Orange County NC Website
through 2006-07 for existing projects. That amount decreases slightly to $2,200,000 <br />in 2007-08. The amount then increases gradually for the next several years. It would <br />be a misrepresentation to compare the situation in CHCCS to that of OCS and Cedar <br />Ridge High School, which left the County schools with virtually no CIP funds for <br />other projects for several years. Although our aging facilities do need more attention, <br />the School Board believes there are sufficient funds for essential projects and <br />renovations, and technology upgrades to maintain the existing facilities in the district. <br />t. Cozzstrrzitzs future Cnzznty debt cupcr~it}' in the fiz~e of S.~FFO obligcztiQns <br />Utilizing present projections, SAPFO obligations for the County Schools will be zero <br />upon completion of the new middle school, which is already funded. In CHCCS, <br />under the current projections, a new elementary school will be needed in 2006-07 and <br />a middle school in 2008-09. As the Budget Director's graph illustrates, the funding of <br />elementary #10 can be accomplished under the present debt service scenario. The <br />additional funding of $6,000,000 for the third high school would not make a <br />significant difference in the County's total debt service picture where funding for <br />additional projects is concerned. <br />7. t'ompzoniises fc`scal tlisciplizze tzntl ccnrzlyticul rig~zr envisioned irz estublishtnent of <br />HS canstructi~tz sttruclartts <br />The District has taken every measure it can to comply with the standards as <br />presented. The only high school project to be built in the County once the standards <br />were in effect exceeded the standards in square footage. That school has 206 square <br />feet per student. The standards call for 182 square feet per student. On a national <br />basis, high performance schools average 210 square feet per high school student. This <br />mirrors the efforts at Cedar Ridge and East Chapel Hill High. The analytical rigor <br />required to reduce that number to 182 square feet per student will be a major task. <br />Fiscally, the major factor in the cost differential between the two districts is obvious. <br />Not only is land more expensive, but also governmental regulations pertaining to site <br />development and construction tend to drive total project costs up. The fiscal <br />discipline required during this process was the realization that land costs and site <br />preparation costs would exceed the budget provided by the standards and the <br />development of a plan to fund the additional costs. This is not "Chapel Flat" but <br />"Chapel Hill." We must realize that parcels of flat land without rock are non-existent <br />and future school costs will reflect that scarcity. Due to its commitment to this <br />project, the Board of Education has committed to funding the e;xcess costs above the <br />standard. <br />8. Need for public hearing Utz rerxll©e~zti~tz of 2tI111 hatzds fratn ,Eletnetztrary #10 to <br />High Selzo©l #3 <br />