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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-13-2012 APPROVED 11/8/2012 MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO BOARD OF EDUCATION ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION JOINT MEETING September 13, 2012 The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a joint session with the Chapel Hill—Carrboro Board of Education and the Orange County Board of Education on Thursday September 13, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Bernadette Pelissier and Commissioners Valerie Foushee, Alice M. Gordon, Barry Jacobs, and Earl McKee COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Steve Yuhasz COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Frank Clifton, Assistant County Managers Clarence Grier and Michael Talbert, and Clerk to the Board Donna S. Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below) ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair ponna Coffey and Board Members Lawrence Sanders, Steve Halkiotis, Anne Medenblik, Debbie Piscitelli, and Tony McKnight. Superintendent Patrick Rhodes was also present. ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS ABSENT: Brenda Stephens CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Mia Burroughs and Board Members James Barrett, Jamezetta Bedford, Mike Kelly, Gregory McElveen, and Annetta Streater. Superintendent Tom Forcella was also present. CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS ABSENT: Michelle Brownstein Welcome and Openinq Remarks Chair Pelissier, Chair Coffey and Chair Burrouqhs) Chair Pelissier said that these items were discussed at the school collaboration meeting and brought forth for the full boards to discuss. Chair Burroughs and Chair Coffey did not have any remarks. Chair Pelissier said that Commissioner Yuhasz would be unable to attend tonight. 1. Pre-K and School Enrollment— Oranqe County Schools Superintendent Rhodes made a PowerPoint presentation. The financial support of the Board of County Commissioners has been, and continues to be, critical to the success of Orange County Schools. Milestones ✓ Student achievement and proficiency continue to rise ✓ Achievement Gap continues to close ✓ Graduation Rate over 85% ✓ Lowest Dropout Rate on record —2.37% ✓ S.A.T. and A.C.T. scores exceed state and national averages ✓ Record $5.7 million in scholarships awarded ✓ Nationally recognized Common Core initiatives St Engaging Students Through the District's 21 Century Classrooms & Initiatives ✓ Transforming traditional classrooms to digital ones that allow for anytime, anywhere access to lessons, assignments & learning tools ✓ Integrating S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiatives with literacy and social studies skills at all levels ✓ Increasing rigor at all levels ✓ College and Career Readiness One to One Initiative The quarter-cent sales tax approved by the voters in November of 2011 allowed the district to move forward with the initiative. 2012-2013 ✓ All teachers received new/replacement laptops ✓ 3,980 students in grades 6-12 received laptops ✓ E.C. and special needs students received adaptive technology 2013-2014 ✓ 1,076 students in grades 4 and 5 will receive technology devices ✓ Students in grades K-3 will receive increased classroom access to laptops and other electronic devices New Growth on the Horizon Waterstone and Forest Ridge Developments ✓ 377 Single Family Homes ✓ 164 Townhouses Membership versus SAPFO Day 10 SAPFO Capacity Available LOS Capacity Membership Seating High Schools 2,308 2,518 210 2,770 Middle Schools 1,672 2,166 494 2,383 Elementary 3,401 3,694 293 4,063 Schools TOTALS 7,381 8,378 997 9,216 Membership versus SAPFO with Revised OHS Capacity Day 10 SAPFO Capacity Available LOS Capacity Membership Seating High Schools 2,308 2,371 63 2,608 Middle Schools 1,672 2,166 494 2,383 Elementary 3,401 3,694 293 4,063 Schools TOTALS 7,381 8,231 850 9,054 High School Capacity Membership Capacity LOS Capacity (110%) Cedar Ridge 1,089 1,000 1,100 109% of capacity Orange High 1,219 1,518 1,670 80% of capacity Orange High 1,219 1,371 1,508 89% of capacity Superintendent Rhodes said that he has included a letter from Hillsborough Planning Director Margaret Hauth talking about the Waterstone and Forest Ridge developments. The plans are approved and there are 495 units coming online in 2013-14. He also pointed out a letter that was sent to the Board of County Commissioners last spring from the Chair and Vice- Chair highlighting some of the growth, especially in Mebane, which has not been included in this report. Anne Medenblik arrived at 7:10 PM. Superintendent Rhodes referred to the Pre-K chart in the green folder. The idea was to highlight the impact of Pre-K on enrollment. There are 9 classrooms dedicated to pre-k classrooms. Their board is committed to every child and the Pre-K programs have been expanded since State funds have become available to them. Commissioner Hemminger asked if there were more children needing Pre-K than there was space and Superintendent Rhodes said yes. Commissioner Gordon made reference to Attachment 1, page three at the top in the abstract, and the last paragraph. She read this: "The effect of adding Pre-K capacity and decreasing K-5 capacity would also affect the Orange County/Boards of Education school construction standards, which attempt to develop schools with certain rated capacity." She asked for an explanation of this. Superintendent Rhodes said that the last elementary school was constructed in 2002 and none of the other OCS elementary schools were designed for Pre-K, but CHCCS has been able to include Pre-K in its new school construction standards. Frank Clifton said that the standard classroom is not suitable for Pre-K. Gregory McElveen arrived at 7:26 PM. Superintendent Rhodes highlighted the need for County support for school capital needs. Commissioner Foushee arrived at 7:29 PM. 2. Pre-K and School Enrollment— Chapel Hill — Carrboro City Schools Superintendent Forcella thanked the Board of County Commissioners for their continued support. He said that CHCCS is just hanging on until Elementary#11 comes online. Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Todd Lofriese made a PowerPoint presentation. Pr� — K/ �ad Start Progra Joint �oards M��ting September 13, 2012 Presentation Overview • Classroom Overview • Program Data & Demographics • Program Impacts • SAPFO Considerations • Moving Impacts Classroom Overview • 18 Classrooms • All of our 10 elementary schools 3 Types of Classrooms • "Regular" - Head Start, NC Pre-K, and Tuition • "Inclusive" or "Blended" —above + 4 EC spots • "System Level" —All EC, very small class size Classroom Staffing • 1 Birth to K certified teacher • 1 TA with early childhood credentials • 1 additional TA in EC Classrooms • Head Start Required Services ➢ Family Services ➢ Health ➢ Dental ➢ Education Program Data & Demographics • Enrollment: 222 (some are dual enrolled) ➢ Head Start: 136 ➢ NC Pre K: 96 ➢ Tuition: 42 ➢ EC: 40 Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity • Black: 47 • White: 53 • Asian: 32 • Hispanic: 76 • Multi/Biracial: 14 Wait list • Head Start: 69 • NC Pre-K: 73 (20-Head Start/NCPre-K) • Tuition: 2 Program Impacts Frank Porter Graham Studies • Children who attended NCPre-K classes perform better in elementary school than matched children who did not, at least through third grade • Children who attended public school NCPre-K perform better than children who attended private child care NCPre-K classes Program Impacts Head Start/NC Pre-K Students 2010-11 Fall Sprinq Language 58% 91% Literacy 59% 91% Mathematics 56% 88% Approaches to Learning 55% 90% Social and Emotional Learning 64% 90% Physical Health & Development 77% 96% Program Impacts ESL Students 2011-12 Improvement in English Language Skills Number of children achieving mastery at level Fall Sprinq Novice 54 13 Intermediate 25 31 Advanced 10 31 Superior 1 12 SAPFO and Enrollment#s DPI /SAPFO Elem. Capacity 5,244 105% LOS 5,506 Est. Current Enrollment 5,520 Estimated Available Seats (14) SAPFO Considerations • New schools are built with one Pre-K (non-capacity) room • Old schools lack support spaces, some core educational spaces, and classroom dimensions are smaller • Mobiles are used to supplement older schools SAPFO Considerations • 15 students per classroom • EC Pre— K class counts are much smaller • Pre — K (18 classrooms) currently equates to about 70% of our average elementary school (25 classrooms) Moving Costs • Room Requirements ➢ Bathrooms ➢ Exterior Entrance ➢ Building, Health, and Fire Safety Codes ➢ Licensing time and expenses ➢ Lost income • Furniture Needs • Separate and age appropriate playground Family Impacts • Disruption of delayed start or abbreviated start • Uncertainty with last minute changes in location • Pick up and drop off challenges • Impact on their employment Staff Impacts • Disrupts PLC groupings • Disrupts teacher/school relationships • Administrative time spent on the move rather than curriculum, program monitoring, and staff development work • Staff Stresses Commissioner Gordon said that there was a 20-year period where no new schools were built anywhere in Orange County. Both school systems have old schools. The Commissioners need to be proactive in looking at Pre-K but also remember the old schools, and the renovations that are needed, when funding for capital needs is discussed. CHCCS Chair Mia Burroughs asked Margaret Samuels to come up and address the issue of public Pre-K slots competing with private providers. Margaret Samuels said that there are now two rulings that say that Pre-K needs to expand. It was asked that the appeals court go straight to the Supreme Court to get a ruling, and the Supreme Court said no. Now it hinges on what the legislature decides to do. She explained how the partnership between public and private entities worked. The majority of the slots are in the two school systems and administered by the school systems. Chair Pelissier said that she is interested in knowing if kids that attend public versus private schools do better in schools. Linda Hynmen, Program Manager of Orange County Partnership for Young Children, said that some of the barriers in private childcare facilities are the fact that they do not have traditional staff to collaborate with or the ongoing professional development that the schools are able to offer. Regarding requirements, the private providers in Orange County are equal to both school systems. Chair Pelissier said that the County could develop a policy going forward to make sure new schools have adequate capacity for Pre-K. Commissioner Hemminger said that they need to think about each school taking one classroom and making it a Pre-K classroom for the older schools. 3. County Update Pre-K Enrollment Impact on the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Craig Benedict said that each school that exists today has a Department of Public Instruction capacity. If the schools considered changing a K-5 classroom to a Pre-K classroom, the school systems would have to lower the capacity for that school and the available seats for SAPFO would go down. Commissioner Hemminger asked if mobile classrooms were included in SAPFO and the answer was no. