HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-01-2005-9aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 1, 2005
Action Agenda
Item No. -q
SUBJECT: Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) -Approval of
Annual Certifications
DEPARTMENT: Manager/Planning/Budget
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Draft SAPFOTAC Annual Report
(under separate cover)
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rod Visser, ext 2308
Craig Benedict, ext 2592
Donna Dean, ext 2151
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To review the Annual Report from the Schools Adequate Public Facilities
Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAG).
BACKGROUND: At the December 14, 2004 Board of County Commissioners meeting, the
Board approved the November 15, 2004 actual membership and previously adopted capacity
numbers and received the 10-year student membership projections for both Orange County
Schools (OCS) and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS). There was a total increase
from the previous year of 163 students in OCS and 43 students in CHCCS.
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. The annual report outlines changes in actual membership,
capacity, student projections, and their collective impacts on the future issuance of Certificates
of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS). Orange County's Planning Staff compiles the report,
holds a meeting discussion about various aspects, and then prepares a draft report that is
reviewed by the SAPFO Technical Advisory Committee. A draft of the 2005 SAPFOTAC
Report has been completed, reviewed by the SAPFOTAC members, and is provided under
separate cover for review by the BOCC.
As was discussed in the agenda materials far, and during the presentation at, the December 14,
2004 Orange County Commissioners' meeting, there is not consensus among all SAPFO
partners about how to deal with legislative changes during the past two years by the State of
North Carolina that have led to reductions in maximum class size in kindergarten through 3'd
grade. The General Assembly has enacted statutory changes that provide that K-3 class size
should be reduced from a ratio of 23 students to 1 teacher to 21 students to 1 teacher. County
Commissioners have noted that a unilateral reduction in class size by the State has the effect of
creating an unfunded mandate for county governments. Reduced class sizes in elementary
schools create the need for more classroom space, which county governments must pay for.
The County has determined that for capital planning purposes for the 2005-15 Capital
Investment Plan (CIP) cycle, it will continue to consider elementary school building capacities
based on the previous jointly established student-to-teacher ratios. Therefore, the building
capacity calculations for both school systems for 2004-05 are unchanged from those used for
2003-04. Membership/capacity analysis and capacity input into the GAPS system are based on
the adopted 23:1 student/teacher ratio for grades K-3. Nevertheless, for reference purposes
and in recognition of the need for further discussions to reach resolution among the SAPFO
partners in the near future about how to address the school building capacity implications of
State-mandated smaller class sizes, the SAPFOTAC report does present tables for capacity
calculations that reflect both the 23:1 and 21:1 student/teacher ratios in grades K through 3.
OGS elementary membership and capacity are reflected on pages 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 of
Attachment LB.S (pages 13 and14 of the draft SAPFOTAC report). CHCGS elementary
membership and capacity are reflected on pages 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 of Attachment I.B,6 (pages
17 and 18 of the draft SAPFOTAG report).
The Memoranda of Understanding with both school districts require that any changes to
building capacity calculations "be determined by a joint action of the School Board and the
Orange County Board of Commissioners." Therefore, a joint action committee comprised of
representatives of these three governing boards will need to convene to discuss any potential
changes to the adopted 23:1 student/teacher ratio for grades K-3.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Precise financial impacts cannot be determined, but possible changes in
projected building capacity and projected growth in student membership for the next ten years
will have impacts on future operating and capital budgets measured in the tens of millions of
dollars.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) review the 2005 SAPFOTAC Annual Report;
2) provide appropriate direction to the Manager and staff; and
3) consider convening discussions among representatives of all three governing boards that
would constitute a Joint Action Committee to address the school building capacity
implications associated with State-mandated elementary class size reductions.