Shaping the Future Together

Subject: Recordings: Virtual Community Conversation

Recordings: 

• Use this link to watch an English-language recording of today’s virtual session (approximately 1 hour, 7 minutes)
• Use this link for the Spanish-language recording.
• The Chinese-language recording will be completed and shared next week.

Previously shared information:

CHCCS will study three elementary schools (Glenwood, Ephesus and Seawell) for possible closure/consolidation as we address declining student enrollment and funding challenges. 

Agenda: 

• Recap of recent Board meetings.
• Upcoming school closure studies, Board-approved criteria.
• Budget pressure, strategic response.
• Next steps, timeline through at least June 2026.
• Student redistricting process (beginning in 2026-27).
• Questions (via chat)

🔜 Next session (in-person):

Monday, March 23

6:30-8 p.m.
East Chapel Hill High School Auditorium
500 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill 

Should you attend? We welcome anyone interested in these important topics. However, there are no announcements or decisions to make at this time. If you’ve followed recent Board of Education meetings closely, it’s unlikely that these sessions will provide you with any new information. 

If you’ve been following along, but not closely, or if you’re generally aware of these topics and want to get caught up, then these sessions are for you. 

Conversations about the future of our schools are emotional and deeply personal. Our schools are at the heart of our community, and we are committed to listening carefully and engaging openly as we navigate these important decisions together.

Thank you for your continued support of CHCCS and for taking the time to stay engaged. We hope you will join us.

Sincerely,
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

Subject: Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations

Dear CHCCS Community,

As you may know, CHCCS will study three elementary schools (Glenwood, Ephesus and Seawell) for possible closure/consolidation as we address declining student enrollment and funding challenges. 

Today’s message is about what will affect our entire community, and some upcoming opportunities to talk about these topics as a whole:

• Analyzing elementary schools for possible closure/consolidation.
• A comprehensive student redistricting process beginning in 2026-27 to balance enrollment at all elementary schools for the 2027-28 school year.
• What’s the larger, long-term vision for the future of CHCCS?

🔜 Starting next week: CHCCS will host several Community Conversations. There are three in-person sessions and one virtual session. All are open to the public. 

Monday, March 16

• 6:30-8 p.m.
  Chapel Hill High School Auditorium
  9217 Seawell School Rd., Chapel Hill

Wednesday, March 18

• 6:30-8 p.m.
  Carrboro High School Auditorium
  201 Rock Haven Rd., Carrboro

Friday, March 20 (CHCCS Teacher Workday)

• 2-3 p.m.
  Virtual session
  Click here for the English Webex link (password: join)
  Click here for the Spanish Google Meet link.

Click here for the Chinese Google Meet link.

Monday, March 23

• 6:30-8 p.m.
  East Chapel Hill High School Auditorium
  500 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill

📋 Agenda: Each of these sessions will cover the same material:

• Recap of recent Board meetings.
• Upcoming school closure studies, Board-approved criteria.
• Budget pressure, strategic response.
• Next steps, timeline through at least June 2026.
• Student redistricting process (beginning in 2026-27).
• Discussion, questions until 7:45/8 p.m.

• Spanish and Mandarin interpretation will be provided at every meeting. 
• Unfortunately, the meetings on March 16, 18 and 23 will not be livestreamed or recorded. However, the virtual meeting on March 20 will be recorded, and a link will be shared after that meeting is complete. Spanish and Mandarin recordings of the March 20 session will also be shared. 

These sessions are an opportunity to listen, ask questions, and be part of an open dialogue. No decisions have been made, and community feedback is important.

🙋 Questions: Please use this form to send your questions in advance. This will help us plan around the most common areas of concern.

⏰ Should you attend? We welcome anyone interested in these important topics. However, there are no announcements or decisions to make at this time. If you’ve followed recent Board of Education meetings closely, it’s unlikely that these sessions will provide you with any new information. 

If you’ve been following along, but not closely, or if you’re generally aware of these topics and want to get caught up, then these sessions are for you. 

