Agenda - 11-10-1998 - Attachment #3b

Browse Search

,q-H-Q~ ~,~~ ~S CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCH Lincoln Center, Merritt Mill Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516 Telephone: (919) 967-8211 Neil G. Pedersen Superintendent TO: John Link Orange County Manager FROM: Neil G. Pederse Superintendent RE: Capacity of New Elementary School DATE: October 13, 1998 Ann Hart, Chester Preyar, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Thanks for calling about the capacity figure cited today in the Chapel Hill Herald for the new elementary school. As we have discussed, the school is designed in accordance with the County's guidelines and includes 25 classrooms. Using the state's class size allotment (23 students per class in grades K-2 and 26 in grades 3-5), this would translate into a capacity of 609. Applying the standard that the Board approved for this model school of class sizes of 20 to 1 at all grade levels, yields a capacity of 500. In order to accommodate four classes per grade level, we are planning to use 24 classrooms for grades K-5 which yields a capacity of 480. The newspaper cited a capacity of 350. This is the figure used in the computerized redistricting model in order to force it to generate an attendance zone of this number of students. The remainder of the students will be assigned through a parental choice plan. Because we are allowing some room for growth in all of our schools, I would expect this school to open next year with between 400 and 450 students. In future years, its enrollment should approximate 480 students. Please let me know if you need any further clarification. The School Board anticipates a discussion with the County Commissioners on November 10`~ concerning the implications of reduced class size on school capacities. Cc: Board of Education Chester Preyar for Instructional Services