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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-12-2016 1 APPROVED 5/17/2016 MINUTES BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Work Session April 12, 2016 7:00 p.m. The Orange County Board of Commissioners met in a work session on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. at the Whitted Building, Hillsborough, N.C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair McKee and Commissioners Mia Burroughs, Mark Dorosin, Barry Jacobs, Bernadette Pelissier, Renee Price and Penny Rich COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: James Bryan COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, Deputy Manager Travis Myren and Clerk to the Board Donna Baker (All other staff members will be identified appropriately below), Jeff Thompson and Paul Laughton ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS: Chair Donna Coffey, Vice Chair Brenda Stephens, Pam Jones and Superintendent Todd Wirt CHAPEL HILL CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS: Chair James Barrett, Vice Chair Annetta Streater, Todd LoFrese, and Superintendent Tom Forcella Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Chair McKee said at their places are the Orange County Schools (OCS) responses to Board questions and revised hand out and the Chapel Hill — Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) responses to Board questions. Chair McKee said the Governor issued an executive order today in reference to HB2 and it is unknown what effect this will have on the legislation moving forward. Bonnie Hammersley referred to the slide from April 7th work session on the School CIP which was in regard to the schools' capital projects. She said this is consistent with previous years and does not include bond funding. Paul Laughton, Finance and Administrative Services, reviewed each line item: total- $7,716,500. Paul Laughton said the largest item is the Pay as You Go (PAYG) funds at $3,799,346. He said the CHCCS PAYG portion is $2.3 million for electrical, safety, water quality, and technology. He said the OCS portion is $1.48 million, and includes categories such as athletics, fire safety, food services, roofing projects, and security, etc. Paul Laughton said Lottery Proceeds are additional PAYG funding, totaling $1.3 million. He said the CHCCS portion is $828,000 for ADA, maintenance, etc., and the OCS portion is $528,000 for classroom building improvements, etc. He said the Article 46 Sales Tax totals $1.4, with the CHCSS portion being $842,000 for mechanical systems and technology, and the OCS portion being $558,000 for technology, which is consistent with past spending. Paul Laughton said there is $1 million in the Capital Investment Plan (CIP), for the next five years, for Older School Improvements. He said by ADM, the total for CHCCS is $610,700 for the Chapel Hill High School renovation, and $389,000 for OCS for classroom building improvements and food services. 2 Paul Laughton said all of the aforementioned funds are outside of any potential bond funds. 1) Review Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) and Orange County Schools (OCS) Priorities for the Potential Bond Referendum Funds Bonnie Hammersley said this evening is an opportunity for the schools to report on the prioritization of their capital projects. Pam Jones reviewed the updated OCS hand out at the Commissioners' places: OCS Facility Recommendations • 2013 Facilities Assessment reflected needed repairs/replacements/additions in excess of$160M as of the date of the assessment. • OCS receives approximately $2.6M for capital funding annually. • Of the $160 million overall needs, OC Board of Education prioritized projects in the following categories assuming approximately $50 Million would be made available through bond proceeds or other cost sharing arrangements: o Safety; o Critical infrastructure projects whose cost would exceed CIP funding capabilities, including roof replacement and replacement of antiquated and failing mechanical systems in some schools; o Cedar Ridge High School (CRHS) classroom wing addition; o Replacement of Transportation facilities. • Phase 1 projects per the attached sheet represent those for which 2016 bond funding would be utilized. • To the extent they are available, School Construction Impact Fees are requested for project planning to ensure "shovel-ready" status. • Unfunded projects would be addressed as future allocations allowed. • Based on approved CAP Certificates to date, OCS has adequate elementary and middle school capacity for the current 10-year CIP period. However, two major developments in the Town of Hillsborough are likely to significantly diminish the capacity within a relatively short time period. For that purpose, Elementary #8 has been included as a Phase III project. The Cedar Ridge classroom addition will address the needed high school capacity, which is projected to reach SAPFO capacity by 2022. A planning/constructing/opening period of approximately three years is anticipated. District leadership remains concerned that the 110% high school capacity upon which SAPFO is built is no longer a viable and safe level of occupancy and would request the County's review over the next year. • Replacement and consolidation of Transportation facilities is included in the OCS Phase 1 request, but is envisioned as a joint project with CHCCS. OCS is the recognized LEA for Transportation for both OCS and CHCCS (State only recognizes one per County). The 1950's vintage Transportation facilities for both CHCCS and OCS are woefully inadequate. Some buses will not fit and still close the bay doors, for example. • Potential bond funds will allow OCS to divert future pay-as-you-go CIP funds to other critical projects addressed in the Facilities Assessment, but not included in Phase 1 bond funding. 