HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1639Sinclair said a long-range planning committee had been
established to create goals. The group will be focusing on where
the system should be in three - five years. He mentioned that any
plan derived from this committee would have to be flexible.
Sinclair also mentioned the following problem areas:
1) Facility needs
2) Aging Educators: The system has many educators nearing
retirement and there is a decline in the number of college
students choosing teaching as a career.
3) Technology: The faculty/staff are encouraged to find grants
for equipment.
4) Charter schools
Commissioner Johnson said he wanted to encourage the school
boards to be receptive to any "free land" discussions; however, the
benevolent group/ organization should not be given the leeway to
dictate the terms of the donation. Johnson asked that in the
future, the school officials advise business organizations that the
commissioners and school board members worked "shoulder to
shoulder" in addressing school facility needs.
Commissioner Fortner asked if discussions were still going on
with Crescent Resources about the possible donation of land. Long
said there were no other offers. Laney added this issue was dead.
Commissioner Stewart said it appeared that some commissioners
knew more about the Crescent land donation offer than others.
Stewart said that in the future, she would like to be as apprised
as all other commissioners.
Fortner asked when Iredell-Statesville would need a new high
school. Long said if the funding was available they could use it
now. Along this line of questioning, Johnson asked what the system
needed so a financial plan could be drafted.
Laney
said
n
four years i -S would need a new elementary, hi9h school
Stewart referred to the 23 mobile units in Mooresville and the
79 units at I -S. She advised the group that 4,000 mobile homes
were permitted last year. Stewart said she was making this point
to alert everyone that not all of the students attending the
schools lived in affluent homes. Specifically, that not all of
them lived $300,000 houses. She mentioned that everyone needed to
be cognizant of this fact and the effect it would have on the tax
base.
Chairman Haire asked the cost of a mobile unit. Barnard said
I -S leased its units at about $3,800 per unit a year or $320,000
total. Around $6,500 is the cost for set up (handicapped ramp,
etc.).
Commissioner Boone gave statistics in reference to the number
of students in the County today compared to the 1960s. He said
there was only 800 more students today than there were in 1969.
Boone said that growth occurred in cycles. Dr. Cummings said his
wife taught school back in the late sixties. She had 40 students
in her classroom. Through the years, however, the State has
dictated the number of children per classroom. The number today is
23 students per room.
MECK-NECK: Long said that I -S did not have a past tuition
plan regarding Meck-Neck. Recently, however, the board members
decided to not accept students from other counties. This is
because the system is full. The date established to begin this
practice is January 1, 1998. Currently, the Meck-Neck area has 20
students enrolled, and they will be grandfathered. Whether these
students will be charged is being debated.
Bob
SEP 3 jag