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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 02-11-2020 Item 1 - Update on Schools Joint Action Committee Related to Class Sizes and Pre-K 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: February 11, 2020 Action Agenda Item No. 1 SUBJECT: Update on Schools Joint Action Committee Related to Class Sizes and Pre-K DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: A. Elementary School Classroom and Capacity Craig Benedict, Director, 919-245-2575 Calculations Ashley Moncado, Planner II, 919-245-2589 PURPOSE: To receive an update on the Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) related to impacts from changes in class size and Pre-K. 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 aaproved 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 In January 2018, due to impacts anticipated 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. Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) 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 Board of Education, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, and Orange County Board of Commissioners. Appointed members include: ■ Rani Dasi, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education ■ Dr. Stephen Halkiotis, Orange County Board of Education ■ Penny Rich, Orange County Board of Commissioners Changes in Class Size Ratios The SJAC has conducted three meetings to review impacts resulting from changes in class size and options before determining how to implement elementary school class size reductions for SAPFO purposes. 2 January 31, 2019 ■ Reviewed changes in class size ratios outlined in House Bills 13 and 90. March 8, 2019 ■ Reviewed student projections and potential impacts resulting from changes in class size ratios. Student projections reviewed at this meeting included the 2019 SAPFOTAC 10- year projections. No capacity needs were identified in the 10-year period based on existing class size (1:20) and student membership and capacity numbers received from the schools in November 2018. ■ SJAC requested revised projections illustrating the impacts from the phasing-in of class size changes over the next three years. ■ Proposed and discussed various options to implement class size changes and requested staff to draft summary report outlining and detailing options for further analysis. April 10, 2019 ■ To determine future impacts related to changes in class size ratios and assist the SJAC with making a recommendation to implement changes in class size, school staff completed updated classroom and capacity calculations prior to the April SJAC meeting. During this process, it was discovered that updated classroom capacity numbers provided from school staff were not consistent with November 15, 2018 school capacity numbers submitted in order to draft 10-year student projection sheets and the 2019 SAPFOTAC Annual Report. School capacity numbers provided were higher than those received in November 2018. One reason for the discrepancy may be due to classrooms being utilized for Pre-K not being counted in the total elementary school capacity. ■ Based on the existing SAPFO Memoranda of Understanding, capacity (classrooms) being utilized for Pre-K must be included in the total elementary school capacity number collected every November for the drafting of the annual SAPFOTAC Report. Adopted MOUs do not allow for Pre-K student membership to be included in the total elementary student membership numbers collected every November. Jointly agreed to School Construction standards from 1996 and 2007 included the square footage of these spaces as if used by K — 5 grade levels. School Construction standards include classroom and capacity standards for grades K — 5, flex classroom space, and Special/Exceptional/Speech Language classes. ■ Following this finding, 10-year projections were drafted utilizing the April 2019 numbers. These projections showed the following school capacity needs in the 10-year projection period: ■ OCS — No capacity needs. ■ CHCCS — Capacity needed 2026-27 school year. ■ SJAC also reviewed options to implement class size changes for SAPFO purposes. Ten options were proposed and analyzed. Following elimination of seven options, the three options still being explored are listed below: ■ Suspend the Certificate of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS) test for the elementary school level for a specified period of time (short-term solution) ■ Discontinue the Certificate of Adequate Public Schools (CAPS) test for both districts. (short-term solution) ■ Fund the construction of a "school swing space" (mid-term solution) 3 Pre-K As a result of the findings at the April 10 SJAC meeting, school representatives identified concerns with Pre-K classroom capacities being included in total elementary school capacity numbers and whether a review of the existing MOUs is warranted to exclude the square footage of Pre-K classrooms in total school capacity numbers. Additional 10-year projections were drafted utilizing the April 2019 numbers, but excluding Pre-K classroom capacity to determine impacts from class size changes. When Pre-K classroom capacities are excluded, the impacts from reductions in class size is worsened at the elementary school level. These projections showed the following school capacity needs in the 10-year projection period: ■ OCS — Capacity needed 2024-25 school year ■ CHCCS — Capacity needed 2021-22 school year This information was presented at the Schools Collaboration meeting on October 18, 2019. A SJAC update, which included impacts from changes in class size and Pre-K, was provided to Chapel Hill — Carrboro City Schools on December 5, 2019 and Orange County Schools on December 9, 2019. Orange County and school staff continue to analyze school capacity numbers to determine the most accurate count for use by the SJAC and School Boards to make an informed and final recommendation to implement class size changes. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no direct financial impact associated with this item. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this agenda 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. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impact associated with this item: RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive the presentation and discuss as appropriate. 4 Attachment 1—Elementary School Classroom and Capacity Calculations Grade Number of Elementary School Capacity Class Size Reductions Level Classrooms 2018-2019(1:20) 2019-2020(1:19) 2020-2021 (1:18) 2021-2022 (1:17) Pre—K 13 260 247 234 221 K—3 165 3,300 3,135 2,970 2,805 4-5 84 2,184 2,184 2,184 2,184 EC 18 180 180 180 180 Total Capacity 5,924 5,746 5,568 5,390 10-year student projections identify school capacity 100% LOS ' ' ' ' needed 2026-27 school year Pre-K Classroom Capacity -260 -247 -234 - 221 Reductions Total Capacity 100% LOS(Excluding Pre-K 5,664 5,499 5,334 5,169 10-year student projections identify school capacity needed 2021-22 school year Classroom Capacity) Capacity—100%LOS(2018-19 school year) 5,924 Pre-K Classroom Capacity(13 classrooms at 1:17 class size) - 221 seats Changes in class size ratio(2021-22 school year) - 534 seats Capacity—100%LOS(2021-22 school year 5,169 Total 755 seats lost Note:Class size ratios for grades 4—5 are 1:26 and Exceptional Classrooms(EC)is 1:10. 5 Attachment 1—Elementary School Classroom and Capacity Calculations Grade Number of Elementary School Capacity Class Size Reductions Level Classrooms 2018-2019(1:20) 2019-2020(1:19) 2020-2021 (1:18) 2021-2022 (1:17) Pre—K 9 180 171 162 153 K—3 116 2,320 2,204 2,088 1,972 4-5 45 1,170 1,170 1,170 1,170 EC 7 70 70 70 70 Total Capacity 100% LOS 3,740 3,615 3,490 3,365 No school capacity needs identified Pre-K Classroom Capacity - 180 - 171 - 162 - 153 Reductions Total Capacity 100% LOS(Excluding Pre-K 3,560 3,444 3,328 3,212 10-year student projections identify school capacity needed 2024-25 school year Classroom Capacity) Capacity—100%LOS(2018-19 school year) 3,740 Pre-K Classroom Capacity(9 classrooms at 1:17 class size) - 153 seats Changes in class size ratio(2021-22 school year) - 375 seats Capacity—100%LOS(2021-22 school year 3,212 Total 528 seats lost Note:Class size ratios for grades 4—5 are 1:26 and Exceptional Classrooms(EC)is 1:10.