TITLE: Title
Review and Acceptance of the 2019 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 2019 report for review. The Board of Commissioners has requested comments from partner local governments by April 22nd. A resolution that accepts the report has been attached. The Board may choose to attach comments if desired.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Patricia McGuire - 919-918-7327; pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org <mailto:pmcguire@townofcarrboro.org>
INFORMATION: The letter from Chair Penny Rich, of the Board of County Commissioners requesting Board of Aldermen review of the 2019 Draft Annual Report on the Schools Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (SAPFO) Technical Advisory Committee was received on March 25th. The transmittal included an executive summary of the report and copy of the BOCC’s agenda abstract from March 19th (Attachment B). The full report is attached (Attachment C) and may also be found on Orange County’s Planning Department website at the following link: <https://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/1722/Current-Interest-Projects>. Annual reporting requirements of the SAPFO are spelled out in Section 1D of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The annual 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. 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 not show a need for new additional capacity at the elementary, middle, or high school levels within the 10-year planning period. Work to renovate and expand existing CHCCS facilities continue. Within the district, the total number of students increased by 54 students as a result of 51 fewer elementary students, 100 more middle school students and 5 more high school students. The total school population in the 2018-19 school year is 12,336. Level of Service for the three school levels is summarized below:
Elementary. The student population does not exceed 105 percent LOS standard (current LOS is 96.6 percent). Projections do not show the need for an additional Chapel Hill/Carrboro Elementary School in the 10 year projection period.
Middle School. The student population does not currently exceed 107 percent LOS standard (current LOS is 99.6 percent). Projections do not show the need for an additional Chapel Hill/Carrboro Middle School in the 10-year projection period.
High School. The student population does not currently exceed the 110 percent LOS standard (current LOS is 101.5 percent). Renovations underway at Chapel Hill High School will result in an increase in capacity of 105 seats for the 2020-2021 school year. The need for additional capacity at the high school level is not anticipated in the 10-year projection period.
Student Projection Analysis. Projected average annual growth rates at the elementary and middle school levels have decreased slightly, but remain positive. Future growth rates show decreasing rates of growth at the elementary, middle school and high school levels.
Other Considerations. 2017 legislation established new student class sizes for kindergarten to third grade. House Bill 90 includes a staggered implementation of the reduction, to be completed by 2021-2022, as follows:
|
School Year |
Ratio of classrooms to # of students |
|
2019-2020 |
1:19 |
|
2020 - 2021 |
1:18 |
|
2021-2022 |
1:17 |
These changes in classroom size are projected to result in capacity issues for the 2021-2022 school year. The Schools Joint Action Committee is meeting to consider options and incorporation of the changes into the student membership and building capacity projections. This year’s draft report notes the increase in multi-family residential projects in the district, especially in the Town of Chapel Hill. Proposed growth is not included in the SAPFO projection process until actual student enrollment occurs and certificates of adequate public facilities are required during the review process for new developments. Staff continue to monitor the growth and associated demand in relation to student membership rates. The report also includes information regarding charter schools and other alternative schooling arrangements as the schools are monitored in relation to effects on student enrollment in both districts. For funding purposes, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides pupil information from such schools to Orange County. Information on charter schools related to Orange County Schools is provided on page 33 of the report.
The Adequate Public School Facilities provisions, Land Use Ordinance subsections 15-88 through 15-88.7, and the associated memorandum of understanding is provided as information (Attachment D). A memo providing the status of CAPS for approved residential developments is included as Attachment E.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: None noted with the review and acceptance of this report.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board of Aldermen adopt the attached resolution that accepts the report. The Board may choose to attach comments if desired.