Minutes 09-13-2022 Work Session - Laserfiche WebLink

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20 they have to try something different, because what they are doing isn't getting where they need to be. She said when you think about the complexity of different pieces, and the willingness to talk, then the report reflects conversations from the work group. She said it could lead to other efficiencies. Commissioner Bedford said she read all of the report and appreciated all of the information. She said she does not see taxpayers supporting a merger of facilities. She said that she supports having a consultant. She said that consultants could help prioritize and show different options for replacement and renovation. She said that she would also like the consultant to review other ways to finance the needs. She said that for swing space as schools are replaced, some schools are able to absorb more students if the school system has the willingness to make the decision. She said that she is concerned about SAPFO, and the school boards have different facility needs based on students. She said they can also talk about construction standards. She said it will be helpful to know when a building is just obsolete and there is no return on investment. She said the group should leave SAPFO alone because the town's attorneys are ready to abandon it. She said they should also look at what land banking looks like. Commissioner Richards said the report came out in the previous week, and both school districts lost students. She said that the county has the second and third highest resourced districts in the state. She said that there are a lot of administrative staff in both districts, and she did not understand why the staff could not figure out what the needs are. She said that she would like to see a tight work plan and a cap on the amount that will be spent. Commissioner Greene said looking at recommendations, she wonders about a consultant that can navigate having two school systems. She said that it seems like a challenge, but not an insurmountable challenge. She said that a consultant can be a neutral third party. She said that the county should be able to produce a strategy. Commissioner Hamilton said that the school systems have high operating resources, but not for capital. She said this is an opportunity. She said that having fewer students might be good timing so the county can focus on renovating. She response to Commissioner Greene's comments, she said that the county has no policies on renovating buildings. She said they can put in policies that say how much the county will spend on building a school. Commissioner Fowler said some groundwork has already been done on this by Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools. She said the conditions have changed due to fewer students. She said that a consultant can evaluate the existing plans and reprioritize. She said that providing school facilities is an obligation of the county. She said that the need is high, and a priority list would help the county. Chair Price said that there are limits to what a consultant can do coming into a county like Orange. She said that the school systems want to work together, but also remain independent. She said that the consultant can help find efficiencies and economies of scale. She said that they will need to look at a bond referendum in a few years, and the school districts will have to come together on that. She said that she would like to see a scope of work on what the consultant will do. She said that a third party will look at it differently than the Board. Commissioner Bedford said that if there is enough funding then they could use joint ordering for supplies and the architect was clear that you need to build for quality. Commissioner Hamilton said the work group would help develop the scope of work for the consultant, along with the information that comes out of the joint work session later in the month. Chair Price thanked Commissioner Hamilton for her leadership on the group and for getting this along this far. She said this item is to be continued for discussion.