BC 1994 10 06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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227 The Board of Commissioners for the County of Cabarrus met in recessed session in the Multi-Purpose Room at the Governmental Center in Concord, North Carolina on Thursday, October 6, 1994, at 5:30 P.M. Present - Chairman: Jeffrey L. Barnhart Vice-Chairman: Carolyn B. Carpenter Commissioners: Sue B. Casper Arne L. Fennel Kenneth F. Payne Also present were Mr. John V. Witherspoon, County Manager, and Mrs. Frankie F. Bonds, Clerk to the Board. Commissioner Payne was absent for the beginning of the meeting. Chairman Barnhart called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. The Board met in joint session with the following members of the Cabarrus County Board of Education: Chairperson Betty B. Alston and Members Harold Hartsell, Kay Amos, Lewis Williams, Grace Mynatt, Gary Hahn, and Don Hoyle. Staff present for the meeting included Mr. Paul Lentz, Mr. Gene Jordan, Ms. Jessie Blackwelder, Ms. Sally Durant and Ms. Jeanette Trexler. School Financial Information Mr. Gene Jordan, Schools Finance Director, presented growth related data and its impact on the local school system. The 10th day ADM enrollment figure for the 1994/95 school year was 15,066, an increase of 584 students from 1993/94. With an average of four percent (4%) growth throughout the school system, Mr. Jordan stated the system is beyond capacity and virtually all new growth is being housed in mobile units. Currently, 90 mobile classrooms are in use with 115 units projected for the 1995/96 school year. In conclusion, Mr. Jordan reviewed the local current expense budget and classified funding as follows: Schools Direct 75 percent of local budget; Schools Indirect 21 percent of local budget; and System Support - 4 percent of local budget. School Facilities Ms. Grace Mynatt, Schools Facilities Committee Chairperson, reviewed the cost estimates provided by the Department of Public Instruction for the new westside elementary school. The cost of the 92,641 square foot facility (including site development, water and sewer, and building construction) is estimated at $7,509,960 or $81.05 per square foot. Additional costs will include the purchase of land, furnishings and equipment. The current schedule calls for the school to open in the fall of 1996. Ms. Mynatt also reviewed the cost of recent school projects, ranging from $53.35 to $100.79 per square foot, throughout the State of North Carolina. Members of the Board questioned the School Board's selection of Mr. Dennis Yates, a local architect, for the westside elementary school and expressed concern about possible "extravagance" in the project. Ms. Mynatt addressed these concerns, stating that Mr. Yates is very conscious of the cost factors involved with the school building program and that School Board members will work closely with Mr. Yates in the design process for the new school. She further stated that a group of private individuals, including retired construction personnel and others knowledgeable of the building industry, will be asked to "value engineer" the plans for the facility and make recommendations regarding the project. Also, Ms. Mynatt pointed out that the payment to Mr. Yates is to be a flat fee; however, negotiations with Mr. Yates have not been finalized pending contract and rate approval. Commissioner Payne arrived at 6:10 P.M. and was present for the remainder of the meeting. Members of both Boards generally agreed that a good basic design is needed in order to provide a safe, quality school at the best possible price. School Board members will proceed with the design of the westside facility and work to meet, or possibly expedite, the time table for opening the new school in the fall of 1996.