Board of Education meeting 12 March 2007
Very full meeting but disappointing as to attendance. I certainly thought the agenda would have filled the room with interested parents but there were less than a dozen. If discussing how and where we need to build schools, potential redistricting issues and how taxpayers’ money is to be spent has little interest, what would motivate folks to come see the workings of their Board of Educaton?
The public hearing for the proposed budget had only one speaker and her concern was a welcome one. She is a teacher and pointed out a program being administered locally which, in turn, should be kept local. The proposed budget had a $50,000 staff proposal to hire an outside team which her school was running for much less.
The next major item was the report from the Operational Research Lab at North Carolina State University outlining when and where approved, planned and conceptual new housing developments dictated optimal school sites. Interesting that the immediate need is for a new middle school optimally sited adjacent to the Briar Chapel development. Those statistics also moved the optimum high school site further south from the 2004 recommended site some 1.2 miles still along highway 15 and 501. It could be expected to move even further south as some of the conceptual developments come on line along with the actual build out schedules. The Pittsboro Extra Territorial Jurisdiction is showing a substantially greater population increase than are the other eastern and northeastern areas.
I wll ask for the power point charts and bases be posted on the schools’ web site so everyone can see what the real school needs are today. Any immediate consideration of a new high school on Jack Bennett Road does not appear warranted at this time because of the population shifts proven in the new report.
Considering this shift in population and school capacities, a dialog was held with the schools’ Construction Manager about what to do with the burgeoning growth at Northwood High School and potential growth at Horton Middle School. Several scenarios were discussed such as building a second floor on what is already there and certain new free-standing facilities. At the next meeting (26 March), we will look at some cost estimates for a single story, free-standing new addition with a new media center and a new cafeteria as well as classroom space. Part of any work at Northwood will contain access/egress improvements. An auxiliary gym pricing will also be discussed. These needs do not change the funding stream and will require some funding reprogamming and prioritizing however.
There was a lengthy discussion about revising the transfer policy. The Superintendent will draft a proposed policy in accord with our discussion and will present it on 26 March.