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6 <br /> • returns existing space back to elementary schools and allows for phasing of other <br /> projects <br /> • provides the greatest increase in capacity <br /> o 189 Elementary School seats <br /> o 100 High School seats <br /> • provides Phoenix Academy High students with appropriate and supportive facilities, <br /> including a biomedical lab <br /> • provides desperately needed additional space for students with mental health needs <br /> and for students who need a smaller educational environment <br /> • provides a community meeting space and a Black/education history museum <br /> • provides renovations and A/C to the existing gymnasium <br /> • addresses moisture and mold concerns <br /> • addresses handicap accessibility issues <br /> • frees up future capital funding to address other school capital needs <br /> • provides appropriately-sized administrative space on the second floor, reducing total <br /> expenditures to a small fraction of the total anticipated CHCCS bond funding allocation <br /> Next Phase Projects <br /> Phase II, to begin in 3-4 years: Improvements at Ephesus, Estes Hills and Seawell <br /> Elementary Schools and Phillips Middle School. These improvements provide the second most <br /> positive impact to capacity. These improvements will hopefully be funded by long range funds <br /> Orange County has planned for the district's new schools. <br /> Phase III, to begin in 4-7 years: Improvements at Carrboro and Frank Porter Graham <br /> Elementary Schools and at Culbreth Middle School. These projects are currently unfunded. It <br /> is hoped that future-funding sources will be identified to complete all the projects. <br /> James Barrett thanked the Board for its willingness to discuss these topics. He <br /> expressed his excitement for both the Chapel Hill High School (CHHS) and the Lincoln Center <br /> (LC) projects. <br /> James Barrett said Tom Forcella had talked with alumni from Lincoln High and the <br /> opportunity to bring education back to this area provides great excitement to the alumni <br /> community. <br /> Todd LoFrese said it is important to remember that CHCCS has been operating at <br /> capacity for the last two decades. He said SAPFO projections show a current lull, and thus <br /> this is an opportunity to address the older schools and capacity issues. He said the proposed <br /> plan would create the capacity of one whole elementary school and 200 high school seats by <br /> renovating current buildings. <br /> Todd LoFrese said Chapel Hill High is in need of major renovations. <br /> Todd LoFrese said a packet was provided to the Board ahead of time with CHCCS <br /> projects and priorities included. He said CHCCS also provided written responses to Board <br /> questions which are at their places. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs asked if there are reasons for renovating CHHS, as opposed <br /> to building a new school. <br /> Todd Lofrese said the cost is one issue, and the other is where would students go <br /> during renovations. <br /> Todd LoFrese said there are no additional school sites large enough for a high school. <br /> He said CHHS has 1,500 students, and to phase these students in would be a challenge. <br />