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many children are not in school -- they are in the buildings but they are not <br /> in school. They do not participate in extracurriculum activities or sports. <br /> She proposed that the design of the community center be scaled down and built <br /> in stages or place the swimming pool in a school. <br /> KEITH COOK, Chair of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council, <br /> submitted a statement which is hereby made a part of the record by reference. <br /> Speaking on behalf of over 548 residents in the community who signed in <br /> support of the activity center and pool and for the countless others who have <br /> called, written, or spoken to them about this issue, RPAC recommends that the <br /> pool project remain in the CIP, regardless of the fate of the Triangle <br /> Community Activity Center. Other items he would like to see put back into the <br /> CIP and funded at the recommended level are (1) Fairview Community Park to <br /> fund ballfield construction, (2) Recreation Centers/Park Improvements, and (3) <br /> vehicle replacement. Mr. Cook explained that they are using private fields <br /> now for baseball and they will be losing those fields in the next couple of <br /> years. <br /> GEORGE GRIFFIN, parent of two children, spoke in support of the new <br /> elementary school request. He teaches at the middle school and sees the <br /> result of overcrowding. He favors year-round schools but not multi-track <br /> schools. <br /> SARAH STEWART, teacher at Glenwood, spoke about the need for more <br /> elementary space. In Chapel Hill they are currently 200 students over <br /> capacity. They get money for head start programs but have a difficult time <br /> finding space to house these programs. She supports single tract year-round <br /> schools. She spoke in support of the swimming pool. <br /> MARY ANN COLBERT, reading teacher at Sewell and Glenwood, shared what <br /> she did this year to make her small space comfortable for her students. She <br /> is in favor of a new elementary school and single track school. <br /> TOM BROWN, Chapel Hill-Carrboro Federation of Teachers, spoke in <br /> support of education in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. All but one of their <br /> schools is over capacity. Four of the schools have been expanded to <br /> accommodate this increase in population. They ask that the Board do <br /> everything possible to fund a new elementary school by exploring all options <br /> available. <br /> ALICE MANILOFF, Principal of Ephesus Road Elementary School, talked <br /> about the new addition that they opened this year. They do have enough space <br /> at this time for students and teachers. Instead of setting up four new <br /> classrooms this year they had to set up seven. Ephesus has almost 600 <br /> children. If the growth continues they could lose that community feeling she <br /> feels is essential for schools to meet the needs the children bring with them. <br /> DIANA CAPLOR, teacher in Chapel Hill-Carrboro system, spoke in support <br /> of a new elementary school in Chapel Hill. The district capacity is 3, 175. <br /> As of March 1993, the enrollment was 3, 365. According to state projections, <br /> in four years, they will have 540 over the required enrollment. She stated <br /> that in crowded classrooms individual needs of students are not met. Students <br /> with special learning or emotional needs are not well served and the average <br /> child, whose behavior is under control, may have limited opportunity to <br /> interact with teachers. She urged the County Commissioners to support the <br /> construction of a new elementary school in Chapel Hill. <br /> CECIL CHARLES spoke in support of a new elementary school. All <br /> elementary schools are over capacity. He agrees with the Board in trying to <br /> find creative ways for cost containment. He feels that year-round education <br /> should be looked at to improve the quality of education. <br />