Board of Education meets with Commissioners to discuss school site

[Gene Galin]

Board of Education meets with Commissioners to discuss school site

Posted Wednesday, February 14, 2007

http://www.chathamjournal.com/weekly/news/chathamschools/chatham-boe-boc-meet-70214.shtml

Pittsboro, NC - The Chatham County Board of Education met on Monday, February 12, at Pittsboro Elementary School. At 6:30 p.m. the Board held a joint meeting with the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. At 7:30 p.m. the Board of Education held a regularly scheduled work session.
Chatham Board of Education and Commissioners

Joint Session
Board of Education members presented a PowerPoint presentation with information about the 94-acre property on Jack Bennett Road. The slide topics were: a site map; site facts including that seventy percent of the land is usable (above the NC Department of Public Instruction- recommended 50-60%), and water, soil, and power details; site concerns: single entrance (that would be two-lane; the Board would like to explore a second entrance from another area), NCDOT accident reports for Jack Bennett Rd., water-related issues (drainage, waste water, wetlands and environmental impact) and soil types; plans for the school with 1,000 student capacity, campus to include athletic fields and stadium, gyms, and parking, opening date: Fall, 2011; projected student growth (10,206 for the district that is now slightly over 7,600); projected needs for additional properties to build new elementary, middle and high schools; planning now for the future and funding for feasibility studies; and, in summary, that the Board is looking to identify possible site alternatives.
Gerald Totten

Commissioner questions were then addressed. Work on the new high school would need to begin in 2008 for it to open in 2011. The two boards discussed school cost in comparison high schools built in area school districts.
Patrick Barnes

Patrick Barnes reminded the Board of Education of funding options related to amounts the county can borrow. The county created a schedule in November of 2005. Barnes also encouraged the district to utilize its Construction Manager and study the current site soil in considering the potential costs for new property versus work that would need to be done on the current site. Concerns about sewage, wetlands, traffic, and impact on environmental and community growth were also mentioned. The Board is waiting to receive updated information from a report from the OR/Ed. lab in March.
George Lucier

George Lucier inquired about an auxiliary gym for Northwood High School that would help current overcrowding. Lucier mentioned possible county funding support for one. The general consensus of the Commissioners is to utilize the Certificate of Participation (COP) funding method for building a new high school. COP would require no increase of taxes for citizens.

Dr. Ann Hart, Superintendent of Schools, noted that the school district currently needs funding for feasibility studies and requested it be provided now from the county. The Commissioners will consider a resolution to authorize assistance in obtaining a second entryway to the school site from Booth Mountain.

Dr. Hart noted the district is looking at school prototype plans, mentioned by a Commissioner in the earlier discussion. She also noted that the Commissioners have a copy of the school capital improvement plan with projects through 2014.

Carl Thompson, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, clarified that the Board of Education will return to the Commissioners when it has additional information in March from the OR/Ed. Lab. Norman Clark, Board of Education Chairman, confirmed the Board of Education will do so.

Work Session

The Board approved its work session agenda as presented. The Board approved the corrected minutes from its January 22nd meeting at J.S. Waters.
Norman Clark

During the Board of Education sharing and Superintendent's comments, Dr. Hart acknowledged the recent County Science Fair winners and the upcoming Minority Achievement Awards on February 26. She also noted that a group from Jordan-Matthews will participate in the Legislative Technology Day in Raleigh on February 13. Dr. Hart also shared details with the Board about upcoming meeting agenda items.

Dr. Robin McCoy, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, introduced Mary Lee Moore, Director of Federal Programs in Chatham County Schools, discussed Limited English Proficient (LEP) Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives and results. The report is a requirement of No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Dr. Hart shared an update from last Tuesday night's redistricting committee meeting.
Kathie Russell

The Board voted to approve a school facilities resolution 1) in support of a two billion dollar K-12 Public School Facility Bond Referendum for North Carolina and 2) that encourages the 2007 General Assembly to take necessary actions for a public vote on the issue.

The Board approved the following fundraiser requests:
o Chatham Central - Student Council - Dance Ticket Sales
o Jordan-Matthews - general school fund - Car Magnet Sale
o Jordan-Matthews - Quiz Bowl team - Middle school invitational academic tournament
o Northwood - fundraising committee - Crushed Soda Sale
o Northwood - Theatre Arts Department - Summer Drama Camp

The Board moved into closed session following the open session.

[chrstnhsbndfthr]

The BOC did commit to discussing the possibility of buying either and easement or directly buying land to get another entrance to the site.  This appears to be a good idea and was one of the few things the BOE had to ask for at the joint meeting.  I am disappointed that the BOE did not ask for funds to be released so they can begin funding the feasibility studies after the March report comes out.  It seems that this could be released conditionally, so that if the report makes it clear Jack Bennett road is in the wrong area, then no funds would be spent.  The only way that the BOE would spend the money is by agreeing that the site is the right area.  Then you are just doing the engineering studies needed to prepare.

[gonewest]

The BOE has a 1.2 million dollar fund balance.  They can certainly dip into that for any study they need.  The Commissioners do not have to be called on to do their work for them.
This land should have been soil tested and had it feasiblility study done LONG BEFORE now....like before it was even purchased.

