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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 19981110APPROVED MAY 18, 1999 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND CHAPEL HILL CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION NOVEMBER 10, 1998 The Orange County Board of County Commissioners met for a joint work session with the Chapel Hill Carrboro City School Board of Education on November 10, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. This meeting was held in the Board of County Commissioners meeting room at the Southern Human Services Center, Homestead Road, Chapel Hill. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Margaret Brown, and Commissioners Moses Carey, Jr., Alice M. Gordon, and Steven Halkiotis. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner William L. Crowther CHAPEL HILL CARRBORO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Nick Didow, and members Roger Waldon, Ken Touw, Valerie Foushee, Elizabeth Carter, Bea Hughes-Werner and Harvey Goldstein. CHAPEL HILL CARRBORO SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: Geoffrey Gledhill STAFF PRESENT: County Manager John Link, Jr., and Deputy Clerk to the Board Kathy Baker. All other staff will be identified as necessary. Chair Margaret Brown convened the meeting at 7:30 p.m. School Board Member Goldstein presented the following item for discussion prior to the start of the regular agenda. COUNTYWIDE INITIATIVE TO ELIMINATE ILLITERACY: Mr. Goldstein distributed a letter from Orange County School Board member Rick Kennedy. A copy of this letter is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. Mr. Kennedy's letter outlined his thoughts regarding a countywide effort to eradicate illiteracy. After a brief discussion, those present endorsed this idea. County Manager Link agreed to convene a meeting of local agencies, including the County, the Literacy Council, both school systems, Smart Start and others. CHAPEL HILL CARRBORO CITY SCHOOL - OPERATING AND CAPITAL ISSUES UPDATE: Facilities: Chapel Hill School Board Chair Nick Didow thanked the Board of County Commissioners for scheduling this opportunity to present an update on school issues. He said that tonight is an opportunity to bring the County Commissioners and county staff up to speed about current projects and to report on last year's activity. Middle School site selection update Mr. Didow indicated that the School Board has most recently indicated a preference for locating this school on the Homestead Road property within the Chapel Hill jurisdiction. He discussed one site plan which would have the main building be located in Carrboro. There is some concern regarding a designated minor stream which cuts across this property. In discussions with the Town of Carrboro, they appear agreeable to supporting a request to designate that area as a drainage problem which could be solved by drainage planning and not as a minor stream. That would leave 18 acres of buildable area. This plan has a single story school, a parking lot which would have access from Homestead Road and a second parking lot which would be used for drop off, and parent /visitor traffic. The site would also accommodate several of the athletic fields needed by the middle school. A portion of the remainder of the property is located in Chapel Hill's jurisdiction and would be used to develop the rest of the athletic fields. He mentioned that neither of the sites being considered would be large enough to accommodate all of the components necessary for the middle school and its athletic fields. A second issue the School Board will consider in determining where to locate the actual building is the proposed timeline for review and permitting. Carrboro has indicated that this process could be complete within fifteen or sixteen months. They are now seeking timeline clarification from Carrboro and clarification regarding the minor stream designation. The review process would take a considerably shorter period of time if the building were located in the Chapel Hill jurisdiction. This would provide the advantage of the school opening within one year rather than two years. Finally, he mentioned that the Homestead Road, Carrboro site would require significant upgrade to Homestead Road while the upgrade required for the Seawell Road site would be considerably less expensive. Chair Brown asked which site would provide more playing fields. Mr. Didow indicated that they both would provide approximately the same area for playing fields but the Homestead Road site already has a cleared pasture area. Until the University builds a road, that area would remain in open space and recreation areas. Mr. Didow felt confident, after initial conversations with Mayor Waldorf, that Chapel Hill would adhere to the timeline they discussed. The School Board also felt that the Chapel Hill site had other advantages Commissioner Carey asked for clarification regarding the additional 15,000 square feet in the design. Mr. Didow indicated that the facility would house faculty offices, several curriculum areas and a distance learning complex with the capability of making significant advances in the area of distance learning. They also want an auditorium that would be suitable for large presentations. Mr. Didow stated that there would be no more than a 2 or 3 minute walk to any of the athletic fields. This school is designed to house 700 students. Capital projects completed last summer or underway this year Superintendent Pedersen presented an update on the capital projects completed last summer or currently underway. A copy of his report is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office and is marked as Attachment 2. Refined Model For New Elementary School: Superintendent Pedersen presented a report on the refined model for the new elementary school in Southern Village. He indicated that the Board had previously approved a model for the school; however, there were many details remaining to be defined. In refining the model, they ran into some difficulties in providing some components within the same budget as the other elementary schools. He reviewed many of the features which will be offered in this school. A copy of this report, in its entirety, is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. Mr. Didow stated that they had looked at capacity planning figures for each of the elementary schools in order to determine if they would be able to accommodate the planned enrollment figures for the new middle school. Their determination was that they would be able to accommodate those enrollments. He mentioned that the University's announcement that they would increase enrollment by 5000 students translates into 550 new students for the Chapel Hill Carrboro School System. This was not included in their original enrollment projections. In response to a question from County Manager Link, Mr. Pedersen indicated that they have decided not to implement a separate pay schedule for this school. They are also considering placing computers in the homes of students at this school who cannot afford to purchase computers for themselves. He mentioned that the number of teacher's assistants planned for this school has been reduced by half. Commissioner Gordon expressed a concern about having