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16 <br /> Slide#14 <br /> RECOMMENDATION (OPTION D) <br /> • Enhanced teaching and learning environments <br /> • advances educational outcomes and opportunities <br /> • Improved school utilization <br /> • provides flexible spaces for multiple learning styles <br /> • Updated classroom spaces and learning tools meet modern <br /> education standards <br /> • Right-sized portfolio creates operational efficiencies <br /> • Investing in community attracts and retains residents <br /> Commissioner Richards asked if any assumptions were made for preschool <br /> accommodations. <br /> David Sturtz said they did not make any strategic change for preschools. He said that <br /> would mean that the early childhood center is planned in capital needs. He said if they plan to <br /> spread and push-in, it will increase the utilization of elementary schools 5%-10%. He said that <br /> some specific schools are overutilized and some are underutilized. <br /> Rob Olson said that until the state is at a funding standpoint for preschool children, the <br /> Board would want to account for the cost of providing preschool. <br /> Chair Bedford said new school construction indicates that there will be two new preschool <br /> classrooms in each school. <br /> David Sturtz said it is accounted for in the budget of renovated and replaced schools. He <br /> said that the budget is projected by taking the latest construction and the gross square footage is <br /> multiplied by the estimated construction cost. <br /> Commissioner McKee said some Orange County schools are at capacity and some are <br /> above. He said that would call for some redistricting, but asked if they recommend building the <br /> school first before redistricting. <br /> David Sturtz said the context of his comment was about the longevity of redistricting. He <br /> said when you build a new elementary school, boundaries have to be adjusted because it adds a <br /> new zone. He said so rather than redistricting twice, if they are able to do construction first, then <br /> it would just be once. He said some schools have extra capacity, but it is not evenly geographically <br /> spread so it would make transportation changes necessary and likely impossible. <br /> Commissioner McKee asked if it would be a new school or replacing a school. <br /> David Sturtz said they are recommending one new school for the western part of the <br /> county. <br /> Commissioner McKee said that unless the student population increases significantly, then <br /> they are serving the same number of students in three schools and one is still undercapacity, and <br /> maybe two. <br /> David Sturtz said if he could recommend building a new school within the next three years <br /> and plan the boundaries of that school before it comes online, then it should be a solution that <br /> should not have to be revisited. <br /> Chair Bedford asked if there would be a school taken offline. <br />