3 Commissioner Rich asked if the changes between the original OCS recommendations, and the updated version being presented this evening, could be highlighted. She also asked if the transportation component of the recommendations could be explained, including how much each school district will be contributing. Pam Jones said the OCS Board of Education (BOE) went through priorities based on the completed study of its facilities. She said items were prioritized as a 1, 2, or 3. She said the BOE decided to focus only on items prioritized as a 1 or 2, such as the HVAC systems. She said there are some deficiencies in the facilities that need upgrading for safety purposes. She said the bond proceeds that each district would receive were realigned, and it was determined what could be funded separately from that. She said this change is reflected in the revised document. She said Grady Brown Elementary is in need of roof repairs, but with those repairs comes asbestos abatement, which simply cannot be funded by the regular CIP allotment. Pam Jones said both districts are still working to finalize the transportation figures. She said part of the question remains based on the site that is chosen, as this will affect the cost. She said CHCCS plans to allocate its portion of the $1 million to this project, but it is not yet known if this will be sufficient, as the plans are not yet finalized. Commissioner Rich said the $52.6 million is more than the schools will get from bond funds, and she asked if priorities will have to again be reviewed. Pam Jones said part of the costs will be offset by CHCCS. She said there is some latitude in some of these projects, with HVAC for example. Commissioner Price asked if the removal of the food service projects means these projects will no longer be accomplished. Pam Jones said these projects have been incorporated in various CIP funding sources. Commissioner Pelissier said the high school capacity is no longer viable, according to the hand out. She asked if this has been discussed with CHCCS. Pam Jones said when SAPFO was created when the world was different, and she said they are asking to look at 107 for middle schools and 110 capacity for the high schools to see if these numbers can be lowered. Commissioner Pelissier referred for the Cedar Ridge High School classroom wings, and asked if there is a process to determine size. Pam Jones said part of this is determined by the school construction standards, which designates this as a 1,500 capacity high school. She said it was sized as such in the original master plan which has been adhered to. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there is a timeline for building a transportation facility and if there is a plan for the existing facility. Pam Jones said the older transportation facility may be used for storage of buses. She said the delay of the transportation facility is the lack of land. She said Chatham County has a good model, which was constructed in about 18 months. She said the first priority is the HVAC at Orange High School, then Cedar Ridge, and then a transportation facility. Chair McKee referred to the capacity for Cedar Ridge High School (CRHS) and asked if the upcoming SAPFO calls for an expansion. Paul Laughton said there is nothing in the SAPFO right now. Donna Coffey said OCS has to contend with growth as well, and the SAPFO does not include Mebane. She said the SAPFO projections are understated since so much development is forthcoming. Commissioner Burroughs said SAPFO is based on current student numbers as well as the past five years. She said when new developments are built in the CHCCS district, the SAPFO numbers do not reflect these until the students show up in the schools. 