STOKES COUNTY GOVERNMENT
COUNTY OF STOKES DANBURY, NORTH CAROLINA
AUGUST 18, 2008
The Board of
Commissioners of the County of Stokes, State of North Carolina, met
for a joint meeting with the Stokes County Board of Education in the
Stokes County Schools-
Board Room located at 100 Courthouse Circle, Danbury, North Carolina on
Monday,
August 18, 2008 at 4:30 pm with the following members present:
Chairman
J. Leon Inman
Vice-Chairman
Jimmy Walker
Commissioner Ron
Carroll
Commissioner
Ernest Lankford
Commissioner
Stanley Smith
County
Personnel in Attendance:
County
Manager K. Bryan Steen
Clerk
to the Board Darlene Bullins
Finance
Director Julia Edwards
Stokes
County Board of Education and School Personnel
Chair
Steve D. Shelton
Vice
Chair Yvonne M. Rutledge
Member
Rebecca P. Boles
Member
Sonya M. Cox
Member
William F. Hart
Dr.
Stewart Hobbs, Superintendent
Assistant
Superintendent Donna Boyles
Executive
Finance Director Lanette Moore
Administrative
Assistant Ann Robertson
Executive
Director of Operations David Burge
Maintenance
Director Ricky Goins
School Board
Attorney Frederick Johnson
SfL+a
Architects
Heather
Ray
Max Walser
Michael
Waugh
Chairman J. Leon Inman called the joint
meeting for the Board of Commissioners to
order.
Commissioner Ron Carroll delivered the invocation.
Superintendent Dr.
Stewart Hobbs opened the meeting by inviting the citizens in
attendance to join both Boards with the Pledge of Allegiance.
WELCOME
Dr. Hobbs welcomed those in attendance to the
joint meeting.
Dr. Hobbs noted that
Nancy Reynolds Elementary School has been moved to the
top priority due to extensive structural issues.
Dr. Hobbs introduced
Mr. Michael Waugh, SfL+a Architects, who presented the
following power point presentation regarding the three top priorities:
§ Three Priorities –
Nancy Reynolds Elementary School, New Elementary School, and Southeastern
Middle School
§ Nancy Reynolds Elementary School -Options
o
Renovation of Existing Facility
o
New School on Existing Site
o
New School on New Site
o
New School on New Site combined with Francisco
Elementary School
§ Considerations for
the Option for Nancy Reynolds Elementary School:
Renovations
o
Costs excessive for structural upgrades -
Auditorium would likely need to be rebuilt
o
Entire facility being brought to current code
o
No change in spaces or layout
o
Additions required for core areas
o
Few funds available for upgrades after corrections
o
Continued maintenance and utility costs
o
Accessibility challenges
New School on Existing Site
o
Demo gymnasium for new footprint area
o
School in session during construction
o
Phasing challenges – septic field, lack of gym
during class, traffic flow on site
o
Cost of demolition on existing facility
New School on New Site
o
No overlap of activities
o
New facility specific to the needs
o
Maintenance & utility savings
New School on New Site Combined with Francisco
o
New building replaces two older facilities
o
Combined maintenance and utility
o
Ability to build to program needs
§ Nancy Reynolds
Options Cost
o
New
Construction Option
Nancy Reynolds ES Replacement Costs estimated
between $7,868,000 and $8,938,000
Francisco ES Replacement Costs estimated
between $7,323,000 and $8,323,000
Total Cost
estimated between $15,191,000 and $17,261,000
o
Renovations
and additions Option
Nancy Reynolds Renovation & Additions
estimated between $8,920,000 and $10,240,000
Francisco Renovation & Additions estimated
between $5,610,000 and $6,430,000
Total Cost
estimated between $14,530,000 and $16,670,000
o
Combination
Option
Combination of the two schools estimated cost
between $10,358,000 and $11,798,000
§ SfL+a Architects
recommends a new school on new site combined – 400 capacity/500 core
§ New Elementary School - West Feeder System
o
King Elementary
o
Mount Olive Elementary
o
Pinnacle Elementary
o
Chestnut Grove Middle School
o
West Stokes High School
§ General
Observations
o
Elementary capacity
o
Traffic flow challenges
o
Facility challenges particular to 1970’s buildings
o
Core program requirements
o
Administration requirements
o
Spatial organization
§ Elementary
Capacity
o
King Elementary – capacity 496 – current number of
students = 580
o
Mount Olive Elementary – capacity 428 – current
number of students =759
o
Pinnacle Elementary – capacity 180 – current number
of students = 219
§ New Elementary School -Options Cost
o
Testing cost estimated $145,000
o
Site cost estimated at $1,004,000
o
Total cost including testing, site, and building
cost estimated between $15,809,000 and $17,989,000
§ Duration of Phase
(months
o
Start – undefined
o
Schematic Design complete – 3 months
o
Design Development complete – 3 months
o
Construction Documents complete – 6 months
o
Agency Review complete – 1 month
o
Out to Bids/Receive Bids – 1 month
o
Notice to Proceed – 1 month
o
Substantial completion – 16 months
§ SfL+a Architects
recommends a new elementary school – 550 capacity/700 core
§ Southeastern Middle School
§ Additions and
Renovations
o
Demolish B building
o
Demolish A building
o
D building becomes storage and support only
o
New classroom wing
o
New facility entry with relocation of
Administration along with Guidance and testing area adjacent
o
New Building in location of A with
·
Specialty classrooms: IT/Art/AG/Health/etc
·
Central computer labs
·
Building receiving and storage adjacent dock
o
Circulation continuous within building
o
Adjust site circulation to address stacking room
and roadway traffic
§ Considerations
o
Minimum two phases
Student occupy
building as new classroom wing built
Shift Students to
new space
Demolish A&B –
build into A footprint and renovate
o
Site logistics
§ Southeastern
Middle Probable Costs
o
Additions and associated renovations estimated
between $4,223,670 and $4,857,221
o
Upgrades for existing facility renovations
estimated between $1,930,635 and $2,220,230
o
Upgrading existing sites estimated between $512,500
and $589,375
o
Total project costs estimated between $8,850,000
and $10,170,000
§ SfL+a Architects
recommends extensive additions and renovations
Dr. Hobbs noted the previous structural work
done at Nancy Reynolds is only
temporary, facility is in need of major structural repairs with the main
building being in the
worst shape. The retaining wall needs to be replaced, but replacement
causes major issues.
