Agenda - 04-07-2009 - 3a - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: April 7, 2009 Action Agenda Item No. 3 - q SUBJECT: Orange County Schools Presentation - C.W. Stanford Middle School Eco- Classroom Project DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Stormwater Background Information 2. Schematic Graph 3. Engineer's Preliminary Opinion of Probable Cost of Construction 4. Educational Opportunities 5. List of Collaborators INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Blackmon, 245-2300 Patrick Rhodes, Superintendent, Orange County Schools, 732-8126 PURPOSE: To receive a presentation from Orange County Schools (OCS) Superintendent Patrick Rhodes, OCS Board member Debbie Piscitelli, Principal Anne Purcell, and Teacher Eric McDuffie regarding the C.W. Stanford Middle School Eco-Classroom Project. BACKGROUND: Orange County Schools Superintendent Patrick Rhodes recently requested to make a short presentation to the Board of Commissioners on the C.W. Stanford Middle School eco-classroom project. The initial location was the wooded area to the right of the C.W. Stanford driveway between C.W. Stanford and Orange High School. This area has a stream and collects stormwater runoff from the middle school building, the parking lots and the Orange High School football stadium. This project has grown in scope and the list of community collaborators has increased. Julie Elmore, Council Coordinator with the Piedmont Conservation Council, Inc. submitted a grant application for the project to the North Carolina Clean Water Trust Fund on behalf of C.W. Stanford. The project, entitled Stanford Middle School Innovative Stormwater Retrofit Project, has a proposed grant budget of $1,046,800. In addition to the improvements to water quality, this project provides a multitude of educational opportunities which align with the middle school and high school curricula. This project may also benefit the graduation project program and has the potential to involve the Career and Technical Education Program at Orange High School. With this project, the entire C.W. Stanford campus would become an eco-classroom and the wooded site with the stream would be the location of an amphitheater and natural trails. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the presentation. If the grant application is successful, Orange County Schools may have to match the grant up to 20% including in-kind donations. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive the presentation from Orange County Schools representatives regarding the C.W. Stanford Middle School Eco- Classroom Project and provide any comments or questions.