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The Cabarrus County Commissioners met at their regular meeting ~onday, March 2, 1964 at 10:00 a.m. at the Courthouse. Present: Chairman, Frank James Connaissioners, 0ren ttill, McNeil ?etrea, Frank McCray, Smoot Lyles I Meeting called to order by Chairman James. Prayer by Rev. Geo. A. Fidler. Minutes of last meeting read by Cloie Hancock and stand approved. Representatives from Concord City Schools were present at this meeting. The following statement was read by Chairman James: "I would like to take this opportunity to make a few remarks on the County Board of Commissioner~' position on the School Bond Issue. We realize that our school systems have been in need of improvement for several years, but that no substantial program has been developed to correct this matter. We all desire to give ~the young people of Cabarrus County the best possible educational facilities we can afford. We do not desire to see the progress of our educational systems in this county be delayed, curtailed or haulted by any individual, special groups or petty prejudices or jealousies on anyone,s part. We are sincerely dedicated to the proposition that nothing short to grade A schools are good enough for the young people of Cabarrus County. Though there mayI be a difference of opinions as to the wisest program to carry forward in accom- plishing this goal, there is no question but that all interested persons seek the same goal of better schools, for all of our children. There has never been and there does not exist today any desire on the part of! the County Board of Commissioners to withhold, delay or curtail any sound program that will advance the cause of education in our county. It must be remembered that we as County Commissioners must be constantly aware of the needs of all the people in this county and not merely the needs of one section or group Under the provisions of North Carolina General Statute llS-116 (fi the County~ Board of Commissioners may call for popular elec$ions to the will of the voters as to whether bonds for school purposes may be issued. Under the provisions of General Statute ll~-ll8 either the County Board of Education or the City Board of Education may petition the County Commissioners for an election to be held in their respective administrative units. It is furthest provided under the provision~ of General Statute ll~-ll9 that the petition shall contain: (1) A statement of the purpose or purposes for calling the propose-~ection. (2) A legally sufficieht description of the area in which the election is to ~be held and (3) A specific request for such an election. Once this petition, which is not a mere technicality but a specific re.quire- ment of law, is properly completed and filed with the County Board of Commissiomer2 it becomes the duty of the Board under the provisions of General Statute ll~-121 for the Board to call an election and fix the date for the same. On April 16, 1963, the Concord City Board of Education filed a written re- quest with the County Conm~issioners seeking a bond e'lection in the amount of $2,446,2~8.00 to be used for improvement and construction of new schools. On the same date the County School Board made a verbal~ r~q~est for $3,000,000.00 for~new schools and improvements and the Kannapolis School Board made a verbal request for $1,264,~00.00. The Board passed a resolution requesting the Honorable Clyde L. Propst, Jr., State Senator and the Honorable Dwight W. Quinn, State Representative, to obtain legislative approval for Cabarrus County ~to'issUe bonds in the m~ximum aggregate principal amount of $6,000,000.00. Through the able leadership of these representatives, the Legislature authorized the $ond issue just prior to its adjournment in 1963. Further action was delayed by this Board in order to give the various school boards an opportunity to submit sufficient legal petitions for the bond election and make any recommendations as to the possible agreement on a unified school board system. The Commissioners realize that vast numbers of the people in the county favored a united school board ra~her than three separate and independent boards. It was the firm conviction of the Commissioners that careful consideration shbu~ be given to the possibility of creating a single school board in order that our educational programs might be developed without needless and expensive du- plication, and in order that the greatest needs which commonly existed in all the school districts might be met with a carefully developed single policy bringing the greatest good to the greatest number of our school students. However, it seems quite evident that no workable agreement has been reached for administrative unification and realizing that short of legislative action the present systems of school boards will not be altered. I wish to make the ,, following motion: On motion of Mr. Petrea seconded by Mr. Hill , the following re- solution was adopted: WHEREAS, the Concord City Board of Educatio~ oasaed a. resolution wherein th said Board determined and found as a i'ac~ t~a2 a~e~ua2e sc~oo± facilities are no~