Frequently asked questions about Chatham County school construction

Posted Friday, April 20, 2007

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Pittsboro, NC - This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is a working document is updated by the Chatham County schools and is available on their web site. The questions are answered with information available as of April 10, 2007.

General School System Construction Questions

• What is the order of new schools in the long range facility plan?
Currently, the long range facility plan has a middle school in northeastern Chatham County opening in 2009, a high school in northeastern Chatham County opening in 2011, and an elementary school in the Pittsboro area opening in the future.

• Is new school construction the main priority of the long range facility plan?
The priorities in long range facility plan include new construction and maintenance as well as renovation of our existing buildings.

• Are older schools in Chatham County being renovated or improved? Yes, improvements such as window, HVAC, and boiler replacement, parking lot resurfacing, floor covering and painting are in the long range plan on a scheduled rotation.

• How are decisions made about priorities within long range facility plans?
Growth projections, school requests based on districtwide needs, Maintenance Department evaluations, and funding limitations are used to determine priorities.

• What is the role of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners in school construction plans?
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners provides funding for school construction.

• Why are the Chatham County Schools long range facility plan and the Chatham County Board of Commissioners' Capital Projects Expenditure Schedule not aligned?
The original project schedules were aligned. After the Commissioners received a review by a financial consultant, the Commissioners had to restructure their project schedule. The Board of Education adjusted its project timeline to align with the Chatham County Commissioners’ Capital
Projects Expenditure Schedule.

• Is there a difference in planning funds and construction funds?
Chatham County Schools receives funding from the Commissioners for an entire construction project. There is a single funding stream for all phases of the construction. Funding for planning and design phases is needed at least eight months before the project is bid.

• How would a state school bond affect school construction in Chatham County Schools?
The district’s needs are greater than local funding will allow. A state school bond would provide additional needed funds.

• If construction for new schools is delayed, how does this affect the cost of building new schools?
Construction costs continue to rise; therefore, delays increase the total cost of the project.

• New schools are scheduled to be built in northeastern Chatham County. How will redistricting be structured?
Chatham County Schools will redistrict based on affected grade levels as new schools are built.

• Is additional redistricting planned for the Jordan-Matthews district and the Chatham Central district?
No additional redistricting is planned at this time. Decisions will be made based on future growth.

• Has Chatham County Schools considered year-round schools?
The district considered the concept of year-round schools, but did not have widespread community support when it was considered in the early 1990s.

Middle School in Briar Chapel

• When is the middle school in Briar Chapel slated to open?
The middle school in Briar Chapel is slated to open during the 2009-2010 school year.

• When will construction of the middle school in Briar Chapel begin? Slightly
over 32 acres of land was donated by Newland Properties, developer of Briar Chapel. We are currently in the design phase. Construction should begin in the spring of 2008.

• What is the funding source of the middle school in Briar Chapel?
The Commissioners voted to fund the school construction through Certificate of Participation (COP) that will be re-paid through impact fees.

• How will a new middle school impact Perry Harrison School and North Chatham School?
At the present time Chatham County Schools plans for all middle school students (grades 6-8) from Perry Harrison and North Chatham to attend the new middle school. Harrison and North Chatham would service students in PreK through fifth grade.

• Will the new middle school in Briar Chapel affect the student populations at Pittsboro Elementary School, Horton Middle School and Moncure School?
At the present time these schools will not be affected by the new middle school in Briar Chapel.

• Will the Briar Chapel development have input about any aspects of the new middle school?
Because the land was donated within the Briar Chapel development, Newland Properties, Inc. has stipulated that the school building reflect the architectural style of other buildings in the development. Width of sidewalks, distance from the street, and the outside design of the school are aspects of the Newland Properties, Inc. covenants. The interior of the school and its functionality are at the discretion of Chatham County Schools.

High School in Northeastern Chatham County

• What did the March 12, 2007 OR/Ed. Lab study report about the need for high schools in Chatham County?
The study reported the projected rate of high school growth has declined since the last OR/Ed. Lab report in 2005. Northwood High School, as noted in the study, is projected to have approximately 1,400 students by 2017. The Lab previously projected Northwood to have over 1,500 students in 2012. The reasons for the reduced number of Northwood students were fewer approved developments and the slowdown in buildout of existing housing developments. Based on the 2007 report, the need for a new high school is not as eminent.

• How will Chatham County Schools address traffic safety concerns about Jack Bennett Road?
If the site is used for a new high school, the district will contract a traffic engineer. A traffic plan, approved by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the Board of Education, will be developed prior to the opening of the school.

• Is the district going to keep the Jack Bennett Road property and build the high school there?
As of March, 2007, the Board of Education is in the process of obtaining a soil study and wetlands study of the Jack Bennett site. Additionally, the Board has instructed central office staff to search for other possible school sites on the eastern side of Chatham County.

• When is a high school in northeastern Chatham County slated to open?
As of March, 2007, the long range facility plan has a new high school opening in the 2011-2012 school year.

• What is the construction timeline for building a new high school in northeastern Chatham County?
After funding is available, a high school can be built within 3 years (1 year of planning and 2 years of construction).

• If the district does not use the Jack Bennett property, what happens to it?
The Chatham County Board of Education can declare the land as surplus if it does not use the property to build a school. The land would then be turned over to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners could use the land for other purposes or sell it. Funds for the property would be returned to the county impact fee account to be utilized for school construction.

• If a property other than Jack Bennett is chosen for a new high school, how will this affect the current construction timeline?
The timing of acquiring a new location could affect a construction timeline. However, it is also feasible that a new high school could be built on a different site within the current construction timeline.

• What has been done so far in relation to the building of a new high school?
94 acres on Jack Bennett Road were purchased in August of 2001. A soil survey and wetlands survey are in progress.

• What is the funding stream for a new high school?
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has chosen Certificate of Participation (COP) as its funding stream for a new high school. The Board of Commissioners has designated $44 million in its borrowing plan for school construction.

• Will Chatham County taxes be raised to build a new high school?
No, Certificate of Participation (COP) will fund the construction of a new high school.

• Since Northwood is overcrowded, can the middle school in Briar Chapel be built after a new high school is built?
Yes, it could. However, the March, 2007 OR/Ed. Lab study reiterated that the Board of Education should retain its long range facility plan to build a middle school before a high school.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of building on to Northwood High School?
Advantages: 1) Land on the Northwood campus currently exists for expansion with drainage modifications. 2) Athletic facilities already exist. 3) The cost of an addition to Northwood would be less than building a new high school.
Disadvantages: 1) Chatham County Schools maintains a philosophy that high schools of 1,000 students or less are able to better meet the needs of our students. 2) The existing cafeteria and kitchen will not support a large student population. 3) Traffic, which is currently a concern, would become a greater area of concern. 4) Re-routing of stormwater drainage would be necessary. 5) Increasing the size of the wastewater pumping station would be necessary. 6) The length of bus routes from the northeastern corner of Chatham County would continue to be long.