TITLE: Title
Review of the 2014 Annual Report on the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) from the Technical Advisory Committee
PURPOSE: The Orange County Board of County Commissioners has referred the 2014 report for review and comments. The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to certify the report in May and has requested comments from signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding by April 21, 2014. A resolution that provides an opportunity for the Board of Aldermen to specify comments has been prepared.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
INFORMATION: The transmittal letter and executive summary of the 2014 Draft Annual Report on the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) Technical Advisory Committee are included as attachments. The full report may found at the County's Planning Department website through the following link: <http://www.co.orange.nc.us/planning/SpecialProjects.asp>. Annual reporting requirements of the SAPFO are spelled out in Section 1D of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The SAPFOTAC, which includes Planning Directors and representatives of the County's two school systems, prepares the report each year. The report addresses five areas for each of the two school systems, Level of Service, Building Capacity and Membership, Membership Date, Capital Improvement Planning, Student Membership Projection methodology, and Student Membership Projections. An executive summary provides an overview of the expected performance within each area. Excerpts from the report related to the Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools are included below.
Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Summary Information
The CHCCS school district does not exceed the adopted levels of service established in the
SAPFO. Projections do show potential needs at the elementary, middle, and high school
levels within the 10-year planning period.
Enrollment. Within the district, the total number of students increased by 52 as a result of 11 additional elementary students, 73 additional middle school students and 32 fewer high school students.
Level of Service for the three school levels is summarized below:
Elementary
A. Does not exceed 105% LOS standard (current LOS is 95.3%).
B. Capacity has increased by 585 students due to the opening of Northside Elementary
School. Projections show that Chapel Hill/Carrboro Elementary School #12 will be
needed in 2020-21. This is one year earlier than last year's projections.
C. The projected growth rate at this level is expected to decrease over the next 10 years but
remain positive (average ~1.4% per year compared to 2.0% over the past 10 years).
Middle School
A. Does not currently exceed 107% LOS standard (current LOS is 100.6%).
B. The projected growth rate at this level is expected to increase at a greater rate over the
next 10 years than it has in the previous 10 years (average ~1.6% compared to an average
of 0.67% over the past 10 years).
C. The planned addition to Culbreth Middle School for the 2014-15 school year is proposed
to increase capacity with the addition of 104 seats. As a result, projections show that
Chapel Hill/Carrboro Middle School #5 is projected to be needed in 2020-21. This is
three years later than last year's projections
High School
A. Does not currently exceed the 110% LOS standard (current LOS is 97.1%).
B. The projected growth rate at this level is expected to decrease, but remain positive over
the next 10 years (average ~1.3% compared to 1.86% over the past 10 years).
C. Expansion of Carrboro High School from the initial capacity of 800 students to the
ultimate capacity of 1,200 students is projected to be needed in 2023-24.This is three
years later than last year's projections which showed a need in 2020-21.
Student Projection Analysis. Membership is projected to increase for all levels in the school system (see pages 37-38 of the report).
Other Considerations.
Since student Generation Rates were updated in 2010, both school systems have reported that the actual number of students from new developments has exceeded the projections. It is not yet known whether this is a short- or longer term trend. The SAPFOTAC has discussed these increases and recommended further evaluation, including consideration of the rates for different types of housing. Orange County has determined that it will work with Tischler-Bise to study membership rates from new housing.
The Adequate Public School Facilities provisions, LUO subsections 15-88 through 15-88.7, and the associated memorandum of understanding is provided as information. A summary chart showing the status of CAPS for approved residential developments has been prepared and is also provided as information.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: None noted with the review of this report.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board of Aldermen review the draft report and specify comments in the attached resolution for transmittal to Orange County.