Agenda - 12-11-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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NEIL PEDERSEN read a prepared statement which is in the Permanent Agenda File in the Clerk's Office. In summary he spoke about the planning process which Chapel Hill - Carrboro used to formulate its capital needs request, cost and space estimates, and impact of different rates of growth in the two school districts on funding equity. He stated that although the School Capital Needs Advisory Committee had difficulty reaching consensus, the one clear conclusion was that the County needs four new schools to meet the demands of the student growth which has been projected by the state to occur from 1988 -1999. The State's projections indicate that 70% of the student increase which will occur between 1988 and 1998 will be in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro district. He urged the Board of County Commissioners to formulate a bond package which focuses on the critical needs and produces four schools designed to meet the educational challenges faced by this community in the 21st century. MARTHA DRAKE stated that a school building takes 60 BTU a square foot, a good school building 30 BTU and a great one 15 BTU. She stressed that $274,000 can be saved each year on electricity costs. She asked that the Board of County Commissioners consider these costs. BETSY BARROW from Chapel Hill spoke about the planning process for the new schools. When they added to the present schools, they realized that this would not provide space for increased growth. An educational specifications committee and the teachers designed the proposed schools. The buildings are designed to be functional for at least 50 years. There will be areas for preschoolers and senior citizens which will create a partnership between the schools and the communities. Chapel Hill needs three new schools and needs the support of the Board of County Commissioners. They need to look for the best educational design and support it. There is a need for actions to speak louder than words. Chapel Hill citizens want the very best for education. She asked that the Board of County Commissioners approve a minimum of 66 million for a bond referendum. ANN CRAMER asked how the schools can do better with less if they want to increase their ability to compete. The bond issue is a subsidy for maintaining education. ZUDY JONES of the Chapel Hill- Carrboro Association of Educators stated she is uncomfortable because they only heard from a few people in the Orange County School System. She is concerned that there may be growth needs in Orange County before 1997 and feels these should be addressed. It is not fair to decide student cost on present population. She stated that there is major growth in the Chapel Hill /Carrboro city schools. Currently the schools are overcrowded. They are not overcrowded in Orange County. If there is a good job done with education, she feels a bond issue will pass. Needs will increase if they are not taken care of now. The issue is clear. The Chapel Hill Teachers Association supports a bond issue in May. There is no choice. DOCKEY D stated that she is a taxpayer, parent in the Chapel Hill- Carrboro Schools, and a teacher. She spoke of the overcrowded conditions in the schools. In order to deliver quality education, they