By Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
Chapel Hill-Carrboro school officials are waiting through one more weekend with fingers crossed that come Monday they’ll get their final certificate of occupancy for Carrboro High School.
Although a new stoplight is in place on the corner of Rock Haven and Smith Level roads, it was not operating as of Wednesday afternoon. A fresh slab of asphalt on new turn lanes at the intersection had yet to be striped as well.
But school officials say that they expect to have the permits cleared on Monday, and with them be able to open access to the school. The school’s staff has had access to the building since July, but students and parents won’t be allowed in until the final certificate of occupancy is issued.
Schools spokesperson Stephanie Knott said she’s been assured that an opening ceremony and convocation scheduled for Thursday should be able to go ahead as planned.
“Monday should be the day, so I’m told I shouldn’t worry about the ceremony,†she said Wednesday.
The Thursday ceremony will start at 6 p.m. with the ribbon cutting, in part to get the crowd out of the heat and to allow for those eager to see the building to have as short a wait as possible. Once the ribbon’s snipped, there will be a convocation in the new gym with remarks by school officials, student leaders and an array of elected officials including U.S. Rep. David Price, North Carolina House of Representatives Speaker Joe Hackney, state Rep. Verla Insko, state Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, school board chair Jamezetta Bedford, Orange County Board of Commissioners Chair Moses Carey and Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton.
The school band will perform and refreshments will be served in the cafeteria, where clubs and organizations at the school will have information tables set up.
Following that, the school’s Junior Advisory Guides — the JAGs — will conduct tours of the school.