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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 12-13-1999 - 31 .ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 13, 1999 Action Agenda Item No. 3 SUBJECT: Issues Identified by Orange County Schools DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: None Randy Bridges, 732-8126 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill .968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To discuss issues of concern to the Orange County Board of Education. BACKGROUND: a) Funding for Opening New Elementary School During its August 26, 1999 meeting, the Orange County Board of Education considered topics that they would like to discuss with the County Commissioners, identifying this as a topic of interest. b) Need for a New Middle School At the most recent monthly meeting between the Superintendents and the County Manager, Superintendent Bridges noted that the Orange County Board of Education would also like to discuss this topic with the Board of Commissioners. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact tied directly to the discussion at this meeting. However, decisions that may be made by one or more 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. ~~ , BOARD MEMBERS SUSAN DOVENBARGER, CHAIR KEITH COOK, VICE CHAIR ROBERT H. GATEMAN RICHARD KENNEDY DAVID KOLBINSKY DELORES SIMPSON BRENDA STEPHENS MEMORANDUM TO: Moses Carey, Chairman Orange County Commissioners FROM: Randy Bridges RE: Information Requested by Commissioners DATE: December 16, 1999 200 EAST KING STREET HILLSBOROUGH, NC 27278 TELEPHONE: 919-732-8126 FAX: 919-732-8120 Thank you and the Commissioners for allowing our Board the opportunity to share in an open dialogue about educational issues which directly affect all the students in northern Orange County. As we stated Monday evening, we are indeed fortunate in Orange County to be supported so strongly by the Commissioners. Educating the youth of our county is of the utmost importance, and we are pleased that you and your peers share in that belief. Listed below are several items the Commissioners requested during our meeting. If there is a need for additional information, please let me know and we will be glad to respond as soon as possible. Reduction in Class Size: Our Board has discussed a reduction in class size for the past three years. We have delayed requesting this item realizing that not only would we need additional teachers, but also space to house these teachers and students would be an issue. Rather than seeking two large budget items from the Commissioners, we have waited until space in our schools was available. With the construction of a new elementary and high school, we are now better prepared to make this single request. The Board has had preliminary discussions about class size reduction in grades 3, 6, and 9. Year Reduction 2000-2001 Reduce Grade 3 from 22 to 18 2002-2003 Reduce Grade 9 from 25 to 20 2004-2005 Reduce Grade 6 from 25 to 20 Teachers/Teacher Assistants Cost 4/4 $288,000.00 5/0 $240,000.00 6/0 $288,000.00 Construction of New Middle School: The addition of a new elementary and high school will go along way in meeting the needs of a growing student population in our system. As we have shared with you before, the next most logical construction need in our system would be a new middle school. A. L. Stanback is currently approaching capacity and a mobile unit was placed on site for the 1999-2000 school year. C. W. Stanford Middle School has three mobile units and has been over capacity for three years. I have listed below the current combined building capacities ®rattge ~outttp ~oarb of ~bucatiott RANDY BRIDGES, SUPERINTENDENT ~irrgboroug~j, ,~~ 27278 `., Moses Carey -2- December 16, 1999 for both middle schools. Please be aware that program capacities are more realistic and situational. We may engage in further discussion on this issue at a later date. I have also listed the Department of Public Instruction's projected enrollment figures for our