Agenda - 03-25-2002 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CHAPEL HILL-CARRBORO CITY SCHOOLS c>U a.,�•r`� Lincoln Center, Merritt Mill Road Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516 Telephone: (919) 967-8211 Neil G. Pedersen Nettie Collins-Hart, Assistant Superintendent Superintendent for Instructional Services Raymond J.-Reitz _. Steve Scroggs, Assistant Superintendent Chief Technology Officer for Support Services TO: John Link Orange County Manager FROM: Neil G. Pederse Superintendent RE: Items and Background Information from CHCCS for the March 25' Agenda DATE: March 12, 2002 Background Information on Anticipated BOCC Agenda Items School Capacities We have updated our school capacities (Attachment No. 1)using the same formulas on which we have agreed previously. In some cases,rooms are being used for a different purpose (e.g. special education or pre-k). The capacities have been adjusted to reflect the current program in the school when a K-5 classroom is used for a different purpose. When a special classroom (e.g. a science room) is used as a K-5 classroom, capacities have not been adjusted upward because if the school were not overcrowded, this space would be used for its intended purpose. In addition,we have adjusted for a kindergarten class size of 22 instead of 23 because the state decreased kindergarten class size last year(and is scheduled to reduce it to 21 in 2002-03). Pre-kindergarten Classes A report on our current pre-kindergarten program is attached (Attachment No. 2), which also includes information regarding its impact on our school capacities. We would remind the BOCC that a pre-kindergarten class is included in the building standards for elementary schools. From an educational point of view, there clearly is a growing emphasis on early childhood education across the state and nation. At the state level,this was begun by Governor Hunt through the Smart Start program and has been continued by Governor Easley in the More at Four initiative. Both programs are intended to operate under a collaborative relationship between community agencies and boards of education. Consequently, programs may or may not be sited in the schools. Our experience has been that we can better support school-based programs and that these help to facilitate smoother transitions to our K-5 program. At the same time, approximately half of the pre-k programs that we operate are community-based. Unless the state economy derails the effort,the BOCC can expect that early childhood education will have a growing impact on the public schools and will require additional operating and capital resources.