To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Terry B. Grier, Ed.D.

Date:

June 8 , 2007

RE:

Southern Middle School Agreement

On Wednesday, May 30, 2007, representatives from Guilford County Schools (GCS) and the Guilford County Planning and Development Department met to discuss various issues of mutual concern particularly working conditions/relationships between GCS and Guilford County staff members and building code compliance issues related to school construction/renovation projects included in our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

The group reached consensus that the following agreements/commitments would improve working conditions/relationships between our respective staff members:

• Guilford County Schools staff will present materials to the Guilford County Planning and Development Department for plan review/approval within a reasonable time frame, which a agreed to be at least 10 days before approval is needed (understanding that there may be times when expedited review is necessary);
• Guilford County Planning and Development Department staff commits to performing more thorough/detailed plan reviews to avoid costly revisions and change orders;
• Guilford County Schools staff agrees to respond to Guilford County Planning and Development Department plan review comments within 10 days of receipt of such comments;
• Guilford County Planning and Development Department staff agrees to notify Superintendent Grier of any code compliance issues or items that could result in the issuance of a stop work order on any GCS projects as soon as those issues arise; and
• Guilford County Schools commits to the installation of sinks (lavatories) in the same room as the toilets (water closets) in the boys’ restrooms versus facing the hallway corridor outside the restrooms at Southern Middle School if issues related to hygiene and/or students with special needs arise. Unless an issue about actual use arises, the current configuration of the boys’ lavatories is acceptable to the Guilford County Planning and Development Department staff.

RECOMMENDATION: The purpose of this memorandum is to inform the Board of the May 30, 2007 meeting and of the consensus recommendation that the agreements/commitments outlined above are aimed at improving working conditions/relationships between our respective staff members, completing thorough/detailed plan reviews and expediting the resolution of any building code compliance issues that arise.