Agenda - 08-19-2008 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

14 1 Pathways Elementary, and Efland- Cheeks in existing rooms. Each class will accept 18 2 students. Orange County Schools will use its Title I funding allocation for Pre -K, and it will not 3 ask anything of the County Commissioners. 4 AI Hartkopf said that this is a prime example of the facilities limiting their ability to 5 respond to the goals for their students. 6 Commissioner Gordon commended the school board on the presentation and the 7 efficiency study. She asked if any of the classrooms for Pre-K affect the SAPFO and 8 Superintendent Rhodes said no, not for at least four years. 9 Commissioner Gordon said that she would like a list of schools and the sites that have 10 some Pre -K classes. 11 Commissioner Gordon said to both school systems, that the Board at one point got a list 12 of all of the schools, how many square feet, and when they were built, etc. She requested this 13 information from both school systems. 14 Chair Jacobs said that he appreciated the acknowledgement that the County is moving 15 this budget process up to everyone's advantage. He said that both school boards and staffs 16 have been responsive to the County's budget drivers. 17 Chair Jacobs said that there has been talk about a bond issue in the future. He said that 18 if the transfer tax is available to the County, then they can discuss using some of that to address 19 the capital needs of the school districts. He made reference to the "mandates" and the utility 20 increases. He said that the CHCCS increases for utilities are triple the projected increases in 21 OCS. He asked for an explanation of this. 22 Steve Scroggs said that CHCCS is opening a new school, so there is an exponential 23 increase in the square footage. Superintendent Pedersen said that CHCCS projected a 7% 24 increase in natural gas and electricity, and a 25% increase in water rates. 25 Ted Triebel made reference to parental concerns and emotional concerns, and said that 26 one of the things that the Central Office did was that their senior staff went to each school and 27 briefed each school improvement team as to the constraints facing the Board of County 28 Commissioners and the OCS. Because of that, OCS only had two public hearings for the 29 budget and very little attendance at each. He said that Cedar Ridge is going to need a new 30 wing and an auxiliary gym. He said that if it were up to him, he would build it now because 31 when it is needed in four years, it will cost a lot more. 32 Commissioner Gordon said that at some point the County Commissioners need to talk 33 with both systems about the CIPs. She wants to underscore the capital needs for both systems 34 for existing schools. She would like to see a concerted program to go through assessments and 35 improvements to all of the older schools. 36 37 3. Discussion of Possible Topics for Collaboration Work Group 38 Chair Jacobs said that Pre -K and capacity was one suggestion for a possible topic, as 39 well as ESL programs. 40 Jamezetta Bedford said that she also had ESL on her list, as well as technology. 41 Lisa Stuckey said that both districts are seeing explosive growth in different cultures and 42 ESL would be a choice topic to discuss. 43 Chair Jacobs suggested discussing lawns and xeriscaping to reduce the amount of 44 water usage, mowing, etc. 45 Al Hartkopf said that it is hard to use xeriscaping for ball fields, but there is some 46 Astroturf out there now. He would like to revisit this. 47 Chair Jacobs said that the Parks and Recreation Board will be bringing up the topic of 48 sharing facilities between the schools and Parks and Recreation. 49 Discussion ensued about Astroturf. 50 Ted Triebel said that the Durham Technical Community College campus is getting ready 51 to open and this may be an area to explore for future use and resources.