Agenda - 01-29-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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FOREWORD ±_- The responsibility for providing public school facilities in North Carolina rests with the counties and the special chartered school districts within them. State support for school construction was provided by statewide bond issues in 1949, 1953, 1963 and 1973 when it became apparent that the counties'resources could not keep pace with increasing school facility needs. However, the basic responsibility for providing funds for school facilities will continue to be with local governments and the responsibility for funding operating costs will continue to be with the State. In keeping with this funding policy, the responsibility for assuring appropriate, safe,functional buildings to support educational programs has also rested with local governments and with local boards of education who are the legal owners of the facilities. Various state agencies have always monitored all public construction for structural design, safety,sanitation and environmental impact. The choice of designs,materials,sizes,numbers and types of spaces needed for educational programs has traditionally been left to the local boards. The 1985 General Assembly approved, in principle, a commitment to improve education for all students and began funding the Basic Education Program. Legislation was designed to assure every child the opportunity to acquire the "basic requirements relating to a common core of knowledge and skills considered essential for mastery... before graduation from a public high school in North Carolina." The BEP is a ten-year commitment, and, when fully funded, will provide more than $850 million for additional teachers,programs and materials. The BEP also requires a State Standard Course of Study. It describes the "what" and the "how" of the state curriculum. The General Assembly has honored its commitment to the BEP since its approval with allocations according to the eight-year funding schedule. (' In 1987, the General Assembly, realizing the impact of the BEP on school facility needs, became aware of the magnitude of these needs.As a result, the School Facilities Finance Act of 1987 was enacted. This act proposes to provide$3.2 billion for school construction over the next ten years. In keeping with the BEP standards for curriculum and instruction, the "Finance Act of 1987" directed the State Board of Education to develop and adopt interim statewide school facility minimum standards... (to)be used by the Commission on School Facility Needs to make its preliminary report on critical school facility needs in each county. Further, the statute states "the statewide school facility minimum standards ... shall apply to the construction, reconstruction, enlarge- ment and improvement of all school buildings... regardless of the source of funds for the project." In December 1988, the State Board of Education approved these recommended standards which define and describe the minimum facilities to support the Basic Education Program and to assure a functional learning environment for every student. This publication defines those standards and provides a convenient guide for planning public school facilities. Jay Robinson, Chairman Bob Etheridge,State Superintendent State Board of Education North Carolina Department of Public Instruction i