4 Donna Coffey said it is a bit different because there has always been growth in the Chapel Hill area, which is not the case historically in Mebane or Hillsborough. Commissioner Burroughs referred to the CRHS project, and asked if the SAPFO numbers remain fairly flat, would OCS possibly delay this project. Pam Jones said yes, but two major developments have been approved in the Hillsborough area, and while elementary capacity can be maneuvered around, high school capacity cannot. She said these developments will be both single family and multiple family housing. She said it takes about three years for the developments to move from shovel ready to occupation. Chair McKee said to use the Collins Ridge development as an example, and asked how quickly the SAPFO numbers would reflect the growth. He asked if the capacity demand does not come to fruition, would OCS move some Phase 2 projects forward and the CRHS project move back. Donna Coffey said that is a discussion the OCS board would have to have. Pam Jones said there is enough flexibility to complete the design for CRHS and then manipulate the projects if need be. Commissioner Jacobs referred to the Collins Ridge development, and asked if the potential population impact would be felt more at the high school level than the elementary level, due to available capacity at the elementary level. Pam Jones said there is more flexibility because there is more capacity in the elementary schools and middle schools, but not in the high schools. Commissioner Jacobs asked if re-districting is anticipated. Donna Coffey said this discussion has yet to occur. Commissioner Jacobs asked if it is known when redistricting was last discussed. Donna Coffey said at least six years ago. Commissioner Jacobs asked if there is a felt need to put the new transportation facility close to the present one. Pam Jones said it should be near the center of Orange County, so that both school districts can have access. CHCCS Tom Forcella said this discussion began over four years ago regarding new buildings, and the conversation turned to the dire needs of the older facilities, then turned again to the "what ifs" and what may be possible with the older buildings to improve safety, and also increase capacity. He said it is clear that all needs cannot be met at one time, and CHCCS supports a long-range approach and vision for its older schools. Todd LoFrese reviewed the following PowerPoint presentation: Older Facility Recommendations and the 2016-26 CIP Key Elements of Older Facility Recommendations (included in the 2016-26 CIP Recommendations) • The recommendations are for a comprehensive program that focuses on the district's 10 oldest schools. • Facility recommendations include: o correction of building code violations; o improved safety by consolidating operations and controlling entry; o indoor air quality deficiencies and health concerns addressed; o replacement of malfunctioning mechanical equipment; 5 o relief of traffic congestion problems and providing pedestrian access; o deconstruction of some inefficient buildings; o accessibility for all students and staff; o extending the life of the schools an additional 50 years; and o providing educational facilities that meet Orange County school construction standards. • Implementation of the recommendations eliminate mobile classrooms (also in need of renovations) while providing additional student capacity. o Elementary school capacity increase = 555. o High school capacity increase = 155. • Increased student capacity would result in deferment of new elementary school and high school additions well beyond the 10-year CIP window. o Delays nearly $57.6 million in projected capital expenditures. o Delays significant operational increases with opening a new school. • Bond funds and future capital funds directed to the 10 oldest schools will make available CIP (Paygo) revenue for needed maintenance at district's "newer" schools that are 20-30 years of age. Phase 1 Projects Rationale Chapel Hill High School • significant disrepair and deferred maintenance • building has chronic flooding, moisture and mold issues • inadequate educational spaces, including severely antiquated science labs • academic building needs complete replacement • the entire campus HVAC system needs replacement • profound security concerns including: multiple access points, outdated security system, and hard to monitor entrances • major traffic and pedestrian conflicts that cause congestion, busing delays, and safety issues • pervasive ADA issues throughout the campus • scale of project requires significant financial investment (bond appropriate) Glenwood Elementary School • provides a solution to continue safe operations for the next 10 years • addresses safety and security concerns by providing a secure entrance • addresses handicap accessibility and appropriate restrooms • addresses flooding, moisture, and mold issues • provides for repairs to existing infrastructure • Glenwood Elementary's continuance after 10 years is uncertain PreK Center/ Phoenix Academy/ Lincoln Center • provides a comprehensive facility to support early childhood education o improved access to educational resources o improved services for students o disadvantaged student supports 6 • returns existing space back to elementary schools and allows for phasing of other projects • provides the greatest increase in capacity o 189 Elementary School seats o 100 High School seats • provides Phoenix Academy High students with appropriate and supportive facilities, including a biomedical lab • provides desperately needed additional space for students with mental health needs and for students who need a smaller educational environment • provides a community meeting space and a Black/education history museum • provides renovations and A/C to