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HomeMy WebLinkAbout100412ssmJOINT MEETING OF THE HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes of Special Session October 4, 2012 The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met jointly with the Harnett County Board of Education on Thursday, October 4, 2012, in the auditorium of Overhills High School, 2495 Ray Road, Spring Lake, North Carolina. Board of Commissioners Members present: Timothy B. McNeill, Chairman Beatrice B. Hill, Vice Chaiinian Dan B. Andrews, Commissioner Gary House, Commissioner Jim Burgin, Commissioner Staff present: Board of Education Members present: Scott Sauer, County Manager Tony Wilder, Deputy County Manager Dwight Snow, County Attorney Sylvia Blinson, Finance Officer Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk to the Board Billy B. Tart, Chair Vivian Bennett, Vice Chair Kevin Gregory Thomas A. Womble Board of Education Member absent: Chuck Levorse Staff present: Tom Frye, Superintendent Terry Byrd, Clerk to the Board Chairman Timothy B. McNeill called the meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners to order at 7:00 pm. Chairman Billy B. Tart called the meeting of the Harnett County Board of Education to order. Commissioner Gary House led the pledge of allegiance and invocation. October 4, 2012 Special Session Minutes Joint Meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Page 1 of 5 Tom Frye, Superintendent of Harnett County Schools, presented the State of Schools in Harnett County. Mr. Frye shared many of the good things happening in Harnett County schools including higher SAT scores, school districts exceeding their expected growth in English, reading and algebra as well as the graduation rate increasing. Mr. Frye gave an overview of capital projects completed since 1995. The facility summary of Harnett County schools is 27 schools, 209 mobile classrooms, 34 mobile toilet rooms, 119 separate buildings, 945.19 acres of land, and 3,355,108 square feet of schools, mobile units and central services. Mr. Frye noted the birth rate is increasing in Harnett County and those children will enter the school system 5 years later. Mr. Frye reported that we are closely aligned with the aggressive projections regarding student population made by Mr. Jeff Tsai with NCSU. He discussed growth projections compared to membership as well as projected membership compared to capacity. Mr. Frye referenced slides projecting student population for high schools, middle schools and elementary schools through 2014 -2015. Mr. Frye discussed mitigation for overcrowding with a result of 3 schools currently capped and the bussing of some elementary students to other schools. It was also reported that some students are required to eat lunch as early as 10:35 am and have less than 22 minutes for lunch. As the 209 mobile classrooms have been added to facilities; common space such as cafeterias and gyms have not been enlarged to accommodate the additional students. Mr. Frye noted there is a maximum class size set by the state for kindergarten through third grade classes. Mr. Frye discussed the transportation impact and reported that based on last year's consumption, fuel could cost the county $336,150 above allocation. Mr. Frye said there are 242 yellow buses running routes in Harnett County. He also reported the cost of a new school bus is approximately $90,000 with the need for three new buses in the next year. Mr. Frye listed the following school capital needs: i> School Capital Needs 0 — 5 Years o New Highland High School • 1,500 students /1,700 core capacity • Turn key budget $54,754,187 o New Elementary School — Southwest Harnett • 920 students /920 core capacity • Turn key budget $21,338,770 o Replacement Buies Creek Elementary School • 920 students /920 core capacity • Turn key budget $21,793,436 October 4, 2012 Special Session Minutes Joint Meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Page 2 of 5 o Replacement Benhaven Elementary School • 600 students /700 core capacity • Turn key budget $16,691,847 School Capital Needs 5 - 10 Years o Replacement Erwin/Gentry Elementary School • 920 students /920 core capacity • Turn key budget $20,947,042 o LaFayette Elementary School • 16 classroom addition/cafeteria expansion • Turn key budget $5,884,268 o Overhills Elementary School • 6 classroom addition • Turn key budget $1,262,011 o Triton High School • Auxiliary gymnasium • Turn key budget $3,028,663 fr School Capital Needs 10 + Years o Lillington - Shawtown Elementary School • Gymnasium addition • Turn key budget $1,669,617 o Western Harnett High School • Auditorium /vocational classrooms additions • Turn key budget $8,954,935 o Harnett Central High School • Auditorium /vocational classrooms additions • Turn key budget $8,954,935 it Capital Improvement needed as: o Health, Safety and Welfare Related • Intercom systems, A/C in kitchens, video camera systems, science labs, running tracks, gym bleachers, fire alarm systems, walkways, etc. costing $2,276,594 o Operation Related • Roof replacement, flooring replacement, canopies, window and door system replacements, energy improvements, control vestibules, kitchen and dining expansions, etc. Mr. Frye