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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: November 1, 2018 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 6-b <br /> SUBJECT: Schools Joint Action Committee — Appointment and Letter Transmittal <br /> DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> 1. Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) Craig Benedict, Director, 919-245-2575 <br /> Transmittal Letter Ashley Moncado, Planner II, 919-245-2589 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider the appointment of an Orange County Commissioner to the Schools <br /> Joint Action Committee (SJAC) and authorize the Chair to sign a transmittal letter to the Orange <br /> County Schools Board of Education and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education. <br /> BACKGROUND: The State of North Carolina enacted legislation in 2017 resulting in a decrease <br /> in class size averages from 1:20 to 1:17 for kindergarten to third grade for the 2018-2019 school <br /> year. Due to significant statewide ramifications as a result of the reduced class size averages, <br /> the North Carolina General Assembly unveiled House Bill 90 which allows for a phasing-in <br /> process to address the decrease in class size averages over the next four years. Based on <br /> House Bill 90, average class sizes for kindergarten to third grade will be phased-in as provided <br /> below: <br /> 2019 - 2020 1:19 <br /> 2020 — 2021 1:18 <br /> 2021 — 2022 1:17 <br /> Due to impacts to elementary school capacity resulting from these reductions, the Schools <br /> Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC) identified the <br /> need for the Schools Joint Action Committee (SJAC) to meet in order to discuss options and <br /> determine how to implement the school capacity changes in the 2019 SAPFO report and 10- <br /> year student membership and building capacity projections sheets. Based on the adopted <br /> SAPFO Memoranda of Understanding, school building capacity shall be determined by <br /> reference to state guidelines and school district guidelines and by a joint action of the School <br /> Boards and Orange County Board of Commissioners. <br /> The SJAC is comprised of elected officials from the Orange County Schools Board of Education, <br /> Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education, and Orange County Board of <br /> Commissioners. The SJAC last met in 2005 to discuss and recommend how to implement <br /> elementary level class size reductions related to legislation implemented at that time. At the <br /> time, the SJAC decided to defer reductions, for SAPFO purposes, to elementary level class size <br /> averages for both districts until after the opening of Morris Grove Elementary School in 2008. <br /> The Committee is expected to meet twice to review and discuss impacts and options before <br /> determining how to implement class size reductions for SAPFO purposes. Orange County <br />