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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay_7_2013_Joint_Meeting_MinutesIREDELL COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MINUTES MAY 7, 2013 5:00 PM JOINT MEETING WITH THE IREDELL-STATESVILLE SCHOOL SYSTEM THE MOORESVILLE GRADED SCHOOL SYSTEM MITCHELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE The Iredell County Board of Commissioners met with representatives from the Iredell- Statesville School System, the Mooresville Graded School System, and Mitchell Community College on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at 5:00 PM, in the Iredell County Government Center (South Wing Conference Room), 200 South Center Street, Statesville, NC. Board Members Present Chairman Steve Johnson Vice Chairman Marvin Norman David Boone Renee Griffith Absent: Ken Robertson Attending the meeting and representing the Iredell-Statesville Schools were the following: Board of Education Chairman Dr. David Cash, Board Members: Anna Bonham, Charles Kelly, John Rogers, Chuck Gallyon and Bryan Shoemaker, along with Superintendent Brady Johnson, and Assistant Supt. for Facilities and Planning Dr. Kenny Miller. (Numerous other staff members also attended.) Attending the meeting and representing the Mooresville Graded School District were the following: Board of Education Vice Chairman Larry Wilson along with Superintendent Dr. Mark Edwards, and Director of Operations Todd Black. (Numerous other staff members also attended.) Attending the meeting and representing Mitchell Community College were the following: Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Ralph Bentley and President Dr. Tim Brewer. Also attending: Lauren Odomirok with the Mooresville Weekly, Jim McNally and Preston Spencer with the Statesville Record and Landmark and Joe Marusak with the Charlotte Observer. Chairman Johnson called the meeting to order. MITCHELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE Dr. Tim Brewer mentioned school facility needs as follows: 1. Allied Health Building: There is a need for a 40,000 sq. ft. building at an estimated cost of $12 million or $300 per square foot. Should there be a bond referendum, the college officials would like for this project to be included. 2. Facility Upgrade for Advanced Manufacturing: College staff members are trying to upgrade/expand facilities to meet the needs of manufacturers. 3. Agriculture Facility Development: College staff is developing agricultural programs. 4. Solution to Alleviate the Landlocked Situation at Both Campuses: Land purchases would aid in this effort. 5. Public Training Facility Development: Space is needed for a firing/driving range to assist the EMS/Fire/Law Enforcement programs. Brewer said the college was willing to partner with the public school systems on programs. Chairman Johnson mentioned that $300 per square foot was expensive for the Allied Health Building. Dr. Bentley said the $300 would be for a turnkey job. He said the lab fixtures were included. Additionally, he said the college might start an x-ray technician program which would necessitate the purchase of expensive equipment. SCHOOL FACILITIES TASK FORCE STUDY IZ9111I4[7Z91U,YiJR;M4:bins d ED] k, Dr. Cash, the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education Chairman, said the school facility task force had looked at the facilities for Mooresville Graded and Iredell-Statesville. He said the task force had provided recommendations, and these had been used to project the needs for the next ten years. Larry Wilson, the Mooresville Graded School District Board of Education Vice Chairman, said it was understood there was a "finite" amount of money available. Iredell-Statesville School System's Assistant Supt. for Facilities and Planning, Dr. Kenny Miller, and Mooresville Graded School System's Director of Operations, Todd Black, presented a PowerPoint presentation that detailed the task force's recommendations. A copy of most of the presentation is as follows: Facilities Task Force 2012-2013 Task Force Members Iredell-Statesville Schools' Representatives: Dr. David Cash and Keith Williams Iredell Statesville Schools' Appointees: Steve Estes (northern zone), Paula Wingler (western zone), Skip McCall (eastern/Statesville zone), and Vickie Sawyer (southern zone) Mooresville Graded School District Appointees: Greg Whitfield and Leon Pridgeon Iredell County Representatives: Steve Johnson and Marvin Norman Iredell County Commission Appointees: Barbara Thorson, Jeff Tucker, Scott Clontz, and Connie Evans Task Force Overview 14 member task force Representation from all areas of county Diverse cross section of population Broad knowledge base with multiple perspectives Five three -to -four hour work sessions Meetings at the Career Academy in Troutman Organization Six Geographic Districts District I — North Iredell District II — West Iredell District III — East Iredell/Statesville District 1V — Troutman District V — Southern Iredell/Lake Norman District VI — Mooresville Graded School District Current Conditions — 1 -SS 4,007,649 square feet; 1,200 acres; 21,318 students (current actual); 41 sites (including Central Services and Ebenezer); 1926 to 2011 age range of facilities; 55% to 75% reduction in capital funding over the last five years Current Conditions — Mooresville Graded School District 946,867 square feet; 277 acres; 5,766 students (current actual); 12 sites (including Central Services); 1948 to 2009 age range of facilities Data Collection Staff/Parent/Student input through school leadership teams and