[integrityticket]

BOE has a 1.2 million dollar fund balance.

They're saving that for the next round of MAC pc purchases.

[gertot]

Careful how you define "They're".

[Clyde]

pretty spectacular accident rounding the curve at the bottom of the hill on jack bennett where the potential site is yesterday about time school got out... full size pickup truck had lost control and flipped and appeared to have torn the bed of the truck off, maybe that was cargo. 16 y/o drivers WILL be speeding on this road. around curves and up and down the hills.

[chrstnhsbndfthr]

There are announced plans to resurface that road, and in the future widen it.

[WolfpackFan]

We need to find a piece of land to build on that has good roads for 16 yo to speed on?

[gertot]

There are announced plans to resurface that road, and in the future widen it.

Resurface next year, widen in 2012.

[Coffee]

We need to find a piece of land to build on that has good roads for 16 yo to speed on?

You know the old saying;
'They're always going to do it anyway; so we have to make it as safe and easy as possible.'
Next thing you know they'll be teaching 'safe speeding' in school.
 

[bobsyouruncle]

Good example of why most people don't want to run for office:

Are we supposed to find a road a 16-year-old can speed on?

And if a bad accident happens:

What were you thinking putting a high school on road like that?

It's not unreasonable to ask either question.

[whatsup]

Teen Drivers: Fact Sheet
 
Overview

Two out of five deaths among U.S. teens are the result of a motor vehicle crash (CDC 2004). 
    * In 2002, more than 5,000 teens ages 16 to 19 died of injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes (CDC 2004).
       
    * The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash (IIHS 2005).
       
    * In  2003, teenagers accounted for 10 percent of the U.S. population and 13 percent of motor vehicle crash deaths (IIHS 2005).
       
    * The presence of teen passengers increases the crash risk of unsupervised teen drivers; the risk increases with the number of teen passengers (Chen 2000).

Cost

In 2002, the estimated economic cost of police-reported crashes (both fatal and nonfatal) involving drivers ages 15 to 20 was $40.8 billion (NHTSA 2003).
 

Groups at Risk

    * In 2002, the motor vehicle death rate for male occupants age 16 to 19 was nearly twice that of their female counterparts (23 per 100,000 compared with 12 per 100,000) (CDC 2004a).
       
    * Crash risk is particularly high during the first year that teenagers are eligible to drive (IIHS 2005).
 
Risk Factors

    * Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate hazardous situations or dangerous situations or not be able to recognize hazardous situations (Jonah 1987).
       
    * Teens are more likely than older drivers to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns, ride with an intoxicated driver, and drive after using alcohol or drugs (Jonah 1987).

    * Among male drivers between 15-20 years of age who were involved in fatal crashes in 2003, 39% were speeding at the time of the crash (NHTSA 2004a).
       
    * Compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use. In 2003, 18% of high school students reported they rarely or never wear seat belts when riding with someone else (CDC 2004b).

          o Male high school students (22%) were more likely than female students (15%) to rarely or never wear seat belts (CDC 2004b).
             
          o African-American students (21%) and Hispanic students (20%) were more likely than white students (17%) to rarely or never wear seat belts (CDC 2004b).

·         At all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens than for older drivers (IIHS 2004). 

o        In 2003, 25% of drivers ages 15 to 20 who died in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of 0.08 g/dl or higher (NHTSA 2004).

o        In a national survey conducted in 2003, 30% of teens reported that within the previous month, they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol. One in eight reported having driven after drinking alcohol within the same one-month period (CDC 2004b).

o        In 2003, among teen drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving, 74% were unrestrained (NHTSA 2004b). 

    * In 2003, 54% of teen deaths from motor vehicle crashes occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday; 42% occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. (IIHS 2005).

[chrstnhsbndfthr]

This seems less an issue of the road, than teen drivers themselves. 

There might be some things the school administrators could do to help with this issue.  Limitations on the number of kids allowed to park at the school would discourage driving but also increase stress on the bus system.  Everything we do needs to be given some thought though.  This might take some young people out of the workforce and that has an impact on their family and their future.   

Taking poor drivers off the road through the court system, due to excessive tickets, makes sense to me.  The school could also revoke driving privileges through canceling parking permits. 

Another issue showing an increase is when there are multiple teenagers in a single vehicle.  Distractions and showing off may contribute to accidents.  Less experienced drivers are certainly a problem but even delaying the legal age to drive doesn't really solve anything and creates numerous unintended consequences. 

[VAHeel]

Administrators?!?  What about PARENTS? 

[WolfpackFan]

"Two out of five deaths among U.S. teens are the result of a motor vehicle crash (CDC 2004)."

Not to make fun of the problems facing new drivers (this includes teens, people new to driving, people from other countries that move here), but this is one of those silly stats they love to throw up.  I would have figured it was higher for a group of people that don't suffer a lot of heart attacks and get cancer.


Now, if your real concern is teen drivers, do something about how teens drive.  Don't build special teen driving roads, make teens better drivers.  I help get it started: stop issuing licenses to anybody that can get 3 out of 5 letters right in their name.  Have a serious written test, and a challenging road test. 

And if you are really serious, make a new law that any teenager that breaks the law or causes an accident has their car seized.

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