Last month, the school board received several options for the forthcoming school bond which they plan to discuss tonight. They were entitled 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, and 4. All had various benefits and tradeoffs.

But a new plan has emerged: Option 5. It’s in the slide deck that will be presented to the School Board tonight. And at first glance, it solves many of the previously raised concerns and looks pretty good. The school board will receive a presentation tonight and discuss all of the options.

Here’s what’s in Option 5:

option-5-1

Here’s what option 5 suggests:

  1. Build a replacement Frank Porter Graham (FPG)/Dual Language ES on land adjacent to Morris Grove ES.
  2. Vacate FPG and move to new ES next to Morris Grove ES.
  3. Replace Carrboro ES, using FPG as a “swing” school.
  4. Perform High Priority Maintenance projects at Culbreth MS and Phillips MS
  5. Construct new Estes Hills ES onsite.

The plan:

  1. Keeps McDougle Elementary as-is
  2. Keeps Morris Grove Elementary as-is
  3. Plans for a new Estes Hills onsite (In other words, Estes Hills Elementary stays, which is great because they just got new sidewalks.)
  4. Fits well with Carrboro’s comprehensive plan and Chapel Hill’s comprehensive plan

option-5-2

We’re impressed with the speed that the CHCCS staff responded to the community — kudos to Al Ciarochi and Andre Stewart for working through all of the data and inputs that they need to think about. (It’s hard! There are so many things to think about.)

Option 5 is a plan that takes in feedback and uses swing space well. We still have some remaining questions about time spent on the bus for students, bus routes, and, especially, whether and how the district will consolidate and even expand Spanish dual language at some point in the future.  Overall, Option 5 seems to be trying to keep academic programming separate from facility construction and repair, which is consistent with the spirit of the bond. We trust that the remaining issues will be discussed and worked out in future Board meetings.  There are tradeoffs, as with all plans – but overall, this looks pretty decent and fits nicely with Carrboro’s comprehensive plan and Chapel Hill’s comprehensive plan. It thinks about our existing biking and walking infrastructure. And it plans for the schools that need repairs first, because they’re old and aren’t meeting current needs.

There will be six community meetings on the bond project proposals:

  • Thursday, Aug. 1: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Chapel Hill Public Library (100 Library Dr.)
  • Thursday, Aug. 1: 2-3:30 p.m., Chapel Hill Public Library (100 Library Dr.)
  • Wednesday, Aug. 7: 10-11:30 a.m., Southern Human Services Center (2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill)
  • Wednesday, Aug. 7: 2-3:30 p.m., Southern Human Services Center (2501 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill)
  • Thursday, Aug. 8: 10-11:30 a.m., Lincoln Center (750 S. Merritt Mill Rd., Chapel Hill)
  • Thursday, Aug. 8: 2-3:30 p.m., Lincoln Center (750 S. Merritt Mill Rd., Chapel Hill)

Additional slides below:

This is the criteria that was developed after feedback several months ago

This is showing the most recent Chapel Hill Mobility and Connectivity plan and how Phillips MS and Estes Hills ES fit into that plan

This is showing all of the greenways that are developed or will be in development in Carrboro soon and will help people safely walk and bike to schools.

This is showing the future improvements that will be made in the Carrboro Connects Comprehensive Plan, which will improve biking and walking facilities near the schools.

This is showing the tradeoffs. There are tradeoffs to every plan but this one reduces the average school age, maintains walkability, and replaces schools that need to be replaced soon. It also means Estes Hills students can stay where they are.

Mel is a journalist and librarian. Outside of work, she volunteers as a reading tutor at Carrboro Elementary School, writes about journalism for a variety of publications, and serves as chair of the OWASA...