
01:58:49,970 --> 01:58:54,270
where I was raised by Deputy Allbright.

1383
01:58:56,230 --> 01:58:58,230
I'm teaching that in Guilford County schools.

1384
01:58:58,590 --> 01:59:00,310
I love fighting for the underdog,

1385
01:59:00,310 --> 01:59:06,790
But I don't feel that all of our students, this past semester I've taught at two schools

1386
01:59:06,790 --> 01:59:13,030
because one school didn't have a teacher, so I would commute on my planning period to teach at another school

1387
01:59:13,030 --> 01:59:15,010
and I saw a lot of disparities.

1388
01:59:16,550 --> 01:59:17,650
The students were I teach.

1389
01:59:18,390 --> 01:59:25,330
They couldn't afford beings and tissue boxes and things like that to make a model of the skin.

1390
01:59:25,330 --> 01:59:30,690
My other school, I taught, they could, the students, I also coach men's soccer.

1391
01:59:31,690 --> 01:59:34,310
We don't have a field to practice on.

1392
01:59:34,550 --> 01:59:37,070
We rotate between the soccer.

1393
01:59:37,730 --> 01:59:39,890
We rotate between test courts.

1394
01:59:40,350 --> 01:59:44,330
The football field, if they're space, it's not equal.

1395
01:59:45,130 --> 01:59:49,490
My students ask me, my athletes ask me, why don't we have this?

1396
01:59:49,490 --> 01:59:57,170
And I try to always put the positive spin on it, but sometimes it's really hard to.

1397
01:59:57,430 --> 01:59:59,690
My roof range.

1398
02:00:00,020 --> 02:00:12,560
First six months, my students asked me why that happened. It happens. They're doing the best that they can, but sometimes they get really hard to be that positive person for my kids.

1399
02:00:13,140 --> 02:00:23,340
I wasn't playing out coming up here because I really like to be behind the spotlight, but I just, I want you guys to know that there are some, there's a lot of discrepancies.

1400
02:00:23,940 --> 02:00:31,020
And it's not fair to our kids because we're trying to teach them, to believe in themselves and

1401
02:00:31,020 --> 02:00:37,580
in spite of, you know, things will always go our way. Life is hard. I'm a paramedic. I understand

1402
02:00:37,580 --> 02:00:44,280
life isn't fair. But when they see all the inequity, it's really hard. Thank you very much.

1403
02:00:44,760 --> 02:00:45,240
Thank you.

1404
02:00:48,420 --> 02:00:49,380
Any other speakers?

1405
02:00:55,060 --> 02:00:57,080
Any other speakers going on? What?

1406
02:00:59,580 --> 02:01:00,940
Any other speakers going

1407
02:01:01,820 --> 02:01:02,300
twice,

1408
02:01:04,540 --> 02:01:07,500
any other speaker's going three times.

1409
02:01:10,000 --> 02:01:12,100
Just, just, just, barely made, just barely made,

1410
02:01:17,070 --> 02:01:17,490
just barely made, just barely made.

1411
02:01:21,020 --> 02:01:23,760
You got me at the three times, so.

1412
02:01:24,260 --> 02:01:28,700
Good evening, it's a pleasure to speak before you, I'll keep it short, just because it took

1413
02:01:28,700 --> 02:01:34,580
you three times to get me up here. My name is Holly Poir, and I'm the Executive Director

1414
02:01:34,580 --> 02:01:40,600
of Career and Technical Education for Geophore County Schools. One of the things when we

1415
02:01:40,600 --> 02:01:47,820
about recruiting teachers in CTE, oftentimes we're competing with the industry, in which

1416
02:01:47,820 --> 02:01:53,620
they're trade exists. And when they look at what they could make in industry, compared

1417
02:01:53,620 --> 02:01:59,560
to what they could make in education to teach the industry, they're such a significant difference.

1418
02:02:00,340 --> 02:02:08,540
Right now, the primary student in kindergarten, by the time they graduate, over 2 billion

1419
02:02:08,540 --> 02:02:16,840
careers will be eliminated and new ones created and so to keep up with that demand and how

1420
02:02:16,840 --> 02:02:24,200
we raise up the next workforce and those to engage in careers that exist today and careers

1421
02:02:24,200 --> 02:02:30,060
that will exist tomorrow. We have to think about our teaching force and we have to find ways

1422
02:02:30,060 --> 02:02:36,980
to creatively recruit not just individuals until the field of education but to recruit them

1423
02:02:36,980 --> 02:02:40,140
from industry, what's they've given their talents

1424
02:02:40,140 --> 02:02:41,740
in that particular trade.

1425
02:02:42,440 --> 02:02:46,540
And so I implore you to really consider an opportunity

1426
02:02:46,540 --> 02:02:50,460
to creatively recruit top talent.

1427
02:02:51,140 --> 02:02:52,760
And not just recruit them.

1428
02:02:52,960 --> 02:02:55,760
I have an automotive teacher who I had a conversation

1429
02:02:55,760 --> 02:02:56,880
with on yesterday.

1430
02:02:57,480 --> 02:02:59,720
And I asked him for his non-negotiables,

1431
02:03:00,040 --> 02:03:01,720
try to keep him in the space.

1432
02:03:02,320 --> 02:03:03,160
And he looked at me.

1433
02:03:03,160 --> 02:03:04,040
And I said, you know what?

1434
02:03:04,040 --> 02:03:06,420
If you're heart tells you to leave,

1435
02:03:06,420 --> 02:03:09,160
you have piece about it, I'll respect it.

1436
02:03:09,160 --> 02:03:12,620
But what can I do to keep you in front of our students?

1437
02:03:13,300 --> 02:03:16,580
And I need your help as we not only are looking

1438
02:03:16,580 --> 02:03:21,020
to teachers outside of CTE, but the collective teaching force,

1439
02:03:21,220 --> 02:03:24,800
how do we keep top talent in front of our students

1440
02:03:24,800 --> 02:03:27,480
to prepare them for the world of work

1441
02:03:27,480 --> 02:03:29,820
when they choose to engage in it?

1442
02:03:29,960 --> 02:03:30,940
Thank you.

1443
02:03:31,680 --> 02:03:31,800
Yeah,

1444
02:03:34,790 --> 02:03:35,830
all right.

1445
02:03:35,830 --> 02:03:38,150
And I'm gonna speak as going three times.

1446
02:03:40,030 --> 02:03:42,250
I'll just start making one or two.

1447
02:03:42,450 --> 02:03:44,070
All right, anymore speakers at all.

1448
02:03:50,050 --> 02:03:53,970
One, one, going twice, going three times.

1449
02:03:56,860 --> 02:03:59,220
The public hearing is now closed on the budget.

1450
02:03:59,480 --> 02:04:00,640
Let's take a five minute break.

1451
02:05:10,830 --> 02:05:14,610
Court of Justice, I think I am able to support Madam clerics and say correct.

