Orange County NC Website
critical and can be phased in as money is available. This would include air-handling units and making <br />sure that everything is kept up to date. <br />f. School/Parks -Operations, Maintenance and Community Access <br />There were no comments. <br />g. Pre-K Programming -Operational and Capital Budget Impacts <br />John Link made reference to attachment 1 G, which speaks to the number of classrooms <br />being used for pre-K Headstart at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. <br />Chair Jacobs asked for clarification on the number of pre-K classrooms at Chapel Hill <br />High School. It was answered that there were two classrooms. <br />Dana Thompson asked if the pre-K students are counted in student capacity at Chapel Hill <br />High School and Superintendent Pedersen said that the students are not counted in the capacity ar <br />membership. In Carrboro they placed two pre-K classrooms, which are not counted in the capacity. <br />Susan Halkiotis made reference to the strain of allocating the exceptional children and just <br />the effort that is needed to establish a mechanism for reporting capacity, which takes into account the <br />exceptional children and pre-K programs. <br />Chair Jacobs verified that if the two pre-K classes were moved out of Chapel Hill High <br />School, there would immediately be additional high school space. Superintendent Pedersen said that <br />some of the students at the high school and the staff have their children in the pre-K classes at Chapel <br />Hill High School, so there are some advantages of having the classes at this site. <br />Superintendent Bridges said that they have identified four schools that will have pre-K <br />classes - Efland-Cheeks, New Hope, Central, and Pathways Elementary schools. The school system <br />has not incurred any expense with these classes. The pre-K children are expected to arrive in their <br />facilities after spring break. <br />Commissioner Brown asked if any of the pre-K classes in Chapel Hill-Carrboro were in <br />over-capacity schools. It was answered that there are classes at Seawell Elementary School, which is <br />an over-capacity school. <br />Lisa Stuckey said that the pre-K classes at Seawall are located in a former <br />gym/multipurpose room that would not be reverted back to classrooms. <br />Superintendent Pedersen said that, for the most part, in new schools there were <br />classrooms designated for pre-K classes. <br />Commissioner Brown said that when the school standards review is done, we need to <br />look at the standards far pre-K classrooms. She asked that the 217 children in pre-K and Headstart be <br />broken out to show the ratio between the children that are paying and those that are in Headstart. <br />Commissioner Brown made reference to capacity and asked that bath school systems <br />note that the capacity is being diminished and for what reason (i.e., the pre-K mandate, etc.). <br />h. School Facilities Task Farce Report -Issues Reauirina Further <br />DiscussionlResolution <br />Commissioner Gordon made reference to the last bullet "other considerations" and <br />designing buildings for ease in future building additions. She feels that planning needs to be done for <br />flex space and swing space that can be used for different grade levels ar different purposes. Also, in <br />locating new schools, a consideration of schools in close proximity should be considered for advantages <br />in locating two schools together (elementary and middle, middle and high school). <br />Dana Thompson said that designing schools so that there is flexibility could take a lot of <br />time. There are lots of programming and educational philosophy issues. She asked if the work group <br />could put that as a lower priority in order to get as much work done as possible. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she did not want to hold up the process, but this should <br />be on the list for efficiency of facilities. We are trying to achieve the maximum efficiency. <br />Steve Scroggs said that at Meadowmont there are three rooms that provide flex space. <br />i. Joint Determination of School Capacities <br />