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools have six mobile units for Pre-K right now. Orange County Schools have none. Commissioner Gordon said that one of the reasons the older schools have not been able to keep up is because the funding of new schools is given priority. She said that it is not right to have such a difference in the older and the newer schools. Commissioner Hemminger said that she does not see the school systems getting rid of Pre-K classes because the SAPFO numbers are going up. She said that older facilities do not make the education, but the programs do. Steve Halkiotis agreed with Commissioner Hemminger and said that we are not just programs. He said that the County needs to talk about comparing apple to apples. The Board of County Commissioners has historically been supportive of schools. He suggested getting a small group together and trying to figure out how to have a minimum of one Pre-K classroom per school. OCS Chair ponna Coffey agreed with Mr. Halkiotis and Commissioner Hemminger and said that Pre-K is part of a longstanding culture that makes Orange County a caring and compassionate place to live. Commissioner Gordon said that she wants to look at both the Pre-K and the older schools. It is complicated and a phased program will be needed for both. Mia Burroughs said that both districts are here to acknowledge what they are currently doing and these Pre-K numbers are making the SAPFO numbers incorrect. She said this was on the agenda so they could know the reality of the Pre-K issue and to acknowledge it. Chair Pelissier suggested taking the next step and inviting Margaret Samuels from Orange County Partnership for Young Children and involve her in the conversation. Jamezetta Bedford said that the school systems may need to adjust/revise the SAPFO numbers to accommodate Pre-K classrooms. Commissioner Jacobs said that there is no coherent, universal approach between the two school systems and the County for providing Pre-K opportunity. He would still like to talk about this. He is not willing to have that conversation tied to SAPFO yet. Commissioner Foushee agreed with Commissioner Jacobs and said that the purpose of Pre-K is "readiness." Pre-K prepares children to come to kindergarten ready. Frank Clifton suggested broadening the discussion that the model should be to build Pre-K classrooms with the building of new schools. Commissioner Jacobs said that the first discussion should be articulating the values and policies and the second discussion is what to do about it. Jamezetta Bedford said that CHCCS spent some time with Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center and there was a partnership. She said that CHCCS has a philosophy, which is that children need to be in Pre-K at the school that they will attend if possible and the curriculum and staffing from age 3 through 3�d grade should overlap. She said that the school board would be glad to share the information. She does not think a whole year should be spent on the philosophy. Chair Pelissier said that she hears that everyone acknowledges that Pre-K is needed. The implications for SAPFO need to be balanced within the entire County budget. 4. County Update - Overview of the County Capital Proiects — Next Five Fiscal Years Chief Financial Officer Clarence Grier gave an overview of the County's CIP budget. This was attachment 1. The total County CIP for 2012-2017 is $193,272,983. Of that, County projects are approximately $122 million and school projects are about$71 million over that five- year period. Frank Clifton said that 15% debt capacity is what the Local Government Commission looks for in debt capacity before lending money. Commissioner Hemminger said that she asked for this item because she wanted to let the school boards know that the county has to balance needs for both school districts and the County capital needs, while being at a slow economic growth. She said that the County Commissioners cannot add in those projects that they want to add in both for the schools and the County because of limited resources while trying to meet demands. Clarence Grier said that the County is looking at an increase of 8% for employee health insurance for next year. Frank Clifton said that the County has deferred the revaluation until later because the tax base has had no growth. The law requires a revaluation every eight years. James Barrett said that although a library is great, there is impact to not doing schools in this CIP. Commissioner McKee said that he is not willing to let the schools fall down around them but he feels that the programs and the employees at schools are more important than the brick and mortar. He said that he would prefer to build a school than a library. He is concerned about how the additional taxes affect the low-income. Steve Halkiotis asked for a chart of County projects, with costs and timelines. He said that the school boards need to understand the County needs. Commissioner Hemminger said that there are also some very serious emergency services needs as well as jail overcapacity needs that need to be addressed. Frank Clifton said that the capital outlay items are detailed within the County's budget document. Chair Pelissier said that a summary is needed to give to the school boards and not the entire County budget. Clarence Grier said that he would provide a summary. Chair Pelissier said that the collaboration work group talked about doing an assessment of the older schools in both systems, and they will be discussing this going forward. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 PM. Bernadette Pelissier, Chair Donna S. Baker, CMC Clerk to the Board