smaller class sizes for this school. She pointed out that the Board of County Commissioners has promised citizens that certain class size criteria will be met for enrollments. The School Board would have to assure the Commissioners that those class sizes are being adhered to before any request for additional facilities would be approved. She felt that there needed to be additional discussions about this issue between the school board and the commissioners. She wanted it understood that she felt this was acceptable for a model school but there needs to be frank discussion about how it would be supported on a wider basis. Potential Impact Of Class Size Reductions On Schools' Capacity School Board Member Goldstein presented a report on this item. He mentioned that there is a great deal of support for the goal of class size reduction among parents and teachers. He also felt that the School Board would support this as a goal. The Report on Feasibility of Reducing Class Size is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. The committee which created this report felt that smaller class size would enhance student learning and lessen teacher burnout. In the past, there has been little progress toward reducing class size because it has appeared to be cost prohibitive. He mentioned a study which was conducted in Tennessee showing that classes must be reduced to approximately 15 students in order to cause noticeable improvements in student achievement. The study also indicated that teachers must change their teaching styles in order to engage students. They also found that more individualized learning plans were necessary. If these class reduction measures were actually implemented, a new elementary school would be necessary in the year 2005. The Meadowmont Development site needs to be developed before the Statute of Limitations expires on the site. These projections assume that the State projections are relatively accurate. Those projects were low by approximately 100 students for this school year. If they did not pursue the lower class sizes and the State projections were accurate, they would not need to build a new school in 2005. County Manager Link asked if the reduction in class size goal would be linked to the results of the model school. School Board Member Goldstein indicated that they would not make that recommendation based on the results of the model school. It would be made based on the professional judgement of staff and of the School Board that lower class sizes would represent a justifiable academic investment. The decision to adopt the reduction of class size goal would be made well before the model school has been evaluated. Mr. Didow commented that the school board would communicate with the Board of County Commissioners if projections and/or actual enrollments changed dramatically, or if the State lowers the class size standard. He mentioned that Governor Hunt currently is considering approving a statewide reduction in class size. The School Board has not adopted the reduction of class size as a goal at this time. They are simply sharing information about a potential goal for the future. FINANCIAL ISSUES Superintendent Pedersen presented a report updating the following initiatives and projects: Report on Charter School Enrollments and Budgetary Impacts Superintendent Pedersen discussed the current budgetary impact of the charter schools. His comments were based on a report from Grace Holton regarding Charter School Enrollments. That report is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. He mentioned that they do not receive information from any of the charter schools. In fact, they have received only one of the original proposals for review. In that proposal, they identified several major risk factors, which, in fact, are the very problems that school has faced this year. County Manager Link suggested that the County and the School Boards join together and contact our local delegation and ask them to address what should happen to the funds allocated to a Charter School if it closes its doors midyear. There was consensus on this suggestion. Report on 20th Day Enrollment compared to protections The report on these actual enrollment figures vs. the projections was presented and discussed. The 40 day enrollment figures are up by 137 students in the elementary classes. One issue of concern is that these students could very well turn out to be permanent residents and remain in the school system through high school. If this increase over projections continue each year, they would need to revise the projected need for additional facilities. Identification of Issues With Potential Future Budgetary Impacts (including Programs Identified in the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Strategic Plan A report on the anticipated major budget issues for 1999-2000 was presented by Superintendent Pedersen. A copy of that report is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. He briefly reported on the following issues: 1) Expenses Associated with Opening a New Elementary School 2) Local Salaries 3) Class Size Reductions 4) Transition Program 5) Limited English Proficiency Program 6) Exceptional Education and Section 504 Students 7) Positions Associated with Growth or Equity Enhancements to Teacher Supplements A report on the Enhancements to Teacher Supplements was presented by Superintendent Pedersen. He referred to a report entitled Recommendations for Revising the Local Teacher Supplement Schedule and his memo to the Board of Education dated February 23, 1998 in which he endorsed the increase of these supplements and the phasing in of the increase over five years. A copy of both of these reports are in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. SCHOOLS AND LAND USE COUNCIL UPDATE County Manager Link reported on the progress of the joint Councils. He stated that they have agreed on a structure for communication between the municipalities, the county and the Boards of Education. This is intended to keep each elected body informed regarding current and upcoming development projects. At the next meeting they plan to discuss and finalize the Memorandum of Agreement for Providing Coordinated Site and Facility Planning STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Superintendent Pedersen presented an update on several areas of student achievement. Those areas are as follows. 1) Phoenix Academy update 2) Report on Avid - second year operations 3) Report on 1997-1998 ABC and SAT results 4) Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Strategic Plan, 5) Alternative School Update 6) Task Force on Limited English Proficient Students He referred to an update from Ann Hart, dated October 30, 1998, which addressed several of these items. He also referred to a memorandum, dated November 2, 1998. Both of these reports are in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business a motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, to adjourn the meeting. The next regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners will be held on November 17, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room, Southern Human Services Center, Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Margaret W. Brown, Chair Kathleen Baker, Deputy Clerk