• Note: While the upcoming sessions are at high schools in case of large crowds, we also plan to set up additional sessions at Glenwood, Ephesus and Seawell in the near future. When those dates are scheduled, we’ll communicate directly to staff and families at those schools.

Conversations about the future of our schools are emotional and deeply personal. Our schools are at the heart of our community, and we are committed to listening carefully and engaging openly as we navigate these important decisions together.

Thank you for your continued support of CHCCS and for taking the time to stay engaged. We hope you will join us for one of these conversations.
Sincerely,
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

Subject line: School Closure/Consolidation Update - Message from the Superintendent

Dear CHCCS community,

Last night, the Board of Education made two important votes that will officially begin our study of potential elementary school closures.

In a 4-3 vote, the Board directed CHCCS administration to study three elementary schools -Glenwood, Ephesus and Seawell- for potential closure in order to address our district’s decline in student enrollment and budgetary shortfalls. 

Then, in a 7–0 vote, the Board amended and approved the criteria that will define the scope of the study. These criteria identify the data and information that will be collected and analyzed to support the Board’s review and deliberations over the next two to three months. 

• Use this link to watch Public Comments and the Board’s discussion (YouTube)
• The amended criteria is being put into writing and will be available soon. In the meantime, you can use timestamps in the video to skip to that part of the discussion.

These steps were widely acknowledged as difficult and painful. The schools being studied have long histories and deep relationships with our staff, families and community. But ultimately, this is necessary as we look to position CHCCS for a sustainable future. 

What’s next: Starting March 16 we’re hosting community engagement sessions on this topic. We see these as more informal settings (compared to Board meetings) to be sure everyone in our community is on the same page as we begin the school closure studies. We’re holding them in high school auditoriums to be sure there are enough parking spots and seats. Mark your calendars now: 

• Monday, March 16, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Chapel Hill High School Auditorium (9217 Seawell School Rd., Chapel Hill)
• Wednesday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Carrboro High School Auditorium (201 Rock Haven Rd., Carrboro)
• Friday, March 20, 2-3 p.m. (Virtual session)
  • Click here for the English Webex link, password “join”
  • Coming soon: Links for additional languages
• Monday, March 23, 6:30-8 p.m. at the East Chapel Hill High School Auditorium (500 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill)

What would be most helpful to you during these sessions? If you have a suggestion, please use this form.

⚠️ Student redistricting and staffing adjustments: Regardless of which school or schools are closed, there will be a comprehensive (meaning districtwide) student redistricting process within the next year. This will be necessary to balance enrollment across all elementary schools and feeder patterns for middle and high schools. 

• This will also result in staffing adjustments to match the rebalanced student enrollment numbers at every school.

🔄 Get caught up: CHCCS is working toward becoming a smaller, stronger school district in order to address financial shortfalls caused by declining student enrollment and underutilized schools. 

• No school closure/consolidation decisions are expected until June 2026. Decisions would not take effect until the Fall of 2027 at the earliest.
• This is about closing buildings and moving students/staff. It is not about eliminating any academic programs or services for students. Students enrolled in programs will be able to complete their program pathway.
• The process will be guided by data, transparency and district values.
• Any final action will take place publicly with opportunities for community feedback. 
• Shaping the Future Together: Visit this webpage for information, prior communications and community meetings dating back to last year.

Thank you again for the time you’ve taken to stay engaged, share your perspectives and offer thoughtful ideas as we work through these difficult decisions together. If you’d like to write back, please don’t reply directly to this email. Instead, use this link so we can see your response.

Sincerely,
Rodney

Subject line: School Closure Criteria Update - Message from the Superintendent

Dear CHCCS community,

I’m writing to share an update on Thursday’s Board meeting, which lasted for more than six hours total and ended just after midnight. First, I want to say thank you to all of our staff, families, students and small children who joined us and stayed late into the night. I know that the public process is not always exciting or easy on our families, but it’s necessary in order to reach the best outcomes together.

What happened: To address our previously discussed student enrollment and budget shortfalls, my administration provided information and considerations for elementary school closure criteria. It was a list of 64 potential criteria, including four specific items that we recommended as a starting point for the Board to consider. As your elected representatives, our seven Board members then discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each criterion as they worked to narrow the list to a manageable number. 