the existing gymnasium • addresses moisture and mold concerns • addresses handicap accessibility issues • frees up future capital funding to address other school capital needs • provides appropriately-sized administrative space on the second floor, reducing total expenditures to a small fraction of the total anticipated CHCCS bond funding allocation Next Phase Projects Phase II, to begin in 3-4 years: Improvements at Ephesus, Estes Hills and Seawell Elementary Schools and Phillips Middle School. These improvements provide the second most positive impact to capacity. These improvements will hopefully be funded by long range funds Orange County has planned for the district's new schools. Phase III, to begin in 4-7 years: Improvements at Carrboro and Frank Porter Graham Elementary Schools and at Culbreth Middle School. These projects are currently unfunded. It is hoped that future-funding sources will be identified to complete all the projects. James Barrett thanked the Board for its willingness to discuss these topics. He expressed his excitement for both the Chapel Hill High School (CHHS) and the Lincoln Center (LC) projects. James Barrett said Tom Forcella had talked with alumni from Lincoln High and the opportunity to bring education back to this area provides great excitement to the alumni community. Todd LoFrese said it is important to remember that CHCCS has been operating at capacity for the last two decades. He said SAPFO projections show a current lull, and thus this is an opportunity to address the older schools and capacity issues. He said the proposed plan would create the capacity of one whole elementary school and 200 high school seats by renovating current buildings. Todd LoFrese said Chapel Hill High is in need of major renovations. Todd LoFrese said a packet was provided to the Board ahead of time with CHCCS projects and priorities included. He said CHCCS also provided written responses to Board questions which are at their places. Commissioner Burroughs asked if there are reasons for renovating CHHS, as opposed to building a new school. Todd Lofrese said the cost is one issue, and the other is where would students go during renovations. Todd LoFrese said there are no additional school sites large enough for a high school. He said CHHS has 1,500 students, and to phase these students in would be a challenge. 7 Todd LoFrese said the academic wing is the focus, as it is deemed beyond renovation and must be a re-build. He said the gym was renovated a few years ago, so it and the auditorium are salvageable to bring up to Orange County standards. Commissioner Burroughs repeated her question and clarified that the largest portion of CHHS will be built new, while the other sections are renovated. Todd LoFrese said it is $50-70 per square foot to renovate versus $200 per square foot for a new facility. He said a new high school would be too expensive, and if an entirely new facility were built at CHHS, there would be no funds to do the projects at the other schools. Commissioner Burroughs asked if Todd LoFrese would speak about the mobile units, the costs to maintain them, and some of the challenges these units present. Todd LoFrese said each mobile unit is a separate facility, with its own utilities and HVAC, which are inefficient and require maintenance. He said it costs $6,000 to replace a mobile unit HVAC, which is fiscally irresponsible. He said CHCCS does not want to use CIP funds on renovating the mobiles. Commissioner Rich said the school construction standards were approved in 2007, and asked if these standards need to be updated. Todd LoFrese said down the road these standards should probably be reviewed, and he said that both the construction standards and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) regulations are in line with what CHCCS is proposing. Commissioner Rich said technology is ever changing and asked if this should be acknowledged somehow in the standards. Commissioner Rich asked if Todd LoFrese could clarify what some of the $6-9 million of improvements will include. Todd Lofrese said HVAC replacement, locker renovations, flooring, new technology and seating in the auditorium, wall and window seals, and infrastructure upgrades. Commissioner Rich asked if safety issues are being addressed. Todd LoFrese said the older schools have lots of doors. He said at Chapel Hill High School some buildings will be connected with secure vestibules. He said there are a lot of conflicts with pedestrian, kiss and go, and bus lanes, all of which create safety and traffic hazards. He said these need to be made into appropriate types of entrances and exits. Todd LoFrese said there would be a similar approach with other older schools: expanding capacity and creating secure vestibules. Commissioner Rich referred to Glenwood Elementary, noting it may disappear in the near future. She said there is $940,000 assigned to this school, and she asked if the life span of the school could be identified. Todd LoFrese said this renovation project is already underway through fund balance dollars. He said the goals of this project are to create a secure a main