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Community presses board for transparency, preservation in Ligon Middle School replacement plans
Summary
Several speakers at the Wake County Board of Education meeting urged the district to keep Ligon Middle School 'visible' on Lenore Street and to provide more transparent, public planning and meetings about potential relocation or rebuild plans.
Parents, alumni and residents urged the Wake County Board of Education on Oct. 21 to preserve Ligon Middle School’s current site at 709 Lenore Street and demanded clearer communication about renovation or replacement proposals.
Carol Gartrell, who said she attended the school and now has grandchildren in the system, told the board she is “for the renovations necessary,” but opposed a plan she said would rebuild the school “at the bottom of the hill in back of the school.” Gartrell asked for “more transparency and more communication with the community.”
Daniel Coleman and other speakers asked for documents tied to the project, including the “enhanced design narrative” and milestone schedule referenced in a design consultant agreement for the Ligon renovation/replacement (project number 8620458). Coleman specifically requested access to those contract exhibits and cost information.
Why it matters: Ligon is a longtime neighborhood institution. Decisions about whether to renovate on‑site or replace the building in a new location raise questions about historical preservation, community access and project transparency.
What speakers requested
- Maintain the school’s visibility and historical location at 709 Lenore Street rather than relocating it “to the back of the school,” according to community speakers.
- Greater transparency about planning documents, timelines, cost estimates and community meetings. Speakers said some small, closed meetings had occurred and asked for broader, inclusive public sessions.
Board and staff response
Speakers asked staff to provide clearer public engagement timelines; board members noted the superintendent planned additional community meetings, and several board members asked staff to provide schedules and documents for public review. No formal action or vote on the Ligon project was taken at the Oct. 21 meeting.
Ending
Residents asked the board to ensure an open, visible planning process and to make design documents and meeting schedules available in advance of any decision.
