Agenda - 01-21-2010 - 6d - Laserfiche WebLink

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2~{~ ~~l~t ~ir~g ~~~~~~ G, Patrick Rhodes (919) 732-8126 Telephone Superintendent (919) 732-8120 Fax December 17, 2009 www.orange,Itl2.nc.us Orange County Board of County Commissioners 200 South Cameron Street PO Box 8181 Hillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Commissioners: This letter serves as a forma{ request by the Orange County Board of Education to ut~7ize the vacated space in the Richard E. Whined building. Two previous requests are attached. The N The administrative offices of Orange County Schools are scattered in multiple buildings around the county. The Hoard of Education buiding ai 200 East King Street (6,210 sq. feet) Is Insufficient to house the district's support staff. As a result, 32 support personnel (Vocational Education Director, Child Nutrition Services, Technology Services, Elementary and Secrondary Edueatbn Directors, Director of Testing & AccounfabAity, Director of Special Education, eteJ are can-entry housed in four different schools and occupy 14 classrooms. This lack of sufficient space for support staff was described in detail as part of a space analysis conducted by SFLA Architects in 2007. In order to remedy Ehis prob{em, the study recommended construction of a new 31,700 square feet facility estimated to cost $3.8 mlflion. These 14 classrooms represent 14,700 square feef of useable teaching space and c~u1d potentially be used to provide for up to 250 ch~dren. By relocating the district's support personnel, the district will better accommodate student growth. This wilt delay the need to construct new classrooms or purchase mobs{e units as the student population increases. Other Benefits: There are also positive benefits to having operations! staff in dose warking proximity. Relocation of Orange County Schools' departments to the Whined Building wilt reduce travel reimbursements, create meeting space, promote collaboration, and allow far maximization of clerical staff. The current Board of Education meeting room is compatailvely small to other public boardrooms with a rnax)rnum capacity of 44. Conducting board or staff meetings in schools generates indirect costs such as custodial overtime and heating and cx~oling expenses. The vacant library wilt create essential meeting space necessary for the public's access to board meetings. Thank you for considering this request. Please let me know should there be any additional informafion that we can provide to assist w)th your deliberations focused on this matter. Sinc~eriely, Anne Medenblik, Board Chair t ~r G~~ G, Patrick Rhodes, Superintendent cc: Board of Education Frank Clifton Attachments: Summary of SFIA Recommendation Memo from Dr. Goorge McFariey dated 11/3/09 irevious letters to Orange County staff requesting use of Whined building