HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-25-2000-3ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 25, 2000
Action Agenda
Item No. 3
SUBJECT: Issues Identified/Presented b Cha el Hill-Carrboro Cit Schools
DEPARTMENT: County Manager
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N] No
ATTACHMENT(S):
As noted in "Background"
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Neil Pedersen, 967-8211
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-$1$1
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 6$$-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To discuss issues of concern to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education.
BACKGROUND: The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education identified a number of topics it
would like to discuss with the BOCC at the September 25 joint work session. Time has been
reserved specifically to address the .topics noted below:
a. Immediate need for funding for 9th elementary school
b. Purchase of future school sites and availability of funds for such purposes
c. Long Range Facilities Plan
Other topics identified by CHCCS that can be addressed at a subsequent meeting (or at this
work session, depending on available time) include:
• Affordable housing for teachers
• Plans for a Durham Tech Satellite
• Additional funding for enrollees beyond projections
• Establishment of a standing committee to follow up on issues raised at joint meetings by
County Commissioners and/or school boards
BOCC oversight of school capital projects is slated for discussion under work session agenda
item 1a. Discussion of initiatives and external factors that could impact the 2001-02 budget is
scheduled under work session agenda item 1 b.
Attachment 3 - 8/7'/00 CHCCS Superintendent Memo
Attachment 3a - 8/28/00 CHCCS Staff Memo "Elementary School #9 Request"
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact tied directly to the discussion at this
meeting. However, decisions that may be made by one or mare of the elected boards at
subsequent meetings are likely to have significant implications for future capital and operating
budgets.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the boards discuss the issues noted
and provide direction to staff, as appropriate.
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CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS
Lincoln Center, Merritt Mill Road .
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516-2881
Telephone: (919) 9fi7-8211
Nail G. Pedersen
Superintendent
Nettle colllns-Hart, Assistant Superintendent
of Instructional Service
Steve Scraggs, Assistant Superintendent
Oi Support Services
Ray Reitz, Chief Technology Officer
'Pt7: Board of Education
FROM: Neil G. Pedersen
. Superintendent
RE: Possible Topics for Joint Meeting with County Commissioners
DATE: August 7, ZD00
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School System and the Orange County Schaol
System's Boards vfEducation are scheduled to meet with the County Commissioners on
Monday, September 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center. The Board
may wish to identity some issues to be placed on the agenda.
Some possibilities include the following:
• Immediate need for funding for 9th elementary school (planning and construction)
• Schaol initiatives and/or external factors that could impact the 2001-2002 budget
• Purchase future school sites and the availability of funds for such purpose
• Long Range Facilities Plan
• County Commissioners' oversight of school capital projects
• Affordable housing for teachers
• Plans for a Durham Tech Satellite
• Additional funding for enrollees beyond projections ,
• Establishment of a standing committee to follow-up on issues raised at joint meetings by
County Commissioners and/or school boards
Board members should review these suggestions and add any other issues that they
would like to raise.
RESOLUTION: Be it, therefore, resolved that the Board of Education
submits the issues identified above to the County Manager
for inclusion an the agenda of the joint meeting with the
County Commissioners on September 25, 2D00.
NGP/asb
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Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools
Lincoln Center, Merritt Mitt Road
Chapel Hill, NG 27516
Telephone: (919) 967-8211
Fax: (919) 933-4560
Nell Pedersen, Superintendent Nattle Collins-Hart, Assistant
Superintendent tot Instructional Services
Stephen A. Soroggs, Interim Assistant
Superintendent for Support Services
To: Neil G. Pedexsen
Superintendent .
From: Stephen A. Scroggs~~~
Assistant Superintendent far Support Services
Re: Elementary School #9. Request
Date: August 28, 2000
Included is a proposed request to the Qrange County Commissioners to begin the process
of planning elementary school #9. Included are the background, justification, preliminary
project costs, and a resolution. '
The exhibits illustrate enrollment growth, project costs and a proposed construction
calendar. The request concludes with a resolution requesting initial funding.
It is imperative that we move fozward quickly with our requests. With the explosive
growth experienced this year in student enrollment, any delay will contribute to the
continued overcrowding and cantinued.stress on the infrastructure of our facilities.
Personnel will be pushed to the.limit to meet the ever-growing diverse and complex
needs of oui students. If this yeaz's growth trend continues, we are already late in starting
our planning efforts for elementary school #9. Work must begin on alternatives to
overcrowding until a new facility is completed
Mr. Mullin and Mr. Scruggs will be present to-answer any questions you may have.
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CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #9
Background
In 1997, a school site was donated to the Chapel Hill-Carrbairo City Schools by .
the developer of Meadowmont. The donated school site is 22 acres. It is part of
a tota192 acre Park and School Site that was approved by tfle Town of Chapel
Hill in July 1997. The Town's Special Use Permit stipulates a specific timetable
for School Board commitments regarding the property. Specifically, the School
Board must commit to build a school on the site by July 200, a Special Use
Permit for the construction of the school must be issued by 2005, and
construction completed by 2007.
