County Allocates Tax Funds Connecticut Superintendent Named
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This Weekend FRIDAY Rain 61/52 The return SATURDAY Mostly Cloudy of H. Barnes 77/65 SUNDAY See page 9 Clear 88/65 carrborocitizen.com APRIL 21, 2011 u LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED u VOLUME V NO. VI FREE Connecticut superintendent County named district’s next leader BY SUSAN DICKsoN tive culture that places an emphasis allocates Staff Writer on all students learning is critical in a school system. tax funds CHAPEL HILL – The Chapel Hill- “Obviously, the current economic Carrboro City Schools Board of Edu- crisis does not offer much to assist dis- BY SUSAN DICKsoN cation announced last week that Dr. tricts,” he said. “The children who en- Staff Writer Thomas Forcella, superintendent of ter our school buildings keep us posi- Guilford, Conn., Public Schools, will tive and provide the motivation for us The Orange County Board of Com- serve as the next superintendent of the to press on even in the worst times. missioners voted unanimously on Tues- school district. “None of us should ever be satisfied day to dedicate any funds raised from Forcella has served as superin- with the status quo. In public educa- a quarter-cent sales-tax referendum to tendent in Guilford since 2005 and tion, you are either moving forward or schools and economic development. previously served as superintendent of you’re moving backward.” Earlier this month, the board voted schools in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. At a meeting at Smith Middle to put the referendum on the November He began his career in public School, the board voted unanimously ballot, and on Tuesday board members schools as a special-education teach- to name Forcella as the district’s next voted to allocate 50 percent of potential er and later served as a high school superintendent and offered remarks funds to economic development and 50 principal. Forcella holds a bachelor’s welcoming him to Chapel Hill-Car- percent to education. degree in physical education, a mas- rboro. If approved, the tax would cost resi- ter’s degree in special education and a “One thing that’s clear is that dents an additional 25 cents on a $100 doctorate in educational management achieving our high expectations for purchase, though it wouldn’t apply to from the University of Bridgeport in groceries and medicine. County staff Guilford school district outperforms all students will require you recognize Connecticut. has estimated that the tax would raise other districts of similar socioeco- and draw upon all the resources our “Under his leadership, student $2.5 million annually. Famed botanical illustrator Redouté’s rendering nomic status in statewide testing. The district has to offer,” board member test scores have increased despite re- Economic-development projects of Magnolia macrophylla district includes seven schools serving Greg McElveen said, adding that For- ductions in district resources,” board that could be funded by the tax include PhoTO BY Ken Moore a student population of 3,900. cella has demonstrated he can do that. Chair Jamezetta Bedford said. Ac- the expansion of the county’s Small Forcella said that he believes a posi- cording to a CHCCS press release, the SEE SUP’T PAGE 8 Business Loan Program, innovation centers for new businesses, agricultural BY KEN MOORE economic development and business- FLora development grants. Celebrating community Board members have said they In the footsteps of would like to see funding go toward economic-development initiatives in André Michaux at Abbey Court order to improve the county’s sales- BY WILL BRYANT nder the auspices of tax base. Currently, over 75 percent Staff Writer of county revenue comes from prop- the French govern- erty taxes. ment, botanist André In the early-afternoon hours of Education proceeds from the tax Michaux explored Sunday, April 17, a fight broke out would be split equitably between the at Abbey Court Condominiums. county’s two school systems, with facil- the former English There were no cries of anger, nor were colonies from 1785 to 1796. His ities improvements of older schools and U there any punches thrown. The fight the acquisition of technology as pri- principal mission was to find took place with smiling faces, soaked orities for funding. County and school new tree species to reforest the clothes and water guns amid the leaders will meet next week to discuss French countryside, which had rhythmic sounds of salsa music echo- specific projects that could be funded. ing off the buildings of a changing been depleted for shipbuilding Commissioner Barry Jacobs said he community. would prefer that the economic-devel- during wars with Great Britain. Abbey Court Condominiums was opment and schools funding not be His tireless travels, with nu- celebrating Thingyan, the Burmese limited