HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-03-1999 - 10bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 3, 1999
Action Agenda
Item No. ~(~_~
SUBJECT: High School Construction Standazds Task Force Recommendations
DEPARTMENT: County Manager/Budget PUBL~[C HEARING: (Y/N)
BUDGET AMENDMENT: (Y/1~
ATTACHMENT(S):
Task Force Report
(under sepazate cover -previously distributed)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Halkiotis, Task Force Chair, 732-8126
Rod Visser, Asst County Mgr, ext 2300
Donna Dean, Budget Director, ext 2151
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To receive a report from the High School Construction Standazds Task Force concerning
recommendations for the physical space profile and other standazds to be observed in the design and
construction of future new high school space in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: In September 1997, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners convened a
High School Construction Standards Task Force. This six-member task force included two
representatives from the Boazd of County Commissioners and two representatives from each of the two
School Boards.
Orange County Boazd of County Commissioners: Moses Carey, Stephen Halkiotis
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Boazd of Education: Elizabeth Carter, Ken Touw
Orange County Board of Education: Susan Dovenbazger, Rick Kennedy
In developing standazds for future high school construction in Orange County, the task force used North
Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) guidelines fora "typical high school"; space profiles for
East Chapel Hill High School; and information developed by Orange County Schools staff members. In
keeping with the chazge from the Boazd of County Commissioners, the task force considered in its
discussions:
• The ability to expand a new high school's capacity from 1,000 children to 1,500
• Location of a new high school
• Energy efficiency standards and day lighting
• Cost control and construction management
The task force agreed that the DPI guidelines were reasonable standards to use at the local level. In the
draft report from the Task Force, Appendices A and B include square footage standards as outlined by the
State, modified to reflect Ioca1 needs as recommended by the Task Force. DPI guidelines aze viewed by
the State as minimum space requirements, and in many functional areas, Orange County standazds allow
for more space to provide greater flexibility to meet the educational specifications that will be developed
for any new high school's program of instruction.
This agenda item has been carried forward from the February 2 and February 16, 1999 regular meeting
agendas.
FISCAL IMPACT: Receipt of this report has no direct, immediate fiscal impact. However, the Board's
decision at a subsequent meeting to adopt these recommendations, or a modified set of standazds, will
significantly affect the design and construction cost of the new high school in Orange County, and any
other future new high school space that may be needed.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the report as information
at this time, and provide direction to staff on modifications (if any) needed to the Task Force's
recommendations. The final high school construction standazds would then be prepazed for formal
adoption by the Board of Commissioners at a future regular meeting.