HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93008_1708 (2)to address the needs of the education, and I think that the voters, if this plan is approved as the
^^�^ resolution is presented, I think they do, in fact, still have a very good and clear opportunity to
have a referendum. And that of course being the election of the new school board as it would be
voted on by the districts. And of course they would be the ones that would carry out the implemen-
tation of the plan, however it exists.
My fear is not that the plan would fail in a referendum, but my fear would be that the informa-
tion and the issues brought about as a result of a referendum would not, indeed, be factual and
relative to a positive approach to dealing with the issues. I said I wasn't going to use it, but I
am going to use it, if you don't mind, the analogy I used in private to the chairman. And that is
the first referendum that I know of failed on account of misinformation. And I would hate like whiz
to throw the baby out with the bath water, so to speak, and have this merger issue, and that's what
it is, it's a merger issue, it's not an issue about where a boundary line is going to be put,
because boundary lines are always going to be changed due to demographics and change in population,
as we develop. South Iredell is certainly developing much more rapidly than Iredell County, and
therefore, there's all sorts of needs down in South Iredell that are perhaps accelerated over North
Iredell. So those types of things you are going to have to look at on a year-to-year basis, and we
certainly don't want to build schools that we are closing down before their usefulness is past.
The referendum that I was talking about was probably 1925 years ago, when Pilate asked the
people, "Who do you want to crucify?" Now they made the wrong decision, but they didn't have any
choice in the matter, perhaps, because it was predestination. And I am not trying to be
sacrilegious or say that this plan is as important as the life of Christ, because I certainly don't
imply that. But the point is I think that we as responsible adults need to address the merger plan
and be concerned with the education of our children, as opposed to, and I'm a parent. My child goes
to Montessori School, by the way. But she was in the public school system, as my son graduated
there. My wife and I both did. But I think we can get a better deal for our children with the
merger, and that's why I'll vote for it, subject to the conditions in the resolution.
SLOAN: Well, I've probably got a little longer statement. I have debated whether to make a
long statement, and I felt like it is probably the only time I'll ever be able to speak to this
without, when I can say what I want to say. So with the board's indulgence.
I've received several tails questioning why we are meeting today at this time. There are
several reasons. We wanted some time after the presentations Tuesday night to consider the com-
ments. Some of us were not ready to vote Tuesday night. We have been asked the consider all input
before we act. The real practical reason that we are meeting today is because it is the only time
all of us could find to get together. This board has received public input and there's no further
forum for additional public input scheduled. The only things left for us to do are to deliberate
and act. At a public session, there is no hiding. I strongly suspect the results of today will be
communicated throughout this county irrespective of the time we vote on it.
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I guess the worse thing we can do to upset a person is to do something that affects their
family or has a negative impact on their pocketbook. This issue has the potential of doing both.
We are considering voting on an issue which will affect a large percentage of the children in this
county. Some will be affectived positively, some negatively. The goal of the proposal is to be in
the overall best interest of all children. We are considering voting on an issue that will affect a
large percentage of the taxpayers in this county. I could discuss and try to explain the pro's and
con's of the proposed district lines, busing, curriculum, and many other issues, but I think both
sides have pretty well made up their minds on all these issues, and I doubt what I would say would
change anyone's position. I do expect that each of these issues will adapt to the dynamics of a
changing and growing county. We could talk about the wars between the city and county over the
years. The mistakes and personalities of past years should have absolutely nothing to do with the
decisions of today. What I would like to talk about is what I view as my role as a county commis-
sioner, and again, with the board's indulgence, what I view as the role of the citizens of this
county.
First my role as a county commissioner and relative to this merger. Two school boards have
unanimously agreed, that is, all thirteen voting members, on eight of the nine points included in
this plan. That is the school boards unanimously agreed to the attendance areas, pupil assignments,
capital projects, and the governments. The only thing, the only thing these school boards did not
unanimously agree upon was to call for a referendum. I'm sympathetic to those of you who are
concerned about these issues. I have read considerable information about these issues, and I
believe the school boards are addressing them. If there's been one shortcoming during the past
fifteen months, it would be the lack of a forum to receive public input. I cannot agree that the
actions of the school boards have not received widespead publicity. As a county commissioner, I am
not in a position, nor should I be, to make these judgments regarding attendance areas, pupil
assignments, curriculum. The school boards are far more familiar and qualified to address those
concerns. I do have the significant responsibility to consider, when talking about funding levels,
this county can support. And assure we receive our money's worth by requiring the school boards are
held accountable. I believe the proposed resolution does this.
The question of a referendum has been raised by many individuals. I have tried from the
announcement almost fifteen months ago to be as openminded as I know how to be. I have attempted to
read all the information I could find relative to the subject of consolidation. I have read every
letter that I received that was signed. This represents the input of 282 people, and if you are
interested, 161 were consolidation supporters, and 121 were against. I really have no idea how many
telephone calls I have received relative to this question, but it would be several hundred. The
calls probably ran 3 or 4 to 1 against consolidation. I read through and counted the petitions last
night, which were presented to us Tuesday night. Mr. Austin indicated there was approximately
10,000 signatures here, and I concur with his count. I counted about 250 signatures asking one of
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