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~ n -~o r m q+ ~` ors Z -~- e m <br />ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT <br />Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director <br />Memo <br />ro: Board of County Commissioners <br />Frank W. Clifton, Jr., County Manager <br />From: Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Planning Director <br />Shannon Berry, AICP, Special Projects Planner <br />Date: April 20, 2010 <br />Re: Pre-K Issues -Orange County Schools & Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools <br />This memorandum and information submitted by Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange <br />County Schools are provided as an overview of the issues affecting both school districts in Orange <br />County with regard to Pre-K education. <br />Pre-K Enrollment & Classrooms - <br />Attachment 1 is a memorandum prepared by Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools outlining the Pre-K <br />enrollment numbers and classroom locations throughout the district. The memo also addresses <br />several of the logistical issues the District currently struggles with in providing Pre-K classes, as well <br />as questions of how the District will continue to provide and expand Pre-K education. <br />Orange County Schools provided the following information on March 2, 2010 in response to a <br />previous request for information: <br />At this time there are 8 Pre-K classrooms district wide. There are 126 students currently <br />enrolled. Per the District, Pre-K classrooms are provided due to need. If they can fund it, <br />they will provide. OCS has converted. unused K-5 classrooms to Pre-K classrooms. <br />Therefore, increased K-5 enrollment will cause the district to either relocate Pre-K classes to <br />other district elementary schools or shift older kids to portables on site. <br />County Requirements - <br />In addition to the Pre-K enrollment numbers requested, the Board also requested information on <br />the requirements or obligations of Orange County to provide Pre-K classrooms or education. <br />The adopted School Construction Standards (2007) for Orange County allocates 1,700 square <br />feet in the 'Traditional Elementary School" for one (1) Pre-K classroom. However, many of the <br />elementary schools in the two districts are decades old and do not include allotted space for <br />(continued) <br />~~fKge ` go4hf~ <br />Administration 131 W. Margaret Lane <br />(919) 245-2575 u 52 Suite 201 <br />(919) 644-3002 (FAX) P O Box 8181 <br />www.co.orange.nc.us ~°r4 ~a=a~°~ Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />