HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-27-2007-10aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 27, 2007
Action Agenda
Item No. 1 O - A
SUBJECT: Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) -Review of
Annual Technical Advisory Committee Report
DEPARTMENT: Manager/Budget/Planning/ PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
Attorney
ATTACHMENT(S): Under Separate Cover
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Draft 2007 SAPFOTAC Annual Report Craig Benedict, 245-2592
Donna Coffey, 245-2151
Geoff Gledhill, 732-2196
Perdita Holtz, 245-2611
PURPOSE: To receive for review the 2007 Annual Report of the SAPFO Technical Advisory
Committee (SAPFOTAC) and refer it to the SAPFO partners for comments before certification in
mid-May.
BACKGROUND:
1. Annual Report;
Each year, the SAPFO is updated to reflect actual changing conditions of student
membership and school capacity. This information is analyzed and used to project future
school construction needs based on adopted levels of services standards. There are two
releases of the report. The first part is certified in the fall, and then this full report in spring of
each year is to keep the SAPFO system calibrated. At the December 12, 2006 Board of
County Commissioners meeting, the Board approved the November 15, 2006 actual
membership and previously adopted capacity numbers (i.e. first part) for both Orange
County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.
A draft of the full annual SAPFOTAC Report is complete and has been reviewed by the
SAPFOTAC members.
2. SAPFOTAC:
The SAPFOTAC, comprised of representatives of both school systems and the Planning
Directors of the County and Towns, is tasked to produce an annual report for the governing
boards of each SAPFO partner outlining changes in actual membership, capacity, student
projections, and their collective impacts on the Capital Investment Program (CIP) and the
future issuance of Certificates of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS). Orange County's
Planning Staff compiles the report, holds a meeting discussing the various aspects, and then
prepares a draft report, which is reviewed by the SAPFO Technical Advisory Committee.
3. Membership Data:
CHCCS total increase from the previous year - 127 students
101 Elementary School
20 Middle School
6 High School
OCS total increase from the previous year - 116 students
66 Elementary School
-13 Middle School
63 High School
4. Capacity Data:
One change occurred in the Orange County School System with the opening of Gravelly Hill
Middle School with a capacity of 700.
5. Capacity Issues
SAPFO vs. DPI
5a.The SAPFO is a `freestanding' ordinance, independent of State Department of Public
Instruction (DPI) projections and rules regarding class size. The SAPFO, for instance,
does not count temporary modular classrooms as fulfilling the capacity level of service
outlined in the SAPFO interlocal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU
requires `bricks and mortar' instead of temporary facilities and also requires its own set of
future student projections to identify long-term capital school construction needs.
The School Collaboration Work Group
5b. The School Collaboration Work Group met in November 2005 to discuss Elementary
level K-3 class size reductions related to legislation from the North Carolina Department
of Public Instruction. The Group recommended that reductions in capacity be
implemented equally in both school districts the year after the next elementary school
opens. The next elementary school, CHCCS Elementary School #10, is currently
projected to be opened in 2008-09.
Implementation of the Reduced Class Size Ratio
5c. Implementation of the reduced class size ratio in the year after the new elementary
school reduces capacity by 262 seats in CHCCS and 283 seats in OCS. This reduction
in capacity in the entire CHCCS elementary system indirectly reduces the capacity
increase in the system of the new school from 585 to 323. This results in the projected
necessity of CHCCS Elementary School #11 in 2010-11. OCS has level adequate
capacity and the 283 `loss in seats' can be more easily `absorbed' by the overall system.
Implications of a Delay
5d. Implications of a Delay in opening Elementary School #10 could result in an
overcapacity situation at the Elementary level in CHCCS. If Elementary School #10 does
not open until 2009-10, the result could be exceedance above 105% adopted level of
service at this level during the 2008-09 school year. In accordance with the MOU and
implementing regulations, CAPS (Certificate of Adequate Public Schools) would not be
issued during a period of overcapacity. This means that development approvals for new
residential structures could not be made for projects expected to generate students
during periods of overcapacity. In essence, a deferral of development until the school is
programmed.
6. Student Projection Analysis
Student membership projections are shown to increase at all levels in both schools as shown
on page 51 of the report.
7. Orange County School:
CHCCS
Projected need for:
New Elementary #10 in
New Elementary #11 in
New Middle School #5 in
Expanded High School
CIP Needs Analysis
2008-2009
2010-2011
2013-2014
2016-2017
OCS
Projected needs:
None for Elementary, Middle or High School in the next 10 years
However, the SAPFOTAC report notes that development approval.activity within the portion
of the City of Mebane that lies within Orange County has been significant in recent years.
Because the City of Mebane is not a party to the SAPFO, CAPS are not required to be
issued by the local government prior to development approvals. At this time, there are
approximately 1,450 approved but undeveloped residential subdivision lots within the portion
of Mebane that lies within Orange County. Development of these lots is projected to
generate approximately 365 additional students (over the three school levels) at current
student generation rates. Once students actually enter the school system, faster enrollment
increases will change projections and probably identify CIP needs within 10 years.
8. Student Generation Rates
The report also notes that Orange County anticipates contracting with Tischler & Associates
in mid-2007 to study and, if necessary, update student generation rates.
9. Access to Full Report
The draft SAPFOTAC report has been posted on the Orange County Planning Department's
web site along with larger-sized student projection spreadsheets that are easier to read than
the size contained within the report. A letter and the Executive Summary of the report will be
sent to all SAPFO partners after this BOCC meeting advising them of the availability of the
draft report and inviting comment.
It is anticipated that the draft SAPFOTAC report will be brought back to the BOCC for
certification at the May 15, 2007 regular meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Current 10-year student growth projections show future needs for
additional schools in the CHCCS District. Funding for CHCCS Elementary School #10 has been
identified in the CIP for an opening date of 2008-09. Partially because of the reduction in
capacity in 2008-09 related to State reduced class size legislation, CHCCS Elementary School
#11 is projected to be needed in 2010-11. CHCCS Middle School #5 is projected to be needed
in 2012-13 and expansion of Carrboro High School is expected to be necessary.in 2016-17.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
a. Review the 2007 SAPFOTAC Annual Report; and
b. Forward to the SAPFO partners for review and comment before May certification.