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UNION COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: 11/03103 <br />Action Agenda Item No. <br />(Central Admin. use only) <br />SUBJECT: Joint School Study <br />DEPARTMENT: Central Administration PUBLIC HEARING: No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />- Goals for Study Joe L.esch <br />- Budget Amendment Kai Nelson <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />292 -2591 <br />292 -2522 <br />DEPARTMENT'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: Approve study goals and approve budget <br />amendment <br />BACKGROUND: Part of the mediation agreement approved by both the Board of <br />Commissioners and Board of Education was to enter into a joint planning process as allowed for <br />in N.C. General Statute 115C- 426.2. The agreement states;" a study will be jointly <br />commissioned by both boards to develop a clear understanding of the program and facility <br />needs of the school system and a method of funding those requirements, given the resources of <br />the County, the expectations of its citizens, and the educational goals and policies of the State <br />and the Board of Education <br />The study will look at various issues that have been raised during the budget process including <br />Union County and UCPS finances, benchmarking against comparable successful school <br />systems, joint capital planning process, school size, and a method of funding of both current <br />expense and capital outlay needs. <br />Staffs for the schools and for the County have met several times and agreed on goals for the <br />study to present to their respective Boards. The study goals are designed to meet the intent of <br />the mediation agreement and will be used to solicit qualifications and proposals from <br />consultants to conduct the study. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The mediation agreement also states that the County will fully fund the <br />joint study. After receiving preliminary estimates from consultants, staff believes that an <br />