task force members; extensive facility audit by maintenance staff including recommendations by outside professionals; program information from administrative staff, 10 year growth projections (local and state); current capacity calculations based on current class size recommendations and optimum use 2 Processing Data Individual review of data prior to meeting to expedite the process; reviewed and prioritized all needs across all districts and grouped into larger projects (general consensus); established timelines and placed projects in one of three phases; rough estimate of cost for projects based on current market factors; balance phases by priorities and cost (identify projects which may be funded from current revenue) Issues/Challenges Deferred Maintenance Currently, the insurance coverage for existing school facilities in I -SS exceeds $626,074,736 and $163,146,409 in MGSD. The industry standard for maintaining facilities in optimum condition for safety and efficiency is conservatively two percent of the value annually. This would be a maintenance investment annually of $12,500,000 for I -SS and $3,262,928 for MGSD to maintain at the current level. The commissioners have improved facilities in the schools significantly over the last decade. These improvements were to address overcrowding, aging buildings, and accelerated growth. Unfortunately, we have averaged seventy percent of the recommended investment in maintenance for new and existing buildings. This means that a backlog of needed maintenance exists and is growing. Mooresville High School's Area of Greatest Need Auditorium: Long-term intrusion of water and deficient design; on exterior there is displacement of mortar bed joints or chinking along with deficient roof system, and in the interior, the walls have vertical cracks as well as cracks between exterior/interior walls. Gymnasium: Gym was built for 800 students. Current enrollment is over 1,600 students. Cracks have occurred on gym walls. Common design was to be continuous over the center support and grouting the joints at the ends/center to establish continuity (a solid run). Joints were not grouted which promotes more floor movement. The calculated live load deflections exceed the serviceability limits at 7 & 1/2 inches. Recommended limit is 1 & 1/2 inches. The floor design only allows for a maximum live load of 86 PSF (pounds per square foot). Today's live load requirement is 100 PSF. The conditions observed at the Mooresville High School gym and auditorium do not indicate an immediate life safety concern, but the buildings are in need of extensive remediation in order to extend their functional life. Iredell-Statesville Schools Deteriorated canopies, deteriorating retaining walls, curbing breaking up, aging pavement needs to be replaced at numerous sites, concrete replacement is needed at multiple sites, many bathrooms need refurbishing, old bathroom fixtures and dividers need to be replaced, outdated electrical service (equipment needs to be replaced at multiple sites), aging mechanical equipment needs upgrades, ceiling/lighting/insulation upgrades are needed across the system, and additional modular units are needed due to overcrowding. Mt. Mourne IB Middle School is located on an elementary campus with its media center in an old gym. Mt. Mourne IB Middle School has narrow, dark hallways. Many older buildings have old ceilings/roofs and lighting. New Program Facility Needs Current Choice Programs CCTL Early College VPAC Early College VPAC Magnet CATS Center Cloverleaf Elementary Science/Math Magnet Pressly Alternative Monticello Alternative Mulberry South Alternative Mt. Mourne IB Middle Northview IB Middle South Iredell High IB East Iredell Elementary Dual Immersion Statesville Middle Leader in ME Third Creek Elementary Leader in ME NF Woods Arts and Technology Center (MGSD) My-Waye Alternative Program (MGSD) 3 The following programs need new locations due to substandard or inadequate facilities: Monticello Alternative, Pressly Alternative, Northview IB Middle, Mt. Mourne IB Middle, and My- Waye Alternative Program (MGSD) These programs need additions or renovations to meet program requirements: CATS -Specialized programs/equipment/space VPAC — Specialized programs/equipment/space N.F. Woods Arts & Technology — Specialized Programs/Equipment (MGSD) My -Wage Alternative Program (MGSD) Pre K / K testing and intake center for E.C. Department Monticello Alternative is currently in an old elementary school — second floor of cafeteria building is not usable and has outdated walkways between buildings (Florida -style design). Northview IB Middle is currently in a modified elementary school building. The facility has an old cafeteria/kitchen that is undersized and inadequate... had to expand dining into an old multipurpose area. Site has deteriorating pavement. Site is inadequate for middle grades students. Safety and Security Initiatives Life safety equipment in place at all sites Continue environmental abatement Need access control at all entry points to a school campus Security monitoring and archiving at all sites Integrated communication services Cool Spring Elementary has old classrooms in a Florida -style building. (Several sites have stand alone buildings which isolates the classrooms from the main building.) Access control and security monitoring is difficult due to the open campus. Limited Monitoring Monitoring of open campuses is limited. Multiple entrances are difficult to supervise. Cameras and access control would greatly assist. Overcrowding / New Schools Current or Imminent