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PC_07-30-75_Meeting_Minutes_Joint_MeetingMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL'JOINT MEETING OF THE FREDERICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSSION AND FREDERICK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Held in the Board of Supervisors Room, July 30, 1975 SCHOOL BOARD PRESENT: Ray Boyce, Chairman; Roscoe D. Bowers; John T. Solenberger, R. E. Aylor, III; and Dr. Melton Wright. ABSENT Clyde Logan. PLANNING COMMISSION PRESENT: Keith Williams, Chairman; Manuel DeHaven; C. Langdon Gordon; James W. Golladay, Sr.; Elmer Venskoske; Richard Madigan; Frank Brumback; J.O. Renalds, III; and H. Ronald Berg. • CALL TO ORDER The Vice - Chairman called the Meeting to Order in the absence of the Chairman and stated that the Special Meeting was to discuss possible school sites. The Meeting was then turned over to Dr. Melton Wright, Superintendent of Frederick County Schools. OPENING STATEMENT Dr. Wright opened by stating that the decisions the Commission makes has a great deal of bearing on schools, such as where people are going to live and how the land is going to be developed. He went on to introduce the members of the Senior High School Site Committee to the Members.. • /tI16 -2- • Dr. Wright went on to state that the building program has been demanded due to the increase of population. He added that as part of this total plan, all four and five -room schools have been phased out in Frederick County. He further stated that the program has come to a climax with the renovation of James Wood High School. Dr. Wright further stated that the organizational struc- ture for the county was as follows: Grades kindergarten through fifth; sixth through eighth; and ninth through twelfth. He went on to state that the type of organizational structure used is one of the determining factors on the type of building to be constructed. Dr. Wright added that as one of the first things that has been done is to move the bus shop from James Wood and • turn it into an agricultural mechanics classroom and shop. Dr. Wright stated that with the annexation, the biggest question was what to do with James Wood High School. It was found that it could not be sold or put to another use. He added that since this was the case, the Board was committed to have one school on two campuses. Dr. Wright further stated that the best way to accomplish this would be to upgrade James Wood for ninth and tenth grades, and build a smaller school which would be James Wood also, for the eleventh and twelfth grades. He added that in order to do this, the two schools should be as close together as possible. The Superintendent went on to state that long before the County was given the land on Route 50 West, the School Board had • been looking for land with this concept in mind. 'He added that about a year ago the C. L. Robinson Corporation deeded approxi- mately 40 acres to the School Board witht stipulation that j -3- • some kind of public school facility be built on the property. Dr. Wright stated that the Board did not commit themselves in accepting the land by having to build a high school on the property. Dr. Wright stated the that proximity of the site to James Wood is favorable. He added that the unfavorable thing about the site is the lack of water and sewer facilities to the property. Dr. Wright stated that the Board has looked at other sites. One is located on Route 7 East which has an asking price of $375,000, in which water and sewer would have to be run to the property. Another site is located below Route 37 on Route 11 South which would cost $240,000 in which there would be considerable development for sewage facilities needed. Dr. Wright stated that the problem boils down to having 40 acres of land free, but needing water and sewer • facilities, or having to purchase land and also adding water and /or sewer facilities. Dr. Madigan asked how much it would cost to run water and sewer lines to Bass Hoover School. Dr. Wright stated that it would cost around $238,260. Dr. Wright stated that the property on Route 50 West has not definitely been chosen for the new senior high school, but added that the site has some definite possibilities. He further stated that when the Board and Site Committee has checked into some other good sites, then the School Board will make a decision. In conclusion, Dr. Wright stated that the Board has made a study, and that the consultant firm of Englehart and Englehart • from New York has been obtained to estimate the approximate number of pupils in Frederick County through 1980. �� D -4- • I Mr. DeHaven stated that the land that was donated to the County could amount to around $240,000 to $250,000 gift. Dr. Wright stated that it was a $200,000 gift, minimum. He added that there was an option on ten (10) more acres, in case the School Board would like to have 50 acres instead of 40. Mr. Williams asked if this was contiguous to the land already in the Board's possession. Dr. Wright stated that this was correct. Mr. Madigan asked if the Board felt that the site on Route.50 was a good site for the new school, excluding the problem of water and sewer. Dr. Wright stated that with the property's proximity to 37 which would connect with 11 North,.Route 7 and I -81, then in his • opinion the property would serve the purpose well. Dr. Wright stated that the problem with the sewage was that the linese,1if they were extended, would only be able to facilitate a certain amount of flow. He added that this was a major problem. Mr. Williams asked how many acres were purchased for the Bass Hoover School and also how much it cost. Dr. Wright stated that there was around 34 acres with the purchase price of around $104,000 to $105,000. Dr, Wright stated that if the new school is not built by 1978 or 1979, then the school system will have to go to double shifting. He added that the Junior High Schools are at capacity now, and the ninth grade will have to be taken out of them so that room can be made for grades 6, 7 and 8. • I //7 -5- • • • Mr. Madigan stated that the growth rate in the County will have a great impact on the school system, as well as the in- migration rate. He further added that the low tax rate in the County is en- couraging people to move from the City into the County. Dr. Wright stated that what the Board needs to do is to build a school that will house 1300 students, even though there will only be 1200. He added that this would give the school a chance to grow. Mr. Golladay wanted to know how long the proposed plan for James Wood and the new school would last. Dr. Wright stated that there was no possible way to know, since it was impossible to tell how fast the County was going to DA "W Mr. Gordon asked if it might be more advantageous to build the school where the projected growth might be, rather