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Dozens tell Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board to keep Glenwood, Ephesus and Sewell open
Summary
At a May 24 public hearing, parents, students, teachers and community groups urged the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board not to close Glenwood, Ephesus or Sewell elementary schools, citing program integrity, equity and enrollment data. District staff told the board a single-school closure could yield about $1.7 million in recurring savings; the board will consider action June 4.
Hundreds of residents, teachers and students packed a May 24 public hearing of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) Board of Education to oppose the possible closure of Ephesus, Glenwood and Sewell elementary schools.
Speakers across three hours of testimony emphasized that each campus provides unique educational programs and community supports, and asked the board to prioritize alternatives such as redistricting. "I salute everyone who is here this evening to speak up and speak out in support of public schools," said Brian Link, president of the local educators association.
The hearing followed a district presentation of a closure study that staff said was prompted by long-term enrollment decline and an aging school inventory. District staff summarized prior work with Carolina Demography and an NC State program-capacity analysis and told the board a hypothetical closure of a single elementary school could generate roughly $1.7 million in recurring annual savings to be redirected to academic priorities or capital needs. Staff also described a post-decision redistricting process and an equity-focused implementation plan.
Public commentators highlighted different concerns depending on the campus: supporters of Glenwood Elementary argued the school’s Mandarin dual-language immersion and world-language offerings, integrated STEAM programming and schoolwide culture are an integrated model that draws families to the district and cannot be preserved simply by relocating cohorts. "STEAM and Mandarin dual language are not just programs at Glenwood, they are Glenwood," said a Glenwood teacher and parent.
Speakers for Ephesus and Sewell emphasized student vulnerability and community connections. An Ephesus school improvement team representative told the board Ephesus is academically strong, projected to remain near capacity and serves a large share of economically disadvantaged students; she urged the board to choose the "least disruptive option".
Several parents and teachers pressed the board for greater transparency about how criteria are being weighted and asked for firm plans to protect programs and aftercare if schools are closed or programs relocated. Some community members also linked enrollment trends to districtwide policy choices such as technology use in classrooms, urging faster changes to classroom screen-time practices as a way to retain and attract families.
Board members engaged in a lengthy discussion after public comment about balancing fiscal stabilization, transportation and minimizing student transitions. Multiple members said they wanted to avoid unnecessary harm while positioning the district to meet long-term budget and capital needs. The board signaled it will continue the discussion and may take a vote on closures or next steps at its June 4 meeting.
The public hearing provided a large and sustained display of community concern that the board said it would weigh alongside the study's data and any follow-up recommendations from district leadership.
