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It is important to be able to reliably track the anticipated number of new students in order to document the need for new schools. Also, the two systems need to use the same system to track and report student growth. The Geographic Information System (GIS) could be used to track student growth and the need for new schools. The renovations at Hillsborough Elementary should make the school usable for the next 7 to 10 years. After that it could possibly be used as an alternative school. CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOL SYTEM: The Budget Director, Sally Kost, reviewed the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School budget appropriation and the Manager's recommendation. The Chair of the School Board presented their comments on this proposed budget. The following questions, comments and suggestions were made. • Pay-as-you-go funds are not available. If they were, the school board would be more than willing to use them. • The Chapel Hill-Carrboro fund balance was 2.6% as of June 30, 1996. Policy calls for a fund balance of at least 5.5%. • The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board requested that the Board of Commissioners use the later enrollment figures which have been submitted by the school system. • There was discussion regarding the items that would not be funded if the County adopts the Manager's recommended budget. • It was suggested that future surveys be handled by in-house staff. • The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system does not have an available fund balance to off-set the deficit in county funding. • Although they are losing students to the Charter Schools, that loss is not going to make a significantly lower impact on their need for funding. They will still have to fund the same number of classrooms, etc. • A joint alternative school is in the preliminary planning stages • When East Chapel Hill High School (ECHHS) was designed and built it was intended that some of the initial growth for a new Orange County High School would be absorbed by ECHHS. • East Chapel Hill High School was located on the Northern side of Chapel Hill so that it would be able to accommodate the needs of the Orange County system. MEADOWMONT: Superintendent Pedersen reported on the plans for this development. He mentioned that they are continuing to work with the developer to have one or more of the athletic fields located outside of the 100 year flood plain. He referred to the letter to Chet Preyar from Bill Mullin, dated June 3, 1997. A copy of that letter and other backup material is in the permanent agenda file in the Clerk's office. The following comments were made. • The pond that is located on this property could be moved and a ball field could be placed there. There could be problems about relocating the field but it is feasible. • The school attorney is working on the issue of the legality of having part of the school be located in Durham County. Precedents do exist for a portion of the school building to be located outside of the district. • If the fields were moved the Town of Chapel Hill could still use them. • The school system has 6 years from October, 1995 to decide if they would like to build a school on the Meadowmont site and 8 years for the school to be completed. • The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school Board is pleased with the recent plan changes. The newest scenario provides the ability to use the field and to provide outdoor facilities, such as restrooms, for the fields.