Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS <br /> Lincoln Center, Merritt Mill Road <br /> Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516 ` " .� .- <br /> Telephone: (919) 967-8211 <br /> Neil G. Pedersen Nettie Collins-Hart, Assistant Superintendent <br /> Superintendent for Instructional Services <br /> Raymond J. Reitz Steve Scroggs, Assistant Superintendent <br /> Chief Technology Officer for Support Services" <br /> TO: John Link <br /> Orange County Manager <br /> FROM: Neil G. Pedersen <br /> Superintendent <br /> RE: CIP <br /> DATE: March 11, 2002 <br /> On Thursday, March Th, the Board of Education approved the submission of a CIP request <br /> to the BOCC. The document was transmitted to you via Donna Dean on Friday,March 81. We <br /> will have staff available at your March 18`h meeting to answer questions about our request. 'I'm <br /> attaching other cover documents that have been sent to the Board during the development of the <br /> CIP that may be useful to the County Commissioners. I did want to highlight a few points for <br /> you. <br /> On March 7', the Board changed the original recommended size for a small high school <br /> from 500-700 students to"a minimum of 750 students." It was felt that this would provide a better <br /> economy of scale and would necessitate no more than two smaller high schools during the next ten <br /> years. The Board also clarified that it preferred to locate a small high school in the southern end of <br /> the district,but would investigate northern sites. Therefore,as long as no decision has been made <br /> about a southern site,I believe that when planning begins for the Eubanks Rd/Old 86 site that one <br /> scenario should provide for-the possibility of a high school on that site. The Board also reaffirmed <br /> its commitment not to expand the capacity of the current high schools. <br /> At this time, our search for a site in the southern end of the district has brought us to a site <br /> off of Rey Road and Smith Level Road. I have attached some background information on this site <br /> and we have some additional drawings that you are welcome to review that don't lend themselves <br /> to photocopying. This information was shared at our televised meeting on February 7'. We are <br /> continuing to study'the feasibility of this site and, of course, cannot proceed with its acquisition <br /> without first seeking and acquiring the approval of the BOCC. <br /> Within the next day or two, I should have to you our responses to the Commissioners' <br /> questions about small high schools. This will be incorporated in materials being submitted to you <br /> in conjunction with the March 25'joint meeting. <br /> I also want to clarify that the Citizens Advocating for a Third High School (CATS)is <br /> independent from the school district. CATS is holding an`organizational"meeting on March 13'' <br /> at 7 p.m. at Scroggs Elementary School. One of its leaders,Etta Pisano, a parent in our <br /> community, asked that the school district share information about projected enrollment,potential <br /> sites, and the pros and cons of smaller.high schools. We are happy to do this and believe the <br />