Overcrowding: North Iredell Middle Cloverleaf Elementary Statesville High South Iredell High IB Lake Norman High Woodland Heights Elementary Mt. Mourne IB Middle Northview IB Middle New school needs due to program growth and moving programs: • New middle school at Woodland Heights (I to 3 years) • New middle school at Third Creek (1 to 3 years) • Minor renovations of Brawley for Mt. Mourne 1B • Renovation of Statesville Middle for Northview IB Growth 1 -SS 21,318 students 2,222 students in 3 charter schools 946 students in 11 private schools 1,007 students home schooled State has removed cap on charter schools Slow growth over next 2 years but accelerating to moderate growth by 2015 The potential exists for explosive growth to return depending on the economic climate 4 Growth MGSD 5,776 students in MGSD 177 students in 3 charter schools State has removed cap on charter schools Moderate growth over next 2 years accelerating to high growth by 2015 The potential exists for explosive growth to return depending on the economic climate Summary of Facts •A large backlog of deferred maintenance exists across the county. This can only be addressed with a capital investment. -New programs, to provide choice and reach all students, are important to our community. These will require a capital investment. -Safety and security throughout our schools must be a high priority in today's world. Life safety, electronic security and surveillance, environmental improvements, etc., will require a capital investment. -Overcrowding exists in some schools and needs to be addressed beyond modular units. This will require additions or new schools. -Growth will be slow and accelerate to medium in the next few years, but it should be monitored closely as the economy improves. (The potential for explosive growth still exists.) -Our new technological world demands that we invest wisely in 21" Century technology to prepare our students for a Global Economy. -Time will only increase these needs. The purpose of the Facility Master Plan is to begin the process of addressing some or all of these needs as soon as funding is available. 5 Non Public Schools Type/County Charter ADM Private ADM Home/ADM Total Non Public ADM Davie 0 0 1 104 245 349 Rowan 0 0 10 949 809 1758 Alexander 0 0 1 1 295 296 Catawba 0 0 13 1335 718 2053 Lincoln 1 1391 0 0 419 1810 Wilkes 1 150 0 0 465 615 Cabarrus 1 539 9 1734 1049 3332 Yadkin 0 0 0 0 195 195 Iredell 3 2222 13 1007 946 4175 Summary of Facts •A large backlog of deferred maintenance exists across the county. This can only be addressed with a capital investment. -New programs, to provide choice and reach all students, are important to our community. These will require a capital investment. -Safety and security throughout our schools must be a high priority in today's world. Life safety, electronic security and surveillance, environmental improvements, etc., will require a capital investment. -Overcrowding exists in some schools and needs to be addressed beyond modular units. This will require additions or new schools. -Growth will be slow and accelerate to medium in the next few years, but it should be monitored closely as the economy improves. (The potential for explosive growth still exists.) -Our new technological world demands that we invest wisely in 21" Century technology to prepare our students for a Global Economy. -Time will only increase these needs. The purpose of the Facility Master Plan is to begin the process of addressing some or all of these needs as soon as funding is available. 5 0 covering All Districts- Iredell County Rough Estimate of Costs (Note: Estimates include MGSD & I -SS — actual costs may vary due to many currently unknown factors) Phase IV - $86,450,000 (3 year cycle) Phase V - $90,200,000 (4 year cycle) Phase VI - $82,595,000 (3 year cycle) END OF SCHOOL FACILITIES TASK FORCE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Dr. Miller said there had been several facility task forces with the last one dating back to 2002. He said all of projects had been completed, with the exception of Cool Springs in Phase III. Miller said Cool Springs should be the first priority when funding was available. He cautioned the commissioners about having "sticker shock" in regards to the costs for Phases IV, V, and VI. Miller said the economic climate right now was advantageous for construction, but the costs in five years were unknown. Dr. Miller said the task force study was a "living" document that provided a facility needs road map. Commissioner Boone referred to a table included in the study pertaining to the maximum capacity. He said, "In the right hand column we have the optimum capacity which system wide was 25,000 with there being a little over 21,000 students. It appears that system wide, we have a fair amount of excess capacity. I realize that some individual campuses are at capacity." Dr. Miller said some sites had overcrowding. He said redistricting was an option, but if this were implemented, other problems could occur. Dr. Edwards said the State predicted seven percent growth for the Mooresville schools. Black said it was anticipated that Mooresville would have over 6,000 students next year. He said that in the Mooresville area, there was a housing shortage, and people had to wait to purchase homes. Black said, too, that land was expensive in Mooresville, but an acquisition would have to be considered due to the future need for a new school site. Vice Chairman Norman asked if the school boards had approved the study's recommendations. Dr. Miller said Iredell-Statesville