HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1063 (2)Dr. Cash mentioned the three local healthcare facilities, and he said everyone
needed to concentrate on ways to encourage some of Iredell's best students to remain in
the county to live and work.
Dr. Boyles said much of the educational funding that should be coming to Iredell
County was being directed towards low wealth counties. He asked the commissioners to
seek relief from the county's General Assembly members about changing the distribution
method.
Commissioner Johnson mentioned a past conversation with Mitchell Community
College officials about discretionary money for real estate. He said it was the intention of
the board of commissioners to retain the money in the general fund until the college had a
need.
Dr. Bentley said Mitchell was landlocked, and when property became available,
the college officials wanted the opportunity to move fast.
Commissioner Johnson mentioned the following three items regarding the Iredell-
Statesville Schools.
Concerning the erosion problems at Harmony Elementary, adjacent property
owners have spent their own money to correct the situation, and they will
probably try to recoup their losses through the courts.
Concerning the Baldrige Program, the school officials were asked to be
sensitive to the employees who were "at the end of their rope."
Concerning school funding, Johnson said, "If the Governor cuts your budget,
we (board of commissioners) regularly send you more dollars."
Commissioner Williams mentioned the Certificates of Participation (COPS)
totaling nearly $50 million that were recently approved by the commissioners. He said
the COPs issuance hadn't received much publicity, but the funds would be available for
the schools.
In regards to Baldrige, Dr. Cash said, "A business can only be as good as the
people who run it. Change is always painful. Most of the resistance is at the high school
level. Teacher morale has improved due to the increased supplements. We will continue
to monitor the morale, but each system is forced to show standards of improvement.
You're either improving or declining. We have teacher mentors for the ones who ask.
We are trying these programs, and hopefully, more teachers will want to try them. Many
school systems are recruiting our principals who have been through the Baldrige
Program."
Commissioner Norman asked that a representative(s) from the Mooresville
Schools and Mitchell College be added to the School Facilities Task Force.
LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON
North Carolina General Assembly Members in attendance were Senators Fletcher
Hartsell and Dr. Jim Forestor, along with Representatives Julia Howard and Karen Ray.
Representative Howard said Medicaid was a major issue, and North Carolina was
the only state in the nation that required counties to pay a fixed percentage of the state's
costs. She said Medicaid was a "nemesis" for everyone, and the county's General
Assembly representatives would continue to seek relief.
Representative Ray said Iredell County was fortunate to have seven advocates
who had the county's best interests in mind.
Several topics were then discussed. Highlights are as follows:
Economic Incentive Program: The representatives were asked for assistance in
changing the tier program.