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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: February 20, 2025 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-e <br /> SUBJECT: Sunsetting of the School Capital Needs Work Group <br /> DEPARTMENT: Clerk's Office <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> NONE Clerk's Office, 919-245-2130 <br /> PURPOSE: To conclude the School Capital Needs Work Group's activities and formally sunset <br /> the Group. <br /> BACKGROUND: The Capital Needs Work Group (the work group) was established by the <br /> Board of Commissioners (BOCC) on October 19, 2021, as a result of a petition by <br /> Commissioner Jean Hamilton. The petition requested the work group address the capital needs <br /> of the two public school systems in Orange County — Orange County Schools (OCS) and <br /> Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) — especially the older schools, such that an <br /> actionable plan (over 10 years) would be developed that would dedicate funds and a process to <br /> address the needs. <br /> The BOCC received the work group's final report on September 13, 2022, which recommended: <br /> 1. Hiring a consultant to evaluate the County' s approach to school capital planning, design, <br /> contracting, and financing. <br /> 2. Researching alternative funding sources for school capital improvements. <br /> 3. County and both school districts commit to continue working together on school capital <br /> planning through the existing work group. <br /> The work group's recommendations and efforts led to a Services Agreement with Woolpert, Inc. <br /> to conduct a Capital Needs Assessment of Orange County's Public Schools, and a final report <br /> from the assessment was presented to the BOCC on December 4, 2023. <br /> At several meetings in 2024, the BOCC discussed how to address the funding needs identified <br /> in the Capital Needs Assessment. <br /> Finally, on November 5, 2024, Orange County voters approved $300 million in General <br /> Obligation bonds to fund capital improvements for CHCCS and OCS. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. <br />