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field with bleachers instead of a stadium. In response, the county loaned $ioo,000 to the district to upgrade the fields. The parents used the funds to add a field house and other amenities, and are raising money to pay back the loan. • One principle is related to using space efficiently. For example, lockers in one school were located in an alcove instead of in a hallway. This allowed the hallways to be built narrower, since they are used only for passage. • Forsyth is saving money by constructing slightly pitched roofs. The flatter roof design cuts down on the roof s volume, while drainage, construction methods, and materials ensure the roofs longevity, • Forsyth is combining spaces to achieve further efficiencies. One school has combined its cafeteria, auditorium and gymnasium in a common area that can be set up for any of the three uses at a time. • Forsyth is likely to ask voters to approve a $200 -250 million bond this year. Its "ten core principles" has supposedly built faith among the voters in the district's ability to spend wisely. • In response to a question from Mr. Link, Mr. Stoops said that the Forsyth Board of County Commissioners and the School Board were able to develop their ten principles through "a lot of collaboration." The facilities managers were involved. The Commissioners liked the idea of lowering costs. Many of the officials who collaborated on the principles are still in office. • Two other John Locke Foundation reports that Collaboration Work Group members might find relevant are: "A Lottery that Helps Students" (Spotlight No. 280 — February 15, 2006) and "Building for the Future: The School Enrollment Boom in North Carolina" (Policy Report, September 2005), Both were written by Mr. Stoops, Taunton DPI School Planning Section • DPI has site and design "guidelines" but not "standards." It values local control, • The guidelines are based on the assumption that schools will be located on rural land, These guidelines make it "easy to use up a site," • Handouts I: "Site and Facility Design Issues" for Orange County Commissioners and Board of Education (March 20, 2oo6), including Site Guidelines, Site Selection Criteria, Regular Classrooms Guidelines, Pre -K Programs, Science Guidelines, Small vs. Large Schools, Cost Savings Strategies, and Average Yearly Construction (Only) Costs. • One general principle is that costs should be considered over the long term. For example, sites in Orange County should be served by water and sewer lines. Also, districts should factor in the costs associated with any candidate site's potential for complying with DOT's requirements for turning lanes, wide roads, and automobile queuing space. • DPI's classroom guidelines have been in place since the r98o's, and they are minimal. DPI would rather a district delay the construction of an auditorium before cutting classroom space. Technology (computers) also have space requirements that might go beyond the guidelines. • Middle schools generally do not need full sized science laboratories, but high schools generally do. Smaller schools might be able to share laboratory space with other programs, but in larger schools where the labs are needed every period such sharing is not practical. 3