Agenda - 01-29-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PURPOSE G== In July 1987, the North Carolina General Assembly en- Natural Resources: acted legislation to provide funds for public school con- Approval for new on-site water systems. struction to assist county governments in meeting their Approval of on-site waste water. capital building needs and to provide additional funds Approval of kitchen sanitation. for selected counties with the greatest critical school fa- Approval of soil sedimentation and erosion control cility needs.The legislation follows the state's recently plans where one acre or more is to be disturbed. adopted Basic Education Program, which assures every child in North Carolina"a program of instruction which • State Department of Agriculture:Approval of is fundamentally complete and which will provide a thor- propane gas installations. ough grounding in...the arts,communication,media and computer skills,second languages,healthful living,math- • State Superintendent of Public Instruction:G.S. ematics,science,social studies and vocational education:' 115C-521 (see Appendix) This document, in accordance with the legislation's di- Although intended to assure adequacy, standards can rection, defines and describes the educational spaces sometimes be restrictive to the efficient design of a facil- needed to support a modern,comprehensive educational ity. In an attempt to avoid such inhibiting restrictions, program and to set minimal standards for types of spaces the standards do allow some minor deviations in spatial and for sizes of spaces.Consequently,it serves as a plan- requirements where design efficiency dictates.Such flex- ning guide for those in the process of building, enlarg- ibility is essential to good design but cannot be allowed ing,or renovating school facilities.Administrators,teach- to become a means of lowering standards.It must be un- ers, laypersons and design professionals will find the derstood that, in certain circumstances, some standards document helpful as they plan and design educational will not be appropriate or cannot be met due to atypical spaces to be used now or in the future. programs and special conditions.Also, many older,ex- t' isting facilities will not meet many of the standards and Also,the document is intended: (1)to serve as a guide in the cost of renovations to bring them into compliance evaluating existing facilities for functional adequacy;(2) may be prohibitive. to determine facility needs; and (3) to develop sound, long-range building plans.Consequently,it includes stan- Phased construction is often necessary and appropriate. dards and recommendations for improving facilities.The When a space to support the program is not provided, standards set forth in this document do not preclude or either due to lack of funding or for other reasons,it must take precedent over existing standards defined and en- be shown on the site plan of the project submitted to forced by other agencies.Standards and other regulatory School Planning. controls for school construction have been in effect for many years and continue in effect. Small school size may also affect compliance,as multi- purpose spaces may serve for specialized needs such as All plans for new construction and renovations must have dance,theatre arts or workforce development(vocational) approval and specific permits from the appropriate state labs. Multipurpose spaces must be designed so that the and local agencies. room, furniture, equipment and storage are compatible with the intended programs.The intent of the standard is to assure that adequate space is provided for those classes These permits and approvals are issued by agencies in- and activities that make up instructional programs as man- cluding the following: dated by the Basic Education Program and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.Where single spaces • State Department of Labor: can adequately provide for multiple uses, the standard Approval of elevator installations. will be considered met. • State Department of Insurance: Compliance with The facility standards do not replace the need for educa- the North Carolina State Building Code. tional specifications. Educational specifications should be developed which describe the educational program to • State Department of Environment,Health,and be implemented. From educational specifications, the • t