reviewed the plan last summer and voted to support the recommendations. Dr. Edwards said the study had been presented to his board. He said Mooresville High School was the most critical site in his district. Commissioner Griffith asked how many students were in the Iredell-Statesville alternative programs. Supt. Johnson said about 90 students per school, but the number fluctuated. Griffith asked if the programs (Pressly and Monticello) could be combined. Supt. Johnson said this had been discussed, but the board of education preferred not to combine them. He said the buildings were not designed to serve that many students. Johnson said Monticello focused on students with behavior issues and who had made bad choices while Pressly was geared to individuals with mental health problems. Griffith asked the square footage at Monticello. Miller said approximately 30,000 sq. ft. or less. Griffith mentioned that Monticello had only 79 students. Supt. Johnson said that not all of the space was usable and part of it had been condemned. 9 Miller said approximately 10 classrooms were used. Griffith asked about Pressly's space. Miller said it was 18,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. Griffith asked how many school facilities were empty. Miller said only Ebenezer, but it had been leased to the sheriffs department. Dr. Miller said Northview IB and Mt. Mourne IB were situated at former elementary schools, and this had created problems. Griffith asked how much was being paid to the YMCA for the Northview IB students. Iredell-Statesville Finance Officer Melissa Wike said $5,000 to $6,000 a year, but this didn't include transportation. Griffith asked how much a new gym would cost. Miller said a pre-engineered gym would cost a million dollars. Chairman Johnson said the enrollment numbers were substantially low. Miller said the projects were based upon State figures; however, there were intentional efforts to be conservative. Miller said growth could occur at anytime. Chairman Johnson mentioned concerns about spending money now, and then later, having to confront increased residential development. He asked where the county would go for money at that time. Johnson said debt always limited future options. Supt. Johnson said the school systems had presented the needs, and the county commissioners had the job of figuring out the revenue. He said a primary concern of Iredell-Statesville was being unprepared for growth. Supt. Johnson said growth was anticipated, especially Troutman south, with the exception of Coddle Creek. He said at the current time, many students had to stand up to eat lunch due to the shortage of seats and space in the cafeterias. He said another issue of concern was deferred maintenance. Vice Chairman Norman asked how much money was needed for the Mooresville facilities. Dr. Edwards said the renovation/reconstruction estimate at Mooresville High School would be $40 million. He said the first phase would be $20 million, and the money would be directed towards safety issues. Commissioner Boone said, "In the real world, one has to pay for needs. We've heard a lot about relative rankings from the State current expense spending, and some of that is because certain counties get small district and low wealth funding that we don't. We're talking about capital needs now, and according to the Department of Public Instruction, the same one that ranked Mooresville so high, that the five-year average of capital expenditures had I -SS ranked 66`h, which was about in the middle, but in bonded debt, per capita, and that's for all of the buildings we've built in the past, the debt service for Iredell County is about the 10°i highest in the State, per capita. I did a little bit of calculating, and if we passed a bond to fund the next phase at $86 million, the debt service would be over $7 million a year. As best as I can calculate it, if that were passed, Iredell County would be the Yd highest county in the State in per capita debt service, assuming no other county passed a similar bond in the next year. If we passed a bond for the whole $259 million, which I don't anticipate you would ask at one time, but if we did, Iredell County would be the highest county in North Carolina in per capita debt service. That's some of the reality that commissioners have to look at." Commissioner Boone said Mooresville was one of two school districts in the State where there was taxing authority. He asked, assuming the county did not provide the funding, if Mooresville would consider raising the supplemental tax. 10 Mooresville Board of Education Vice Chairman Wilson asked if Commissioner Boone was referring to raising the tax to pay the $40 million. Wilson said, " I don't think we could raise the tax enough to pay the $40 million." Boone said the school system was asking the county to pay the money. Wilson said Mooresville was asking the county to help. He said, "The amount that you spread over the entire county is different than the amount ..." Boone said, "You would be asking folks outside the Mooresville Graded School District to fund stuff within the district. The folks that own property in the Mooresville Graded School District would be paying the tax whether the county imposes it or the district imposes it." Wilson said, "Yes, I understand, and the people in Mooresville will pay for stuff in the county, but there is no way Mooresville could afford to raise the tax enough to pay the $40 million." ADJOURNMENT: Chairman Johnson adjourned the meeting with the school systems at 6:25 I"ul Approval: 11 Clerk to the Board