Minutes - 2-3-14 Reg. Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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B K 00026 PG: 0343 LEE COUNTY Committed Today for a Better Tomorrow RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE NCSBA SCHOOL VOUCHER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND THE PARTICIPATION OF THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IN THAT LAWSUIT WHEREAS, each Local Education Agency (LEA) in North Carolina receives substantial funding from local taxpayers as approved by its corresponding Board of County Commissioners; and WHEREAS, those tax dollars are expressly intended for expenditure only on those tasks and purposes stated in the budget approved by the County Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the Lee County School System expends some of the appropriated tax dollars on dues and fees for the North Carolina School Board Association ( NCSBA); and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners in Lee County has neither appropriated nor approved the expenditure of tax dollars for use in any litigation against the State of North Carolina or its jurisdictions; and WHEREAS, the NCSBA is using tax dollars to pursue a lawsuit against the State of North Carolina seeking to prevent the General Assembly from approving a form of education vouchers through which low income families would have greater opportunity to choose the best schools for their children; and WHEREAS, this lawsuit causes financial harm to the State and Lee County, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit; and WHEREAS, the Lee County School Board has voted unanimously to join the NCSBA in that lawsuit without first expressing its intent to, seeking approval of, or otherwise coordinating with the Board of County Commissioners; and WHEREAS, the Lee County School Board's support of the NCSBA lawsuit may be perceived as an endorsement of the use of our tax dollars (paid to NCSBA in the form of dues or fees) for purposes of suing the State; and WHEREAS, the Lee County School Board's support of the NCSBA's lawsuit is an embarrassment to the county's hard working taxpayers and could prejudice the North Carolina General Assembly's view of the values and integrity of our fair county. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lee County Board of Commissioners that: 1. The Commissioners expressly disagree with the Lee County School Board's decision to support or join the NCSBA lawsuit that seeks to overturn Session Law 2013 -360 implementing Opportunity Grants for low income families in the State of North Carolina; and 2. The Commissioners support the General Assembly in implementing a system of Disability Scholarships and Scholarship Grants for low income families that give parents greater diversity and choice in choosing where to school their children; and