ORD-2005-010 - Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) - Approval of Annual Certifications

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o R �0- Oeas.-d 14::51 9. Items for Decision -- Reqular Agenda 9a, a. Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) — Approval of Annual Certifications The Board considered a review of the Annual Report from the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC); and provided appropriate direction to the Manager and staff. John Link said that, as part of the provisions of the memorandum of understanding by the County, the school systems, and other municipalities, the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee has the responsibility each year of developing a report that outlines changes in actual membership capacity, student projections, and their collective impact on future issuances of certificates of adequate public schools (CAPS). He pointed out that their recommendation is to continue with the K -3 class size of 23 students to one teacher, knowing that the General Assembly made a decision to reduce the number of students to 21 students to one teacher, without any additional funding, provided to the County. Rod Visser said that, regarding the capacity situation, there is going to be a need for a group to meet and try to resolve before next November how capacity should be determined. The documents are based on the 23:1 ratio in K -3. He pointed out the major points in the report. Commissioner Halkiotis asked for the review from Geof Gledhill, which highlighted the issue of unfunded mandates from the State. He thinks it is outrageous that the Governor made this unilateral decision. Commissioner Gordon said that it is important to address the General Assembly's class size reductions at some point since determination of capacity at the state - mandated class size of 2 1: 1 does make a difference. The change will especially affect the CHCCS elementary schools since they are more crowded than the OCS elementary schools. Also, she asked that the charts be run for 2004 -2005 on pages 46, 47, and 51. Commissioner Jacobs thinks that they need to look at the issue of how to address this class size mandate. Chair Carey said that at some point he will ask the staff to run these same numbers for one school system in this County and Commissioner Halkiotis seconded this. Rod Visser said that there is a requirement in the MOU that this report gets referred to each partner for comments. This is the next step. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to approve the Annual Report from the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC); and to transmit this document with comments to the other governing bodies. Commissioner Jacobs added that the County Commissioners' comments made also be transmitted, including that the Governor's budget includes taking some of the existing school construction money and re- appropriating it for other uses. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 16