s021215 Joint ACSFebruary 12, 2015 -- Special Joint Meeting with the
Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met in special joint session with the
Asheboro City Schools Board of Education at 6:00 p.m. in the Professional Development
Center, on the corner of Church and Walker Streets on the Asheboro High School campus,
Asheboro. Commissioners Frye, Kemp, Lanier, Haywood, and Allen were present. Also
present were County Manager Hal Johnson; Finance Officer Will Massie; and Dana Crisco,
Deputy Clerk to the Board; Asheboro City School Superintendent Dr. Terry Worrell;
members of the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education: Gustavo Agudela, Phillip
Cheek, Linda Cranford, Joyce Harrington, Steve Jones, Gidget Kidd, Kyle Lamb, Archie
Priest, Jane Redding, Chris Yow; other school officials: Finance Officer Harold Blair,
Director of Facilities and Maintenance Michael Mize, Executive Assistant to the
Superintendent Patsy Nichols; and Smith Sinnett Architecture Consultants: John Sinnett,
Principle; Rhonda Angerio, President; and Ed Gordon, Associate.
Asheboro City Schools' Board of Education Chair, Jane Redding welcomed the
Commissioners and Chairman Frye called the meeting to order for the County.
Superintendent Dr. Terry Worrell thanked the Commissioners for attending. She stated
that this Capital Improvement Plan was designed to increase classroom space and save
money in the process.
John Sinnett, a Smith Sinnett Principle, said that 2009-2014 were the toughest years in
business that he has ever seen. He commended the Commissioners on their agreement to
purchase the Sir Robert property for expanding the Asheboro High School campus. He noted
it was originally planned to satisfy the needs of the high school for ten years, but has
provided twelve years of use with no major renovation and will continue to be important to
Asheboro City Schools. The relocation of the Early Childhood Center also helped the City
Schools through the tough economic period in his opinion. He was complimentary of the
vital relationship that Asheboro City Schools has with the Board of Commissioners.
Ed Gordon, Smith Sinnett Associate, addressed the Minimum Facility Standards as set
forth by the State of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Smith Sennett had
completed extensive research on the needs of each of the schools in the Asheboro City
School system. He presented a ten-year plan which he feels takes into consideration the
lifespan of infrastructure, as well as, when it will become obsolete. He said deferred
maintenance is commonly used instead of replacement; however, not fixing something until
it is broken can lead to larger, more expensive problems in the future. Energy savings was an
important component in the plans of Smith Sinnett. One example he recommended was
installing new windows at McCrary Elementary School that would result in a cost savings on
heat and air conditioning.
Rhonda Angerio, Smith Sinnett President, presented the three-phase expansion and
improvement plan for Asheboro High School. Their focus was on current and future
program needs, potential increased enrollment, and parking issues. Highlighted areas
included the cafeteria, space in the old Sir Robert buildings, and a larger space for the
marching band. She said the cafeteria and kitchen areas are extremely outdated and cramped.
With a cafe area in addition to the current seating capacity for the cafeteria, she felt that
students would have seating for lunch and for collaborations at other times. Renovating
space at the old Sir Robert building would create classroom space that could be utilized to
keep similar curriculum together. Current enrollment of 200+ students in the band program
surpasses the capacity for the existing band room. A renovation and addition to that space
gives the chorus and the band rooms additional space and storage with a firewall between
them. Smith Sennett also thought this firewall would create a sound barrier.
Mr. Gordon outlined the needs for additional cafeteria space at SAMS and NAMS as well
as major renovations to the cafeterias of McCrary and Lindley Park Elementary Schools. His
recommendation to add adjustable space in the multi-purpose room at Loflin Elementary
School, similar to configurations in other Asheboro schools, will accommodate various uses.
He also presented the costs of adding air conditioning units to the gyms at both middle
schools and the old gym at the high school all of which have none.
Mr. Sinnett stressed the importance of maintenance to existing structures where practical
and cost effective, but reminded everyone that renovation is often less expensive than
continual repair. He said Smith Sinnett has worked with Asheboro City Schools for many
years and has tried to prepare the most economical and long-term plan for the system, often
looking fifteen to twenty years in the future.
Chairman Frye thanked the Sinnett Smith Architecture team and the Asheboro City
Schools Board for their extensive planning and focus long-term use. He felt that the public
would have to understand the importance of these needs to accommodate the schools now
and in the future.
Adiournment
At 7:11 p.m., on motion of Kemp, seconded by Lanier, the Board voted unanimously to
adjourn.
Darrell L. Frye, Chairman Phil Kemp
Arnold Lanier
David Allen
Stan Haywood Dana Crisco, Deputy Clerk to the Board