Agenda 8-e - Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance – Approval and Certification of 2019 Report

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5 PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director Current Planning 131 W. Margaret Lane (919) 245-2575 Suite 201 (919) 644-3002 (FAX) ORANGE COUNTY P. O. Box 8181 www.orangecountync.gov NORTH CAROLINA Hillsborough, NC 27278 MEMORANDUM TO: Rani Dasi, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education Dr. Stephen Halkiotis, Orange County Board of Education Penny Rich, Orange County Board of Commissioners FROM: Craig Benedict, Planning and Inspections Director, thru Bonnie Hammersley, Orange County Manager, and Travis Myren, Deputy Orange County Manager DATE: May 9, 2019 SUBJECT: Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Technical Advisory Committee (SAPFOTAC) Annual Report Background At the April 10 School Joint Action Committee (SJAC) meeting, Board members recommended to delay certification of the 2019 SAPFOTAC Report. Operationally, the CAPS system (i.e. gauging development against actual enrollment and capacity) still remains in effect thru November/December 2019. The primary reason for the request was due to inconsistencies between the school capacity numbers submitted on November 15, 2018 and school capacity numbers recently provided in April 2019. Additional reasons for the delay request were due to concerns with Pre-K classrooms (not specifically in the charge of the committee, but warranting continued discussion and consideration) and potential impacts from 2019 House Bill 251, which is related to changes in class size ratios. Based on the existing Memorandum of Understandings, November 15 numbers are required to be utilized for the 10-year student projection sheets and the SAPFOTAC Annual Report. If it is decided to not use the November 15, 2018 capacity numbers, new membership and capacity forms will need to be resubmitted by the schools and approved by the BOCC. These capacity calculations are still in flux with strong interest to insure consistent methodology between both school districts. This would restart the SAPFO process requiring updated 10-year student projection sheets and major revisions to the draft 2019 SAPFOTAC Report. Please note, the Towns have completed their review of the draft 2019 SAPFOTAC Report as requested in the formal transmittal letter dated March 20. Based on the capacity numbers provided by the schools, it appears November 15 capacity numbers do not include Pre-K classroom capacities. As a result, the outcomes detailed in the 2019 SAPFOTAC Report may provide a more accurate (i.e. in terms of actual school capacity usage, but not the Memorandum of Understanding calculation intent) account of capacity needs for the schools. Based on 10-year student projections utilizing November 15 and April capacity numbers, the earliest the schools may experience an impact resulting from class size changes is the 2021-22 school year.