Minutes-03-21-2023-Business Meeting

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8 Chair Bedford said she read the Guilford County Schools report they worked on. She asked what was in our RFQ for trailers. Steve Arndt said that was not part of the request. David Sturtz said they do look at them as an option. He said they want to see what makes sense to reduce reliance on those in a permanent capacity. Chair Bedford said that the districts did some airflow improvements after COVID and if there are any design standards. Jessica Goodell said they do not do a design study but rather a "like for like" consideration; however, if there are certain standards they would like to set to let them know. She said LED lights are a standard and they do go through and suggest LED change-outs throughout. Chair Bedford asked if part of the analysis with efficiencies is also energy and climate efficiency and friendliness. David Sturtz said they could get a baseline. He said that they will look at utility cost by square foot. He said they found that the older buildings were 1.5x less efficient per square foot. He said that this will be a data point that will be considered. Chair Bedford said the special education classroom space is needed and that the state construction standards are the floor. She said the Orange County standards could also be improved but are better. She said the Board would also like to see more pre-K spaces. David Sturtz said all of that becomes part of the conversation to develop what they want to build to. He said they ask what should every student experience every day. He said they then look at costs and time. Chair Bedford said there is a 2015 facilities assessment and there were different scenarios. She said that the nine older facilities are 1960s construction and that with gun violence, there is a perception that is not safe for students. She said it was economically unfeasible at the time and asked what kind of materials they use for safety. David Sturtz said part of that is determining what you want for every student. He said that considering if there is a single point of entry. He said that some buildings will require more renovations to reach the safety standard that is developed. Chair Bedford said that is a big decision and she does not know who should be making that decision. David Sturtz said they do not come in with answers but rather questions. He said they look at what other districts have done and bring that as information. He said that every school cannot practically have a single point of entry but there are things that can be done to make them safer. He said they will seek those answers out with the committee. Commissioner Fowler said she had the same question on safety and who decides. She said they had previous assessments but did not have a prioritization for the buildings. She asked if they would have a prioritization. Jessica Goodell said those needs will be prioritized during the conditions assessment. Commissioner Fowler said given the county can only afford to do a small amount will there also be sequencing for the priorities. David Sturtz said yes and there will be suggestions on recommended phasing to achieve those goals. Commissioner Hamilton asked how the Brightleaf software workplan will interface with the plan that has phases to be decided on. Jessica Goodell said it will handle the conditions assessment data and with certain parameters set, it will recommend priorities. David Sturtz said to think of it as a layered cake. He said that the conditions assessment is the base layer and will have phases done in the context in the whole. He said they will look which buildings are going to be maintained, which buildings are being renovated, and which buildings are looking at major changes. He said each of those categories will all have different