Orange County NC Website
• Efland Cheeks is currently developing a park where a school now exists. <br />• The financing of joint ventures is being reviewed by the County and Town Managers. They <br />intend to recommend a joint Capital Improvement Plan for Recreation and Parks which would <br />include Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County. They will compare present plans and then <br />discuss the possibilities and needs with the school systems in order to pursue planning for <br />the schools capital needs for parks and recreation. <br />• Depending on the particular school facility and current standards for the middle and high <br />schools it is likely that the incremental facilities that would be built in for recreation and parks <br />would be minimal and could be absorbed by the construction budget. A project such as <br />Southern Village would require additional funding because the incremental expense would be <br />considerably larger. <br />• Each co-location will need to be tailored to the individual school. For example, a middle or <br />high school might require a gym or auditorium and an elementary school might require <br />additional recreational areas. <br />• The Efland Cheeks community park development plan includes a gymnasium in its future <br />stages. There are many issues that need to be kept in mind for this future development. <br />• The basic school standards will remain in effect, however, there may be cases where a <br />swimming pool would be needed in a particular area. That could be accomplished if it was <br />consistent with the Recreation and Parks plan. <br />• The Manager will present the proposal in the form of a Resolution or Ordinance. The intention <br />would be that all schools would use the criteria that are established, however, each school <br />would not necessarily have a park. <br />• The benefit of having an approved plan is that it will make clear the balance between flexibility <br />and equity. <br />There was consensus that the Manager and Superintendents would pursue creating these <br />joint criteria. <br />In response to a question, Mark Royster explained that all after-school activities, including <br />after-school care, are first cleared through the administrative offices at Lincoln Center. Then the <br />principal is contacted to make sure that there is not a conflict about usage. For example, certain <br />areas do not lend themselves to after-school care and therefore would not be used for that <br />activity <br />Commissioner Carey felt that a more formal agreement concerning community use of <br />schools should be entered into between the County and the School Boards which would <br />discourage unilateral changes and would encourage a deeper level of partnership. <br />Commissioner Gordon agreed, however, she pointed out that there could still be different <br />tiers for different schools, i.e. Basic School, Tier A, Tier B. She requested a copy of the Orange <br />County School policy. <br />Commissioner Carey requested that each policy regarding community uses be reviewed <br />and that a consolidated policy be drafted into a formal agreement which would be signed by all <br />parties. <br />The Superintendents and Manager will meet to draft this policy. <br />Commissioner Gordon mentioned that standards for high schools have not yet been <br />established and it appears that will soon be necessary.