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2004-09-07 Special Meeting NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 30 SPECIAL MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 7, 2004PAGE 124 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners held a joint meeting with the New Hanover County Board of Education on Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room 501 of the County Administration Building, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William A. Caster; Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager, Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Deputy Clerk to the Board, Teresa P. Elmore. Board of Education members present were: Chairman Steve Bilzi; Vice-Chairman Jeannette Nichols; Janice A. Cavenaugh; Donald Hayes; Edward B. Higgins, Jr.; and Superintendent John Morris, Jr. Chairman Greer and Chairman Bilzi called their respective boards to order. Chairman Greer expressed appreciation to the members of the Board of Education for meeting with the Commissioners to discuss the funding request for Anderson and Ogden Elementary Schools. Chairman Bilzi reported that the feasibility study for Ogden Elementary School showed that $5 million was needed for renovation; however, the School Board requested $3 million from the County to pay only for work scheduled for the first year of the renovation in order to make the funding request more reasonable. Mr. Eddie Anderson, Director of Facility Planning and Construction, reported that based on the number of housing units approved by the Planning Department in 2004, the Schools were expecting a shift in the highest growth area from the northeastern part of the County to the section south of Monkey Junction. Murrayville School, currently under construction, will handle the high growth area in the northeastern part of the county. Anderson Elementary School is needed to meet the expected growth in the southern area. Superintendent Morris reported that the Schools anticipated the student population to grow by 365 students, but the new school year started with 944 additional students. It was believed that the increase was mostly from families moving into the area to work at Verizon. The School Board is considering implementing multi-track year-round schools to address the tremendous growth in the number of students in the area. A multi-track year-round school would increase a school’s capacity by 20-25%. Murrayville and Anderson Schools will be built to accommodate a multi-track system. It is hoped that parents will accept the plan after it is pointed out that more students will be able to attend a school without having to move some out of their district. Furthermore, extra space currently being used as regular classrooms in some schools will be available for other school programs such as computer labs. Mr. Anderson presented a conceptual plan for Ogden School saying that a full renovation would cost approximately the same as building a new school on the site. Although there would be demolition cost for removing the old buildings, some savings would result in using existing utilities on the site. He estimated the construction cost, furniture, and equipment for a new school to be $11.7 million, but a new school would handle more students and better serve the students with separate classrooms for art and music. It would also provide a resource center, media center, and a multi-purpose room. The plan includes a better traffic pattern through the property to handle bus and vehicle traffic. He proposed two multi-story buildings to maximize the use of the small 10 acre property. The front building would house the administrative office, kitchen and dining area, media center, and a multi-purpose area that would serve as the staging area for bus students. Based on restrictions imposed on second-story buildings, K-2 classrooms would be located on the first floor and grades 3-5 classrooms on the second floor of both buildings. A full-size soccer field is planned for the school site. Mr. Anderson projected the cost of the school to be approximately $3 million more than the Murrayville School because of higher costs of steel, concrete, and petroleum based products. The cost estimates provided by the contractors and material suppliers were based on the projects starting in February. Chairman Bilzi said that the School Board has looked for large properties and vacant buildings that could be purchased or leased for schools. The vacant Chesterbrook School does not have standard classrooms or a kitchen area and the site is not large enough to handle bus traffic. He estimated that it would cost millions of dollars to upgrade the property. Superintendent Morris said the State has notified him that no waivers will be given for K-3 class sizes as in past years. He has worked with his management staff to come up with ideas on how to handle additional students. He noted other factors causing overcrowding in the schools, such as regular classrooms being used for special education classes of 6 to 12 students. The number of students with autism has increased from 14 to 166 and the severity of the disabilities has increased. Furthermore, in 2005 schools will have to provide mental health services because of changes in State law. Chairman Greer commented that there is no doubt more schools are needed and children deserve a good education, but high construction costs as well as state and federal mandated programs make it difficult to provide adequate facilities. Unfortunately, an $11 million school will end up costing $24 million when paid by school bonds. He supported the decision to build Anderson School and believed that Ogden School should be rebuilt, but he was unsure whether to obligate County taxpayers to pay for the financing of the projects without voter approval. Discussion was held on moving students from Ogden School to Murrayville School while renovations were done. Construction would take two years and the Ogden students will need to stay at Murrayville School during that time. Commissioner Pritchett expressed concern that repairs and renovations were needed at Winter Park, Snipes, and other schools and asked how they can be done if the Schools do not have a fund balance. She asked whether a bond NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 30 SPECIAL MEETING WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 7, 2004PAGE 125 referendum was planned and she requested a copy of the Schools’ long-range plan. Superintendent Morris spoke of recent major renovations that were completed at Pine Valley and Snipes Schools. He explained that the Schools’ long range plan of $500 million of renovation and construction projects was presented to the Commissioners in 1997 in support of the Schools’ request for a $124 million bond referendum. Although the bond money was spent wisely, other significant repairs and renovations will need to be funded by another bond referendum. Chairman Bilzi agreed saying that bond referendums should be scheduled every three years or so to provide funding for a steady growth of buildings and renovations. Although they have discussed plans for redistricting, the School Board may take another year to look at multi-track year-round schools because of the high enrollment problem. He said that Anderson School needs to be built as soon as possible and they may delay opening Murrayville School while other options are being considered. If they have to implement a new redistricting plan before these schools are built, some children will have to be shifted around to three different schools while in elementary grades. Discussion followed on whether to fund the two projects with fund balance or borrow money with COPS financing. It was pointed out that borrowing $3 million would add almost a penny to the tax rate in two years and borrowing $6 million would add more than one cent. Superintendent Morris requested a response from the County on funding of the projects as soon as possible. Money has been allocated for the design phase of Anderson School, but the Schools need to know what funding they have before proceeding any further. Bids need to be received in November and December in order to start the projects in January. Commissioner Davis stated that he wanted to help the Schools, but he had to consider the impact on the County and how the funding will be arranged. Commissioner Caster agreed saying that he needed to know what financing options were available before making a funding decision for the projects. In discussion of whether a bond referendum was a funding option, County Manager O’Neal responded that the earliest voters could consider the bond issue would be May. He explained that the current value of a penny of the tax rate is $1,750,000 and he gave estimates of tax increases to finance the projects. Mr. Anderson said that the construction at Ogden could be shifted around and existing facilities used until such time as they are replaced, and he suggested using mobile units when necessary. He recommended that an architect be hired to design the school and to develop a detailed scope of work for the project. Chairman Bilzi agreed that more time is needed to develop a more comprehensive plan for Ogden School and the bond referendum. Superintendent Morris requested the Commissioners to approve funding for Anderson School and give some direction for Ogden School at tonight’s meeting. If financing can be handled over a couple of years and redistricting is delayed for another year, the School Board would rather build a new school at Ogden. He said the School Board would appreciate any help and would do the best they can with the funding they receive from the County. Chairman Greer stated that the Commissioners will continue discussion at tonight’s Regular Board Meeting to consider funding support for Anderson School, but suggested that the School Board decide on a specific plan for Ogden School before asking the Commissioners for approval. ADJOURNMENT Chairman Greer and Chairman Bilzi adjourned their respective boards at 4:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Teresa P. Elmore Deputy Clerk to the Board