HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-25-1997 - E1d 1
ORANGE COUNTY O,
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS i
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Date: August 20, 1997 Item No.
SUBJECT: Substantial Equivalency Policy for School Facility Funding
DEPARTMENT: Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: No
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alice Gordon
PURPOSE: To establish a school funding policy that would state that
all schools in Orange County,whether new or existing, should meet
the basic standards established for new schools or be substantially
equivalent.
BACKGROUND: As part of their efforts to provide adequate facilities
for a growing student population in a cost effective and equitable
manner, the Board of County Commissioners and School Boards have
developed county construction standards for new elementary and
middle schools,and have declared their intent to develop high school
standards. However, there are no stated county standards for
existing schools. Thus there appears to be a growing gap between
new and existing schools.
SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY POLICY FOR SCHOOL FACILITY
FUNDING:
In funding school facilities the Board of county Commissioners (BOCC)
will pursue the goal of providing substantially equivalent facilities
for all children in both the Orange County (OCS) and Chapel Hill-
Carrboro(CHCCS) school systems. The target standard for
equivalency will be the county "Basic School" standards developed
for new school construction. Once approved, the standards for
substantial equivalency will be utilized in decisions for funding
school renovations, school additions and/or school replacement.
IMPLEMENTATION:
To implement this policy the BOCC would pursue the following steps:
Gordon-Substantial Equivalency Policy for School Facility Funding 2
1. Confer with the School Boards concerning this policy.
2. Formally adopt a substantial equivalency policy for school facility
funding.
3. Request the OCS and CHCCS to evaluate their schools using the
"Basic School" standards for new schools and provide that evaluation
to the commissioners, along with estimated costs for bringing the
schools up to the basic school,standards.
4. If it is not practical to meet the letter of the basic school
standards, then work with the School Boards to develop substantially
equivalent standards for existing schools. Some of the following
items could be considered.
a. decide whether additional standards should be included for
categories such as technology or playgrounds.
b. list the top priority changes needed to meet as many of the
standards as possible, and give their associated costs.
c. suggest facilities that could compensate for a particular
school's deficiencies, so that substantial equivalency is achieved.
For example, if classroom sizes are below the standard size, it might
be possible to exceed the basic standards in some other category in a
way that would enhance education. Additional standards, mentioned
in paragraph 4a, might be used for this purpose. In pursuing
substantial equivalency as cited above, it will be important for the
BOCC and School Boards to consider the particular interests of parents
and teachers for each existing school.
5. Establish a target date for making all school facilities in the OCS
and CHCCS substantially equivalent. A potential time frame to
achieve this goal might be 10 years.
RECOMMENDATION: As the Board decides.
To act favorably on this proposed policy, the BOCC should declare its
intent to adopt the policy and proceed with the steps listed under the
Implementation section,above.