Orange County NC Website
Commissioners have noted that a unilateral reduction in class size by the State has the effect of <br />creating an unfunded mandate for county governments. Reduced class sizes in elementary <br />schools create the need for more classroom space, which county governments must pay for. <br />The County has determined that for capital planning purposes for the 2005-15 Capital <br />Investment Plan (CIP) cycle, it will continue to consider elementary school building capacities <br />based on the previous jointly established student-to-teacher ratios. Therefore, the building <br />capacity calculations for both school systems for 2004-05 are unchanged from those used for <br />2003-04. Membership/capacity analysis and capacity input into the GAPS system are based on <br />the adopted 23:1 student/teacher ratio for grades K-3. Nevertheless, for reference purposes <br />and in recognition of the need for further discussions to reach resolution among the SAPFO <br />partners in the near future about how to address the school building capacity implications of <br />State-mandated smaller class sizes, the SAPFOTAC report does present tables for capacity <br />calculations that reflect both the 23:1 and 21:1 student/teacher ratios in grades K through 3. <br />OGS elementary membership and capacity are reflected on pages 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 of <br />Attachment LB.S (pages 13 and14 of the draft SAPFOTAC report). CHCGS elementary <br />membership and capacity are reflected on pages 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 of Attachment I.B,6 (pages <br />17 and 18 of the draft SAPFOTAG report). <br />The Memoranda of Understanding with both school districts require that any changes to <br />building capacity calculations "be determined by a joint action of the School Board and the <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners." Therefore, a joint action committee comprised of <br />representatives of these three governing boards will need to convene to discuss any potential <br />changes to the adopted 23:1 student/teacher ratio for grades K-3. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: Precise financial impacts cannot be determined, but possible changes in <br />projected building capacity and projected growth in student membership for the next ten years <br />will have impacts on future operating and capital budgets measured in the tens of millions of <br />dollars. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: <br />1) review the 2005 SAPFOTAC Annual Report; <br />2) provide appropriate direction to the Manager and staff; and <br />3) consider convening discussions among representatives of all three governing boards that <br />would constitute a Joint Action Committee to address the school building capacity <br />implications associated with State-mandated elementary class size reductions. <br />