1452
02:05:18,370 --> 02:05:21,990
He was my, I had it on my sheet of paper.

1453
02:05:22,250 --> 02:05:25,110
He's the busier to put him on ready to write read.

1454
02:05:25,890 --> 02:05:29,270
It'll be emergency services staffing.

1455
02:05:30,510 --> 02:05:35,810
It was a budget amendment emergency service staffing.

1456
02:05:36,750 --> 02:05:36,830
Okay.

1457
02:05:37,010 --> 02:05:37,510
This is the business.

1458
02:05:37,890 --> 02:05:38,210
It's all done.

1459
02:05:38,450 --> 02:05:39,630
I have to answer each other's question.

1460
02:05:39,770 --> 02:05:39,950
Thank you.

1461
02:05:40,070 --> 02:05:41,530
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

1462
02:05:41,530 --> 02:05:45,690
As part of our normal budgeting monitoring, as we get towards the end of the year, we're looking

1463
02:05:45,690 --> 02:05:49,030
to see where our dollars are looking based on budget availability.

1464
02:05:49,970 --> 02:05:54,030
So throughout the year, we're monitoring that, reporting it through our performance reports.

1465
02:05:54,250 --> 02:05:57,850
As we've talked about in the budget performance reports, one of the areas we've been monitoring

1466
02:05:57,850 --> 02:06:03,070
really over the last six to eight months is an emergency services related to salary cost.

1467
02:06:03,670 --> 02:06:08,030
And so as we continue to get closer to the end of the year, generally at the end of the year,

1468
02:06:08,030 --> 02:06:09,330
we will bring an item to the board.

1469
02:06:09,730 --> 02:06:11,250
What do you know that we've moved salaries

1470
02:06:11,250 --> 02:06:13,710
around to cover potential overages in departments

1471
02:06:13,710 --> 02:06:15,210
as there have been things that happened

1472
02:06:15,210 --> 02:06:16,650
in that department that caused

1473
02:06:16,650 --> 02:06:18,730
increased salaries over what we estimated?

1474
02:06:19,510 --> 02:06:21,410
In this case, for emergency services,

1475
02:06:21,570 --> 02:06:23,790
we have the opportunity to recognize

1476
02:06:23,790 --> 02:06:26,230
an additional $1 million in revenue

1477
02:06:26,230 --> 02:06:28,810
that they have brought in over their budget estimates,

1478
02:06:29,370 --> 02:06:33,010
which will allow us to cover their salary overages

1479
02:06:33,010 --> 02:06:35,550
that have been accrued throughout the year.

1480
02:06:35,550 --> 02:06:43,730
As we look at our overall budget, much tighter this year on salaries, as we have a vacancy credit built into our budget.

1481
02:06:43,870 --> 02:06:48,570
So we anticipated about $8 million in salary vacancies throughout all departments.

1482
02:06:49,270 --> 02:06:55,430
But as we've had historically low vacancy rates, and historically low vacancy rates within emergency services,

1483
02:06:56,130 --> 02:07:01,070
the salaries have exceeded or we project what we have budget.

1484
02:07:01,330 --> 02:07:05,410
This will be an opportunity for us to recognize the additional revenue that emergency services

1485
02:07:05,410 --> 02:07:12,210
has brought in to cover that so that we don't have that tightness in their budgets be closer

1486
02:07:12,210 --> 02:07:13,270
to the end of the year.

1487
02:07:13,890 --> 02:07:18,090
Hidjim is with me as well if you have any specific questions about their personal lines.

1488
02:07:19,770 --> 02:07:20,130
Questions?

1489
02:07:20,610 --> 02:07:22,470
Do you want?

1490
02:07:22,470 --> 02:07:22,710
Yes.

1491
02:07:23,930 --> 02:07:25,610
One million in use of these, right?

1492
02:07:26,650 --> 02:07:28,030
You can start off this.

1493
02:07:28,770 --> 02:07:29,130
All right.

1494
02:07:29,890 --> 02:07:30,490
Do I have a question?

1495
02:07:30,770 --> 02:07:31,350
Do I have a question?

1496
02:07:32,610 --> 02:07:32,630
Do I have a question?

1497
02:07:32,630 --> 02:07:32,950
Do I have a question?

1498
02:07:35,370 --> 02:07:35,990
Do I have a question?

1499
02:07:35,990 --> 02:07:37,010
and

1500
02:07:46,320 --> 02:07:49,100
that passes over the anonymous bill.

1501
02:07:49,920 --> 02:07:50,200
All right.

1502
02:07:50,300 --> 02:07:54,060
It's followed the request asked the vision of such a services contract

1503
02:07:54,060 --> 02:07:58,020
business for a physical year 2425 required board approval.

1504
02:07:58,420 --> 02:07:59,620
Yes, good evening commissioners.

1505
02:07:59,900 --> 02:08:04,580
This is an annual request that we bring to you for our service contracts

1506
02:08:04,580 --> 02:08:06,220
for fiscal year 2025.

1507
02:08:07,100 --> 02:08:11,020
We have identified a number of contracts with amounts over 200,000

1508
02:08:11,020 --> 02:08:12,420
which do require board approval.

1509
02:08:12,420 --> 02:08:19,620
These contracts are in home aid vendors as well as our remin board for children in foster care.

1510
02:08:20,120 --> 02:08:27,220
You will see the list of in-home aid contracts that are over 200,000 and, as you know,

1511
02:08:27,380 --> 02:08:32,080
that these services allow older and disabled adults to remain safely in their homes.

1512
02:08:32,640 --> 02:08:35,340
The services of in-home aids promotes independence,

1513
02:08:36,020 --> 02:08:45,240
Pervance, premature placement into long-term care facilities, and it really helps with self-determination for the clients that we work with in aging and adult services.

1514
02:08:45,700 --> 02:08:58,140
Our room in board vendors help provide placements for children in our custody, and the list of those is also on your sheet, and those are the ones that are over $200,000.

1515
02:08:58,140 --> 02:09:15,440
So, the term of these contracts is normally 12 months, but starting in fiscal year 2025, we are trying to move our annual contracts out of alignment with the fiscal year, which will help us improve continuity of services as the county transitions across fiscal years.

1516
02:09:15,440 --> 02:09:22,260
So, as a result, these contracts will be extended for 15 months, a period running from July

1517
02:09:22,260 --> 02:09:29,380
1224 to September 30, 2025, and then that will be reduced back to 12 months, starting

1518
02:09:29,380 --> 02:09:34,020
at October 20, 25, and all funding for the final three months of that term will fall into

1519
02:09:34,020 --> 02:09:35,180
fiscal year 26.

1520
02:09:36,080 --> 02:09:40,280
So what we are asking tonight is to approve these contracts in substantial form and other

1521
02:09:40,280 --> 02:09:44,760
staff to take on necessary actions to execute these service contracts.