Since the donation of the site, the school district has identified the need for
another elementary school. In June 2000, a comprehensive; analysis was
completed detailing the facilities needed by the school distrir~t to meet growth and
enrollment projections. The Long Range Facilities Task Fore Report strongly
recommended that planning for the district's 9~' elementary School begin
immediately and that a schedule be developed to open the new school fior the
2003-04 school year. The report also recommends the new' elementary school
be located on the donated Meadowmont property for the following reasons:
• the desirable location within, a large residential community
• cost savings by avoiding the purchase of. a school site
• meeting the district's commitment to build a school on the donated
Property
• the availability of the-site complements the "fast tracf~` schedule needed
far the new school
The school district has recent experience in designing and building an
elementary school. Scroggs Elementary School was opened in 1999 and serves
as a solid model that meets the educational specifications required ofi a new
elementary school. The Scroggs design also complies with the Orange County
School Construction Standards. At this time, it is the intention of the
administration to adapt the Scroggs Elementary School design for the new
elementary school at Meadowmont.
JustrFcation
Elementary school enrollment has increased tremendously again this year. The
districts current 200D-01 elementary school enrollment is 4;376. This enrollment
represents an increase of 119 over last yeas end-of-year total, 235 students
more than the same time last year and 87 more than the state projection, It is
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important to note that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is the only Triangle
area school system to exceed enrollment projections by the 10~' day of school.
The attached Exhibit A details enrollment and capacity at each elementary
school and depicts the acute need for another elementary school to relieve
overcrowding. The exhibit also includes information regarding each school's
enrollment compared to the acceptable Level of Service. An acceptable Level of
Service was approved by the School Board in anticipation of the implementation
of a School Adequate Public Facility Ordinance. In June 2000, the School Board
approved 1 Q5% as an acceptable Level of Service for elementary school
enrollment. The 105% level of service probably will be exceeded this current
school year or, certainly by next year,
Preliminary Project Costs
In developing the attached preliminary project budget, the most recent
construction bids from Smith Middle School were used as a basis to project
estimates. While future construction costs can be difficult to: accurately forecast,
using the middle school's 1999 actual bids provides a solid basis for the
projections. It should be noted that approval this November of the State bond
referendum for the university system's facility needs may escalate construction
costs. A similar condition developed a few years ago when a State bond
referendum for K-1.2 construction was approved.
The preliminary project budget of $14,858,475 is outlined on F_xhibit B and
conforms to the model advanced as part of Orange County's School Facility
Construction Standards. It contains individual budgets for specific project
components such as construction, site development, fees, f~miture, technology,
start up costs, and contingency. Included in the budget information is an
additional line item of $715,000 to upgrade the elementary school's multi-
purpose room to a community gymnasium. This type of enhancement has been
discussed in the context of other school construction projects and is presented
now for consideration and possible inclusion in the project.
Exhibit C presents the project schedule and indicates an aggressive~plan to open
the new school for the 2003-04 school year. In order to meet the schedule,
architectural and engineering planning services must begin immediately.
$573,000 is required for these services through the initial phases of the project.
In order to meet this expense, it.is suggested that the $235,000 recently offered
for startup costs associated with Smith Middle School and $338,000 of the Smith
construction bid savings be assigned to the planning phase of the new
elementary school.
If it is determined that the cost of the new elementary school will be met through
a bond referendum, it is suggested that the bond referendum be offered to the
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voters in the spring of 2001. Assuming a successful voter outcome, this approval
time would secure funds to meet the construction schedule.
Resolution: Be it, therefore, resolved that the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
Board of Education requests the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners to approve a capital project ordinance for the
construction of a new elementary school and provide immediate
funding for the initial phase of planning.
EXHIBIT A '
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS 9
2000-01 SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ANALYSIS
10th Day State 10th D2~y Level
Capacity 08/31/1999 2000-01 08/28/2000 Of
. ~bi~L Enrollment
-
~~ _ Projections
- Enrollment_ _ Service
~
.r
Elementary Schools: -
-. .~ ,
~. ~ _ , .
Carrbora Elementary 563 479 530 498 88%
Hill
M
Scro s Elementa 510 411 490 535 105%
Seawell Elementary 498 _ 575 589 fi40 129%
_
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOTAL
Middle Schools:
Culbreth Middle School 4203
fi70 _
4743 ~
633 ~ ~ 4291 ~
668 4378
fi43 _ 104%
96%
McDouQle Middle School _ _ 732 _ 810 833 874 119%
Phiill Middle School 706 _ ,~
719 _
788 788 112%~
MIDDLE SCHOOL TOTAL
High Schools:
Cha el Hill Hi h School 21 D8
1520 2162
1475 2289
1543 23D5
1547 109%
1 D2°~
East Chapel Hill_High_Scho_ol 1515 1166 1258 1289 85%
HIGH SCHOOL TOTAL „
$0$5 _
__.
2641 28D1 _
2$36 93%
Hospital School 35
DISTRICT TOTAL 9346 8946 9381 9554
GHAPEL HILL - CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL #9
PRELIMINARY PROJECT BUDGET
Project Assumptions:
County's New Middle School Tier B standard of 95,225 sf building opening in 2003
Prellminary
Budget Category Project Budget
Construction: 10,379,525 {1)
95,?~5 sf at 109 per sf
Site Development: 1,037,953
10°~ of construction cost
Sub-totai 11,417,478
Fees: 1,141,748
10°~ of construc~an and
site development cost
Moveable Equipment: 518,976
5°k of construction cost
Technology: 809,400
8.50 per sf for infrastructure
and equipment
Contingency: 570,574
5% of oonstruction and
site development costs
Non-personnel Start Up Costs 400,000
PROJECT'COST $ 14,858,475
Upgrade Multi-Purpose Room 715,000
to a Community Gymnasium
ToTAI_ cast $ 15,573,475
(1) Construction sstimate is based upon Smith Middle School 1999 construction bid of 98.54
inflated 5% a year for two years.
EX,~IT B
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