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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Date: August 20, 1997 Item No. 4-d <br /> SUBJECT: Substantial Equivalency Policy for School Facility Funding <br /> DEPARTMENT: Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: No <br /> BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: No <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Alice Gordon <br /> PURPOSE: To establish a school funding policy that would state that <br /> all schools in Orange County, whether new or existing, should meet <br /> the basic standards established for new schools or be substantially <br /> equivalent. <br /> BACKGROUND: As part of their efforts to provide adequate facilities <br /> for a growing student population in a cost effective and equitable <br /> manner, the Board of County Commissioners and School Boards have <br /> developed county construction standards for new elementary and <br /> middle schools,and have declared their intent to develop high school <br /> standards. However, there are no stated county standards for <br /> existing schools. Thus there appears to be a growing gap between <br /> new and existing schools. <br /> SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCY POLICY FOR SCHOOL FACILITY <br /> FUNDING: <br /> In funding school facilities the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) <br /> will pursue the goal of providing substantially equivalent facilities <br /> for all children in both the Orange County (OCS) and Chapel Hill- <br /> Carrboro(CHCCS) school systems. The target standard for <br /> equivalency will be the county "Basic School" standards developed <br /> for new school construction. Once approved, the standards for <br /> substantial equivalency will be utilized in decisions for funding <br /> school renovations,school additions and/or school replacement. <br /> IMPLEMENTATION: <br /> To implement this policy the BOCC would pursue the following steps: <br />