Minutes 04-27-2021 Virtual BOCC-Schools Joint Meeting

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11 Commissioner Fowler asked if DTCC had a specified need for the building before the focus groups, and if it changed after meeting with the focus groups. Dr. Buxton said he arrived at DTCC in 2018, and there were initial ideas prior to his arrival, but DTCC has tried to update the plans with this process. He said DTCC is trying to think more specifically about the kind of services and programs of study that need to be in the facility. He said health care demand is skyrocketing, and DTCC is also seeing the same significant demand in skill trade, logistics, and mass manufacturing. He said DTCC is seeing demand outstripping the supply DTCC will be able to provide. Commissioner Fowler asked if DTCC will be able to stick to the timeline of planning. Dr. Buxton said yes. Chair Price said she was on the Board of Trustees for several years, and this group spent a year on a strategic plan. She said information was gathered at that point. She said the listening sessions have refined the work already done. She said it has been a long process to get to this point, and it was being talked about back to 2013, and they had to push for the need for the second building. Commissioner Greene said she attended one of the sessions with folks from the local food economy. She said she remembered a lot of need was expressed, but has not heard Dr. Buxton address that yet. Dr. Buxton said some of the issues with that conversation are logistics. He said there have been some follow up sessions, and DTCC is starting to think about a dining facility because there are a lot of students with nowhere to go, especially those that do not have easy transportation. He said DTCC is starting to think about a kitchen that could possibly meet both needs. Commissioner McKee asked how much federal COVID relief funding each of the County public schools systems have received, and how much they expect to receive. Chair Price suggested coming back to this question after other Commissioners were able to finish questions about DTCC. Chair Price said she was in Chatham County recently, where they have a culinary school that was lovely. Commissioner Dorosin complimented the work President Buxton has done since coming to DTCC. He said DTCC has prioritized expanding the Orange County facility and services, while recognizing the needs and the ties with economic development and the school boards. He said there have been discussions about how to enhance relationships, including having representation of school districts on Durham Tech Board. He said he is a current trustee and highlighted the work the Board has done and its commitment to the expeditious work that is also economically reasonable. He said this meeting is a good reminder that they should all be thinking about education as a Pre-K to 16 system, and how the pieces should fit together more seamlessly. Commissioner Hamilton asked if the enrollment pre-covid versus during the pandemic could be identified. She also asked how most students get to the Orange County campus. Dr. Buxton said the pre-pandemic headcount was 19,000 students, and is closer to 18,000 during the pandemic. He said the total FTE was 6,000 before and just fewer than 5,000 during the pandemic. He said there are significantly higher rates of African American, Latinx, and men pressing pause on higher education during the pandemic. He said the rates are better than the national average, but are pretty consistent with trends seen in North Carolina: around 5-10% depending on the semester. He said a lot of work was done to reach out to students close to graduation, but who were not planning to come back in the spring. He said the feedback DTCC heard was that students wanted to be back in person. He said a lot of students have struggled online, and many are waiting to have classes and advising in person. He said he expects higher numbers in fall and spring. He said there is a park and ride and bus