Orange County NC Website
13 <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that, in terms of Elementary #11, the school board needs to <br /> calculate when the school needs to be built and the SAPFO will call for a plan to build it on time, <br /> and if it is not, there will be no CAPS issued for development. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz asked about expansions to current schools versus new schools <br /> and Jamezetta Bedford said that they have looked at several elementary schools for this, but it <br /> costs more per pupil with an addition than it does for a new school. <br /> Commissioner said that the County Commissioners need to look at reducing debt <br /> services over time. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that CHCCS may want to look at worst case scenarios and <br /> address the arts wing at a lesser cost instead of building elementary school #11. He still thinks <br /> it is a great thing that there is $1 million in fair funding in the general fund and the County <br /> Commissioners are providing this so that every school has a nurse, SROs, etc. <br /> Superintendent Pedersen made reference to Elementary School #11 and said that the <br /> Board of County Commissioners did approve a site for this school and there is a preschool in <br /> this building that will have to relocate. The Board appropriated $1 million to CHCCS for <br /> planning, the school is well on the road to being designed, and the approval process is <br /> underway through the Town of Chapel Hill. This is a project that is under the "funded" projects <br /> and it needs to have priority over other projects. The County has an investment in this project <br /> and the school board members are not sure what they are to do and they need more discussion <br /> about the future of this project. <br /> Chair Foushee said that none of them want to change the direction for Elementary <br /> School #11, but as much as they want to see this constructed, the County's ability to construct <br /> that building is uncertain. <br /> Commissioner Yuhasz said that the County has funded the schools each year on the <br /> back of property taxes and funded to a higher level than it does for salaries and wages. He said <br /> that the County may have reached the end of that rope. Until another revenue source is found <br /> that relies less on residential property values, they may not recover from this economic disaster <br /> as quickly as was originally thought. <br /> With no further items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:44 p.m. <br /> Valerie Foushee, Chair <br /> Donna S. Baker, CMC <br /> Clerk to the Board <br />