Agenda - 09-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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14 1 Todd LoFrese said three facilities are being considered, including: Ephesus, Seawell, 2 and the Lincoln Center pre-k center. He said these facilities would increase capacity by the 3 greatest amount and one of them would be brought forward. 4 Commissioner McKee asked if all of this hinges on the bond being passed. He asked 5 what happens if the $750,000 is spent and the bond does not pass. 6 Todd LoFrese said the design work could be done, and then used years later. He said 7 this was what happened with both Northside and the Carrboro High School addition. 8 Commissioner McKee said does not question the rationale for doing this. He just wants 9 to make sure the money is well spent. 10 Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciates the inclusion of the capacity increases in 11 these proposals. He said the list by schools that was submitted in the packet does not show 12 increased capacity for either of the middle schools. He said even if the elementary school 13 renovations are done, the middle school would still be in the queue. 14 Todd LoFrese said this is correct. 15 Commissioner Dorosin asked if there been any discussion about possible opportunities 16 to increase capacity in the middle schools. He asked specifically about Phillips Middle School. 17 Todd LoFrese said this was considered. He said there are layout challenges with 18 Phillips Middle School, and the standards also have to be considered. He believes that the 19 number of students that would have to be added would change the standards, and you would 20 have to consider how the school functions academically. He said there are two teams at each 21 grade level and as size changes the instructional program has to run differently. He said the 22 other thing with Phillips is that this type of renovation would likely involve so much 23 deconstruction that a new school makes more sense. 24 Commissioner Dorosin said given limited space and the increasing costs of renovations, 25 weighing that balance needs to be more of a factor. He questioned whether it makes sense to 26 do the elementary renovations or to do a larger new building. He said a balance has to be 27 found. He said the list of needs and the bond create an opportune moment to reevaluate 28 things. 29 James Barrett said it is worth noting that within their ten year window, a space has been 30 identified for middle school #5. He said looking at middle school capacity is not a big deal at 31 this point. In reference to Commissioner McKee's concern about the $750,000, he said it is 32 really re-swiveling the CIP Plan. He said there is an elementary school included there now for 33 more money than the proposed expansion of the current school. He said capacity will be added 34 at one of these schools, which will allow them to push out elementary #12 so that the overall 35 CIP picture does not change. He feels that the $750,000 is useful regardless of what happens 36 with the bond. 37 Commissioner Price asked if OCS would also be looking at the same type of financial 38 outlay as CHCCS. She asked if OCS would recommend deconstruction of an older school. 39 Pam Jones said the study the board received did not recommend wholesale de- 40 construction. She said the report looked at older schools and whether it was appropriate to 41 take down some of the less compliant and serviceable wings. She said her board has not had 42 an opportunity to discuss this report yet. She said a decision to deconstruct might be made 43 later. 44 Steve Halkiotis said the school boards have been wrestling with issues with these 45 schools for years. He said the board is doing the right thing in catching up for 50 years of 46 neglect. He thanked the Board of Commissioners for their help. 47 Michelle Brownstein said the CHCCS board is working hard to make sure the 48 information presented allows the Board of Commissioners to compare apples to apples. She 49 said there is collaboration happening between the two districts in this process. She echoed that