NA Policy on Planning and Funding School Capital Projects

Browse Search

Attachment 1 4 Revised for BOCC approval on 10/17/00 2. Site Standards In accordance with North Carolina State Statutes, a local board of education cannot execute a contract nor expend funds to purchase a facility site without the consent of the local board of county commissioners. As each school system in Orange County plans for future school-related facilities, it is important that they adhere to the following guidelines related to the potential acquisition, either by purchase or donation, of a site, in addition to any siting criteria they may have established internally: Potential Sites - The Board of Education is to notify the Orange County Board of Commissioners, in writing, whenever they have tentatively identified a potential school site for purchase, or if a potential donor indicates interest in donating a site to the system. The written correspondence should provide the following information for Commissioner consideration: • Location, including tax map numbers, of the potential site; • Opportunities for additional facilities to be co-located as a park site; as outlined in the "Memorandum of Agreement for Providing Coordinated Site and Facility Planning"; • The availability of public utilities at or in close proximity to the site; • If a donated site: • Any knowledge of a donor's plans for adjacent development; • Special considerations or expectations the donor may have referenced in initial discussions pertaining to the donation; Upon receipt of the Board of Education's notification, the Commissioners will appoint, by a majority vote of the Board, a representative to work directly with the Board of Education. As a partner with the school system, the Commissioner representative will receive information and provide input regarding talks and negotiations related to the potential site. The Commissioner representative will share information regarding the progress of talks and negotiations of the potential site with other members of the Board of Commissioners during regularly scheduled Board of Commissioner meetings. Environmental Factors—A school system is to pay particular attention to the physical environment surrounding the site and new facility. • In order to avoid future flood hazards, a facility should not be located in close proximity to wetlands, stream buffers, or in a flood plain. Facility siting should also avoid other physical factors that create either additional construction or longer-term maintenance problems, or other unfavorable environmental impacts. Page 2 of 6 Policy on Planning and Funding School Capital Projects