• No final decisions were made last night. We expect the Board may vote to approve a final list of criteria at its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m.

The Board then heard public comment for just over two hours, which is important and helpful as we work together with you, our staff and community, to make difficult but necessary decisions. 

• Use this link to watch the recording from last night’s meeting, including Public Comment (YouTube)
• Use this link to review the ideas and considerations for elementary school closure criteria as presented on Feb. 19 (PDF)

What’s next: The Board’s next public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 7 p.m. at Lincoln Center (750 S. Merritt Mill Rd. in Chapel Hill). 

• General information about Board meetings is posted on our website.

Save the dates: We have also set aside several dates in March for community engagement sessions on the school closure topic. While the agenda and content of these sessions has not yet been determined, we recommend that you mark your calendars now and plan to attend at least one:

• Monday, March 16, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Chapel Hill High School Auditorium.
• Wednesday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m. at the Carrboro High School Auditorium.
• Friday, March 20, 2-3 p.m. (Virtual session; Link will be shared later)
• Monday, March 23, 6:30-8 p.m. at the East Chapel Hill High School Auditorium.

Get caught up: CHCCS may study up to five elementary schools -Ephesus, Estes Hills, FPG Bilingüe, Glenwood and Seawell- for potential closure or consolidation, in order to address financial shortfalls caused by declining student enrollment and underutilized schools. 

• No decisions have been made, and we are currently working on the criteria to determine which schools to close.
• This is about closing buildings. It is not about eliminating any academic programs or services for students. Students enrolled in programs will be able to complete their program pathway.
• The process will be guided by data, transparency and district values.
• Any final action will take place publicly with opportunities for community feedback. 
• Shaping the Future Together: Visit this webpage for information and prior communications on this important topic.

Student redistricting and staffing adjustments: Regardless of which school or schools are closed, we anticipate a comprehensive (districtwide) student redistricting process in order to balance enrollment across all elementary schools and feeder patterns for middle and high schools. 

• This would also result in staffing adjustments to match the rebalanced student enrollment numbers at every school.

Thank you again for all of your time, attention and constructive ideas as we face these difficult decisions. If you’d like to share a response with myself and the Board of Education, please don’t reply directly to this email. Instead, use this link so we can see your response.

Sincerely,

Rodney

Subject line: Message from the Superintendent

Dear CHCCS Community,

I am writing to provide an update following last night’s Board of Education meeting regarding elementary school planning in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Over the past two years, the district has engaged in significant facilities planning work, including the passage of a voter-approved bond to rebuild three elementary schools. That work was informed by the Woolpert Facilities Report, an independent assessment commissioned by Orange County, and subsequent analysis by district staff.

At the same time, CHCCS is experiencing declining student enrollment, a trend that has both educational and financial implications. In light of these realities, the Board of Education provided direction last night for the administration to analyze five elementary schools, instead of just three, to inform future decisions about potential school closures. The five schools are (in alphabetical order): Ephesus, Estes Hills, FPG Bilingüe, Glenwood and Seawell elementaries.

This represents an expansion of earlier considerations and reflects the Board’s desire to review options comprehensively and comparatively. The Board has asked staff to examine these schools across a range of metrics, yet to be finalized and shared publicly, to support thoughtful decision-making.

• Use this link to watch the Feb. 5, 2026, presentation, Board discussion and Public Comment (YouTube)
• Use this link to read my opening statement (PDF).
• Use this link to skim the slide deck that was presented last night (PDF).
• Use this link for a written summary of the presentation (PDF).

I want to emphasize several important points:

• No decisions have been made.
• This is an analysis phase at this time.
• The Board will make any final decisions in public, with opportunities for community engagement prior to decisions being made. 
• The process will be grounded in data, transparency and district values.

I recognize that conversations about school closures are deeply emotional and personal. Schools are not just buildings, they are centers of learning, connection and identity. As superintendent, I am committed to ensuring that this process is handled with care, clarity and respect.

We will continue to share information as it becomes available, including how the analysis will be conducted and how community members can engage in the process.