middle schools. Department of Public Instruction's Middle School Projections: Year Enrollment Projections 1999-2000 1412 2000-2001 1485 2001-2002 1546 2002-2003 1642 2003-2004 1676 2004-2005 1684 2004-2006 1659 The current capacity for both middle schools is 1512. Start-up Cost for New Elementary School: I will schedule a time for Mr. Link and myself to discuss the fund balance issue as was suggested by the Commissioners. Per your request, I have included a copy of start-up cost projections for the new elementary school. Again, we appreciate the opportunity to discuss these and other issues with the Commissioners. /ha Attachment cc: Orange County Board of Education Orange County Board of Commissioners Mr. John Link ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL START-UP COST PROJECTIONS On-Going Budget Items Positions Local Certified Principal 1 state allotment Principal Supp 10,000 Assoc. Principal 40,000 Classroom Teachers 20 state allocation Reading Teacher 2 95,818 Guidance Counselor 1 47,909 Media Specialist 1 47,909 Nurse 0.5 23,955 Except. Children Resource 1 47,909 Speech/Lang. 0.5 23,955 Classified Admin. Asst/Secretary 3 82,440 K-5 Teacher Assistants 13 state allocation Media Assistant 0.5 12,265 Custodians 4 111,701 Maint. Employees 1 27,925 Operating Cost Principal Travel 980 School Improvement 2,000 Arts Supplies 500 Custodial Supplies 12,000 Property Insurance 6,500 Utilities 205,615 TOTAL ON-GOING BUDGET ITEMS $ 799,380 One-Time Start Up Media Collection $ 500,000 NOTE: salary figures include matching benefits and local supplements 12-99 t, 1 i I ~1 {F~ l I ~ ~; ~~ 1! n. ~~ .\ F` ,~ X}~ i ~.~ -e i - ~a ~ ~ 1 n ~~'h CQ ~ ~. e~'j ? T "A ~ nI t a '-s~.. ~ ..~ ~ } ,S ,Y^ S. Y ` f Y. y ..y ~ ~ ~ ~~~ 3 i i; ~ L S ~ (( ~ ~~fN ~ ~-~.C ~ f ` ~ ~ ~. ^~ i _ y y H L ~ ~$eci ~'ih v~l _- .~~ .~ t _ ~ +,, z u ~ _`~ ' .~ ~• ~ ., _~~ ~ r !. ' 2 r + ~ s3 i $ ~~ ~•, t a> mac. f "~ e ': ~ ~ ~r, ~ ~_ ~:. rr.. ii ~ r .~ ~}r* ~i+ 7 I ~ Y~~ i Y ` ~~. 1{~ } } yy, ° . , h , ~ . .a . '~ -`. ,C "h. w sly.-t 3 j ~ ~ ~ ~' ~ ~~~~ 3`~s ~:r ~te~ 3"~ ;E. ;~~ _ ~~ss #~ 39C~ a~~s girrtteed 3% r ` ~:t: , ~ u~t C"-qty's sofa! at ivy a d ~ ~ ' . _ ~ w ~ ~ ~ t~ t#~o arrntial „ , 'lrtr.~y c~ta and outside ~ f '~ - . riles ~'~ ~ by Ana aad ~lt.c~as F ~ -_. 1 .~ ~yy~~,, i t~t x::~ - ?# r" '~ r ' a w.' ~-_~. ~. ~ ~~+ N f '~• ~. t 6+ s- Y 1 ! ~ ,.~, _ q ~ ~ ;ti ~~,} ~~ :~ -~ ice; ~, ~ r'~ f Y~~ ~ _: J ~~~~ ` t 1 r h~C Y~ i~ ~V~ ~k~~~•LrF A~}1. u ~`~~~~~ a ri~k_ iY~?~Z_4 i;. Lrv at~.`r. ,~iir... ~b~. ..~ ~ISTiJS,~1Y"~`w .-.~:-. ~~ _'~~~t.~ _.. 5 CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS Lincoln Center, Merritt Mill Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516-2881 Telephone: {919) 967-8211 Nell G. Pedersen Superintendent TO: John Link, Manager Orange County FROM: Neil G. Pedersen Superintendent RE: Options for the Reduction of Class Size DATE: September 13, 1999 Ann Y. Hart, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Chester F. PreyAr, Assistant Superlntendern of Support Services At its September 2 meeting, the Board of Education approved a plan for reducing class size, dependent on available funding. The Board agreed to pursue Option B by reducing class size according to the following schedule: Year Reduction Teachers/T.A.s Cost 2000-2001 .Reduce grade 3 from 26 to 23 4/4 $276,000 2001-2002 Reduce grade 4 from 26 to 23 3/2 $216,000 2002-2003 Reduce grade S from 26 to 23 4/2 $231,000 2003-2004 Reduce grades 6-12 from 26 to 25 6/0 $305,000 In addition, the Board agreed to pursue Option G as its ultimate target without assigning a timetable to achievuig this target: Option G would be as follows: Grades K-3 15 students Grades 45 18 students Grade 6 ~ 20 students Grades 7-9 23 students Grades 10-12 25 students For your information, please find enclosed a National School Board Association's article on class size reduction and student achievement. If you have questions regarding the Board's plan, please do not hesitate to contact me. NGP/asb a Board. of Education Ann Hart