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5 <br /> 4. Why can't Lincoln Center be used as an elementary school? <br /> There are many reasons why converting Lincoln Center back to a school <br /> would not be a sound investment of tax payers' dollars: <br /> a. The site is only 10 acres whereas state standards call for 16; <br /> b. The district has leased the gymnasium and former vocational building <br /> to the Town of Chapel Hill and these facilities are actively used by <br /> the community; <br /> c. Lincoln Center is less than one-half the size of the proposed facility; <br /> d. The cost of renovation is projected to be at least one-half of the <br /> cost of new construction. A major investment was made recently <br /> to renovate a portion of the leased facility for a Headstart <br /> classroom. The per square foot cost was higher than new <br /> construction <br /> e. There is asbestos in the building that would need to be removed; <br /> f. An alternative site would be needed for the school administration. <br /> Presumably, office space would need to be leased. Not only is <br /> such space expensive, but it is scarce. There is no provision in <br /> our capital or operating budgets for new office space. <br /> 5. Will the new school be energy efficient? <br /> The elementary school will be designed along the same lines as <br /> McDougle Middle School which was part of a state pilot program for designing <br /> energy efficient schools. Energy efficient features include daylighting, energy <br /> efficient glass, canopies to screen direct sunlight, energy efficient lighting and <br /> heating and cooling systems, and highly insulated roofing systems (R-20 and <br /> R-30). Natural gas is available and will be used whenever possible. In order <br /> not to compromise the health of the occupants for energy efficiency, the <br /> ASHRAE standard of 15 cubic feet per minute of fresh air will be designed into <br /> the system: <br /> 6. How will we achieve equity with other schools in the district? <br /> The standards used for this school are not that different from what we <br /> have been using for our recent elementary school additions. Ephesus, for <br /> example, has classrooms that are at least this large and has similar storage <br /> areas; however, none of our elementary schools have teacher offices. <br /> Basically, the same rooms, however, are specified, such as an early childhood <br /> classroom, science room, multi-purpose room, art, music, etc., as we would find <br /> in our other elementary schools. The long-range technology plan calls for the <br /> phasing in of upgrades to our existing schools to make them fairly comparable <br /> to our new schools. Admittedly, funds for school renovations in future years <br /> were reduced, but not eliminated, when it became clear that the new <br /> elementary school would be financed primarily through the pay-as-you-go <br /> budget. <br /> 7. What is the district's long-range plan for technology? <br /> The district recently completed a long-range plan for technology which is <br /> enclosed for your information. It includes cabling and providing voice, video, <br /> and data networks throughout the facilities. <br />