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C:�0)Lf-. <br />LEE COUNTY <br />Committed Today for a Better Tomorrow <br />RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE NCSBA SCHOOL VOUCHER LAWSUIT <br />AGAINST THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE <br />LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IN THAT LAWSUIT <br />WHEREAS, each Local Education Agency (LEA) in North Carolina receives substantial funding from <br />local taxpayers as approved by its corresponding Board of County Commissioners; and <br />WHEREAS, those tax dollars are expressly intended for expenditure only on those tasks and purposes <br />stated in the budget approved by the County Commissioners; and <br />WHEREAS, the Lee County School System expends some of the appropriated tax dollars on dues and <br />fees for the North Carolina School Board Association (NCSBA); and <br />WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners in Lee County has neither appropriated nor approved <br />the expenditure of tax dollars for use in any litigation against the State of North Carolina or its <br />jurisdictions; and <br />WHEREAS, the NCSBA is using tax dollars to pursue a lawsuit against the State of North Carolina <br />seeking to prevent the General Assembly from approving a form of education vouchers through which <br />low income families would have greater opportunity to choose the best schools for their children; and <br />WHEREAS, this lawsuit causes financial harm to the State and Lee County, regardless of the outcome <br />of the lawsuit; and <br />WHEREAS, the Lee County School Board has voted unanimously to join the NCSBA in that lawsuit <br />without first expressing its intent to, seeking approval of, or otherwise coordinating with the Board of <br />County Commissioners; and <br />WHEREAS, the Lee County School Board's support of the NCSBA lawsuit may be perceived as an <br />endorsement of the use of our tax dollars (paid to NCSBA in the form of dues or fees) for purposes of <br />suing the State; and <br />WHEREAS, the Lee County School Board's support of the NCSBA's lawsuit is an embarrassment to <br />the county's hard working taxpayers and could prejudice the North Carolina General Assembly's view <br />of the values and integrity of our fair county. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lee County Board of Commissioners that: <br />1. The Commissioners expressly disagree with the Lee County School Board's decision to <br />support or join the NCSBA lawsuit that seeks to overturn Session Law 2013-360 <br />implementing Opportunity Grants for low income families in the State of North Carolina; and <br />2. The Commissioners support the General Assembly in implementing a system of Disability <br />Scholarships and Scholarship Grants for low income families that give parents greater <br />diversity and choice in choosing where to school their children; and <br />