to the proposed projects. merous excursions across North New Year Water Festival, and more “That way, you leave the door open for than 100 people came out to take part Children of Abbey Court Apartments express their artistic creativity during the schools systems if they want to change Carolina, including the environs in a massive water fight. the Water Festival on Sunday. The festival, which celebrates the Burmese of Hillsborough, provided a that, support it, tweak it,” he said. The festival, hosted by the Human New Year, brought the community together through a combination of water Orange County voters narrowly wealth of new plants for both Rights Center of Chapel Hill and balloons, art, music and good food. rejected a proposed quarter-cent sales the French and British garden- Carrboro, was held to honor to the PhoTO BY WILL BRYanT tax on the November 2010 ballot, ing world. One of the standouts growing number of Burmese residents with 51.24 percent, or 21,180 votes, living in the area. help the Burmese feel welcome, as The afternoon was filled with the of the new American plants is against the sales tax, and 48.76 percent, “The idea is to acknowledge all well as bring the community to- screams of happy children soaking or 20,755 votes, in favor. Prior to last bigleaf magnolia, Magnolia mac- these people’s culture, especially gether. one another with water guns and year’s referendum, the board had voted rophylla, which was introduced here in Abbey Court,” said Rafael “Here, there are no games for water balloons and the smell of tama- to dedicate 42.5 percent of potential to France in 1800 and flowered Gallegos, the associate director of kids and there are no areas for kids les being served to all in attendance. proceeds to economic development, in Empress Josephine’s garden Human Rights Center. Gallegos to play in,” Gallegos said. “So if you Horseback rides in the Abbey Court 42.5 percent to schools and 15 percent said that as many as 25 Burmese want to develop a sense of commu- quad were offered for the kids. outside Paris as early as 1811. to be split between emergency services families are living in Abbey Court nity, you have to do something like and libraries. I’m happily obsessed with this and that the festival was held to this.” SEE ABBEY COURT PAGE 7 In its 2008 budget, the legislature tree – and though I’ve featured gave counties the option of a quarter- it in past Floras, I’m describing it cent sales-tax increase or a 0.4 percent again because on April 30 you’ll Parking deck, hotel closer to reality land-transfer tax to help compensate for BY KIRK Ross have opportunity to see it in the deck on the eastern section of the begin on the project this summer. money taken away from counties when Staff Writer property. Last month, the town Architect Jim Spencer said the the responsibility for paying for Medic- wild, in the very vicinity, near agreed to a formula for leasing up to new deck is likely to be built very aid was turned over to the state. Orange Gastonia, where Michaux saw CHAPEL HILL — Representatives of 250 spaces in the six-level deck – a quickly since it will be assembled County voters overwhelmingly rejected and studied it and introduced it Main Street Partners told the Carr- deal deemed essential to a financing from precast sections. Precasting a transfer-tax referendum in May 2008. to his son, François André. boro Board of Aldermen that they’re agreement for the Hampton Inn ho- uses less concrete than making the The commissioners also discussed a inching closer to a summer start for possible half-cent tax referendum and Famed botanical illustrator tel that is proposed for the site. material on site, Spencer said, and the major redevelopment of 300 Laura Van Sant of Main Street flourishes can be added more easily $10 vehicle tax that would fund region- Pierre-Joseph Redouté’s im- East Main Street. Partners said the hotel has made to the design. al and local transportation planning age of this magnolia, pictured At a meeting Tuesday night at “significant strides” in obtaining -fi initiatives, including light rail and in- above, graces multiple editions of Town Hall, the board reviewed the nancing – and although it’s not 100 creased bus services. Officials are work- François André Michaux’s North final elevation plans for a parking percent certain, work is scheduled to SEE ALDERMEN PAGE 9 ing with Durham and Wake county leaders to develop a transit plan that American Sylva, based on his would be funded by the half-cent tax if father’s earlier Flora Boreali-Amer- Chapel Hill town manager asks officials put it on the November ballot icana, field notes and his own and voters approve it. additional observations from two for review of town services Officials in all three counties will have to make a decision on the possible American visits between 1801 BY KIRK Ross as-you-throw for garbage collection have to tap.