1522
02:09:45,360 --> 02:09:52,240
For a period of July 1st, 2024, through September 30th, 2025, upon the adoption of the budget

1523
02:09:52,240 --> 02:09:53,660
and final funding availability.

1524
02:09:55,380 --> 02:09:58,900
In the question of when it's false, it's false, it's false, it's false, it's false.

1525
02:09:59,100 --> 02:09:59,840
Thank you.

1526
02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:15,560
So she and I understand that some contracts are necessary to continue for continuity of services. But do any of these have to submit a new application at the beginning of a fiscal year, or you just keep the same ones that you have?

1527
02:10:17,990 --> 02:10:28,350
Yes. We do look at all of these contracts every year. This meeting the them to 50 months will not change our process in vetting them every year.

1528
02:10:28,350 --> 02:10:40,110
So you do vet them. Yes. When do you vet them annually? So we will vet these probably at the end of the a little bit before the end of the 15 months so that we'll get on that schedule.

1529
02:10:41,030 --> 02:10:48,250
Is there ever the opportunity for new agencies to submit applications? Absolutely.

1530
02:10:49,130 --> 02:10:54,390
Yes, we will always be looking for in high-maid and service providers for children in foster care. Yes.

1531
02:10:54,390 --> 02:10:59,130
There are a period of time that you advertise for new people to submit applications.

1532
02:10:59,450 --> 02:11:04,350
I'd have to confirm that with our contracts and RFP process, but yes, there is.

1533
02:11:04,490 --> 02:11:06,810
I'm just not sure what it is.

1534
02:11:07,170 --> 02:11:07,450
Thank you.

1535
02:11:08,570 --> 02:11:10,190
Any other questions from this follow?

1536
02:11:11,390 --> 02:11:11,910
Do you hear motion?

1537
02:11:12,390 --> 02:11:13,230
Move for a second.

1538
02:11:13,430 --> 02:11:13,650
Move for a second.

1539
02:11:13,650 --> 02:11:15,250
Move in a proper second discussion.

1540
02:11:16,490 --> 02:11:17,870
Here and I'm pleased to ask you about

1541
02:11:27,380 --> 02:11:28,860
that passage on the unanimous vote.

1542
02:11:29,000 --> 02:11:29,260
Thank you.

1543
02:11:29,320 --> 02:11:30,900
Thank you.

1544
02:11:30,900 --> 02:11:35,220
that information so you'll know that time frame. Thank you.

1545
02:11:36,200 --> 02:11:39,360
Next item is C contract to operate an eviction

1546
02:11:39,360 --> 02:11:43,720
in mediation and landlord outreach program with UNC and G.

1547
02:11:45,690 --> 02:11:47,410
Good evening Chairman and members of the board.

1548
02:11:47,630 --> 02:11:53,050
The requested action is to approve a contract amendment for the purpose of continuing the eviction

1549
02:11:53,050 --> 02:11:58,990
mediation program. Since July 2022, the county has contracted with the UNCG Center for Housing

1550
02:11:58,990 --> 02:12:04,310
and community studies to operate the eviction, mediation, and landlord outreach program.

1551
02:12:04,630 --> 02:12:08,490
In partnership with Legal Aid, the program addresses the needs of those facing housing

1552
02:12:08,490 --> 02:12:10,450
instability and potential evictions.

1553
02:12:11,030 --> 02:12:17,010
As of March 2024, 6,940 evictions were on the court docked the days, the eviction,

1554
02:12:17,270 --> 02:12:21,810
mediation clinic was in court, and 32% were dismissed by the court, or by the landlord,

1555
02:12:22,130 --> 02:12:26,830
and an additional 14% were delayed by being continued to a later date.

1556
02:12:26,830 --> 02:12:31,890
This contract will continue to provide funding for staffing the eviction clinic and the

1557
02:12:31,890 --> 02:12:36,290
landlord outreach program, as well as for legal age provide eviction prevention services.

1558
02:12:36,830 --> 02:12:41,290
Data will be gathered on the number of individuals served, the outcomes of court cases,

1559
02:12:41,490 --> 02:12:43,510
and the number of repeat clients served.

1560
02:12:43,890 --> 02:12:48,630
Additionally, we will have an impact report in December of 2025 to analyze the impact

1561
02:12:48,630 --> 02:12:50,910
and potential future implications of the program.

1562
02:12:51,750 --> 02:12:56,470
We are proposing a 17-month contract this year to obligate all of the remaining funds allocated

1563
02:12:56,470 --> 02:13:01,570
for this program to meet the federal obligation deadline of December 31st, 2024.

1564
02:13:02,230 --> 02:13:05,470
Thank you and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

1565
02:13:06,770 --> 02:13:07,250
Any questions?

1566
02:13:08,230 --> 02:13:08,950
Move approval.

1567
02:13:09,230 --> 02:13:09,530
Second.

1568
02:13:10,510 --> 02:13:11,190
Move approval.

1569
02:13:11,830 --> 02:13:12,550
Move approval.

1570
02:13:14,030 --> 02:13:21,470
I'm just I'd just like to know when you talk about 101 landlord engagement with that means and the outcomes

1571
02:13:21,470 --> 02:13:23,070
and you don't have to tell me that tonight.

1572
02:13:23,570 --> 02:13:24,770
I'd just like to get that information.

1573
02:13:24,770 --> 02:13:27,160
Mr. Chair, what the Open Press are from that.

1574
02:13:28,010 --> 02:13:31,880
Yep, I can provide that information to you.

1575
02:13:31,880 --> 02:13:32,820
First session.

1576
02:13:33,580 --> 02:13:34,160
No, the questions.

1577
02:13:35,740 --> 02:13:36,000
Thank you.

1578
02:13:36,060 --> 02:13:37,040
Please cash it up.

1579
02:13:37,300 --> 02:13:37,760
Thank you.

1580
02:13:48,240 --> 02:13:50,040
That passes over unanimous vote.

1581
02:13:50,780 --> 02:13:51,500
All right.

1582
02:13:51,500 --> 02:13:55,920
Our contract with wheel pack LLC for behalf of care services that you give the county attention

1583
02:13:55,920 --> 02:13:56,680
facilities.

1584
02:13:58,100 --> 02:13:59,300
Mr. Mitch, Captain.

1585
02:14:01,260 --> 02:14:02,040
Good evening.

1586
02:14:02,140 --> 02:14:04,320
Commissioner Mr. Chairman, Mr. Seyramon.

1587
02:14:04,320 --> 02:14:09,140
Wes Meekham, Captain with the County Sheriff's Office, I'm a company by Captain Shimell Johnson,

1588
02:14:09,600 --> 02:14:11,280
who works in our detention bureau.

1589
02:14:11,660 --> 02:14:16,540
So basically what we're here tonight is to ask for you to approve the contract in substantial form with

1590
02:14:16,540 --> 02:14:17,020
WellPath.

1591
02:14:17,720 --> 02:14:26,280
WellPath, as you know, has been our long-time service provider for medical needs for the folks who are currently residing in our detention facilities.

