BC 1991 12 09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

396 Mr. Bob Suddreth - Vice-President of Wachovia Bank Mr. James Hoffman - General Manager of Public Service Company Those present for the meeting were divided into five groups for discussion of the following items: (1) Schools Building Needs; (2) Options to Address Needs; (3) Fiscal Considerations; and (4) Action Agenda. The moderators for each group were as follows: Group A - Mr. Thomas Dayvault; Group B - Mr. Don Hoyle; Group C - Dr. Ralph Johnston; Group D - Mr. Thomas Ramseur; and Group E - Commissioner Bill Simmons. The meeting was reconvened after one hour and reports were preS"ented from each of the discussion groups. Commissioner Hamby arrived and was present for the remainder of the meeting. Mr. Thomas Dayvault reported that Group A had identified the major needs as relief from overcrowding in the County schools and maintenance work in the Kannapolis City Schools. Options to address these needs included the use of shifts for students, establishment of year-round schools on the quarter system, use 9f optional facilities such as storefronts and churches, development of business partnerships, realignment of school boundaries, and the establishment of magnet schools. Fiscal considerations included a State lottery, issuance of bonds with concentration on classroom needs, use of value engineering or good constrUction management, funding on a pay-as-you-go basis, and the establishment of business partnerships. The action agenda recommended by Group A included additional study of optional concepts, the establishment of an independent board of citizens to consider schools needs, and the possible employment of a pollster. Mrs. Grace Mynatt reported that Group B had identified classroom space as the top priority with other needs including the overcrowded conditions in the County elementary schools, air conditioning at A. L. Brown, maintenance and other on-going costs, and concentration on academics. Options to address these needs included the development of year-round schools, the sharing of space with various departments such as the construction of school facilities in conjunction with major parks, the re-invention of the community around the school, the development of business partnerships, the allowance of sufficient time to explore all options to properly promote the program, analysis of the architectural plans to eliminate unnecessary expense, the cloning of architectural plans, and an explanation to the public as to why the past bond issue was not sufficient. Fiscal considerations included the involvement of both the business and private sector; the construction of athletic fields, libraries and parks so each can do double duty; the clustering of schools in a campus type situation to save on transportation costs; the careful presentation of the program to the public; the sharing of ideas and plans with other counties; and the development of cost- saving incentives for the architects and contractors. For the action agenda, Group B recommended additional meetings of this type, the formation of a task force, and allotment of additional time to carefully analyze the program prior to presenting it to the public. Mr. James Hoffman of Group C identified, the building needs for the County Schools at $41 million and renovations and new additions at Kannapolls City Schools at $8 to $9 million for the next three to five years. Options included maintaining an average classroom size of 25 and thereby requiring only 39 additional rooms, the duplication or cloning of architectural plans, reassignment of students, development of year round schools, refurbishment of all structurally sound buildings, and the renting or leasing of existing space. Fiscal considerations included the involvement of businesses as well as a bond package to meet the "bare bones" needs for the next two years. Group C also recommended the repeat of this type of meeting as the action agenda. Mr. Thomas Ramseur of Group D identified the needs as the use of current facilities, the sharing of facilities with other government agencies, the installation of air conditioning and window replacement at A. L. Brown, the improvement of facilities to handle curriculum needs, and the issue of expanding band rooms versus limiting band enrollment. Options to address these needs included monetary or land contributions from developers, the cloning of architectural plans, establishment of alternate schools, and the possible sale of the real estate on which the County Schools Administrative Office facility is currently located. Fiscal considerations included the proper timing and sizing of a bond package, the possibility that additional money will be available from the County when the debt for current projects is retired, and the coinciding of the bond issue with Rowan County in order to generate more support in both counties. Commissioner Bill Simmons, spokesman for Group E, identified the needs as adding new classrooms prior to replacing existing buildings, keeping promises from last bond issue by completing the existing building program, and maintaining