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School board approves amended bond plan to replace three elementary schools
Summary
The Chapel Hill‑Carrboro City Schools board approved an amended 2024 bond project plan (the 'lead option') that would prioritize replacement of Carrboro Elementary, Estes Hills Elementary and Frank Porter Graham Bilingue and fund high‑priority maintenance districtwide; the decision preserves the plan as a simple referendum question ahead of the November vote.
The Chapel Hill‑Carrboro City Schools Board of Education voted to amend the district’s 2024 bond project plan to the district’s recommended “lead option,” which centers on replacing three elementary schools and funding priority maintenance across the system.
Administration presented the amendment as a distillation of months of community meetings and consultant recommendations, saying the lead option would replace Carrboro Elementary, Estes Hills Elementary and Frank Porter Graham Bilingue Elementary while directing high‑priority HVAC, roofing and security work to remaining schools. Mr. Ciarogi, who presented the recommendation, said the plan aims to preserve walkability and minimize boundary disruption.
"The lead option again remains with replacing three of our elementary schools — Carrboro Elementary, Estes Hills Elementary, and then Frank Porter Graham Bilingue," the presenter said, describing the community input and consultant guardrails that shaped the proposal.
Several parents and community members who addressed the board urged more study of specific site choices for Frank Porter Graham (FPG). Jeff Glick, an FPG parent, urged the board to analyze alternatives to locating FPG beside Morris Grove and requested transparent bus‑time data for vulnerable families before a final site decision. "I would like to strongly request that the board continue to seriously study and develop options for the FPG site other than moving to Morris," he said.
Board members clarified that the local motion is to recommend the district‑level amendment in the abstract for the bond referendum; presenters and members stressed the referendum covers six schools countywide and does not lock in final building sites or boundary decisions. During discussion, board members reiterated that more detailed site‑by‑site planning and community outreach would continue if voters approve the referendum.
The board moved, seconded and approved the amended bond plan by voice vote. Administrators said the referendum question is intended to be concise for voters; if the November vote fails, the district said no construction would proceed.
Next steps: staff said they will continue public engagement and site studies, and board members and administrators urged clear communications to the public ahead of the referendum.