entrance, address issues of ADA compliance, and to extend the life of this building as long as possible by addressing mechanical systems. He said the hope is to extend the life of the building for at least 10-15 years. He said the majority of this work will be done this summer. Commissioner Pelissier said all of the older schools will not be able to be addressed in Phase 1. She asked if there are any other funds outside of the CIP and the bond to address these many needs, especially mold. Tom Forcella said by putting bond funds into CHHS, the CIP dollars typically funded to CHHS will become available for other projects. Todd LoFrese said CHCCS highlighted some projects in their current CIP that, if CHHS and the Lincoln Center projects moved forward, could be funded. He said this would be about $3.5 million over five years. Commissioner Jacobs referred to page 15 of construction standards, where it addresses school site acreage. He said the document does not reflect current standards, as 8 the acreage requirements were not followed when building Northside Elementary School. He said the standards should be re-visited, if millions are going to be invested in renovations. James Barrett agreed that the acreage standards could be reviewed, especially for CHCCS. Todd LoFrese said all of the older schools become denser when more students are added to an existing site. Commissioner Jacobs said now is the time to look at sites for future use. He suggested the idea that larger school properties, such as Carrboro Elementary, may be able to accommodate another facility. Bonnie Hammersley said there is a Superintendents/Manager meeting coming up, where these standards and ideas could be discussed and recommendations brought back to the Board. James Barrett said Todd LoFrese presented to the Chapel Hill Town Council last night, and there were questions about student capacity. He said capacity consistently reaching 110% indicates that the CHCCS is accepting of mobile units. He said those standards could have been made at a time when there was no funding for new schools. He said revisiting the standards is a worthwhile endeavor. Chair McKee said he does not like mobile units, but removing them means more new schools must be built. He said this whole discussion brings back the question of available resources versus necessary needs. Commissioner Dorosin said the percentages over 100 are designed to allow time to accommodate the growth as it happens. He said all of this feeds into the question of whether or not bigger schools are needed. He said Chapel Hill has more schools for 12,000 students than a lot of other places. Commissioner Price said in considering mobile units, it is important to think about safety and security standards as a priority. She said the children must come first. Tom Forcella referred to CHHS and said the discussion is centering on how to make best use of space, especially in a collaborative way by using one space for multiple purposes. James Barrett said secure vestibules are not inexpensive. Commissioner Jacobs said as far as SAPFO goes, it is a far more conservative standard than the alternative, and it was a compromise. He said building cannot continue on the current tax base. He said the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) tries to be sensitive to the schools' needs, but has to balance schools with other County needs. He said when considering school size and standards, one must consider how much is reasonable. Commissioner Jacobs asked if mobile units are as unsafe and insecure as classrooms with doors with outside access. Todd LoFrese said yes. He said all doors have locks, which should remain locked during school hours; however, every door is another opportunity for access. Commissioner Jacobs said he wished the schools would talk about safety first, and that is what has bothered him about the CHCCS proposal. He said the primary motivation should be safety for the children, and he does not hear that in the proposal, since mobile units are in Phase 2. James Barrett said no safety measures are 100%, and the worst incident in the CHCCS occurred at East Chapel Hill High. He added that solving the issues at Estes Hills Elementary School is no guarantee, and as there is no guarantee of safety, perhaps that is why the issue is not at the forefront of the proposal. Todd LoFrese said safety goes beyond these issues being discussed. He reviewed several other safety issues identified by the facilities study that were addressed immediately upon discovery. 