At the Feb. 6, 2025, Board of Education meeting, CHCCS administration presented the next steps in a multi-year approach to implementing three new school construction projects. Funding for these projects was approved by voters in the November 2024 bond referendum. In summary, staff covered the following details:

• A new two-story Carrboro Elementary School would be built on land next to the current school, and students would not be moved during construction.
• A new two-story Estes Hills Elementary School would be built on land next to the current school (to include a portion of the Phillips Middle School track/field.) Students would not be moved during construction.
• A new two-story FPG Bilingüe was proposed to be built in what is currently the wooded area in front of Culbreth Middle School. No students at either school would need to be moved during construction.

But is it time for construction yet? No, not yet.

So what’s next? Last night the CHCCS Board of Education authorized staff to continue discussions with Orange County government, which must allocate the funding for bond projects in both CHCCS as well as Orange County Schools. It is important to keep in mind that timelines for school construction have not yet been finalized, because the funding is not yet available, but CHCCS staff has worked diligently to prepare these possibilities:

• Staff and community involvement with the design of a new Carrboro Elementary could begin in late summer/fall of 2025.
• Staff and community involvement with the design of a new Estes Hills Elementary could begin in late summer/fall of 2025.
• Staff and community involvement with the design of a new FPG Bilingue could begin in the late summer/fall of 2027 or 2028. 

So is that the order of the three projects? That is our proposal, yes. CHCCS proposes to build Carrboro Elementary first, followed by Estes Hills Elementary and then by FPG Bilingüe.

• Why that order? Several reasons. This was covered in more detail during the Board meeting (view recording on our YouTube channel.) This question was addressed starting at the 25:21 timestamp.

We look forward to keeping you informed as our talks continue with Orange County.

• Feb. 6, 2025, agenda materials
• Feb. 6, 2025, slide deck with images
• Video (YouTube): Feb. 6, 2025 presentation and discussion
• Orange County School Bond (website with information and resources shared prior to the November election.)

n November 2024, Orange County (which includes Chapel Hill and Carrboro) asked residents to vote on a $300 million bond referendum in order to pay for the long-term capital improvement (facility) needs of both CHCCS and Orange County Schools. The goals for students, staff and families include:

• Placing students and staff in modern, spacious, leading-edge learning environments.

• Reducing operational/structural inefficiencies such as utility and maintenance costs that are higher in our oldest facilities.

• Reducing the overall age of CHCCS school buildings.

Why is this happening? A Capital Working Group was formed back in 2021, representing a collaboration between Orange County Government and the two school districts for which it is responsible: CHCCS and Orange County Schools. Orange County Government is directing its two school districts to modernize facilities by developing plans that look years into the future needs of our community. The county and its two school districts are working together to achieve these goals. 

For more details about the Orange County School Bond visit www.orangecountyschoolbond.com

• To view materials shared with the Board of Education and the public on Aug. 15, use this link.

• To look at the presentation slides in English, use this link.

• To look at the presentation slides in Spanish, use this link.

• To view a recording of Aug. 1 Community Meeting #1 (10:30 a.m.) use this YouTube link.

• To view a recording of Aug. 1 Community Meeting #2 (2 p.m.) use this YouTube link.