Orange County NC Website
only Triangle area school system to exceed enrollment projections and has the <br /> State's highest percentage increase in student enrollment. <br /> The attached Exhibit A details enrollment and capacity at each elementary <br /> school and depicts the acute need for additional elementary schools to relieve <br /> overcrowding. The exhibit also includes information regarding each school's <br /> enrollment compared to the acceptable Level of Service. An acceptable Level of <br /> Service was enacted by the School Board in anticipation of the implementation of <br /> a School Adequate Public Facility Ordinance. In;June 2000, the School Board <br /> approved 105% as an acceptable Level of Service for elementary school <br /> enrollment. Based on past growth patterns, the 105% level of service will be <br /> exceeded this current school year. Growth In elementary school enrollment will <br /> produce a Level of Service in excess of 105% even after the opening of <br /> Elementary School#9. <br /> Project Budget <br /> In developing the attached project budget, the most recent construction bids from <br /> Smith Middle School were used as a basis to project estimates. While future <br /> construction costs can be difficult to accurately forecast, using the middle <br /> school's 1999 actual bids provides a solid basis for the projections. The 1999 <br /> costs were inflated for a two year period to meet a scheduled construction bid in <br /> late 2001. Additionally, the size of the new school is based on Scroggs <br /> Elementary School's 90,980 square footage. <br /> The project budget of$14,348,362 is outlined on Exhibit B and conforms to the <br /> model advanced as part of Orange County's School Facility Construction <br /> Standards. It contains individual amounts for specific project components such <br /> as construction, site development, fees, furniture,technology, start up costs, and <br /> contingency. The project budget includes$900,000 for utility extensions. This is <br /> a projected cost that is expected with the development of a school site at the <br /> Eubanks Road and Old 86 area. It should also be noted that the budget's <br /> contingency estimate is 4%. <br /> Exhibit C presents the project schedule and indicates a very aggressive plan to <br /> open the new school for the 2003-04 school year. In order to meet the schedule, <br /> architectural and engineering planning services must begin immediately and <br /> filings must be submitted to local regulatory agencies. $339,000 is required for <br /> the pre-grading phase, building construction documents and Town approval <br /> process. The need for Elementary School#10 was identified for inclusion in the <br /> November 2001 bond referendum. Complete project funding is anticipated at <br /> that time. <br />