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Pathways Elementary, and Efland-Cheeks in existing rooms. Each class will accept 18 students. Orange County Schools will use its Title I funding allocation for Pre-K, and it will not ask anything of the County Commissioners. Al Hartkopf said that this is a prime example of the facilities limiting their ability to respond to the goals for their students. Commissioner Gordon commended the school board on the presentation and the efficiency study. She asked if any of the classrooms for Pre-K affect the SAPFO and Superintendent Rhodes said no, not for at least four years. Commissioner Gordon said that she would like a list of schools and the sites that have some Pre-K classes. Commissioner Gordon said to both school systems, that the Board at one point got a list of all of the schools, how many square feet, and when they were built, etc. She requested this information from both school systems. Chair Jacobs said that he appreciated the acknowledgement that the County is moving this budget process up to everyone's advantage. He said that both school boards and staffs have been responsive to the County's budget drivers. Chair Jacobs said that there has been talk about a bond issue in the future. He said that if the transfer tax is available to the County, then they can discuss using some of that to address the capital needs of the school districts. He made reference to the "mandates" and the utility increases. He said that the CHCCS increases for utilities are triple the projected increases in OCS. He asked for an explanation of this. Steve Scroggs said that CHCCS is opening a new school, so there is an exponential increase in the square footage. Superintendent Pedersen said that CHCCS projected a 7% increase in natural gas and electricity, and a 25% increase in water rates. Ted Triebel made reference to parental concerns and emotional concerns, and said that one of the things that the Central Office did was that their senior staff went to each school and briefed each school improvement team as to the constraints facing the Board of County Commissioners and the OCS. Because of that, OCS only had two public hearings for the budget and very little attendance at each. He said that Cedar Ridge is going to need a new wing and an auxiliary gym. He said that if it were up to him, he would build it now because when it is needed in four years, it will cost a lot more. Commissioner Gordon said that at some point the County Commissioners need to talk with both systems about the CIPs. She wants to underscore the capital needs for both systems for existing schools. She would like to see a concerted program to go through assessments and improvements to all of the older schools. 3. Discussion of Possible Topics for Collaboration Work Group Chair Jacobs said that Pre-K and capacity was one suggestion for a possible topic, as well as ESL programs. Jamezetta Bedford said that she also had ESL on her list, as well as technology. Lisa Stuckey said that both districts are seeing explosive growth in different cultures and ESL would be a choice topic to discuss. Chair Jacobs suggested discussing lawns and xeriscaping to reduce the amount of water usage, mowing, etc. Al Hartkopf said that it is hard to use xeriscaping for ball fields, but there is some Astroturf out there now. He would like to revisit this. Chair Jacobs said that the Parks and Recreation Board will be bringing up the topic of sharing facilities between the schools and Parks and Recreation. Discussion ensued about Astroturf. Ted Triebel said that the Durham Technical Community College campus is getting ready to open and this may be an area to explore for future use and resources.