than to build it to the West. Dr. Wright stated that with the highway system, that time wise the students would be closer to the site on Route 50 West than they are to James Wood. He added that the proximity of the site to. James Wood is good. Dr. Wright further stated that the new school should be no more than ten (10) minutes away from James Wood. Mr. Madigan asked to have explained the materials that would be used by the teachers that could be used by both schools. Dr. Wright stated that the problems of having two separate schools each with grades 9 - 12 are: (1) No one is going to want to eliminate James Wood which is worth approximately 7 million dollars. �2_- U I Dr. Wright added that James Wood is not large enough to • house grades 9 through 12. He stated that the facilities are not adequate for a total high school program for the end of the County. Dr. Wright further stated that it would not be feasible to upgrade James Wood to house grades 9 through 12 and then build anew high school to the south to house grades 9 through 12. The Superintendent stated that when two (2) high schools are built, every vocational department must be duplicated; a mini- mum of 6 to.8 new buses would have to be added; and every time a bus is taken to Dowell J. Howard School, then there would have to be two buses, one from each school. He further added' that every sports program would have to be duplicated. Dr. Wright stated that the advantage of having grades nine and ten in one school would be that the students would be • able to have their own leadership. He added that they would not be a part of a big complex with 2400 students with half of them being 11th and 12th graders. He further stated that the shops for vocational studies could be enriched. Mr. Williams would like to know what would be an ideal enrollment figure for the 9th and 10th as well as the 11th and 12th grades. He further asked what the alternative would be if the growth projection for James Wood or the new plan prooved inadequate. Mr. Williams further asked what kind of inner school day transportation problems would this create. Dr. Wright stated that it is not anticipated that after every class there would be a shuttle bus from James Wood High • School to James Wood Senior High School. I -Z- r I Mr. Williams asked how an increase in the growth projection by 10% would affect the entire system of duplicating James Wood or even the new James Wood. Dr. Wright stated that this would saturate James Wood and a second high school would have to be planned, depending on the strongest growth development's location. Mr. John Solenberger stated that it takes roughly three (3) years to complete a new school. He added that it has come to the point that the site must be decided upon. Mr. Gordon asked how much emphasis the School Board places on the cost of the land. Mr. Solenberger stated that the over -all school program • is what determines the school site. Mr. Gordon stated that the cost of land should not be the determining factor. He added that one factor should be the urban growth development. Dr. Wright stated that no matter where the new school is built, the land around the school will go up in value and will consequently be developed. He added that the best place to put the school would be between Route 50 West and Kernstown interchange. Dr. Wright asked if the Commission has the power, if every- thing can be worked out, to put a moratorium on building in the agricultural district should the Board agree to construct the school on Route 50. Mr. Madigan stated that the thing that would dictate that 40 would be the capability of the sewer system. He added that it would be up to the Board of Supervisors to give the Sanitation Authority permission to lay the lines. He added that this body only recommends to the Board of Supervisors. �J -s- Dr. Wright stated that if the site on Route 50 was decided upon, then an official seisographic study would be made on.the land in relation to its nearness to the quarry. Mr. Madigan stated that the School'Board knows the best site for the additional education system. Mr. Brumback asked about a 12 -month school year instead of 9 months. Dr. Wright stated that the Board has made an extensive study of this system. He added that it works in an extremely large rural area. He added that he did not think the people would "buy" the idea of a 12 -month school year. Dr. Wright further stated that it would not be feasible economically. Mr. Golladay stated that with the economic problem, that • the only growth that Frederick County will see wi11 be with new industries. Mr. Madigan stated that we do need the school. He added that in his opinion, that it should be left up to the School Board to pick the site that will best fit their needs. Dr. Wright stated that the Board did not want to pick a site then have the Commission sya that it is not in agreement. He added that if the water and sewer problem is not resolved, then the Board will have to hold the land for some future project. Mr. Madigan stated that without water and sewer out Route 50 West, then he can't see the area developing rapidly. Mr. Gordon asked that in light of the projected development to the East, would the area west of the City still be a good site • for the proposed school. Dr. Wright stated that the new school should be within ten • minutes of James Wood. He added that once the new roads were finished, then this should not be a problem as long as the school was close enough to James Wood, but far enough out in the County that it cannot be annexed. Mr. Golladay asked what the minimum acreage for a school site would be. Dr. Wright stated that the minimum was ten acres, plus one acre per hundred students. Mr. Williams stated that this commission should address a letter of recommendation with comments and observations to the Board.of.`Supervisors. Mr. Ray Boyce, Chairman of the School Board, stated that in his opinion it is the responsibility of the School Board with the • Commission's approval, to buy the land that is suitable to build a school on as close to water and sewer as possible. He added that the County should not spend more money if the Board can find a site _ that would not cost more. Dr. Wright stated that the Board would appreciate a letter from the Commission on its reaction to the meeting. Mr. Boyce stated that if the Board could find a site that could tie into the system, then this would be the way to go, if it could be done at a lesser figure. Dr. Wright stated that the School Board would like to have a chance to communicate with the Commission on things that may affect the schools. • I I IKIN Mr. Golladay suggested that a copy of the Commission's • agenda be sent to the School Board. THERE BEING NOTHING FURTHER TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. • 0 Respectfully submitted, RonalaBe,,. Se cretar