1592
02:14:26,920 --> 02:14:31,140
We did conduct an RFP staff did and there were four bidders.

1593
02:14:31,140 --> 02:14:34,220
Well, path was the lowest bitter of the four.

1594
02:14:34,560 --> 02:14:42,120
They came in at 271,000, 900 dollars less than the next competitive bitter.

1595
02:14:42,500 --> 02:14:49,140
And of course, we're looking for a three-year contract at which there will be in-in-place

1596
02:14:49,140 --> 02:14:52,100
raises over the course of that three-year period.

1597
02:14:52,980 --> 02:14:57,700
The total of the three-year contract is 33 million, 600, 21,800, and five dollars.

1598
02:14:57,700 --> 02:14:59,960
one of the greatest pro...

1599
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:09,800
Problems that has faced the medical services providers is keeping qualified and certified staff and keeping

1600
02:15:09,800 --> 02:15:15,820
them there and competitive pricing for their employment. And so that has affected the rates

1601
02:15:15,820 --> 02:15:29,980
continuing to increase. And that has happened over the course of the last four years. We have

1602
02:15:29,980 --> 02:15:34,320
and we did have conversations with counties of comparable size,

1603
02:15:34,760 --> 02:15:36,060
white county and for South County,

1604
02:15:36,540 --> 02:15:39,060
and they have seen the exact same issues arise.

1605
02:15:39,640 --> 02:15:42,580
And so we are not in any way an outlier.

1606
02:15:43,240 --> 02:15:46,500
We're right in mainstream with this type of service,

1607
02:15:46,700 --> 02:15:50,020
and we just ask that you approve this contract.

1608
02:15:51,320 --> 02:15:53,900
If you have any questions about our Captain Johnson,

1609
02:15:53,900 --> 02:15:55,140
be glad to answer them.

1610
02:15:57,500 --> 02:15:58,920
Questions for you all?

1611
02:15:59,300 --> 02:15:59,620
Yes, Mark.

1612
02:16:00,620 --> 02:16:14,700
I'm sure as first of you can share if there is any increase in the services provided in conjunction with the increase in cost or if the service level is going to remain the same and the cost is

1613
02:16:14,700 --> 02:16:18,740
you're really connected to personnel or primarily to personnel?

1614
02:16:19,600 --> 02:16:21,140
Okay, just don't make sure I understand the question.

1615
02:16:21,500 --> 02:16:23,380
You're wondering if there's more services provided,

1616
02:16:23,660 --> 02:16:26,840
or whether they're just inflation, is that what your level of deferred

1617
02:16:26,840 --> 02:16:27,700
at Captain Johnson 11?

1618
02:16:29,200 --> 02:16:30,200
Good evening, everyone.

1619
02:16:31,340 --> 02:16:34,140
So yeah, there are increases in services as well.

1620
02:16:34,680 --> 02:16:39,740
So we've actually, the Medicaid assistant treatment programs

1621
02:16:39,740 --> 02:16:40,460
are opioid.

1622
02:16:40,740 --> 02:16:43,780
Of course, we have opioid crisis going on.

1623
02:16:43,780 --> 02:16:54,280
So, we've now implemented our map programs, our opioid use addiction programs, substance use of disability programs.

1624
02:16:54,960 --> 02:16:57,460
So, and we're, you know, in both with in both facilities.

1625
02:16:58,240 --> 02:17:02,720
So, that has, you know, put calls a lot of increase as well.

1626
02:17:03,380 --> 02:17:13,400
That, along with, you know, now with both facilities, we're having to have more staff as far as, like, the providers, the psychiatrists and things like that.

1627
02:17:13,400 --> 02:17:16,560
So yeah, that has increased the pricing.

1628
02:17:17,420 --> 02:17:39,040
Okay, I have the opportunity to participate with approximately 70 stakeholders from across the community in a sim mapping workshop where we looked at what happens when people with substance use disorder and mental health disorders interact with the criminal legal system and how we might change the trajectory for those individuals.

1629
02:17:39,040 --> 02:18:08,760
It was fantastic to have representatives from the sheriff's department present and engaged with us and many stakeholders over those two days to really think about how can we improve the ways in which we're meeting the needs of those specific populations, understanding that often it is other factors like their addiction or mental health concerns that land them in our jails and so what might it look like.

1630
02:18:08,760 --> 02:18:11,020
to address some of those root causes.

1631
02:18:11,780 --> 02:18:19,800
There were some really fantastic suggestions that came actually out of that meeting and gathering

1632
02:18:19,800 --> 02:18:25,240
including support from folks in the sheriff department to make some adjustments with

1633
02:18:25,240 --> 02:18:33,820
well-path, specifically around ensuring that people who are on MAT when they exit the jail,

1634
02:18:33,820 --> 02:18:35,380
they can continue that treatment,

1635
02:18:35,460 --> 02:18:41,040
civil things like ensuring that scripts get processed automatically

1636
02:18:41,040 --> 02:18:43,180
for them instead of giving them a piece of paper

1637
02:18:43,180 --> 02:18:44,780
and that they have to keep up with.

1638
02:18:45,720 --> 02:18:49,380
Was there any discussion or follow-up between the command staff

1639
02:18:50,480 --> 02:18:52,500
and folks within this year of support

1640
02:18:52,500 --> 02:18:56,400
and to try to address some of the things that came up in that?

1641
02:18:56,400 --> 02:18:57,020
Well, it's fine.

1642
02:18:57,280 --> 02:19:01,860
Yes, actually, I remember vividly what you're saying

1643
02:19:01,860 --> 02:19:07,600
because I've had conversations with the person that was in that meeting and we have talked

1644
02:19:07,600 --> 02:19:12,080
about those things because those things are very important because, you know, along with

1645
02:19:12,080 --> 02:19:17,400
the program, you know, that is going on inside, we need to capture, you know, before the release

1646
02:19:17,400 --> 02:19:22,360
and then outside of, you know, when they release and then follow them a little ways, you know,

1647
02:19:22,380 --> 02:19:28,200
so that they don't, we're still, you know, recidivism isn't the problem. So yeah, we're talking

1648
02:19:28,200 --> 02:19:35,380
about those things, we're actually having meetings to find ways that, you know, like you

1649
02:19:35,380 --> 02:19:41,080
said, even with the script, you know, that may sound like a small thing, like, you know,

1650
02:19:41,720 --> 02:19:46,480
for you to us, you know, yeah, I know I need to pick up my prescription, so yeah, I'm

1651
02:19:46,480 --> 02:19:51,140
going to go by CBS and get my prescription. Well, you have someone on open on, with an opioid

1652
02:19:51,140 --> 02:19:55,560
addiction, you know, to them, you had them in prescription and said, hey, you need to go

1653
02:19:55,560 --> 02:19:59,860
within five days. Well, when they hit the doors, they're probably their first.

