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8 <br /> 1 Sarah Stewart, a member of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Federation of <br /> 2 Teachers, spoke in support of this proposal. She stated that the <br /> 3 school system is extremely overcrowded and this school is needed <br /> 4 immediately. It costs more to build in Chapel Hill than in other <br /> 5 parts of the state. She asked that the Board of Commissioners and <br /> 6 citizens support this proposal. <br /> 7 <br /> 8 Commissioner Halkiotis stated that the issue of affordability needs <br /> 9 to be addressed. This must be discussed in depth. He suggested that <br /> 10 the Manager and Superintendents or the Board of Commissioners and <br /> 11 School Boards meet to discuss this issue. He mentioned that when the <br /> 12 ninth (9th) graders came to Orange High School, they came without <br /> 13 furniture and it took six (6) years of replacement money to rectify <br /> 14 that problem. It is not good for Orange County that the Chapel Hill- <br /> 15 Carrboro School System is battling for the top of the line while the <br /> 16 Orange County system is doing without needed furniture. The <br /> 17 polarization is not good. Differing opinions need to be respected and <br /> 18 solutions worked toward. The 18 issues raised by Department of Public <br /> 19 Instruction (DPI) need to be taken into account in the planning for <br /> 20 this and future schools. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 Superintendent Pedersen stated that the DPI recommendations are <br /> 23 always addressed. Those that indicate the building would not be in <br /> 24 compliance are corrected as a matter of course. The other <br /> 25 recommendations are carefully considered as well as the needs of this <br /> 26 particular system. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Wayne Roberts, of Roberts & Associations, stated that he is the <br /> 29 architect for this project. The letter from DPI is a normal part of <br /> 30 this procedure and each item will be considered carefully. Any item <br /> 31 which must be changed for plan approval will be automatically <br /> 32 corrected. All other suggestions will be carefully considered. He <br /> 33 mentioned that a PE playfield has been included in the plan, venting <br /> 34 has been included for all spaces above insulation, the principals <br /> 35 office has been located near the public access making it convenient <br /> 36 for parents. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Commissioner Insko asked for a report on all suggestions which DPI <br /> 39 indicated were necessary for plan approval. She mentioned that the <br /> 40 use of Lincoln Center was considered and rejected over 20 years ago. <br /> 41 She spoke in support of lower teacher/student ratios and flexible use <br /> 42 buildings. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Commissioner Gordon stated that she has been advocating the need <br /> 45 for design standards for the schools for some time. A natural <br /> 46 division point to do that is after this group of four (4) schools <br /> 47 (McDougal Jr. High, New Hope Elementary, the High School and the new <br /> 48 elementary school) has been completed. She mentioned that the Capital <br /> 49 Needs Advisory Committee discussed the need for the $10 Million for an <br /> 50 elementary school with $1 Million for technology and that the School <br /> 51 Board plans on that amount. The community is growing, both in the <br /> 52 north and south, and there needs to be a plan for the future of these <br /> 53 students. <br /> 54 <br /> 55 Commissioner Halkiotis said that he would not vote for this <br />