Meeting held May 2, 2006 at the Daphne Civic Center.

In attendance: Dr. Hollinger, Mr. Keating, Ms. Henson - with the Baldwin County Board of Education; Mr. Moore, Ms. Roberts and Ms. Schmidt – Board members; Ms. Barnette, Mr. Yelding and Mr. Burnam of the Daphne City Council and Mayor Fred Small, members of the public, Shannon Spivey to take minutes.

Meeting began at approximately 10:10 a.m.

Dr. Hollinger welcomed everyone and asked Mr. Keating to begin by making power point presentation. Mr. Keating addressed areas of concern with the following statements:

Size – The Daphne South location is of adequate size to accommodate the proposed facility

Traffic – There were some issues brought up in the traffic study that they are currently trying to address. For example, they have made a change and added a loop for incoming traffic which their architect said was a tremendous improvement. This is similar to what is currently at Rockwell Elementary.

Other proposed locations – Mr. Keating met with HMR and Friday Construction. Friday Construction owns some property in Lake Forest that had been suggested as a possible school site. The Lake Forest property was deemed unsuitable due to topography concerns.

Building Issues – The safety and security of the new facility would be better because it is one enclosed environment. There would be better air quality and day lighting in the new facility. The Downtown Redevelopment Authority asked that Daphne’s Italian Heritage be reflected in the design and they added columns and arches to the drawing.

Input from Principals and Teachers – The Board of Education has tried to incorporate feedback, they have met with instructional support personnel, science personnel and library staff.

Central Office Needs/ Community Opportunities – The BCBE support needs are growing fast and they need more room to operate. The Daphne South Campus could be used for these needs. Renovation Timing – This renovation cannot be completed during the summer months alone. South students can be housed in the flat top structures during the renovations.

Existing office at South Campus – Will be relocated on the campus and made into a Black History Museum

Cost Issues – they looked at cost of building a new school versus renovating the current facilities. The BCBE had 9 million budgeted for renovations in Daphne. They are expecting to spend about 14 – 15 million on the new facility at today’s dollars.

Life Cycle Costs – New buildings are more energy efficient. Staffing and overhead money can be saved by combining 2 campuses into 1. Transportation costs – the current buses drop children off at both locations, by combining campuses, the transportation costs will be reduced.

Growth Management – the BCBE is going to increase the size of buildings to meet the needs of the growing county.

City School System – These plans have been in the making for some time now.

Size Issues – The BCBE growth study calls for 15% increase in Daphne School population over the next 10 years. There are 9 other public schools in the State of Alabama with over 1000 students. There are also many private schools with over 1000 students. Ms. Henson with the BCBE gave the figures for the private school.

Rezoning and Daphne East – The BCBE is hoping to have a GIS system in place soon so they can more objectively rezone schools

Timing Issues – The BCBE has a timeline that shows how the plans have progressed so far.

Preparations for fall – redoing flat tops

Current schedule on new school – BCBE is in final design schedule and should be ready to send it out for bid in July or August.

Pam Henson from the BCBE spoke about the concern of having an over 1000 student population. She, along with a delegation, visited Atlanta to see how they operated schools with large populations. They learned about the “School Within A School” concept. Each grade is broken down into something like houses, or avenues. There may be a principal over K-3 and another principal over 4-6 or they may have 1 lead principal and 2 assistant principals. The enclosed school is safer and more secure. By moving to one campus, this would allow for the North Campus to be used for GED, ESL, Parenting Classes, ACT prep classes, etc. It would not just operate from 8-4.

Ms. Barnette asked what the makeup of Cobb County was. Answer – Metro Atlanta

Ms. Barnett stated that we wanted to have this meeting just to talk to each other. The

Dr. Hollinger asked for a list of the Daphne delegation’s concerns.

Mr. Yelding stated that he is looking at the best interest of the City and he feels it is best to keep both campuses open. He asked “What happens when the South reaches capacity in the next 5 years and we have closed one of our available campuses?”

Mr. Keating stated that the classrooms adjacent to the gym on the proposed plan are extra classrooms.

Mr. Yelding asked if using the North campus as a school could be part of the plan for the

future.

Dr. Hollinger stated that the South Campus is in need of renovation whatever is done.

The South campus is substandard.

Mr. Yelding stated that he would like to see both of the campus remain open and just renovate both of them. The traffic issues have already been solved at the current locations so you wouldn’t have to deal with that problem.

Ms. Schmidt asked if she was correct in stating that the City Council’s concern is that the BCBE is closing a viable school location when we know that room for future growth will definitely be needed.

Ms. Barnette asked if it is really a savings to build a new school when you know you have to plan for future growth.

Mr. Keating stated that there is room for growth at the new facility and that all factors were considered. Cost was not the most important factor.

Mr. Burnam asked if the BCBE looked at any other locations near the Lake Forest area. The City is growing rapidly in the East, why build a new school in the Western part of the City?

Mr. Keating said that in Phase 3, another elementary school in the East Side of Daphne is being planned for.

Dr. Hollinger stated that substandard facilities at the North and South campus drove the decision to build the new school.

Mayor Small asked why they were going to bring all the children all the way down to the southwest part of the city adding to the traffic congestion which is already a huge problem. Adding lanes and widening streets are not what the citizens in that area want.

Mr. Keating said that the BCBE is always willing to look at new land but that they have to do the best they can with what they have.

Ms. Barnette asked if they were willing to slow down enough to do some more research.

Mr. Keating stated that they did research another location after the meeting with SEEDS.

Ms. Barnette stated that the need is to find a new parcel of land on the north part of town. She said that we can make the opportunity come forward. The current plan for the new school is not in keeping with Daphne’s Comprehensive Plan at all. The streetscape study done in 1995 calls for narrowing the road and adding more sidewalks.

Mr. Burnam – asked about the statement “theoretically” the East campus can be used for expansion. He wanted to know why “theoretically”, why not build there now?

Mr. Keating said that it is being looked at for phase 3.

Mr. Moore stated that building costs are continually rising and the bond has been issued. The money is sitting in the bank. Growth is occurring all over our county and the BCBE doesn’t have enough money to do what needs to be done. If we slow down too much we will need to use the money somewhere else.

Ms. Barnette said that she rephrase her earlier request. She said that the City would like to see the construction stop and renovate the North and South campus. She said we don’t want a new school right now.

Mr. Moore asked what we do want.

The Mayor said we wanted to see something on the north end of Daphne and not a school of this size. We would like the current locations renovated and for them to maintain our village concept with schools closer to the communities.

Ms. Barnette said that we want schools that the children can walk to. That is what Daphne has been working toward the past 10 -15 years. While the “School Within A School” concept may be great, it is not the same as a village concept.

Mayor Small suggested that we go back and digest the information on both sides and get together again in a week or two. We want to work together and we expect that the BCBE will want to work with the City but that we are in agreement that we don’t want a “mega” school.

Dr. Hollinger said that he agrees we need to digest this information and we know that we are not all going to get everything we want.