explained the state discretionary reversion as a specific amount of money each school system is required to return to the State. The school system decides where the money will come from. Mr. Frye reported the 2012 -2013 reversion is $4,788,584. The total reversions from 2002- 2003 school year through 2012 -2013 school year is $20,626,610. October 4, 2012 Special Session Minutes Joint Meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Page 3 of 5 Mr. Scott Sauer, Harnett County Manager, announced the application for the Highland Middle School was recently approved by the Local Government Commission with the bond sale scheduled for November 1, 2012. Mr. Sauer noted the application for the Highland Middle School is for qualified school construction bond money in the amount of $31 Million nearly interest free to be paid back over 22 year. Mr. Sauer discussed funding options for capital needs in Harnett County. He noted state limitations in fulfilling budget requirements from a revenue standpoint and a large portion of that falls on the property tax payers for local government. He reported that commissioners looked at county priorities, not just educational needs, during their planning retreat in February 2012. He said commissioners worked very hard to develop a budget to give citizens the best value for their tax dollars while keeping the tax rate the same. Mr. Sauer noted the $174 million in school needs alone could equate to over $.11 cents added to the tax rate which this Board is adamantly against. Mr. Sauer said they are asking voters to take a look at a '/ cent sales tax on the ballot in November. He said '/ cent on the sales tax could generate in excess of $1.3 Million a year with $.01 on the tax bill only generating a little over $715,000 per year. Mr. Sauer said they believe the sales tax is a much more equitable revenue source. Mr. Sauer said we must also look to our state and federal partners for help as there is connectivity between the growth of Fort Bragg and the growth in our school system. He noted a few years prior the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education sought "mission support" from the federal government through our congressional representatives. Mr. Sauer reported that they have requested $50 Million from the federal government to help address these needs. He said they hope to receive allocations of $12.5 Million to assist with the next four school projects. Mr. Sauer also said they are talking to state legislators about an optional sales tax that could be used to fund school requirements, particularly constructions. Mr. Sauer said if $.02 was added to the sales tax in Harnett County it would generate approximately $10.6 Million a year. Mr. Sauer asked citizens to speak to their elected officials regarding their support of the quarter cent sales tax increase, military funding from the federal government or possibly an additional sales tax of .02 cents. It was noted that the total funding to Harnett County schools from the State has increased approximately $4 million the past two years. Harnett County is currently ranked 214 out of 215 per pupil expenditure with the total cost of educating one student being approximately $7000 a year. October 4, 2012 Special Session Minutes Joint Meeting of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Page 4 of 5 Chairman McNeill opened the floor for informal comments by the public. The following citizens addressed the boards: - Steve Wilkins, US House candidate, - Joe miller, running for county commissioner district 5 - Joe Langley, candidate for NC House of representatives, District 53, - Edward Allan Cameron — candidate for District 5 Lisa Teston, 818 Rainey Drive Daniel Glover, running for county commissioner, Jackie Kinnear, 444 Crown Point - Cathy Andersen, 176 Wilson Run - Brad Salmon, running for NC Senate, - Diana Soliday, 335 Richmond Park Drive - John Fleshman, 88 Jack Harris Lane - Victoria Hall, 26 Green Spring Drive - Bill Tatum, candidate for House 51, - Goldie Pryor or BunnLevel - Vick Hyatt, 106 Birch Avenue - Anne Flairity of Carolina Lakes Henry Randolf of Cameron Jennifer Foy, 108 Cattie Drive Patty Rowland of Dunn - Julia Smith, 375 Lakeside Lane Master Sargeant Rogers, Ret. Chairman McNeill stressed that local government cannot use funds to advocate a position on the proposed sales tax increase. He encouraged citizens present to form a political grassroots committee or task force to help educate the public on the urgency of need and why they should vote for the '/ cent sales tax. Chairman McNeill said, with the fottuation of such a committee, citizens could come together with some proposals and everybody could adopt a plan to then take it to our state legislators to get the funding to build the schools that need to be built. Overhills High School Principal Kylon Middleton, along with his administrative team, thanked the boards for allowing them to host this joint meeting. Chairman McNeill and Chairman Tart a,e1joti fed,the meeting at 9:39 pm Timothy Neill, Chairman p, t Regina eeler, Clerk October 4, 2012 Special Session Minutes Joint Meeting of the Flame' ' (initt Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Page 5 of 5