Thank you for your continued trust and engagement as we navigate these complex decisions together.

• If you’d like to share a response with myself and the Board of Education, please don’t reply directly to this email. Instead, use this link so we can see your response.

Sincerely,

Rodney Trice
Superintendent
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

Subject line: Board Meeting Update (Consideration of Possible School Closures)

This message is for all CHCCS staff and families:

Following our recent community conversations about the financial implications of CHCCS student enrollment trends, the Board of Education has asked district leadership to analyze how best to keep our school district functioning at a high level for the foreseeable future. Specifically, the Board directed the district to analyze whether the closure of one or more elementary schools would help us achieve that goal.

• Use this link for a recording of the full January 15 presentation and discussion (YouTube)
• Use this link to look at the presentation slides (PDF)

So what does this mean? District leaders will put together more information, along with possible options and clear explanations, to share with staff and the community. We expect to bring this forward at the next Board of Education meeting on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. 

• We are fortunate that the community approved the 2024 Bond Referendum. These finances will allow us to replace three of our elementary schools with new buildings. In a series of meetings before and after the Bond vote, the Board (in 2025) decided to prioritize three of our oldest schools to be rebuilt (for video, start at the 3:13:50 timestamp): Carrboro Elementary, Estes Hills Elementary and FPG Bilingüe.
• The facility study that recommended replacing the three schools named above also identified Ephesus Elementary School, Glenwood Elementary School and Seawell Elementary School as aging and inefficient to run, compared to our other, newer elementary schools.
• Therefore, the starting point will be to consider Ephesus, Glenwood and Seawell, even though we do not anticipate needing to close all three.
• Staff will look into which options make the most sense fiscally, while also considering how to best minimize disruption to our community.
• Any potential school closures are extremely unlikely to take effect until the 2027-28 school year, at the earliest.
• This discussion is about buildings, not academic programs or extracurriculars. Any decision about a building isn’t necessarily a decision about the programs and activities within those buildings.

What can be expected in the near future? After Feb. 5, if we continue to go down this path, we plan to hold staff and community forums in any potentially affected communities. These conversations will give us the chance to explain things in more detail, listen closely and answer questions along the way.

What about the long-term? This would include a detailed study, a public hearing and continued discussion through the winter and early spring. 

• Any school closure would also be accompanied by a comprehensive student redistricting process at all schools across the district.
• Our goal, with the Bond and with a potential closure, is to put as many students as possible in state-of-the-art facilities and to balance student enrollment.

Get caught up: Why is this happening? CHCCS student enrollment has been decreasing since 2019. That’s due to a mix of reasons including fewer births, some families moving out of the area, not enough new families moving in, and more families choosing options like charter schools, private schools and homeschooling. 

• When student enrollment declines, so does the state funding we get for day-to-day operations. This was discussed in depth in a series of staff and community meetings last fall.
• There’s nothing wrong with being a smaller district. But this shift means we need to find as many cost-saving measures as possible. That includes reducing the high fixed costs that accompany maintaining old, inefficient buildings.
• We want to get it right, which means looking at central services, school staffing and programming as well.
• We are committed to preserving excellent student-teacher ratios and quality instruction as we optimize our operations. 

We know there are many questions right now, and not all of them have answers yet. As this conversation gets started, no decisions have been made, and we’ll keep you updated with important dates and developments. 

If you have a question or comment that you’d like to share, do not respond directly to this email. Instead, please use this link so that we can gather responses all in one place.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Riza Jenkins, Board of Education Chair

Barbara Fedders, Board of Education Vice Chair

Dr. Rodney Trice, Superintendent

Enrollment Trends and Next Steps

This message from Superintendent Rodney Trice is for all staff and families: 

Last night, our Board of Education got an update on what CHCCS student enrollment might look like over the next ten years. The exact numbers are still early estimates, but I wanted to share some of the big takeaways with you:

• Since the 2019-20 school year, our student enrollment has been going down, especially in the early grades like Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd.
• We’re also seeing birth rates decline in our district, which means fewer school-age children living here than in years past.
• More students are going to charter schools, private schools or homeschool.
• As a result, almost all CHCCS schools are projected to be underenrolled over the next 5-10 years.
• As enrollment declines, CHCCS will experience a systemic shift in its financial foundation, driven by sustained reductions in state funding.

