Minutes 04-12-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

8 the acreage requirements were not followed when building Northside Elementary School. He said the standards should be re-visited, if millions are going to be invested in renovations. James Barrett agreed that the acreage standards could be reviewed, especially for CHCCS. Todd LoFrese said all of the older schools become denser when more students are added to an existing site. Commissioner Jacobs said now is the time to look at sites for future use. He suggested the idea that larger school properties, such as Carrboro Elementary, may be able to accommodate another facility. Bonnie Hammersley said there is a Superintendents/Manager meeting coming up, where these standards and ideas could be discussed and recommendations brought back to the Board. James Barrett said Todd LoFrese presented to the Chapel Hill Town Council last night, and there were questions about student capacity. He said capacity consistently reaching 110% indicates that the CHCCS is accepting of mobile units. He said those standards could have been made at a time when there was no funding for new schools. He said revisiting the standards is a worthwhile endeavor. Chair McKee said he does not like mobile units, but removing them means more new schools must be built. He said this whole discussion brings back the question of available resources versus necessary needs. Commissioner Dorosin said the percentages over 100 are designed to allow time to accommodate the growth as it happens. He said all of this feeds into the question of whether or not bigger schools are needed. He said Chapel Hill has more schools for 12,000 students than a lot of other places. Commissioner Price said in considering mobile units, it is important to think about safety and security standards as a priority. She said the children must come first. Tom Forcella referred to CHHS and said the discussion is centering on how to make best use of space, especially in a collaborative way by using one space for multiple purposes. James Barrett said secure vestibules are not inexpensive. Commissioner Jacobs said as far as SAPFO goes, it is a far more conservative standard than the alternative, and it was a compromise. He said building cannot continue on the current tax base. He said the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) tries to be sensitive to the schools' needs, but has to balance schools with other County needs. He said when considering school size and standards, one must consider how much is reasonable. Commissioner Jacobs asked if mobile units are as unsafe and insecure as classrooms with doors with outside access. Todd LoFrese said yes. He said all doors have locks, which should remain locked during school hours; however, every door is another opportunity for access. Commissioner Jacobs said he wished the schools would talk about safety first, and that is what has bothered him about the CHCCS proposal. He said the primary motivation should be safety for the children, and he does not hear that in the proposal, since mobile units are in Phase 2. James Barrett said no safety measures are 100%, and the worst incident in the CHCCS occurred at East Chapel Hill High. He added that solving the issues at Estes Hills Elementary School is no guarantee, and as there is no guarantee of safety, perhaps that is why the issue is not at the forefront of the proposal. Todd LoFrese said safety goes beyond these issues being discussed. He reviewed several other safety issues identified by the facilities study that were addressed immediately upon discovery.