Title
Vote to approve the joint application for the North Carolina State Department of Instruction's (DPI) Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund with Chatham County Schools for three capital projects - Namely, the replacement of school gymnasiums in Bennett, Bonlee, and Silk Hope (a total of three gymnasium replacements)
Abstract
Introduction & Background: The Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund (NBPSCF) was established to assist counties with their critical public school building capital needs. Grants from NBPSCF are funded with revenue from the NC Education Lottery. Grant funds are available to eligible counties for construction of new school buildings and additions, repairs, and renovations of existing school facilities.
In consultation with Chatham County Schools, the proposed project is to construct a new 10,000 sq ft. gymnasium in a different location on each campus (Bennett, Bonlee, and Silk Hope) with a Pre-Engineered Metal Building (PEMB). This project will include a middle school sized basketball court, locker and team facilities for boys and girls, public facilities, and associated storage/mechanical space.
Each campus project represents a separate funding request application to DPI. Therefore, three applications will be submitted to DPI, if approved by the Board of Commissioners. With some assistance from the County, Chatham County Schools is presently finalizing these applications, which are due no later than September 13, 2024.
Discussion & Analysis: This is currently a project that is planned to begin in FY26 (continuing through FY29) in the most recently adopted county Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The CIP states, as a recommended solution to the undersized facilities at each of these three locations is, "replace the gymnasiums at Bennett, Silk Hope, and Bonlee schools with gyms that meet the current size, features, and standards recommended by the Department of Public Instruction". The CIP further notes, "the same design will be use...
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