1654
02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:29,980
First, you know, thought is, let me go find some drugs. So, you know, it's a matter of collaborating with, you know, having that script, you know, sent to the pharmacy, having someone to make sure they get to the pharmacy, right outside of release, you know, and making sure they get those prescription, so that the things that we've done, the treatment that we've done on the inside can carry on and kind of keep them on that same path.

1655
02:20:30,000 --> 02:20:32,100
of, you know, treatment when they get on the outside.

1656
02:20:32,240 --> 02:20:34,160
So yeah, we are having those conversations.

1657
02:20:34,660 --> 02:20:36,060
I'm glad you brought that up.

1658
02:20:36,180 --> 02:20:36,420
Awesome.

1659
02:20:36,480 --> 02:20:38,000
Thank you for sharing that.

1660
02:20:38,020 --> 02:20:40,020
I think that well-path has an opportunity

1661
02:20:40,560 --> 02:20:44,140
to play a really critical role in bridging that gap

1662
02:20:44,140 --> 02:20:48,380
in part of discharge planning and just in some small practice

1663
02:20:48,380 --> 02:20:51,220
changes that could help really increase support

1664
02:20:51,220 --> 02:20:52,960
for folks in addition to, like you said,

1665
02:20:52,980 --> 02:20:55,000
have an warm hand off and some of those other things

1666
02:20:55,000 --> 02:20:56,000
with our community partners.

1667
02:20:56,600 --> 02:20:58,660
So I'm glad to hear that y'all are having those conversations

1668
02:20:58,660 --> 02:21:05,540
and look forward to seeing how well-path can be a part of our group efforts to help support

1669
02:21:05,540 --> 02:21:07,140
those populations in our community.

1670
02:21:07,720 --> 02:21:08,000
Yes, ma'am.

1671
02:21:08,200 --> 02:21:08,860
Thank you.

1672
02:21:10,060 --> 02:21:10,300
Thank you.

1673
02:21:10,400 --> 02:21:10,640
Thank you, Ms. Murphy.

1674
02:21:10,800 --> 02:21:12,520
Further any other questions?

1675
02:21:13,980 --> 02:21:14,500
Do we have a motion?

1676
02:21:15,040 --> 02:21:15,760
We'll have a roll.

1677
02:21:16,380 --> 02:21:17,840
We'll have a proper second-for-the-scussion.

1678
02:21:19,920 --> 02:21:20,540
Here in our discussion,

1679
02:21:45,590 --> 02:21:47,390
that passes only unanimous vote.

1680
02:21:50,500 --> 02:21:52,400
Madam Clerk, E has been removed.

1681
02:21:52,780 --> 02:21:53,140
Is that correct?

1682
02:21:54,140 --> 02:21:54,500
All right.

1683
02:21:54,500 --> 02:22:02,180
So, F contract with our remote, correct, congressional, directional services, LLC for food service and

1684
02:22:02,180 --> 02:22:03,460
get-for-counting jails.

1685
02:22:04,540 --> 02:22:05,420
Mr. Meach, can we get a capture?

1686
02:22:05,420 --> 02:22:05,660
Yes, sir.

1687
02:22:05,740 --> 02:22:06,600
We're right back.

1688
02:22:07,100 --> 02:22:12,360
I would say you've saved the best for last, but Mr. Benny Gay, guess one more time to be in front of

1689
02:22:12,360 --> 02:22:12,560
you.

1690
02:22:14,240 --> 02:22:21,320
As with well-path, we're seeking substantial approval of contract and substantial form with

1691
02:22:21,320 --> 02:22:27,260
Mayor Mark, again, we put it out for RFP, Bids came in from four different bidders.

1692
02:22:27,860 --> 02:22:34,760
Mayor Mark was the lowest bidder by margin of $571,000 for the first year.

1693
02:22:35,240 --> 02:22:38,440
They have been with us for several years now.

1694
02:22:38,680 --> 02:22:39,760
This is not new.

1695
02:22:39,940 --> 02:22:45,280
We did again compare costs with Mecklenburg County, Versailles County and White County.

1696
02:22:46,220 --> 02:22:49,880
And our costs are actually lower than some of those counties.

1697
02:22:49,880 --> 02:22:56,440
but not as low per se as for side County, but the difference was only 12 cents per meal.

1698
02:22:57,120 --> 02:22:58,660
So that's basically negligible.

1699
02:22:59,720 --> 02:23:04,940
We did do our due diligence, put forth all the matters through the team.

1700
02:23:06,000 --> 02:23:09,980
And we feel that this is the correct path to take it this time.

1701
02:23:10,360 --> 02:23:14,060
We do we will open up for any questions that you might have.

1702
02:23:14,380 --> 02:23:14,920
Questions?

1703
02:23:24,110 --> 02:23:24,710
Thank

1704
02:23:40,100 --> 02:23:42,540
you all very much.

1705
02:23:42,900 --> 02:23:43,740
Appreciate you.

1706
02:23:45,270 --> 02:23:45,490
All right.

1707
02:23:45,610 --> 02:23:46,130
Move around a little bit.

1708
02:23:46,410 --> 02:23:48,310
Commissioner here is on reports and reports from the

1709
02:23:48,310 --> 02:23:48,850
Asans.

1710
02:23:49,270 --> 02:23:49,870
Mr. Jones.

1711
02:23:50,090 --> 02:23:52,170
You have got one from the Greensboro Sports Foundation.

1712
02:23:52,970 --> 02:23:54,850
I had their meeting earlier this week.

1713
02:23:55,590 --> 02:23:59,290
Big takeaways that the new management companies in

1714
02:23:59,290 --> 02:24:03,390
place for the city facilities, the Coliseum,

1715
02:24:03,390 --> 02:24:10,310
Tanger, White Oak, and all of the other entertainment venues and what they're anticipating

1716
02:24:10,310 --> 02:24:17,530
is to greatly increase the number of events here and one of the pieces that particularly

1717
02:24:17,530 --> 02:24:23,170
going after is getting an anchor tenant at the Coliseum, which may look like a moderately

1718
02:24:23,170 --> 02:24:29,230
cocky team. So it even a lot of exciting news going on with the sports foundation in terms of

1719
02:24:29,230 --> 02:24:31,010
to continue to address more stress.

1720
02:24:36,430 --> 02:24:38,210
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1721
02:24:38,970 --> 02:24:43,910
I participated in a strategic exploration session

1722
02:24:43,910 --> 02:24:46,510
with the ready for school ready for life board.

1723
02:24:46,870 --> 02:24:50,010
Two Fridays ago was a four and a half hour meeting

1724
02:24:50,010 --> 02:24:53,190
that they requested the board to engage in a process

1725
02:24:53,190 --> 02:24:57,050
to evaluate their strategic direction.

1726
02:24:57,050 --> 02:24:59,430
pictures or was there with me as well.