If replaced, DPI standards would require the retaining wall to be moved
back 12 feet which
would be in the sewage field.
Placing a new school on the existing site or renovation of
existing facility could require possible demolition of existing
facilities.
The Board of Education
will be having Town Hall meetings to discuss the options and
make the public aware of the current conditions in the Nancy Reynolds
and Francisco areas.
Chairman Inman
presented the following financial information presented by
Financial Advisor Doug Carter, DEC, Inc. at the July 28th
meeting:
o
County Debt Capacity – State statute provides for
up to 8% of assessed value for General Obligation/COPS debt (currently .5% is
being used with significant statutory capacity remaining
o
Approximately $22,100,00 can be issued in long-term
debt anytime from January 2009 to July 2009 from current resources which
include the pay down of existing debt and the addition of $800,000 (lottery
funds dedicated each year to the Capital
Fund (includes approximately $325,000
operating expenses for a new school no
increase in county taxes
o
Scenario 2 - Approximately $35,000,000 for schools and
$5,300,000 for a community college would use the same resources with the
addition of a 3 cents tax increase in fiscal year 2009/10 (no operating cost
for community college and the additional $12,900,000 for schools is included in
the scenario (revenue from the tax
increase must be deposited to the dedicated Capital Fund
Chairman Inman noted the need for both Boards
to continue to work together.
Vice Chairman Walker noted he was very
encouraged with the progress made by both
Boards.
Commissioner Carroll requested the Board of
Education take into consideration due
respect to the history and geography of Stokes County and the fact that
the most cost effective
route is not necessarily the best route when making decisions for
school facilities needs.
Commissioner Lankford
stated that by working and planning together, both Boards can
provide the best possible plan for the children in Stokes County.
Commissioner Smith
stated he has looking forward to this day and is ready to build
schools in Stokes County.
Dr. Hobbs, on behalf
of the Board of Education, expressed appreciation to the Board of
Commissioners for their dedication and commitment to Stokes County
Schools.
Dr. Hobbs reiterated
that the information presented today is only recommendations
that will be considered by the Board of Education in order to make the
best decisions possible
for school facilities. He also
noted that the Board of Education is currently seeking to purchase
land for future projects.
Dr. Hobbs stated that Stokes County could be
receiving an Early College/High
School Program Grant ($350,000 to $400,000 which would allow students to take college
courses during high school. A
student would enter the program as a freshman and graduate
after five years with a high school diploma along with either an
Associate Degree or a 2 year
college transfer. The Board of
Education will be discussing the issue at their meeting later
today. This year would be the planning phase with students entering the
program as a freshman
in the fall of 2009.
Chairman Inman noted
that the Board of Commissioners is committed to building a
stand-alone community college on the Meadows site. There has been an Environmental
Phase I and Phase II completed with some cleanup work to be done by
NCDOT.
Manager Bryan Steen
noted that Forsyth Tech. should be getting additional space by
the first of calendar year 2009.
Commissioner Ron
Carroll stated that in the past, there were always plans for school
renovations and construction, but there was never enough money to build
for the future.
Commissioner Carroll requested both Boards work together to do it right
this time.
Chair Steve Shelton, on behalf of the Board of
Education, expressed their appreciation
to the Board of Commissioners for their commitment to the children of
Stokes County.
County Manager Bryan
Steen, on behalf of Economic Development in Stokes County,
expressed his appreciation to the recent assistance received from
school administration
regarding a site readiness survey.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before
the Board, Chairman Inman entertained
a motion to adjourn the joint meeting for the Board of Commissioners
Vice Chairman Walker moved to adjourn the
joint meeting. Commissioner Smith
seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_________________________
_____________________________
Darlene M.
Bullins
J. Leon Inman
Clerk to the
Board Chairman