10-11-2022 Meeting Minutes BOC
October 11, 2022
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PERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OCTOBER 11, 2022
MEMBERS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT
Gordon Powell Katherine M. Cathey, County Manager
C. Derrick Sims Brenda B. Reaves, Clerk to the Board
Kyle W. Puryear
Charlie Palmer
Patricia Gentry
The Board of Commissioners for the County of Person, North Carolina, met in
special-called session on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 6:00pm in the Person High School
Library located at 1010 Ridge Road, Roxboro, NC. The purpose of the special-called
meeting was to meet jointly with the Board of Education to discuss the needs and funding
of Person County Schools.
Chairman Powell called the meeting to order and led the group in invocation. Board
of Education Chair, Freda Tillman led the group in the pledge of allegiance.
In attendance, representing Person County was Chairman Powell, Vice Chairman
Sims and Commissioners Gentry and Palmer. Also present were County Manager
Katherine Cathey, Finance Director Amy Wehrenberg and Clerk to the Board Brenda
Reaves. Commissioner Puryear was absent until 7:13pm.
In attendance, representing the Board of Education was School Board Chair Freda
Tillman, Vice-Chair Phillip Gillis, and school board members Margaret Bradsher, Harriett
Tillett, and Jason Torian. Superintendent Dr. Rodney Peterson, Assistant Superintendent
of Administrative Services Dr. Ron Anthony, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Julie
Masten and Chief Operations Officer Chris Clayton and other staff were also present.
Dr. Peterson recognized Ms. Judy Bradsher, Director of Food & Nutrition Services,
and the high school culinary class students present that prepared the meal for everyone.
Ms. Bradsher and the students invited everyone to fix their plate for dinner; the meeting
resumed at 6:29pm.
Dr. Peterson facilitated the discussion related to the needs and funding of Person
County Schools with the following presentation:
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Dr. Peterson said the deferred maintenance as identified in the 2018 Facility Audit
that equated to $55M would cost $84M today; he added the cost of waiting to complete
deferred maintenance was only increasing, noting waiting another five years would take
the costs to over $100M.
Dr. Peterson noted the plan in place with the county for issuance of $38M for
deferred safety and ADA projects at the schools. He further noted Phase I was dedicated
to the safety and ADA project needs at Person High School valued at $11.9M, Phase 2
dedicated to the safety and ADA project needs at Stories Creek Elementary, South
Elementary, Oak Lane Elementary, Helena Elementary and Earl Bradsher Preschool
valued at $11.2M, with Phase 3 dedicated to the safety and ADA project needs at Southern
Middle School, Northern Middle School, Woodland Elementary, North End Elementary
and North Elementary valued at $13.1M.
Dr. Peterson stated agreement with keeping with the plan for the Phase I issuance
for Person High School but wanted to review with the Board the forecasting of planning
and development over the next two to five years in the county, which would impact school
capacity. For this reason, he wanted to recommend consideration that the Phase 2 and
Phase 3 issuances for safety and ADA project needs to look different. He reasoned the need
for more square footage at facilities. Dr. Peterson illustrated square footage data as follows:
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Dr. Peterson addressed capacity issues using the Membership Forecasting and
Utilization Forecasting as prepared by Numerix, LLC. Numerix, LLC is a company Person
County Schools has been working with to assist with forecasting student enrollment, to
determine elementary attendance boundaries with consolidation of schools in mind.
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Dr. Peterson proposed for Phases 2 and 3 issuances include a newly constructed
elementary school, which was projected to cost $36.5M (not including land acquisition).
In addition, Dr. Peterson recommended an expansion at Stories Creek Elementary for 12
classrooms at a projected cost of $9.6M. He said at today’s cost, for a new school,
expansion at Stories Creek Elementary along with the safety and ADA needs would cost
$71.3M.
Dr. Peterson praised the county for its funding, especially the four last consecutive
years, noting all requested critical capital projects were funded and completed. He said he
presented the challenge to the Board to prepare for the planning and development projected
for the next two to five years in the county.
Chairman Powell and commissioners thanked Dr. Peterson for the informative, eye-
opening presentation and proposal.
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ADJOURNMENT:
A motion was made by Vice Chairman Sims and carried 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 7:40pm.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Brenda B. Reaves Gordon Powell
Clerk to the Board Chairman