Residents urge action on school performance, youth mental health and tax‑office transparency during public comment

Three public speakers addressed the board during the allotted public‑comment period.

Stuart Smith (811 South Third Street, Mebane) focused on Alamance‑Burlington Schools (ABSS), noting the district serves more than 22,000 students with nearly 4,000 English learners and that ABSS has over 3,200 students in special‑education programs. Smith cited federal expectations for special‑education funding and said the federal government funded about 13% of that program in 2024. "Our schools belong to all of us. I hope the next conversation our commissioners will be what are you doing to get our grades up? But instead, what can we do to help ABSS?" he said.

Sonya Blackwell of Snowcamp spoke about youth mental health and substance use, describing difficulty finding treatment for her son that accepts their insurance and urging broader access. She cited national statistics — for example, that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness annually and that suicide is a leading cause of death among young people — and appealed to the board to improve local program availability. "Please help me help my son," she said.

Henry Vimes, chair of the Board of Equalization, thanked commissioners for their appointments and requested a public presentation explaining the tax department’s functions and staffing. He reported that residents have asked why the tax department needs current staffing levels when certain functions are contracted out and said he looks forward to the tax‑office presentation and training for the Board of Equalization.

Why this matters: Public comment highlighted local concerns about education outcomes, gaps in youth behavioral‑health treatment access, and transparency around tax‑department operations — issues that intersect county programs, state funding and administrative capacity.