9 Todd LoFrese said the situations with mold and water are significant and an on-going issue. He said CHCCS would absolutely like all children out of mobile units and in buildings, but there is a balance between safety and not causing hysteria in the community. Commissioner Burroughs said the CHHS and LC projects both offer improved safety, and this element of the plans should be highlighted. She said the bond committee can talk about this going forward. Commissioner Pelissier said the Lincoln Center will include some community space and asked if this will be the case in the CHHS project as well. She said having multifunctioning spaces can allow for greater stretch of the tax payer dollars. Commissioner Pelissier asked if features, such as geothermal heating, would be considered with the rebuilding at CHHS. Todd LoFrese said the district has a high performing building policy that is followed, within a particular budget. Todd LoFrese said in regards to community spaces, the BOE has a community use policy and a rental fee to offset costs. Commissioner Pelissier said she got the impression that the community does not often use the schools. Todd LoFrese said to the contrary, and that some spaces are used on a consistent basis. Commissioner Pelissier requested more information be sent to the Board regarding these matters. James Barrett said the Lincoln Center needs a good size meeting room to accommodate public overflow. He said the proposed museum allows for history to look down on the BOE, as it meets and conducts business. Commissioner Dorosin asked if there are fees for outside usage and if it is a source of revenue. Todd LoFrese said yes, and the rates differ for types of usage, as well as non-profit versus for profits usage. He said it is a break-even operation and the fees collected go directly back into school maintenance. Commissioner Dorosin asked if the mobile units have bathrooms, and if it has been determined what CHCCS will do with the 32 mobile units being discarded. Todd LoFrese said that is open for discussion and exploration. Commissioner Dorosin said perhaps the mobile units with bathrooms could be converted into some type of affordable housing. Commissioner Jacobs said he and Todd LoFrese had a conversation years ago regarding the preservation of the Lincoln Center for historical reasons, and he gave the BOE credit for recognizing the importance of this. Commissioner Rich referred to the pre-K students, asking of the 200 to 250 pre-K students, how many does the County fund and how many are state funded. Todd LoFrese said exceptional students (EC) must be provided for. Commissioner Rich asked if most of the students fall under the EC designation. Todd LoFrese said no. He said there are EC pre—K classes, which are smaller in head count, perhaps 4-7 students. He said there are also Head Start and NC pre-K students which comprise the majority of the students. He said there are also tuition-paying students. Commissioner Rich asked if there is a waiting list. Tom Forcella said the District is required to offer services for EC students, but there may be a waiting list for the tuition-paying students. Todd LoFrese said he thought there were students that would attend if there were open Head Start slots or available NC pre-k funds. He said EC students are paid for by State and local funds. 10 Commissioner Dorosin asked if the pre-K project at the Lincoln Center proceeds, will there be no more pre-K students at other elementary schools. Todd LoFrese said 20 classrooms are being designated to keep a pre-K at Frank Porter Graham Elementary School, since it is a dual language program, and perhaps at Carrboro Elementary for the same reason. Commissioner Jacobs said he asked Margaret Samuels to attend the meeting since she had worked in pre-K for years. Commissioner Jacobs said he read through all the materials and the rationale for changing the pre-K model. He asked if it is known which portion of the program would be funded locally. He remembered the conversation from years ago making the case that it is easier to transfer a pre-K student into an existing elementary school. He asked if the proposed LC project is better for the teaching staff or for the students. Margaret Samuels said pre-K is funded in many different ways. She said CHCCS runs the Head Start grant locally, but OCS runs its program slightly differently. She said as far what provides a good pre-k experience for a child is a consistent, licensed and trained teacher first and foremost. She said it would be optimal if there were enough money to put every child in a pre-K class at their assigned neighborhood school, but this is currently happening with less than 50% of the pre-K students. Margaret Samuels said the opportunities that the consolidation offers is that there would be health services at the Lincoln Center, ratio of teacher to children, programmatic benefits, and the most important piece is the availability for all of the pre-K teachers to collaborate, meet, train together, etc. at one site. She said this project is the best compromise at this time. Chair McKee referred to the next phase projects and said there is an expectation of future bonds. He read a portion of the abstract pertaining to Orange County's funds planned for future new schools. He asked if there could be clarification regarding this. Todd LoFrese said Phase 1 projects are bond projects. He said CHCCS has requested that for Phase 2 projects, the District be given access to what was in the CIP last year. He said the 10-year CIP included funding for elementary school number 12 and a high school addition at Carrboro High School. He said if these funds could be accessed to complete Phase 2 projects, then a new elementary school and a