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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93008_16921:'t:i IREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MINUTES MARCH 13, 1990 The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 13, 1990, 7:30 p.m., Agricultu- ral Center Auditorium, Statesville, NC, for the purpose of hearing the presentation of the Iredell County/Statesville City School Merger Plan. Those present for the meeting were: R. B. Sloan, Jr., Chairman Alice M. Stewart, Vice Chairman C. Chandler Bryan Larry S. Hedrick Frances L. Murdock Staff present: Joel Mashburn, County Manager William P. Pope, County Attorney Alice Fortner, Clerk to the Board Chairman Sloan called the meeting to order and announced the County Commissioners would only be receiving comments from the school boards at this meeting. Presentations from others will be heard at a later date. The chairman thanked the two school boards for the many hours of time they spent in preparing the merger plan. Mr. Jerry Ball, chairman of the Iredell County School Board, made opening remarks, followed by Mr. Jim Ashburn, Statesville City Schools chairman's opening remarks. Mr. Wayne Miller gave an overview of the school merger plan. A question was raised about the resolution of intent prepared for the county commissioners' adoption, The intent calls for raising the per pupil expenditure of current expense to the state average by the year 1992. Commissioner Hedrick inquired whose state average would be used. The school officials replied it would be the N. C. Department of Public Instruction, Statistical Profile per pupil average. Dr. Williams said the County is now close to $70 to $80 of State average. Dr. Williams answered questions the county commissioners had in reference to the plan. A question was raised about the special education classes. Dr. Miller said they planned to use Troutman Middle School facilities as a center for handicapped and special education. Commissioner Murdock inquired about maps showing the school districts, and asked if the East Elementary Middle School would be built if there is no consolidation, to which Dr. Williams replied it would be built. Commissioner Murdock inquired about the students who live in the Buffalo Shoals area, where they would attend, and also about the criteria for the new superintendent. She asked how the new superintendent would be chosen. Mr. Ashburn replied it would be a matter for the 13 -member board to address. Commissioner Murdock inquired about boundary line changes. She said she was afraid the boundaries will be changed without giving any information to the public. Commissioner Bryan inquired about the middle school concept. Dr. Williams replied the paired education concept is strongly supported by the BEP. Dr. Miller addressed the second language to be !� taught in this section. Commissioner Bryan inquired how long did the school officials think the middle school concept will last, to which Dr. Williams replied he thought it would be a long time. Commissioner Hedrick inquired about transferring students from one school to another. Dr. Williams said both boards of education are sensitive to the needs of children based on individual situations. He referred to HB 1369 which deals with what is in the best interest of the child. Commissioner Bryan inquired if Mr. Jay Huskins' plan of merger was considered. Dr. Williams replied about the plans for the South High School. He spoke of the plans for magnet schools and vocational schools for 11th and 12th grades. Commissioner Murdock inquired about a Mrs. Williams who met with Dr. Williams about some changes in the boundary line at East Monbo community. Commissioner Hedrick inquired about the obligation of the funding on the next board of county commissioners. County Attorney Bill Pope said he talked with David Lawrence at the Institute of Government, and it is his opinion it is a very fundamental concept of N. C. law that one governing board, except in very rare circumstances, cannot bind another governing board. He made some further statements and said there could not be a legal binding on a subsequent board, but there might be a moral ' binding, In further conversation, he stated the educational part of the plan was the responsibili- ty of the school boards; the financial part of the plan is the county commissioners' responsibility.