[Ncabs] Proposal in House Budget that Would Close the Governor Morehead School

[Gary H. Ray]

Fellow Federationists:

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee for DHHS proposed a Special
Provision that would end up closing the Governor Morehead School in Raleigh
and distributing its students between the deaf schools in Wilson and
Morganton.

I am inserting the working of this proposal below so everyone can see what
they say.  It has always been my goal to try and keep folks informed of how
this process works.

The House Appropriations Committee will have to vote this into the House
version of the budget and then the House will have to vote on the whole
budget.  Since the House and Senate versions of the budget will not match,
they will then have a Conference Committee to work out the differences.

We will be calling for action very soon so watch this list!  Our next step
will be to bombard the House Appropriations Committee over how we feel about
this matter.

Gary Ray


GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Session 2009
DRAFT SPECIAL PROVISION 2009-DHHS-H29
Department of Health and Human Services
Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services

Requested by:	Representative

OFFICE OF EDUCATION SERVICES/FUNDS TRANSFER AND CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS.

SECTION 10.57B.(a)  
There is transferred from the Office of Education Services
Trust Fund, Budget Code 66424, the sum of one hundred seventy-five thousand
three hundred twenty-one dollars ($175,321) to the Office of Education
Services General Fund, Budget Code 14424.  These funds shall be used to
support the operations of the North Carolina School for the Deaf at
Morganton, Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf at Wilson, and
Governor Morehead School for the Blind. Donations and bequests to these
schools shall be used in
accordance with their designated purpose.

SECTION 10.57B.(b)  The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of
Education Services (OES). shall not enroll new students at the Governor
Morehead School for the Blind during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school
years. During these years, the Office of Education Services shall allow the
census to decline and prepare to close the Governor Morehead School for the
Blind.

SECTION 10.57B.(c)    OES shall develop a plan for the consolidation of the
Governor Morehead School for the Blind (GMS) at the existing campuses of the
North Carolina School for the Deaf at Morganton (NCSD) and the Eastern North
Carolina School for the Deaf at Wilson (ENCSD). Within the GMs consolidation
plan, OES shall accomplish all of
the following:
(1)       Determine the number of current students enrolled at GMS that
would
require continued residential instruction, and the number of students that
could be more  appropriately  served within their area local  education
agencies (LEAs).
(2)       Require GMS school staff to work in conjunction with LEAs and
others to
revise individualized educational plans for each student, as needed, and
prepare a transition plan for every student.
(3)       Collaborate with the Department of Public Instruction and affected
LEAs to identify additional LEA resource requirements to appropriately
educate
 transitioning GMS students.
(4)       Prepare a budget for the consolidated residential schools for
students who are deaf, blind, or deaf-blind, which itemizes instructional,
residential, and
 other   personnel   requirements,   operating   requirements,   and
physical
 improvements to the campuses.
(5)       Provide a specific timeline for the closure and transitioning of
students
currently enrolled at GMS.
(6)       Identify alternative instructional and operational models to
improve the
quality of instruction at the consolidated residential schools, and to
improve
the capacities of LEAs to educate students who are deaf, blind, or
deaf-blind.

Not later than May 1, 2010, OES shall report on each of the required
components of the consolidation plan set forth in subdivisions (1) through
(6) of this subsection to the House of Representatives Appropriations
Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, the Senate
Appropriations  Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and the Fiscal
Research Division.

Modified 6/4/09 1:37 PM     "	Page 65