high school addition will not be necessary for quite some time. He said Phase 1 projects will significantly address capacity issues as well. Chair McKee asked if SAPFO numbers push out those two projects past the 10-year mark, what justification would there be to release those funds in year two or three. James Barrett said these funds were never intended for years two or three. Chair McKee said if these projects are to be completed over 10 years, then funds would need to be released in the third year. Todd LoFrese said a small amount of Phase 2 projects begin in FY 2018-19, but the majority of these projects are in FY 2020-21. James Barrett said it is harder for act any sooner, because once the pre-K students are co-located at the LC, there needs to be some flexibility at the schools in order to move students around during construction. Todd LoFrese said every year that passes gets the District a year closer to when a new school may be needed. He said there is a lull right now, and great strides can be made. Chair McKee said he is trying to understand the mechanics of these projects. He said there will be 189 additional seats provided by the LC project, and asked if that will not satisfy the capacity issues that Phase 2 seeks to address. Todd LoFrese said it delays the capacity need but not the condition of the schools. James Barrett said it is a buffer to complete the construction. 11 Chair McKee referred to Phase 3, and asked if there could be clarification regarding the statement "future funding resources will be identified" in the abstract. Todd LoFrese said the CHCCS tried to align the Phase 2 projects with the funding that was planned for last year in the 10-year CIP. He said it is unknown where Phase 3 funds would come from. James Barrett said if the funds allotted to the CIP can be repurposed for Phase 2 projects, a great deal of progress can be made to make CHCCS safer and stronger. Chair McKee said he does not understand the mechanics of the Lincoln Center project. He is very supportive of pre-K education, and if the consolidation of the program is best, he supports that as well. He said he is unclear how the InterFaith Council (IFC) and Piedmont Health Services play into the project. He can see the benefit to having health services on the campus, but he has heard parental concerns about increasing the access to the school. Todd LoFrese said Lincoln Center is comprised of three main components of the District: consolidated pre-school; Phoenix Academy High School with a larger building to include the mental health component; and administrative offices on the second floor. He said the gym will be preserved. He said earlier this year, an inquiry was received from the IFC and Piedmont Health regarding co-location of services at these facilities. He said there is not enough room on the campus to build another building, thus IFC likely will not fit at the LC. He said discussions are still taking place with Piedmont Health, with the possibility of extending a portion of the Phoenix High School building to house medical and dental services. He said if this were to occur, Piedmont Services would provide the funding in exchange for a 30-year use. Todd LoFrese said this co-location idea is still being considered from an educational viewpoint. He said the co-located services could provide access to early education and health care, both of which are extremely important for child development. He said high school students at Phoenix, and across the District, could benefit from hands on experience and learning in various aspects of the medical field, when considering career choices. Chair McKee said a concern he has with the Lincoln Center project is whether this expenditure of$22 million should come before other issues with safety and security have been addressed. He said he knows that the needs outpace the resources, but of all the projects identified, the Lincoln Center gave him the most reason for pause. James Barrett said completing the Lincoln Center first allows for a full transition plan for the other schools over the next 10 years, as it will allow for flex space to move students around during construction. Commissioner Jacobs thanked Chair McKee for raising this issue. He said this is the first time the Board is hearing details of the Lincoln Center project. Tom Forcella said this project has been presented twice before. Commissioner Jacobs said this is the first time that the Board of County Commissioners has heard about the entire Lincoln Center project, which has been helpful. Commissioner Jacobs asked if Piedmont will be able to provide nursing care, or would the County still have to provide nursing services. Todd LoFrese said that could be a possibility to discuss going forward. Commissioner Dorosin thanked the two school districts for the conversation, and asked both districts to adopt resolutions to repeal HB2. He said school districts are adversely affected in unique ways and have a unique legal standing in the matter. James Barrett said the CHCCS BOE passed a resolution last week, and has learned from their lawyers that policies do not need to be changed. He said gender-neutral bathrooms are being implemented in all middle and high schools. Todd LoFrese provided the following information: 12 In advance of tonight's work session, the CHCCS district received questions from County Commissioners related to the bond priorities. A brief response follows each question along with two supporting documents. 