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<br /> these projects. However, the exact model of project management for the upcoming bond
<br /> construction period has yet to be decided by the County and the Districts.
<br /> At the January 21, 2025, Business Meeting, the Board began a discussion on Project
<br /> Management, but adjourned early due to inclement weather. At the meeting, Board members
<br /> requested additional information from experts to help inform the Board. County staff reached out
<br /> to Jessica Killian, Director of Program Management at Turner & Townsend Heery. In that role,
<br /> Ms. Killian has managed components of project and program management in major capital
<br /> programs for Guilford County Schools, as well as Beaufort County Schools in South Carolina,
<br /> Douglas County Schools District in Colorado, and Mapleton Public Schools in Colorado. In
<br /> those four projects, Ms. Killian has provided management for nearly $2.7 billion dollars in school
<br /> capital investment.
<br /> Ms. Killian will discuss some of the complexities and considerations around project
<br /> management that the County should consider in its decision. Ms. Killian will also differentiate the
<br /> concept of"program management", which includes all the oversight and coordination of multiple
<br /> projects, from the broader concept of "project management". The County or Districts can utilize
<br /> firms such as Turner & Towsend Heery or Woolpert to provide this overarching program
<br /> management of the multiple projects to ensure consistency of projects, alignment of Board
<br /> principles, and realize some efficiencies. Individual projects would still require project
<br /> management to ensure the projects are completed on time and in budget. Ms. Killian previously
<br /> presented to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School District Finance, Facilities and Operations
<br /> Board Subcommittee on the pros and cons of different delivery methods.
<br /> Under State Statute, the school districts are responsible for school construction, and as such
<br /> are responsible for management, design, and construction oversight. Under the current model,
<br /> the districts hire either staff or a firm to provide program or project management, both for the
<br /> annual maintenance of existing facilities and for new construction. The school districts make all
<br /> contracts, decisions and payments regarding school construction and then bill the County for
<br /> reimbursement. The districts do not construct new facilities very frequently. The most recent
<br /> new school was the major renovation of Chapel Hill High School from the 2016 bond. In
<br /> addition, both districts had issues spending down their maintenance funding during the Covid-19
<br /> Pandemic. The County encouraged both districts to expand their project management staff and
<br /> fund them through the Supplemental Deferred Maintenance funds. The County has identified
<br /> these existing balances as resources to implement the Woolpert recommendations and will
<br /> work with the Districts to create a plan that is consistent with the principles of the Woolpert
<br /> recommendations using those existing balances.
<br /> Unspent Capital Funds New Funding Availabie Maintenance
<br /> District Year End FY 2024 Budget FY 2025 Funds for FY 2025
<br /> Chapel Hill-Carrboro City
<br /> Schools $ 6,609,365.29 $ 16,224,511.00 $ 22,833,876.29
<br /> Orange County Schools $ 27,510,418.97 $ 16,060,560.00 $ 43,570,978.97
<br /> Total $ 34,119,784.26 $ 32,285,071.00 $ 66,404,855.26
<br /> Either district can also agree to allow the County to assume project management, contracting,
<br /> and oversight responsibilities through an Interlocal Agreement (ILA). That could allow the
<br /> County to provide additional control over the selection of the architect, project delivery method,
<br /> processing change orders and ultimate project delivery. The County could not compel the
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