Agenda - 12-14-2004-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 accommodate forecast growth in student membership, The membership numbers reflect an actual student count as defined in the MOU, The capacity that is noted is from last year's SAPFOTAG certification, The SAPFOTAC analytical work would normally take place in the January-February timeframe, but was accelerated for 2004-05 at the request of the BOCC because the results of the SAPFOTAC analysis of updated student membership projections will have a significant impact on major capital funding decisions that the BOCC will need to make in the very near future, SAPFOTAC is tasked to produce an annual report far the governing boards of each SAPFO partner, The full annual SAPFOTAC report will be completed in early 2005. Building Capacity There has been extensive discussion among the governing boards and staff of the County and school systems throughout 2004 regarding the certification of individual school building capacities. The State of North Carolina has taken unilateral action during the past two years to dictate to local school administrative units that the average class size throughout a school district for grades K-3 must be reduced to 1 teacher for every 21 students. As the BOCC has noted, this has in effect created an unfunded mandate for county governments to provide additional school space with no time to plan for the funding and construction of new space. Following discussion on the subject at a November 2004 work session, the County Attorney examined the requirements for reduced class size and the possible sanctions or other ramifications that might face any school system that is unable to comply with the average class size mandates. The accompanying letter from the Attorney outlines the results of his research. As provided for in the SAPFO Section 1.b "...'building capacity' will be determined,,, by a joint action of the School Board and the BOCC." Therefore, until there is a 'joint action' agreeing to the impact of new State rules far classroom size in grades K-3, the existing capacity levels are being used for capacity/membership projection comparisons. Implications of Updated Ten Year Student Membership Projections SAPFO provides that the County must provide funding and a school system must construct new school space so that the Level of Service (LOS) for elementary school space will not exceed 105% of capacity across an entire school district. The updated ten-year student membership projections prepared by SAPFOTAC and reflected on the accompanying charts indicate that, absent the creation of new seats, the 105% level of service would be exceeded at the elementary level in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools for academic year 2009-10. Accordingly, adherence to SAPFO provisions will require that new permanent elementary school space be available for the beginning of that school year. The needed opening date has shifted back three years compared to the 2006-07 opening contemplated in last year's student membership projections. Slowing growth produced only minor enrollment increases at the elementary level in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools during the current school year. CHCCS Middle School #5 is projected to be needed in 2013-2014, 800 new seats will become available with the anticipated opening of CHCCS High School #3 in August 2007. Based on the updated student membership projections, there is no other additional high school space needed within the ten-year planning period.