1727
02:25:00,210 --> 02:25:09,510
I think it was a fruitful, productive meeting, and hopefully we'll lead that organization into some new

1728
02:25:09,510 --> 02:25:15,050
success as they move forward, and as they continue to look for their new executive directors.

1729
02:25:15,510 --> 02:25:17,690
So hopefully I can share more about that as they make progress.

1730
02:25:22,500 --> 02:25:31,820
Just the PC, we have had a meeting, since we last met, and that was reflected in the agenda tonight

1731
02:25:31,820 --> 02:25:38,580
the results of that meeting. It was part of an attention yesterday, someone submitted an email

1732
02:25:38,580 --> 02:25:52,320
that there is a mail for the general assembly to change back. I think 2017 is when we did the

1733
02:25:52,320 --> 02:25:59,040
race, the age, in Guelper County, was in 2017 and there was a mail before the general assembly

1734
02:25:59,040 --> 02:26:05,540
that might change that back, that may affect the opportunity on a number of ways.

1735
02:26:05,880 --> 02:26:10,220
We need to check that out and see if we need to help them put there.

1736
02:26:11,320 --> 02:26:17,600
So, because you know, we're a regional center, juvenile detention center, and we've been talking

1737
02:26:17,600 --> 02:26:23,900
about whether to expand our expand our dollar, and that would affect that quite possibly.

1738
02:26:25,380 --> 02:26:36,080
Kelly Azeon, Mr. Manager, Mr. Mayhouse, I just note that you've got to copy the April budget

1739
02:26:36,080 --> 02:26:40,600
performance report in your packet to reach out to any questions.

1740
02:26:41,380 --> 02:26:44,120
Madam, we do have a close session.

1741
02:26:46,280 --> 02:26:49,760
All right, commissioners, comments?

1742
02:26:50,180 --> 02:26:52,420
Let's talk with Ms. Cash in this time.

1743
02:26:57,100 --> 02:27:08,540
Well, last Friday, we had the unveiling and the dedication of the sculpture at our

1744
02:27:08,540 --> 02:27:15,640
you know, the help center of one third street, beautiful ceremony,

1745
02:27:17,820 --> 02:27:18,760
about a hundred people

1746
02:27:18,760 --> 02:27:30,260
there. The sculpture is an original that has been done by Jim Golucci, who is a local artist,

1747
02:27:31,020 --> 02:27:38,460
a great studio here, but being local certainly doesn't limit him. He has done a authority

1748
02:27:38,460 --> 02:27:45,100
exhibitions across the U.S. and completed more than 50 public art commissions for

1749
02:27:45,100 --> 02:27:50,360
municipalities, Arts Council, Universities and Private Collections across the United States.

1750
02:27:51,220 --> 02:27:58,500
This was a gift to, of course, now I try and I'm on to that facility, Sandy also

1751
02:27:58,500 --> 02:28:07,560
did, but it's a gift to our community from the Slasa family in memory of their son, David.

1752
02:28:07,560 --> 02:28:17,560
And lots of people there were making comments afterwards, they just were not aware.

1753
02:28:17,940 --> 02:28:24,260
They go for county head, these mental health services, and particularly for children.

1754
02:28:25,680 --> 02:28:33,900
And three or four parents came up to me and said, we only wish these facilities had been here when we needed them for our children.

1755
02:28:33,900 --> 02:28:38,400
It was a very lovely service,

1756
02:28:40,500 --> 02:28:46,820
one of the Slasa sons spoke and Rebecca Slasa's mother and we

1757
02:28:46,820 --> 02:28:52,540
had the unveiling and then the benediction by Reverend Monsignum, Marcassio from the church,

1758
02:28:52,540 --> 02:28:54,200
Saint-Path, with church.

1759
02:28:54,920 --> 02:29:03,200
And afterwards, the Slasa's interchange, everyone about 100 people for lunch and night they're

1760
02:29:04,000 --> 02:29:13,720
This is a wonderful sculpture it was after working on this for about two, two and a half years.

1761
02:29:14,220 --> 02:29:18,620
Actually I've been working on it since the drawings, since first seeing the drawings,

1762
02:29:19,120 --> 02:29:32,280
architectural drawings for the center when it was pretty obvious this was an opportunity for us to have a public art piece that would speak to the services there

1763
02:29:32,280 --> 02:29:41,760
and the needs of mental health and all the behavioral health areas and public support and family

1764
02:29:41,760 --> 02:29:49,240
support and hand-borne and was. This we use the monorarch because that's a symbol of mental health.

1765
02:29:49,500 --> 02:29:57,380
We use that as the guiding force. Sorry we don't have these to pass out every one of

1766
02:29:57,380 --> 02:29:59,580
We would have that this was the program.

1767
02:30:00,240 --> 02:30:13,800
That was it. And actually, we use the parrot hands, arms for forms and hands, releasing butterflies, showing

1768
02:30:13,800 --> 02:30:25,620
support, et cetera, for mental illness. In what was needed there. It really was a wonderful gift to

1769
02:30:25,620 --> 02:30:34,860
Gilford County citizens, and we should like the slices. Mike died in February, so after

1770
02:30:34,860 --> 02:30:41,940
working on this and the inverse specific about where every letter was placed in every detail,

1771
02:30:42,940 --> 02:30:50,740
he was not able to make it to the end, but we certainly felt his presence there and his impact

1772
02:30:50,740 --> 02:30:59,060
certainly on the sculpture itself, but beautifully done and I think it'll be a reminder

1773
02:30:59,060 --> 02:31:05,060
and it will be very impactful for people for years to come to go visit just to the

1774
02:31:05,060 --> 02:31:09,580
center, family members to the center, people who work at the center to be able to go out

1775
02:31:09,580 --> 02:31:17,960
sort of an area of repose and where one can stop and think and calm and be calm etc.

1776
02:31:19,920 --> 02:31:20,420
Thank

1777
02:31:22,470 --> 02:31:26,950
you, Mr. Chair. We're not just quickly second-gradulations to all the GCS graduates

1778
02:31:26,950 --> 02:31:32,430
and students for finishing up successful year and teachers for hanging in there, all our educators

1779
02:31:32,430 --> 02:31:38,090
for doing the job, the very important job that they do, specific congratulations to my

1780
02:31:38,090 --> 02:31:41,750
son Chris for who you just graduated eighth grade. Head of the high school.

1781
02:31:44,100 --> 02:31:44,580
Thank you.

