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As part of our participation in the democratic process, we gave questionnaires to all candidates for OCS Board of Education, and solicited their response. 

We are not planning to endorse OCS BOE candidates, but we want our membership to know where candidates stand.

Here are the questions and answers (100 word max):

1. If elected, would you oppose or support a county commissioner or board of education initiated merger plan in the next term of office?

Biddle (Andrea)

No response.  We received confirmation that the email was received.

Brown (Liz)

No response.  We spoke to Mrs. Brown via phone and confirmed receipt.

Cook (Keith)

I would continue to oppose merger, because it is not needed. What is needed is more funding. We have to find ways to doing it. I personally don't think it had to be "equal" just "enough" to get the job done on a continuous (yearly) basis.

Hartkopf (Al)

I would oppose either plan in this or any future term of office. I believe in the diversity that two systems provide. I believe in smaller systems, smaller schools, and smaller class sizes.

Henninger (James)

If elected, would you oppose or support a county commissioner or board of education initiated merger plan in the next term of office? I do and would oppose such a plan unless there was an overwhelmingly compelling reason for it, which I cannot contemplate. Furthermore, by the very definition of county commissioner initiated plan (see county manager's report on merger to the commissioners and the public), the school board would have no role in such a plan.

Simpson (Delores)

I would oppose a county commissioner or school board initiated merger plan in the next term of office.

Whitling (Dennis)

No response.  We received confirmation that the email was received.


2. What problems besides differences in funding would school merger solve?  What problems might a merger create?
 

Biddle (Andrea)

No response. 

Brown (Liz)

No response.

Cook (Keith)

Orange county Schools is a very good school district that will continue to get better. The challenge we have in funding so that can offer the types of instruction that we know is needed to move our students and district to the next level and be the school district we are capable of being.

Hartkopf (Al)

[first part] I can see none.

[second part]

1. Merger would mean an utter loss of local control for Orange County residents.
2. There would be a dilution of the amount and substance of local culture reflected in the school system.
3. An enormous and unproductive bureaucracy would form which would make the new system less responsive to students and parents.
4. Compartmentalization of functions would lead to insulation from public scrutiny. Inefficiency would naturally follow.
5. Bussing would surely increase.
6. Merger would bring sizeable tax increases for those least capable of paying them.
7. It would cause a years-long suspension of increases in the Chapel Hill District Tax while the County "catches up." [remainder removed due to word limit]
 

Henninger (James)

It would remove the county schools from the increasing dysfunction of the County School Board. It might require less tax dollars (debatable) for at least the near future.  The negatives are primarily loss of opportunity for local control, especially for the county. Under a merged system, there could be a greater discrimination in funding between county and city schools, and even within the prior systems. As an exageration, there would be no legal basis to disallow funding Chapel High School 20 million and Orange High School 1 million.

Simpson (Delores)

I don't think it would solve any problems in funding, a study was made concerning this very issue and the results were that none to very little money would be saved.  The problems it would create would be related to the makeup of the Staff, Superintendents, Associate Superintendents.  there would be the problem of busing, deciding which schools students would be assigned, the subjects taught and where.  There would have to be a total reorganization of the entire school system.  The make-up of the School Board would also change.  There are numerous other adjustments that would have to be made.

Whitling (Dennis)

No response.


3. Do you support a public referendum on merger to gauge the will of the people even if non-binding?
 

Biddle (Andrea)

No response. 

Brown (Liz)

No response.

Cook (Keith)

In my opinion to have a public referendum on merger countywide which could pass or fail with out the voice of Northern Orange would not be the answer.

I support a public referendum among the citizens of Northern Orange on a district Tax for our School district. First.

Hartkopf (Al)

In principle, I am in favor of public input into government policy. While there is some disagreement on the intent of the merger statue, the letter of the law seems to permit referenda. It appears to me that the BoCC would have done well to include a non-binding referendum on merger as a part of regularly scheduled elections.

Henninger (James)

Absolutely not. The outcome is fore-ordained, and it would be a waste of time and taxpayer money.

Simpson (Delores)

I firmly believe that the people should always have an opportunity to have a voice in anything that affects them.

Whitling (Dennis)

No response.


4. Do you support long distance busing in a merged school district?  If not, how would you prevent this?
 

Biddle (Andrea)

No response. 

Brown (Liz)

No response.

Cook (Keith)

Long bus rides are not new for the students of OCS because of the square miles area of our district. Remember that 85% of the appro. 400 square miles of the county is in the OCSD area of operation. I would not support any longer rides.

Hartkopf (Al)

I would prevent long distance bussing in a merged district by not merging the districts in the first place. Long distance bussing would be a fact of life in a merged system. It's unavoidable, unless of course we build a lot more schools. That's not a bad idea, but one that comes with a prohibitive price tag.

Henninger (James)

Since this is what we do in the county, this is not much of an issue to us. But I was raised in a small town and rode my bicycle to school every day, so I appreciate local schools. In a merger situation, I think that "no busing" could be a "non-negotiable." There would be a premium to pay, however, because this would negate much of the economic benefit of merger.

Simpson (Delores)

I have never believed in long distant busing even within the district.  However with the county so widespread it's almost impossible not to have some busses travel longer distances that others. Merger would make the trips even longer and it couldn't be prevented.

Whitling (Dennis)

No response.


5. Do you support the siting and building of neighborhood schools as the center of a walk-able, sustainable community?
 

Biddle (Andrea)

No response. 

Brown (Liz)

No response.

Cook (Keith)

Of course the is preferable in most cases in northern orange that would mean that all our schools would be in Hillsborough, and that is not where the citizens or students are, we are building communities and economic development with our schools and looking where the large areas are growth are and expected growth in the future. I do support and advocate for a sustainable communities and we ask all future development to work on making all new developments walk able and side walks and trails that help us to connect

Hartkopf (Al)

YES!

Henninger (James)

Again, this is a city system perspective. Sure, I support this concept wherever feasible. For much or most of the county, this is not a possibility even when schools are located less than a half mile away. They tend to be on busy highways with no sidewalks, such as NC 86, where no reponsible parent would send their child to walk or cross.

Simpson (Delores)

Within reason, I believe that it should be as convenient as we can possible make it for our students.

Whitling (Dennis)

No response.


6. Did you participate in ROB-CH?

Biddle (Andrea)

No response. 

Brown (Liz)

No response.

Cook (Keith)

No I did not.

Hartkopf (Al)

NO!

Henninger (James)

No

Simpson (Delores)

No I did not participate. 

Whitling (Dennis)

No response.

 


The opinions expressed on this site are the opinions and copyright of the individuals who submitted the information.  

Material which is not clearly attributed may be attributed to "a supporter of NoMerger.org".  Copyright 2004, NoMerger.org.

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