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9 <br /> classroom space. Therefore, the current capacity numbers for our district as reflected in <br /> SAPFO are overstated, because they do not take into account classrooms dedicated to that <br /> program — i.e. classrooms that do not serve children in K through 5. Based on elementary <br /> class size mandates, we estimate this total "loss"of seats to be between 189 and 220 seats. <br /> All of these considerations led our Board to request funding for Elementary#8 sooner rather <br /> than later. Given that the average length of time to locate suitable land and <br /> plan/design/construct an elementary school is between 36 and 48 months, our Board feels <br /> strongly that we must begin planning for Elementary #8 in the upcoming year (2012-13) in <br /> order to accommodate anticipated capacity needs that lie in our not so distant future. <br /> High School Capacity <br /> As our Board recently reviewed the November 15, 2011 SAPFO square footage and capacity <br /> numbers for our high schools, we discovered some interesting facts. <br /> Orange High School's total square feet is less than both Chapel Hill High and East <br /> Chapel Hill High; however, OHS's SAPFO student capacity is almost identical to the <br /> two schools. With that said, the square feet per student is between 18 and 31 square <br /> feet less at OHS than at either of the two built out high schools in CHCCS. (It did not <br /> seem equitable to compare OHS to Cedar Ridge or to Carrboro High, since neither <br /> school is built out to their core capacity at this time.) <br /> Square Feet Per Student(per SAPFO) <br /> Total Square <br /> Square SAPFO Feet <br /> Feet Capacity Per <br /> Student <br /> Chapel Hill High 241,111 1,520 158.63 <br /> East Chapel Hill 259,869 1,515 171.53 <br /> High <br /> Orange High 213,509 1,518 140.65 <br /> In light of this discovery, our Board has requested that staff from NC DPI re-examine <br /> OHS to determine its current capacity. That assessment is scheduled for later this <br /> month.We plan to update you when we receive the results of the study. <br /> Should the assessment determine that OHS's capacity is more in line with Chapel Hill <br /> and East Chapel Hill high schools, the result would be a loss of approximately 225 <br /> high school seats for our district. <br /> Orange County Schools <br /> "Noviding educational opporiunilies for success ul fiinrres." <br />