1. What were the square foot costs for Carrboro High, the total cost, and some coefficient for inflation in construction costs since the building was completed? • Carrboro High was bid in 2005, pre-recession. • It cost $190 per square foot for a total cost of$36 million. • It was initially constructed without an auditorium/arts wing (added in 2011 @ $4 million) and without a concession/bathroom building (added in 2012 at $900K) Calculating construction cost inflation is difficult due to the recession and since 11 years have passed since the bid opening. We have included a more recent cost analysis based on DPI reports of new school project costs. Please find it attached. 2. For CHCCS, how many mobile classrooms will be retired by executing each project, and what percentage of the total mobile classrooms does that represent? • The need for 24 mobile classrooms will be eliminated with our Phase 1 projects. 3 mobiles are at Lincoln Center, 14 mobiles are at Chapel Hill High School, and 7 mobiles are occupied by pre-K students at other schools across the district. Phase 2 projects would eliminate the need for an additional 8 mobile classrooms. A total of 32 mobiles would be eliminated through all 10 projects, of which 24 (or 75% of the total eliminated) would occur in Phase 1. • Furthermore, 12-14 additional classroom spaces would be vacated across all elementary schools by the pre-K consolidation, assisting with Phase 2 swing space needs. 3. Do the existing school construction standards add significant costs to typical school construction? If so, how much? • We do not feel the school construction standards significantly increase the cost of typical school construction. Local approval/permitting and significant regional demand (Wake $800 million bond, recently passed state bond, recently passed Town of Chapel Hill Bond) are much bigger factors. 4. Can we get a breakdown of costs for the Chapel Hill High project? What is the cost of deconstructing building A and rebuilding it vs. the amount of money going to upgrading the rest of the buildings? • We have broken down the details for our initial estimate for Chapel Hill High School. Please find it attached. 5. What components are included in the overall project costs? Can those be itemized to isolate construction from architectural fees, equipment, etc. for each of the major projects? • Yes, see the Chapel Hill High School estimate sheet for an example. 6. In the 20th Annual School Construction Report http://www.haddonfield.k12.nj.us/Attachments/AnnualSchoolConstructionReport2015.pdf and 13 Schooldesigns.corn web site, Stuart Cramer High School in Gaston County was completed in 2013 at a cost of roughly 39 million. This facility is larger than the requested renovation size of Chapel Hill High and accommodates 300 fewer students. Is the difference construction costs vs. the overall cost of the project, or are there other important differences to explain the large difference in costs? If a new school costs less, why not build a new school? • The project in Gaston County was bid in 2011. We do not feel that cost is an accurate representation of the current local market and a new Chapel Hill High School would cost significantly more than $52 million. In addition it would be extremely difficult to build given our limited remaining school sites (none of which are appropriate for a HS) and that 1500+ students currently attend CHHS. Phasing would be very difficult and expensive. 7. How firm are the costs for Chapel Hill High? Could the district representatives please describe the process, where we are now and what are the next steps? • The costs are not firm at this time as we have not yet begun design. The design process will commence later this spring. At the different phases of architectural design (concept plan, schematic design, and construction documents) professional cost estimates will be obtained to ensure the project is within our budget estimate. 8. What is the County's role in funding pre-K?Are pre-K students counted in the ADM?Are counties in the state legally obligated to provide facilities for pre-K or is this a policy choice that varies by district? • Orange County is not required to fund pre-K. • Pre-K students are not included in our ADM numbers, however their presence in our schools utilized capacity. • Counties in NC are not required or obligated to provide PK facilities • The district must provide pre-K for exceptional children students. Also consider that if we didn't provide appropriate space for pre-K most of our students receiving Head Start assistance or NC pre-K would not be served. A motion was made by Commissioner Burroughs, seconded by Commissioner Rich to adjourn the meeting at 9:25 p.m. Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board Earl McKee, Chair