Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
$1 Million Allotted For Technology For Davie Schools
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Randy McDaniel urges county commissioners not to use taxpayer’s money to finish the Mebane Challenge to provide technology for Davie schools. - Photo by Robin Snow
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On Aug. 6, Allen Mebane presented a report to the board on the Mebane Challenge to improve technology in Davie schools.
He told commissioners the new money would be used to equip the last 80 classrooms in the school system with Smart Boards, projectors, and laptop computers for teachers, and equip six classrooms with audio visual equipment.
People from the audience who spoke on the subject had mixed feelings.
Randy McDaniel told commissioners he thought the commissioners shouldn’t use taxpayer money to finish a program started with public and donated money.
McDaniel referred to the school bond that failed back in May and said he was one of the 62% of Davie people who voted no to building a second high school.
“I ask you to vote no on this challenge today and our voters who will be asked to go to the polls in November, they already know how to say no. These same voters are going to be voting in May ‘08 to vote for three new commissioners and two new board of education members, they’ll remember this day. We out here in this room are the people, and y’all up there are public servants. Public service is not about stealing from the people,” McDaniel said.
Bill Foust told commissioners the Mebane Foundation should be commended for being willing to spend the amount of money it does for the schools. Foust said he met with Mebane because he felt strongly that the timing was not good for soliciting $1 million from the county.
“The county’s budget was recently approved and there was nothing in the budget addressing this. Is this $1 million challenge the right thing to do? You’re going to ask registered voters to vote yes or no for either a sales tax increase or a land transfer tax. I strongly believe this $1 million dollar challenge is going to impact the land transfer tax and the sales tax and it’s going to cause ... subscribe to the Davie County Enterprise Record, P.O. Box 99, Mocksville, N.C. 27028.