Alumni and residents press Wake County board to preserve Ligon school buildings

Residents and community members told the Wake County Board of Education on Oct. 7 that plans for John W. Ligon High School warrant a preservation‑first approach and fuller public study.

Daniel Coleman, who identified himself as a longtime local resident, asked the board to "consider allowing Raleigh Historic Development Commission, Preservation Raleigh, and other partners to study the site and its structures" before decisions about relocation or reconstruction. Coleman said Ligon once served a specific neighborhood and "became a bold experiment to reflect the diversity of Raleigh's broader population." He framed preservation as honoring community sacrifice during the historical Raleigh–Wake merger.

Carol Gartrell, a counselor and Ligon alumnus, said she had attended community meetings and then learned of two subsequent smaller meetings she described as "handpicked" and warned that attendees had been shown plans indicating the main campus could be torn down and rebuilt downslope. "We are asking for support to try to preserve history that is continuing to be erased in the Black community," Gartrell said.

Board leadership acknowledged the speakers and emphasized the district's obligation to consider historic value. Chair Herrick told the board, "We have an obligation to honor and respect the history of our district... we must, at the very least, go to the same efforts of historical preservation for that school that we have for other high schools in our district." The chair said the board would make speakers' materials available to the public and that staff should ensure parity of preservation review.

What’s next: Community members asked the board to formally involve historic‑preservation partners and to make committee materials and plans publicly available so stakeholders can review proposed options. Board members said they expect more detailed staff briefings and potentially a committee referral to shape next steps.