Minutes - 09-24-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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additional classroom space for expansion of their year round schoal. The $900,000 would address carpet issues, mold issues, additional classroom space, media renovations, and restroom facilities. The $900,000 will begin to address these issues but additional money will be necessary to do all the renovations that are needed at this facility. Commissioner Gordon asked whether Hillsborough Elementary was going to be closed in the future and Susan Halkiotis said that the decision was made several years ago not to close Hillsborough Elementary and they are committed to this. Commissioner Gordon supports bringing the older school up to date. Superintendent Bridges made reference to the middle school, which is on the bond referendum and said that this schoal would came on line in 2003-2004. He emphasized that for the next several years, Orange County schools may have issues that cannot be funded because the funding is not available in the CIP. e. Fund Balance Policies and Update Orange County Schools Superintendent Bridges said that last year they did not fund any items in their expansion budget. Their new high school opens next August. They will probably go below maintaining a 2.7°!o fund balance. Their designated fund balance is a little over $2 million at this time. Keith Cook made reference to the 2.7°~. It seems that with the uncertainty of the budget in future years, that the school board should have same flexibility for spending that money for priorities the school system has set. Commissioner Brown asked if the Orange County school system plans to take the start-up costs for the new high school from their fund balance and Superintendent Bridges said that they are uncertain if they have enough money in the fund balance to cover these costs. At some paint in time, they will be asking the County Commissioners far assistance. Finance Director Ken Chavious said that with the Certificates of Participation they took out for the Cedar Ridge High School project, there may be some funds available, probably between $300,000 to $500,000 to help toward the start-up costs for Cedar Ridge High School. Commissioner Carey said that it looks like the vast number of start-up costs would be recurring casts. He asked how many of these costs would be covered by State funding. Superintendent Bridges said that very few of these costs will be covered by the State because the school would not be full in their first year of operation. Commissioner Brown asked how many students they expect when the High School opens and Superintendent Bridges said 720 students far grades 9, 10 and 11. There will not be any seniors at the new High School this first year. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Nick Didow said that he provided a written response to the letter from Chair Halkiotis of September 11 to Commissioner Brown mentioned the health concerns at Chapel Hill High School. She asked how the mold issue is being addressed in the renovations. Nick Didow said that they have indoor air quality issues in several of their schools. They have done some things but some issues remain to be addressed. Assistant Superintendent for Support Services Steve Scroggs said that some of the air quality issues include water infiltration, the lack of outside air, and training custodians in how to care for a building regarding air quality. Nick Didow read from his letter as follows: "The $2 million will be used to remedy conditions related to air quality and other health and safety concerns. We anticipate that the bulk of the money will be spent at Chapel Hill High School where the needs seem to be the greatest. If there are sufficient funds, we also will address other air quality issues at Estes Hills and Phillips as we identified in our original request far $7 million in renovation monies." These matters will be taken up at the October 4t" meeting of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School board. He said that he would be willing to provide to the County Commissioners information on the significance of the problems they have with air quality. Commissioner Brown said that she would like to see how the money from the last bond has been spent and what is planned for the money from this bond referendum.