Here’s how I look at it: This is our reality. It’s not a crisis, it’s a crossroads. And we will get ahead of it by working together to become a smaller, stronger and more innovative CHCCS.

So how will we do that?

Currently, my team and I are collecting information and developing short-term, transitional and long-term options to responsibly manage the district’s budget. After that, I expect our Board of Education will offer more direction, including chances for staff, family and student involvement, much like the meetings that many of you attended over the past month.

In the meantime, you can stay up to date by checking out the same information the Board reviewed last night:

• Presentation slides: Carolina Demography student enrollment forecast
• Video: Presentation and discussion with CHCCS Board of Education and administration (YouTube)
• Presentation slides: CHCCS five-year financial outlook and strategic budget levers

Big challenges like this call for a big-picture approach. Together, we’ll think creatively, strive for excellence and continue to educate the next generation at a very high level. I’ll keep you posted every step of the way.

Sincerely,

Rodney

Look Back: Community Meetings about Enrollment Trends

• December 2 at Smith Middle School (YouTube)
• December 1 at Culbreth Middle School (YouTube)
• November 19 at Smith Middle School (YouTube)
• November 17 at Phillips Middle School (YouTube)
• Presentation slides (PDF)
• One-page handout with the key takeaways and talking points (PDF)

Enrollment Trends and Next Steps

This message from Superintendent Rodney Trice is for all staff and families:

This week we completed our series of four community meetings about the changing student enrollment trends we face here in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. As I said each night, this was not the end of a conversation, but rather a beginning.

So what’s next?

Next Thursday, December 11, our Board of Education has a retreat, which is less formal than the Board’s usual meetings. The Board will address several topics, including: 

• “Academic Return on Investment” framework.
• Updated review of our local demographics and enrollment projections. 

That night, I expect the Board will provide direction to me and my administration on the variety of proposals we should prepare to best use our financial resources and personnel as a smaller, stronger and more innovative CHCCS. The retreat is open to the public, and anyone is welcome to attend. Scroll down for more details.

On another note, my thanks go out to all staff, students and families whose patience and understanding helped us get through the first “winter weather” event of the season (yeah, I know it was just cold rain here for us.) We’ll still hold out hope for at least one “snow day” someday soon 😉

Sincerely,

Rodney

Board of Education Retreat

• When: Thursday, Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m.
• Where: Lincoln Center (750 S. Merritt Mill Rd., Chapel Hill)
• Who: Open to the public. Please note that anyone is welcome to attend and watch in person, but the retreat will not be livestreamed.
• More information coming soon: The agenda will appear on this page early next week.

Community Meetings about Enrollment Trends

• December 2 at Smith Middle School (YouTube link)
• December 1 at Culbreth Middle School (YouTube Link)
• November 19 at Smith Middle School (YouTube link)
• November 17 at Phillips Middle School (YouTube link)
• Presentation slides (PDF)

One-page handout with the key takeaways and talking points

Let’s talk about CHCCS enrollment trends and what’s next

This message from Superintendent Rodney Trice is for all CHCCS families and staff:

I hope you’ll join me at one of several upcoming talks about our most recent enrollment and demographic trends, and what they mean for our district’s future.

As I recently shared with the Board of Education, our student enrollment numbers are changing, with projections showing a potential $2.1 million reduction in state funding for the 2026-27 school year. While that presents some real challenges, it also gives us a chance to reimagine how we operate as a smaller, more agile and financially sustainable district.

I’ll talk about where we are now, what it means for our schools and central services, and how we can move forward together with transparency, inclusion and strategic decision-making at the center of our work.