1782
02:31:45,240 --> 02:31:50,120
We might sound like a broken record here, but just wanted to extend congratulations as well

1783
02:31:50,120 --> 02:31:54,180
to all of the graduates across GoFour County and a special

1784
02:31:54,180 --> 02:31:58,240
congratulations to my daughter, Zamayo, who is graduating from Northwest GoFour

1785
02:31:58,240 --> 02:32:01,700
to High School to Marrow. She is going to be attending North Carolina

1786
02:32:01,700 --> 02:32:04,300
Central and Durham in the fall. We are so proud of her

1787
02:32:04,300 --> 02:32:07,680
and very excited. In spite of the fact that we are

1788
02:32:07,680 --> 02:32:11,100
and Aggie House Hold, she will be an eagle and they'll be a

1789
02:32:11,100 --> 02:32:13,940
little competition between she and her father. I'm sure, but

1790
02:32:13,940 --> 02:32:17,700
we are really proud of her and excited for her next

1791
02:32:17,700 --> 02:32:23,660
chapter in life. I also just wanted to say thank you to Commissioner Greg Hill for bringing

1792
02:32:23,660 --> 02:32:29,280
a resolution that really lifted. I think our core values here in Gilford County.

1793
02:32:30,920 --> 02:32:38,660
The reality is that everyone deserves to feel safe and welcomed in our community.

1794
02:32:39,060 --> 02:32:44,860
And I appreciate you bringing that for us today and ensuring that all people know that they have

1795
02:32:44,860 --> 02:32:49,280
how you and that they are welcome here in our community.

1796
02:32:49,860 --> 02:32:50,280
That's all.

1797
02:32:50,340 --> 02:32:51,700
Thank you.

1798
02:32:51,700 --> 02:32:54,220
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1799
02:32:54,840 --> 02:32:58,800
I want to thank everyone who came out and gave their input tonight on the budget.

1800
02:32:59,040 --> 02:33:01,460
How about your feedback and we have the same priorities.

1801
02:33:01,920 --> 02:33:05,100
I also want to thank Mr. Murphy for craft in the op-ed.

1802
02:33:05,260 --> 02:33:09,220
I'll be half of the board where she urged the North Carolina General Assembly

1803
02:33:09,220 --> 02:33:11,700
to step up and properly fund our schools.

1804
02:33:11,700 --> 02:33:16,360
I also attended the David Slasher Monarchs School of Dren Bayland last week where we

1805
02:33:16,360 --> 02:33:20,040
ordered a young man who we lost, but highlighted the great work that

1806
02:33:20,040 --> 02:33:23,440
Gilford County, that the Gilford County Child Crisis Center does for our

1807
02:33:23,440 --> 02:33:27,920
community, our community, around mental health. I wanted you to know why I

1808
02:33:27,920 --> 02:33:31,200
recognized him pride month for the first time here in Gilford County is a

1809
02:33:31,200 --> 02:33:35,020
big deal because somewhere out there tonight, someone thinks that they are better off

1810
02:33:35,020 --> 02:33:39,080
dead than be in themselves. I wish 10 year old Brandon could have seen this moment and

1811
02:33:39,080 --> 02:33:44,140
that it does get better. And while politicians are attacking the LGBTQ community and trying

1812
02:33:44,140 --> 02:33:47,740
to roll back our rights, I want the people of Gopher County to know that we see you,

1813
02:33:47,740 --> 02:33:52,960
we're loved, and support them. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Graham. Let's put it. Nothing

1814
02:33:52,960 --> 02:34:00,660
nice of an already been said about the great work that Kaye spearheaded on his hats off to her

1815
02:34:00,660 --> 02:34:05,540
and saying heels were allowing us to put that there is going to make a big impact.

1816
02:34:05,540 --> 02:34:07,500
Thank you.

1817
02:34:07,540 --> 02:34:07,720
Joe?

1818
02:34:08,200 --> 02:34:09,200
Just a couple of things.

1819
02:34:10,060 --> 02:34:14,740
First, I want to recognize Deborah Mack, and the tremendous work would be

1820
02:34:14,740 --> 02:34:15,500
Huck.

1821
02:34:15,920 --> 02:34:17,460
Mental health rock the block.

1822
02:34:17,660 --> 02:34:19,980
The block was rocked on May 17.

1823
02:34:20,660 --> 02:34:23,280
Commissioner Tillman, I think spent the entire day there.

1824
02:34:23,620 --> 02:34:26,760
I made it towards the end of the day, but still made it before he closed up.

1825
02:34:27,000 --> 02:34:28,220
But tremendous event.

1826
02:34:29,000 --> 02:34:34,380
One of the best things about the mental health rock the block piece is that it allows

1827
02:34:34,380 --> 02:34:42,280
other vendors, suppliers to communicate with one another, which reduces the duplication of services.

1828
02:34:43,280 --> 02:34:44,960
And that they're each able to fill their niche.

1829
02:34:45,900 --> 02:34:50,680
And Assistant County Manager Isler was out there quite a bit, but it was a fantastic event.

1830
02:34:51,060 --> 02:34:55,040
I also want to congratulate Chancellor Harold Martin, who had his big retirement,

1831
02:34:55,600 --> 02:34:56,720
Gailo May 18.

1832
02:34:57,120 --> 02:34:59,960
It was tremendous attendance, a grand over.

1833
02:35:00,180 --> 02:35:08,900
He is one of the top chances in the entire country, and certainly an anti-Sistery. He will be missed, and he's left certainly

1834
02:35:08,900 --> 02:35:16,340
big shoes to fill. Once also mentioned that, I've spent some time at some of our local elementary

1835
02:35:16,340 --> 02:35:22,860
middle schools. I was at Rankin earlier this week, and sponsored ice stream for the fifth

1836
02:35:24,260 --> 02:35:38,240
and then because of that, I'm doing a sick and so on, so apparently when you're a young kid, you can eat ice cream at 9 o'clock in the morning and be just fine, so we're doing that, and I even made it over to Willborn.

1837
02:35:38,240 --> 02:35:45,740
It's a hot point, and it was with the Women's Foundation, and with Carolina, who has been going there on a weekly basis,

1838
02:35:46,080 --> 02:35:53,160
dealing with some six and eighth graders, and so I had an opportunity to talk to the students that they had.

1839
02:35:53,380 --> 02:35:57,660
Lastly, I want to mention that I did go to Pleasant Gardens Town Council meeting.

1840
02:35:58,380 --> 02:36:04,560
Unfortunately, Ron Serge's widow, Brenda Serge, was unable to make it here when we did the resolution.

1841
02:36:04,560 --> 02:36:11,440
So, I went to Pleasant Garden and deliver a resolution there on behalf of this board.

1842
02:36:12,260 --> 02:36:13,400
And that's it for me.

1843
02:36:15,550 --> 02:36:15,990
That was true.

1844
02:36:16,190 --> 02:36:17,750
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1845
02:36:18,430 --> 02:36:20,230
So, I want to lift Pat Tillman.

1846
02:36:20,270 --> 02:36:24,250
You said he was at the middle health, rock the block on the 17th.

1847
02:36:24,250 --> 02:36:26,470
He was in high point, of course, at the veterans event.

1848
02:36:26,910 --> 02:36:29,210
On the 18th, then I did get out there.

1849
02:36:29,350 --> 02:36:31,010
It was kind of sponsored by the Heroes Center.

1850
02:36:31,090 --> 02:36:35,390
It was a great event downtown High Point honoring veterans.

