Agenda - 09-20-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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How will the school differ in design from our other schools? Educational practices and school organizations have changed significantly since our other elementary schools were built. Today, students are more active, working at centers on projects while their teachers serve as coaches. There are more supplies and equipment required and, of course, technology has become a way of life. Teachers work in teams with their colleagues and students move flexibly within these teams. An effort is made to create a family-like setting rather than a cold institutional one with seemingly endless corridors and identical rooms. Classroom clusters will have their own student restrooms, storage and office facilities to support after-school programs, and possi- bly, year-round schools. There will be a variety of instructional spaces with classrooms being supple- mented with areas for both small and large group instruction. How much will it cost? The projected cost of the elementary school is $10.6 million. This includes construction, equip- ment and furnishings, technology, the media collection, textbooks, and other one-time start-up costs. Two years ago the cost of the project was estimated to be $10 million for construction and furnishings and an additional $1 million for technology. Since that time, it is estimated that construction costs have increased by approximately 20 percent due to the number of large scale public projects being bid this year. Consequently, the size of the school was reduced in an effort to stay within this budget. The school will cost $71 per square foot, and the state average for schools is approximately $69-$70. How will it be paid for? Financing the school is the responsibility of the Orange County Commissioners; however, there has been a preliminary agreement that the school will be funded through the school district's capital budget and impact fees. This means that no tax increase would be necessary to construct the school. The Commissioners will sell certificates of participation or pursue other private financing options to raise the necessary revenues. Will it be energy efficient? The elementary school will be designed along the same lines as McDougle Middle School which was part of a state pilot program for designing energy efficient schools. Energy efficient fea- tures include daylighting, energy efficient glass, canopies to screen direct sunlight, energy efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems, and highly insulated roofing systems. Each classroom will have energy efficient controls which can be more closely regulated rather than one switch controlling one corridor or the whole school. All cooking equipment will be fueled by natural gas which is consid- ered to be a clean, efficient and less expensive fuel. What is the construction schedule? If approvals are obtained as scheduled, ground could be broken by December, 1994 with the school scheduled for completion by June, 1996. All six elementary schools are over capacity without mobile classrooms Elementary School Capacity* 1994 Enrollment Number of Mobile Classes Carrboro 600 635 1 Ephesus 500 634 5 Estes Hills 550 582 1 Frank Porter Graham 575 676 2 Glenwood 450 452 4 Seawell 475 683 6 Total 3,150 3,662 19 *does not include mobile classrooms