HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 11-01-2018 6-b - Schools Joint Action Committee – Appointment and Letter Transmittal 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: November 1, 2018
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-b
SUBJECT: Schools Joint Action Committee — Appointment and Letter Transmittal
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) Craig Benedict, Director, 919-245-2575
Transmittal Letter Ashley Moncado, Planner II, 919-245-2589
PURPOSE: To consider the appointment of an Orange County Commissioner to the Schools
Joint Action Committee (SJAC) and authorize the Chair to sign a transmittal letter to the Orange
County Schools Board of Education and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education.
BACKGROUND: The State of North Carolina enacted legislation in 2017 resulting in a decrease
in class size averages from 1:20 to 1:17 for kindergarten to third grade for the 2018-2019 school
year. Due to significant statewide ramifications as a result of the reduced class size averages,
the North Carolina General Assembly unveiled House Bill 90 which allows for a phasing-in
process to address the decrease in class size averages over the next four years. Based on
House Bill 90, average class sizes for kindergarten to third grade will be phased-in as provided
below:
2019 - 2020 1:19
2020 — 2021 1:18
2021 — 2022 1:17
Due to impacts to elementary school capacity resulting from these reductions, the Schools
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC) identified the
need for the Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) to meet in order to discuss options and
determine how to implement the school capacity changes in the 2019 SAPFO report and 10-
year student membership and building capacity projections sheets. Based on the adopted
SAPFO Memoranda of Understanding, school building capacity shall be determined by
reference to state guidelines and school district guidelines and by a joint action of the School
Boards and Orange County Board of Commissioners.
The SJAC is comprised of elected officials from the Orange County Schools Board of Education,
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, and Orange County Board of
Commissioners. The SJAC last met in 2005 to discuss and recommend how to implement
elementary level class size reductions related to legislation implemented at that time. At the
time, the SJAC decided to defer reductions, for SAPFO purposes, to elementary level class size
averages for both districts until after the opening of Morris Grove Elementary School in 2008.
The Committee is expected to meet twice to review and discuss impacts and options before
determining how to implement class size reductions for SAPFO purposes. Orange County
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Planning staff will organize and provide staff support at the committee meetings. Staff from
Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill — Carrboro City Schools will be invited to attend.
In order to proceed with the formation of the Schools Joint Action Committee, a letter from the
Board of County Commissioners Chair must be sent to the Orange County Schools Board of
Education and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. This letter (Attachment 1)
provides a brief summary and request for appointments to the committee.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated this item.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board:
1. Appoint a member of the Orange County Board of Commissioners to the Schools Joint
Action Committee; and
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the transmittal letter to the Orange County Schools Board of
Education and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education contained in
Attachment 1.
Attachment 1 3
BOCC Letterhead
November 1, 2018
Brenda Stephens, Chair Rani Dasi, Chair
Orange County Board of Education Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education
PO Box 481 750 Merritt Mill Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278 Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Subject: Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC)
Dear Ms. Stephens and Ms. Dasi,
In 2017, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation resulting in a
reduction in class size averages for kindergarten to third grade for the 2018-19 school
year. Due to impacts to elementary school capacity resulting from these reductions, the
Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee
(SAPFOTAC) recognized the need for the Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) to
meet in order to discuss alternatives and determine how to implement the school
capacity changes, resulting from state class size reductions, into the 2019 Schools
Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) annual report and 10-year student
membership and building capacity projections sheets.
Based on the adopted SAPFO Memoranda of Understandings, school building capacity
shall be determined by reference to state guidelines and school district guidelines and
by a joint action of the School Boards and Orange County Board of Commissioners.
The SJAC is comprised of elected officials from the Orange County Board of Education,
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, and Orange County Board of
Commissioners. The SJAC last met in 2005 to discuss and recommend how to
implement elementary level class size reductions related to legislation implemented at
that time.
Due to renewed interest to reconvene the SJAC, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners is requesting your participation by making an appointment to the
Schools Joint Action Committee. Additional information regarding this request is
included in the attached abstract from the November 1, 2018 Orange County Board of
Commissioners meeting. At the meeting, the Board appointed to serve on the
committee.
Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions, please feel free
to call or email Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Orange County Planning and Inspections
Director. Mr. Benedict can be reached by phone at (919) 245-2575 or by e-mail at
cbenedict @orangecountync.gov.
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Sincerely,
Mark Dorosin
Chair
Enclosures
cc: Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager
Craig Benedict, Planning Director, Orange County
Todd LoFrese, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, Chapel Hill Carrboro
City Schools
Patrick Abele, Chief Operations Officer, Orange County Schools