1851
02:36:35,390 --> 02:36:44,090
I'd like to welcome Dr. Tullisha Roberts, who is the new Executive Director for Thrive 2.0.

1852
02:36:44,650 --> 02:36:47,830
The county did support Thrive in its emphasis.

1853
02:36:48,610 --> 02:36:52,790
When first guy started, we gave a big donation to help them about three years ago.

1854
02:36:53,410 --> 02:36:58,430
So now they are revamping and it is now Thrive 2.0.

1855
02:36:58,430 --> 02:37:05,330
Um, attended the Carolina Corps, MLS soccer game on last Saturday.

1856
02:37:05,430 --> 02:37:09,190
It was their first home game, a sellout crowd.

1857
02:37:09,470 --> 02:37:13,690
It was a huge event at Rockers Stadium.

1858
02:37:14,390 --> 02:37:18,970
They didn't win the game, but it was a lot of hoopla around that first night.

1859
02:37:19,470 --> 02:37:23,510
So I was glad to be able to support that.

1860
02:37:26,000 --> 02:37:33,000
The High Point Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated Awarded 10 Scholarships

1861
02:37:33,000 --> 02:37:45,320
across give a county ranging from $700 to $1100 to young men and women in RGCS schools

1862
02:37:45,320 --> 02:37:51,560
who will be further in the education at the college of their choices was the big thing

1863
02:37:51,560 --> 02:37:56,420
us to be able to give 10 scholarships in that amount.

1864
02:38:00,530 --> 02:38:06,070
Juneteenth coming up on June 16th and High Point will be at the Rocker Stadium.

1865
02:38:06,550 --> 02:38:11,430
It is sponsored by the College of Davis YMCA, it's going to be bigger and better this year

1866
02:38:11,430 --> 02:38:17,650
and we moved it from the one there because we are honoring fancage of Burino and the chairman

1867
02:38:17,650 --> 02:38:21,670
will be there to make a presentation to her on behalf of the county.

1868
02:38:21,670 --> 02:38:28,270
So any commissioners would like to attend that event, just let me know so that I can take it to that.

1869
02:38:29,130 --> 02:38:35,730
It's a free community event, but we have, we do have sponsors and we'll have local talent,

1870
02:38:35,890 --> 02:38:40,850
we have some school children that will be there because they have done some artwork around June 10th

1871
02:38:40,850 --> 02:38:46,970
or have vendors and food trucks and it's going to be a big time and high point.

1872
02:38:46,970 --> 02:38:52,570
Following that, the Black Pearl Society is sponsoring Douggy Fresh in Greensboro,

1873
02:38:52,570 --> 02:38:57,630
kind of served at the Continental Club that starts at 6 o'clock. In High Point we're 2 to 6,

1874
02:38:57,770 --> 02:39:03,470
there's a 6 to 930. Tickets can are still available to be purchased there.

1875
02:39:06,180 --> 02:39:10,500
Want to congratulate all of the Government County School students that will be graduating this

1876
02:39:10,500 --> 02:39:16,640
weekend. I will be participating in graduations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from the High Point Schools.

1877
02:39:18,000 --> 02:39:19,580
I always look forward to that.

1878
02:39:19,780 --> 02:39:21,520
Can't let the school board head follow my head.

1879
02:39:21,940 --> 02:39:23,020
Education is just a priority.

1880
02:39:24,700 --> 02:39:28,000
And Black Pearl Society will be sponsoring

1881
02:39:28,000 --> 02:39:30,620
Lunch for all of the teachers and staff to

1882
02:39:30,620 --> 02:39:33,440
Marrow at Alan J. Prep Academy.

1883
02:39:34,960 --> 02:39:36,240
Missed teacher appreciation week,

1884
02:39:36,760 --> 02:39:38,920
but they said tomorrow would be a good day for us to do that.

1885
02:39:39,140 --> 02:39:40,340
So we're doing that.

1886
02:39:40,460 --> 02:39:42,020
And just a moment of personal privilege.

1887
02:39:42,720 --> 02:39:45,580
I have to congratulate Makabria who made the

1888
02:39:48,980 --> 02:39:56,220
She was one of two fifth graders that made the team, so there were 14 young ladies that were picked, and she was one of them.

1889
02:39:56,480 --> 02:39:59,580
So congratulations to my career with Abianna Rose student.

1890
02:40:00,760 --> 02:40:07,180
Chair leader, and lift up her brother C.J. who is a three-sport athlete and AB Honore student as well.

1891
02:40:07,620 --> 02:40:10,380
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Church announcements, that's what these are.

1892
02:40:13,160 --> 02:40:27,700
I too want to thank the general public for coming out tonight. All of the teachers, all of the folks that support the teachers, coming out and letting us know what your thoughts are on the budget.

1893
02:40:27,700 --> 02:40:57,600
That's how we, you know, I'll feed back and I think the manager for putting together a presentation in order to kind of educate the community on basically how budget to put together and how we're spending their tax dollars or appreciate that and also do want to select all the graduates this year that'll be graduating over the next couple of weeks and been able to also to teachers who helped give them get to that point.

1894
02:40:57,700 --> 02:41:02,080
I've been able to graduate from high school.

1895
02:41:02,980 --> 02:41:05,660
So again, Hassel, all of them, all the people

1896
02:41:05,660 --> 02:41:11,340
at GCC, GCS, for a personal privilege, also.

1897
02:41:11,980 --> 02:41:15,700
I want to congratulate my granddaughter, Nala Austin.

1898
02:41:16,400 --> 02:41:19,100
She's been promoted to the third rate.

1899
02:41:20,100 --> 02:41:24,500
So she's been graduated from that from above.

1900
02:41:25,360 --> 02:41:35,440
Also, my youngest granddaughter, R.L. Austin, she would be going to pre-K next year, and her birthday

1901
02:41:35,440 --> 02:41:44,620
is going to be June 11th, one day after my birthday, which will be June 10th, so happy birthday

1902
02:41:44,620 --> 02:41:47,620
to my baby granddaughter.

1903
02:41:50,880 --> 02:41:59,780
Do I hear a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of General Stack 2143-318 and

1904
02:41:59,780 --> 02:42:03,120
everyone for the purpose of consulting with our county attorney?

1905
02:42:03,120 --> 02:42:07,640
I mean, we're in the proper second order, maybe second order, maybe second order.

1906
02:42:08,400 --> 02:42:11,620
Those may as have it so order, we stand in closed session.

1907
02:42:45,790 --> 02:42:47,850
All right, we got the motion to come back in the open session.

1908
02:42:47,850 --> 02:42:51,890
We would have probably said for all those things that could perhaps say that.

1909
02:42:52,010 --> 02:42:53,970
We would have a motion to adjourn.

1910
02:42:54,950 --> 02:42:55,430
Second.

1911
02:42:58,670 --> 02:42:59,150
Second.

1912
02:43:21,230 --> 02:43:21,710
Second.