TLDR: The current bond proposal plan is not a “done deal” and alternative plans are possible (and likely).
This is a “special edition” newsletter about the 2024 Bond Project Proposal. I encourage readers to check out the district web page for the latest updates on the bond proposal. Click here.
My primary purpose in writing this is to provide some clear and factual information to interested readers. This is not a comprehensive overview, but it will provide some context and focus. Here goes…
HISTORY
I joined the school board in December 2021 for the beginning of a 4-year term.
At about the same time representatives from the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS), and the Orange County Schools (OCS), had formed a Capital Needs Workgroup. The need for replacing some CHCCS schools had been a topic for a decade or more, however there was no real proactive plan in place. The same could be said for OCS. Then the county commissioners stepped up and organized the work group.
Under NC state law, county governments are responsible for funding the maintenance costs and new construction costs of all local school district buildings. This practice of county funding was first established by state law in 1933. In other words, it is nothing new or recent. The idea of developing a school bond proposal was once again on the table. A bond of this type is essentially a loan and is financially the best way to pay for major projects such as school buildings.
At about the same time, the CHCCS school board commissioned and received its own Facility Condition Assessment Report (September 2022). This report was conducted by an outside consulting firm (Moseley Architects) and identified the condition and renovation needs of our oldest schools.
The BOCC soon realized they needed a county-wide assessment of the facility conditions (e.g., schools) in both school systems that used the same assessment criteria. This would allow them (BOCC) to determine objectively which school buildings in each school system were most in need of replacement and would also provide some cost guidelines. Recall, the BOCC has funding responsibility for both school districts.
WOOLPERT CONSULTANTS CONTRACT
As a result of this need, On March 21, 2023, the BOCC approved a professional services contract with Woolpert Inc. totaling $984,561 to conduct a Facilities Condition Assessment, a School Optimization Plan, and a Benchmarking Best Practices Plan for all public schools in Orange County, and with the proposed scope of work including $85,000 for a study of educational adequacy of school facilities. This was a very wise decision and was money well spent.
CHCCS staff worked for hours and hours and days and days and literally weeks and weeks to make certain that Woolpert saw everything, understood everything, and had an accurate picture of the condition of our schools and their educational adequacy (i.e., effective learning environments for modern times). I have complete faith that the Woolpert Report was well done and is solid planning guidance for our district. More on that some other day.
On November 2, 2023, our district leaders and the Woolpert consultants made a presentation to our board. They divided their recommendations into three different five-year phases (this is basically a 15-year plan). Here’s the summary:
WOOLPERT RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATION PHASE 1 (0-5 YRS)
School Name Strategy Budget
Ø Carrboro ES Replacement School $49.5 M
Ø Carrboro HS High Priority Facility Needs $37.7 M
Ø Culbreth MS Replacement School $71.5 M
Ø Estes Hills ES Replacement School $49.5 M
Ø Frank Porter Graham ES Consolidate $0.0 M
Ø Lincoln Center High Priority Facility Needs $0.0 M
Ø Smith MS Adequacy (Learning Tools) $16.3 M
Ø Phoenix Academy Renovation $5.7 M
RECOMMENDATION PHASE 2 (5-10 YRS)
School Name Strategy Budget
Ø Ephesus ES Renovation $28.9 M
Ø Morris Grove ES Renovation $11.8 M
Ø Rashkis ES Renovation $15.1 M
Ø Chapel Hill HS High Priority Facility Needs $10.9 M
Ø E. Chapel Hill HS Renovation $23.2 M
Ø McDougle MS Adequacy (Learning Tools) $17.9 M
Ø Phillips MS Replacement School $71.5 M
RECOMMENDATION PHASE 3 (10-15 YRS)
Ø Renovations to Glenwood, Northside, Scroggs, Seawell, McDougle ES
CHCCS BOND PROPOSAL PLAN
On May 14, 2024, district staff presented to our board Finance, Facilities, and Operations Committee their recommendation for how to implement the replacement of three schools, and how to consolidate one (FPG). This Bond Project Proposal calls for building a new middle school next to Morris Grove Elementary School (the district owns the land) and then relocating McDougle MS to that site. It would eventually relocate McDougle ES students to other nearby schools (the new Carrboro ES could conceivably have 200+ seats for neighborhood students.) The plan also proposes to relocate the Dual Language program to the McDougle campus. The plan calls for replacing Carrboro ES and Culbreth MS with new school buildings. And finally, years down the road, close Estes Hills and FPG with the idea of possibly rebuilding Estes Hills in the future when neighborhood demographics once again shift toward more school-age children.
This plan was scheduled to be reviewed by the CHCCS school board at the May 16, 2024, meeting, however, due to the lateness of the hour, the presentation was rescheduled for June 6, 2014. The board did, however, vote to allow the plan to be presented to the BOCC on May 21, 2024.
On May 21, 2024, the plan was presented to the BOCC.
It is now scheduled for CHCCS board review on June 6, 2024. The plan was made public on our May 16, 2024, agenda, even though we were not able to discuss it that night. This time lag is regrettable, and at the same time could not be prevented. We have been making the public aware that we plan to have our initial discussion on June 6, however, given the lack of clear context, some have feared the worst and jumped ahead of us. This is not a criticism and is understandable. We are trying to make it clear to everyone though, that if the bond fails, then everyone suffers as there will be no new schools at all, and there will be no clear plan for continued renovation and or basic maintenance and repair. So, it’s a big deal.
Q&A
Here are a few of the many questions we are being asked.
Why are we doing this now? To meet BOCC time frame deadlines in order to get this approved to go before the voters as a Bond Referendum on November 5, 2024.
Is there a “drop dead” date for all of this? YES and NO. The BOCC plans to complete its budget work and approval of the Capital Investment Plan on June 20, 2024. This will make the bond “officially on the November ballot.” The BOCC also plans to develop a Bond Education Committee (3 parents, one staff member, one board member from each school district, and BOCC reps) in June (any day now). The BOCC intends to fund this committee’s work. Finally, CHCCS plans to begin small group information and planning sessions beginning this summer and into the fall.
Is this plan final and a done deal with no adjustments possible? NO. First things first – The full school board will review the current proposal on June 6, 2024. Due to the number of questions already raised in the community, and also among board members, one anticipated meeting outcome is that district staff will suggest presenting some alternative plans for consideration at a future board meeting (likely beginning on June 20, 2024, but no guarantees.)
Can the board consider additional alternatives to this plan? YES. See question above.
When does all this take effect? If the bond is approved in November, the construction of any new school would not begin before FY 2027. So we’re talking at least two-three years out. The other schools would follow, so we’re still years out from now.
CONCLUSION
I’ve lived in Chapel Hill since 1982 (moved here from Durham as a condition of marriage!). I taught at Phillips in the early 90’s (Exceptional Children). Both of our children went to school here K-12 (Seawell, Smith, McDougle MS, CHHS). They’re now 38 and 32 and both are doing well. A lot of credit goes to our teachers who taught, encouraged, and inspired them (and in some cases endured).
I say this to underscore that I know our community to be engaged and passionate about education. We all are. Expectations and standards are high, and everyone wants the best for their kids. This is also a very giving community. There are so many volunteers giving their time and resources to lift up others. It remains a total privilege to be a part of this thing called “our schools”. We’ve had a few bumps with our bond plan rollout, but nothing that cannot be re-centered as we move forward. Together we’ll make this work.
Still have questions? Email me at ggriffin@chccs.k12.nc.us or call me (919-306-2924).
OK, enough. See you at the next board meeting!
