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E. Planning for Alternative Schools and other Cooperative Ventures <br />Nick Didow said that the Board chairs and superintendents have had a very productive <br />initial meeting and made some decisions to move forward and look at some collaborative efforts for <br />alternative schools. <br />Keith Cook said that the two school boards are working together to hopefully be able to do <br />some creative things together. The boards will report back to the County Commissioners. He said <br />that they do feel that it will be cheaper to do some things collaboratively. <br />Nick Didow said that they would select members of their Board at their next meeting on <br />April 5t" and look forward to working with the Orange County school board on joint ventures. He said <br />that his Board is looking at several alternative schools, which will be different from any alternative <br />schools available at this time. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked what students would ga to alternative schools and how many <br />would qualify. Keith Cook said that the number of kids attending an alternative school is unknown at <br />this time. He feels that if alternative schools are available the kids will be there. <br />Nick Didow said that the thinking is not for a school that only serves a child that is being <br />disciplined for behavior reasons. This may be development for several magnet schools ar a magnet <br />school within a school. It could have a technology or arts focus or some other kind of focus where a <br />student could be motivated and engaged who is not currently. His working definition of the population <br />of the alternative school is the student who simply is not engaged by what is offered in the traditional <br />high school program. <br />Keith Cook said that they are looking at the use of their high school as a possibility. <br />Initially, it would be far high school students, and eventually it could be available to middle school <br />students. <br />Nick Didow estimates that 300-400 students in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro district would be <br />eligible. Superintendent Neil Pedersen agreed with the estimate. <br />Dana Thompson said that they would be asking among themselves to define the <br />alternative student. This will be something that will fit what is needed by both school systems. <br />Gloria Foley made reference to the Capital Needs Task Farce meeting and the discussion <br />about a collaborative campus with Durham Tech. <br />Commissioner Jacobs feels this is an excellent development. He made reference to the <br />Capital Needs Task Force meeting and the discussion about the excess capacity at Cedar Ridge High <br />School. He said that, depending on what happens with the bond proposal, the notion of having <br />magnet programs might buy some time if the County cannot afford to go the full route of alternative <br />schools in this bond proposal. He encouraged the school boards to explore the magnet schools as an <br />option as a fall back position. <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School Board <br />request for bond money for an addition to the Chapel Hill High School and asked if this means that the <br />school standards would be changing. She feels we need to consider same innovative strategies sa <br />we da not have to go above 1500 students at the high school. <br />Chair Halkiotis said that Neil Pedersen covered this issue in the task force meeting and <br />that they were looking at the least expensive option and not the most desirable one. <br />F. School Facilities Task Force <br />Jahn Link said that the task force did confirm the school construction standards. They <br />looked at the cast of infrastructure. He said that we need to work together with the towns to waive <br />development fees for the schools. He recommends that staff continue working on this. <br />Chair Halkiotis would like to see additional information an the OWASA fees and town fees. <br />