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07-15-81 MinutesbOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES July 15, 1981 Supervisors in Attendance: Mr, Harry G. Daniel, Chairman Mr. R. Garland Doddw Vice Chairman Mr. C. L. Bookman Mrs. Joan Girone Mr. E. Me~lin O~Neill, Sr. Richard L. Bedrick Acting County Administrator Others in Attendance= Mr. C. E. Curtis, Jr., School Board Member ~Lr. TOm Falghum, Asst. School Superintendent Mr. John S, Harrisr III School Board Member Mr. Elmer Modge~ Asst. County Administrator DY. Roger Long~ Dir. of Sohooi Data Services Mr. Steve Micas~ CO. Attorney Dr. George R. Pa,%in, School Board Chairman Mr. A. Perry Str±ckland, School Board Vice Chr. Dr. Howard O. Sultin~, School Soperintendsnt ~r. Daniel and Dr. Partin jointly cal~ed the m~tinq to order in the School Board Conference Room at 7:30 p.m. (EDST~. Mr. Tom Fulqhum stated that the School Administration had been working with the Department of Community Development regarding student projest±o~s and that the~e were SOme differences in figures but that they would not cause any major di~£erences in c0nelusions which will be made. Dr. Roger Long highlighted the report which was sent to each member o~ both Board~, indicating student population trends for the schools; a composite of the capacities for the elementary, middle and high schools; etc. Ha stated that the studsnt population has been growing by approxi~ately 600 students a year. He e~ptalned that capacity is determined by the architects whe i~dicate how many ~tudents should be placed in each room and the State also states how many should be in a room, He stated that the County is al~o require~ to offer learning disability programs and.these classro0~$ are con,ted a9 "0" capacity because the children ac= treated regularly otherwise. Dr. Long stated that the elementary schools have a maximum design capacity of I7,401 and current program capacity (based on 1981 use) is 15,925 with 20 trailers in use; that the middle schcol~ have a maximhLm design capacity of 9,000 with a current program capacity (based on 19Gl projec=ed use} of 8,125 with 15 trailers in use; and that the high scheol~ h~ve a ~aximum ~e~ign c~pacity cf 10,370 with current program capacity (based on 1eSl prcjecte~ use) of 9,545 with 9 trailers in use. He stated that any trailer that ia in use is considered temporary and when it is removed, special programs mus~ be reassigned to spac~ in the permanent facility. k~r$. Girone inquired i~ K-5 was included in ali the elementary school~. Dr, Long indicated that it was. Mr, Fnlghum stated there were several options available to solve the overcrowding situations which include busing, bonndary changem and building new and/or additions to old facilities for the elementary. He stated the middl~ school problems could be solved with n~w and/of additions to the facilitie~ Or to readj~ 81-293 the grades. He stated the high school problems would r~quire mere drastic measures as double shifts or building as Space is dire need. Ee stated that the trends lot the next three years after 1984-85 arc expected to b~ sbeu~ the same as 1984-85. He added That all the projections given are based on what w~ll be required for I984~85. Mr. Daniel inquired if growth or equality of programs was being addressed. He stated that there are 33,000 students in the system now and they also have needs. He stated he felt a financial plan for all the sthoo1 needs should be addressed. Dr. Pattie stated that lite~e~ loans could be approved as the Boards sew fi% =o address the equality'portion of the program. Mr. O'Neill in~uired if upgrading could be included in literary loan programs. Dr. Pattie in,letted they could as long as they are such things ss classrooms, qyms, etc. ~r. Daniel stated that he understood people moved to certain parts uf the County because of the schools that existed and he did not feel this was proper. ~e inquired if a solution to some of th~ proble~ would be to shift the grades at ~¢hool levels. Mr. Fulghum stated this had been a long term goal to have the qrade systems as they are. ~e stated that it was felt that duplication of courses, ~ecial adjustment of certain age grcup~, levels of learning, etc. were enhanced by the ~xistieg grade systems ~n th~ ~¢hools. ~e added that this presentation did not eliminate the need for possible boundary changes. Mrl Daniel inquired where the 1,500 for school capacity had been decided and if it would be cheaper to just continue adding on to the existing facilities. Mr. Bookman inquired if the additions at Manchester would modernize the school and if this could be done for all th~ schools. F~r. Fulghu~ ~ated that with the addition of the 12 classroom~ it does raise the use of the facility to 1,500 and explained that there would be a new l~brary, the old likrary would be converted into classroom space an~ the~e would be an auxiliary ~m et Manchester. system. Mr. O'Neill indicated that for the ~hort period of time that public sewer has been available in the Harrowgate Elementary area, there has been considerabl~ effect on the school and he hoped this type of concern was being taken i~to consideration. Mr. Fulghum indicated that the methodology used in the work today. ~e stated in ~ome areas the school syste~ is looking at straight line projections and Community Developmen= is averaging a 3% increase and thc tWO are being combined to p~oject growth in the area. Mr. Bookman stated that the public want~ continued quality facilities as in the past. Ha stated that he felt a bond issue WO~ld be needed in November ~ather that ~oing to busing, redistricting, etc. He stated that the people who are not receiving new facilities, etc. will shill be receiving benefits because their existing schools will be less crowded, etc. He stated that if upgrading end frills are conside~ed~ th~fe will bu a higher price than what was proposed last year. He stated he felt it was necessary to ~intain facilities for growth and provide necessary programs which he felt ~.5 million in literary loans and 22.5 million in bond funds could accomplish. He stated he felt the n~uds auros$ the County should be 81-294 Mr. Dodd stated he felt approval of literary loans, baud funds and even some boundary lin~ changes might be needed =o a~omplis~ what was necessary. He stated this antir~ exercise Zeenf0rces his support of the b0~d issue ~ast year. He ~tated could not support a program unless it provided some relief for the Bellwood and Curtis $¢keols. He sea=sd he wac not in favor of frills, but wanted ~he children to have a plac~ ~O have a physical education course if it should rain. ~e stated he felt ~mpartant that both B0ard~ be united as another ~efca~ of a bond issue w~uld have a serious effect on the education in the County. ~r. Strickland inquired how mu~h money was available for liter~z loans. Dr. Sullins stated et thin time about 25 or 26 million but it varies. He stated there is a report at this time being made of the literary loan~ and the sooner the projects are submitted the better. Mr. Daniel stated that he understood that 25 million in bonds az 9 million in literary loans would affect the tax rate by approximately $.06. He stated he would like a report prepared Lo how new schools and how expansion of older facilities would affect the operations budge~ He questioned if the let%er would be the cheaper. Mr, ~arvie Stated he Was conceraed with trends of school populations for the various grades as some had p~aks and enhers were $%%bstantia!ly decreasing; that in 1976 the population was projected to be 38,000 children for 1981 and it is only ~hat projections submit=ed in February are substantially different from those submitted recent!y; that with th= estate =low, ~ha high intere$~ rates~ s~allur families, there ar~ a lot of variables to b~ considered. He stated he read that the County was third highest in debt in the state; that 9resident Reaqan'm eats w~l bays an impact on local and state budgets; that some necessary items as buses~ salaries~ etc. had been delayed; an~ that all of this would impact the County significantly. ~e stated he wa~ confused with the pro]actions, =oncerned with costs and would rather look at minimum needs rather than what we would like to have. Mr. Dodd stated that the County was not in bad shape wi~h regard to debt. Mr. O'Neill sta~ed the more populaticn~ the more debt that is expected but he did not belaeve the Count~ was a~ high as indicated, hr. Harvi~ stated that he had also read that the County was 2nd highest in uncollectable delinquent taxes for counties. Mr. ~edrick s~ated that he felt the report Mr. Harris was referring to was o~e which is usually 2-3 years behind in information, that the County has approximately 1.~% deb~ to a~$e$$~en~s and the Code allows up =u 18~ for cities; that the County was in excelleat shape from the standpoint Of debt aid bonds. He stated that thc County collects 99% of its taxes. ~ir. D0dd stated he would not like to see classr0o~s with 30&35 children as the~ do not l~arn properly or as quickly. salaries to be included in the study requested by Ms. Daniel. stated that the citizens want at least the current level of ~ducation in the Co~nty maintained. Mr. Strickland stated he £el% thc =wa Boar~s and the citizens needed to come to an agreement as to what is needed. He stated ~hat some wan~ frills, some equalization, etc. ~e ~tated that redistricting and busing is not wha~ a~yone wants but what else ia left to be sacrificed. He stated they thought they had a well would b~ v~ry concerned with the damage that Would occur to the school system and its quality should another bond issu~ ~ail. 81-295 C Mr. Daniel guestioned the nee~ fox an addiuional ~zgh school wh~ th~ two problem schools were at opposite end~ of the County. He stated that perhaps the schools should be designed to carry 1,80( children which might minimise tests and optimize returns. Mr. Cuxtls stated there were problems with acreage Si~e~ on existing schools and management gets out of hand with a school capacity over 1,500. Mr. Bookman stated that whatever is done ~or one school should be done far another and that the spacs needs should be what is addressed. Mr. taniel stated equality educatio~ is what is t~e prohls~ at Hening~ Beulah, etc. stated he felt a financial plan should add,ess th~ ~rosd needs el the County and not only the growth. Mr. Curtis stated the firmt projects listed should be addressed and =hen the equalization of suhuuls could be addressed by literary loans, be it over one, or three years. Mr. Daniel stated he was not i~ favor of a new ~idlothian High School. He sta~ed he did not have a listing of what was entails( et each school which he felt wa~ needed. Firs. Girone stated the need was there for a new school, land waA being donated and the middle school wOul~ benefit from tho new high ~chool being built. she stated that she would like to see the effect of this on the tax r~te bsfure she committed ~o the program. Mr. Dodd stated that if the need exists~ he did not feel i% would mak~ a difference on =he end result. ~r. Q'Neill stated that if Board ia thinking about a new pay study as well as capital projects, =hey shoul~ al~o be prepared for a tax increase. Mr. Fulgh~m orated that an average high school ~e~ds 55-60 acres and ~idlothian has only 2O acres and it cannot be feasibly expanded. Mr. Hedrick sbatsd that whatever is sent UO the Hoard of Supervisors for a decision~ Will have to be voted O~ as a packag~ and theM cannot pick and choose various items. It will require aye or nay vote only. However, h~ added that it could b~ sent back to the School Board for revisions. He stated that operatic expenses will not be as high as one would first think, as there will be some carryovezs from the old location to the new which would be expended anyway. Mrs. Girone stated that sh~ felt ths literary loans, the bond funds and a revised pay plan for teachers will all b~ considered by the voters as it is a paCk,ge deal. After further discussion, the two the following projects: Lit. Manchester Sigh Clover Hill ~fgh G~nito Road Elementary Courthouse Ares ~lementary *iM Bird High (1981) (1982) Thoma~ Dale Meadowhrook High Matoaca ~igh New Midlothian High 1M Supervision Furniture Total 9,5M *It is noted that rheas funds will be requested and if we will deduct this amount from each of bond fund~. gensrally agreed with 1M 4,65H 4.65a 4,05M 4.05M l~ 2M .2M .2M 1.20M 12M .4M .4M .,.~ .Sa 23M 30.5M approved, 81-296 adjourned at 10:$5 p.m. until 9=00 a.m. On July 22, 1981. Acting County Administrator 81-297