Orange County NC Website
26 <br /> 1 She said that it is their job to make sure that the bond funds are implemented as they were <br /> 2 designed to do, and this allows the school staff to continue to do the work they were already doing. <br /> 3 Chair Bedford asked if the school districts are still hiring their own architects and <br /> 4 construction companies. <br /> 5 Jessica Killian said the schools would still be approving the contracts, but the program <br /> 6 manager would assist in running the RFQs and being part of that process. <br /> 7 Chair Bedford asked how design-build fits into this. <br /> 8 Jessica Killian said that design-build is a delivery method. She said that a single entity is <br /> 9 hired to design and build the project. <br /> 10 Chair Bedford asked if the schools would then still be a decision maker. <br /> 11 Jessica Killian said yes and that the Board is the funding authority. She said that the way <br /> 12 that the schools contract to have projects completed should not interfere with the funding. She <br /> 13 said they may be more comfortable with different methods and maybe there are reasons for one <br /> 14 delivery over another one, but this goes under their authority, and this could be something <br /> 15 included in the ILA. <br /> 16 Travis Myren said the program manager would help choose a delivery method that fits <br /> 17 best with any set of circumstances. <br /> 18 Chair Bedford said she doesn't see three new schools happening with the financial <br /> 19 outlook. She said that she wants to manage expectations. She said that the school boards and <br /> 20 county commissioners should work on managing expectations. She said that besides major <br /> 21 projects and high priority needs, there are other schools that need to be kept running. She asked <br /> 22 if the program manager has any influence in the schools that continue to operate during the <br /> 23 projects. <br /> 24 Jessica Killian said the discussions so far have been about bond program management. <br /> 25 She said the industry could also support doing bond and deferred maintenance. She said it really <br /> 26 depends and that would depend on how the school districts feel. <br /> 27 Chair Bedford said pay-go is also involved. She said they had previously said they may <br /> 28 need to add a support person in-house, and the manager will have to determine if it is more <br /> 29 efficient to do an RFP for a consultant, or if the county could support an in-house position. <br /> 30 Commissioner Fowler asked how much program management costs and what it includes. <br /> 31 Jessica Killian said she cannot fully answer that without knowing all they need. She said <br /> 32 that all of what Commissioner Fowler mentioned would be part of program management <br /> 33 agreement, but she can't give a figure until she has an idea of what the county is looking for <br /> 34 service-wise. <br /> 35 Chair Bedford invited Anne Purcell, OCS Board of Education Chair, to speak on behalf of <br /> 36 OCS Board of Education. Anne Purcell said when she was principal they requested funds for a <br /> 37 new auditorium. She said that she was heavily involved in the program management and had to <br /> 38 go to all the meetings. She said that she knows that Mr. Davis is in favor of having a project <br /> 39 manager and he has experience building several schools in other districts. She said she thinks <br /> 40 he and CHCCS staff have had conversations and are in favor. She said they all want to be <br /> 41 transparent with constituents about the money and where it's going. <br /> 42 Jessica Killian said that it will be different having program management at the county, but <br /> 43 it is because there are two school districts, and it is a unique situation. <br /> 44 Chair Bedford also invited Al Ciarochi to speak. <br /> 45 Al Ciarochi said CHCCS is in support of program-project management. He said they made <br /> 46 very strong commitments to the citizens, and they are ready to make the next step. He said that <br /> 47 it is important for transparency and delivering on what was promised. He said they are in favor of <br /> 48 higher-level program management as long as they are at the table for the design process. <br /> 49 Commissioner McKee said he looks forward to continuing these conversations with the <br /> 50 school districts. He said that this is $400 million and that is a hard number for him to get his head <br /> 51 around. He said that without the interest added, it is right at $2,500 per Orange County resident <br />