What: “Shaping the Future Together: Reimagining CHCCS in a Time of Change”. A talk with Superintendent Rodney Trice

When: 

• Monday, Nov. 17, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Phillips Middle School Auditorium (606 N. Estes Drive)
• Wednesday, Nov. 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Smith Middle School Auditorium (9201 Seawell School Road)
• Monday, Dec. 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Culbreth Middle School Auditorium (225 Culbreth Road)
• Tuesday, Dec. 2: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Smith Middle School Auditorium (9201 Seawell School Road)

Spanish interpretation will be available at each session.

Please come to the session that’s most convenient for you. Each of the four evenings will cover the same material and allow time for discussion. If you’re unable to join in-person, we’ll livestream each session, and recordings will appear on our district YouTube channel. 

• For a clear and concise preview of the major trends we’ll discuss, I recommend this three-minute recap video of a presentation that Carolina Demography gave to our Board back in October 2024.
• Note for CHCCS staff: These in-person talks will cover the same material as the virtual meetings on November 4.

We’re not making decisions right now. Rather, we’re building a shared understanding of the trends headed our way. So please come out and join me. I’m looking forward to connecting with you, answering questions, and sharing how we’ll move together in the months ahead. 

Sincerely,

Rodney

CHCCS receives approximately $7,500 in state funding for every student enrolled in the district. If there are fewer students, then the district receives less in state funding. Our most recent projection has CHCCS down 341 students in 2026-27, which means an approximate loss of $2.6 million in state funding.

There are no immediate changes in any schools, offices or services and programs available to students.

• In October, November and December of 2025 CHCCS worked to communicate the enrollment trends and budget impacts across a broad range of district leadership, school staff, families, students and community groups.
• In 2026, CHCCS is working with the Board of Education and the community to make difficult decisions -guided by data, transparency and district values- that will address the long-term funding changes.
• CHCCS is currently working on the study of three elementary schools -Glenwood, Ephesus and Seawell- for potential closure/consolidation based on Board-approved criteria. You should expect a report to be made public in May 2026.

It’s not a crisis, it’s a crossroads. CHCCS district administration is working to collect information and develop short-term, transitional and long-term options to manage the district’s budget.

There are no changes expected during the current school year. However, with approximately 85% of the district’s budget dedicated to personnel (salaries and matching benefits), changes to our staffing at the central office and school levels will have to at least be considered. Programs will also be reviewed over time to ensure our students are receiving the best possible outcomes.

On March 5, in a 4-3 vote, the Board directed CHCCS administration to study three elementary schools -Glenwood, Ephesus and Seawell- for potential closure in order to address our district’s decline in student enrollment and budgetary shortfalls. 

Then, in a 7–0 vote, the Board amended and approved the criteria that will define the scope of the study. These criteria identify the data and information that will be collected and analyzed to support the Board’s review and deliberations over the next two to three months. 

• Use this link to watch Public Comments and the Board’s discussion (YouTube)
• The amended criteria is being put into writing and will be available soon. In the meantime, you can use timestamps in the video to skip to that part of the discussion.

No. Aging schools (Carrboro Elementary, Estes Hills Elementary and FPG Bilingue) must still be replaced, and we are working to do so over the next 8-10 years. The bond funding approved by voters in November 2024 is not impacted by the district’s current student enrollment figures.

Community Conversations

Monday, March 16

6:30-8 p.m., Chapel Hill High School Auditorium
9217 Seawell School Rd., Chapel Hill

Wednesday, March 18

6:30-8 p.m., Carrboro High School Auditorium
201 Rock Haven Rd., Carrboro

Friday, March 20 (CHCCS Teacher Workday)

2-3 p.m., Virtual session

• Click here for the English Webex link (password: join)
• Click here for the Spanish Google Meet link.
• Click here for the Chinese Google Meet link.

Monday, March 23

6:30-8 p.m., East Chapel Hill High School Auditorium
500 Weaver Dairy Rd., Chapel Hill

April 2026:

• Data Collection (Administration collects required data to conduct campus studies)
• Development of Administration Recommendation

May 2026:

• May 7: Administration Recommendation Published
• May 21: Board Meeting (Public Hearing)

June 2026:

• June 4: Board Meeting (Board takes formal action)

Fall 2027:

• Any action would not take effect until Fall 2027, at the earliest
• Student programs remain intact