By Susan Dickson
Staff Writer
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools could see two new elementary schools and a new middle school in the next 10 years, according to the district’s updated 2008-18 capital investment plan, which was approved by the school board last week.
The plan outlines the district’s anticipated capital needs through 2018, including new schools and offices, renovations and additions and technology support and improvements.
The plan also includes safety and maintenance cost estimates through 2018. Cost estimates for the district’s 10-year capital needs total nearly $273 million.
New facilities and additions account for most of the 10-year capital cost estimates, with more than $217 million in anticipated costs.
According to district projections, Chapel Hill-Carrboro will need a new elementary school — in addition to the elementary school that will open in fall 2008 — for the 2010-11 school year. The 10th elementary school is under construction at Twin Creeks in Carrboro, but the site of the 11th elementary school has not yet been determined.
Also in 2010, school officials plan to complete an addition to Carrboro High School, which would include an auditorium, music rooms, an auxiliary gym and a wrestling room. The addition to Carrboro High was initially planned as phase two of the school’s construction.
In addition, school administrators plan to move out of the Lincoln Center in August 2010. School officials have not yet determined whether the new central office will be located at Chapel Hill High School or at Twin Creeks.
After administrators move to a new central office location, school officials plan to return the Lincoln Center to school use for students in 2011. Possible uses include an alternative school, a pre-k center or a neighborhood elementary school.
According to the plan’s projections, Chapel Hill-Carrboro will need a fifth middle school by August 2013. The school will be located at Twin Creeks, near the 10th elementary school, which will open next year.
By 2017, the district will also need its 12th elementary school, according to the plan’s projections. The site of the school has not yet been determined.
Other projects in the 10-year plan include:
- The conversion of the pottery shop and pre-k space at the Lincoln Center to office space or to
- expand Phoenix Academy, to be completed in August 2008;
- New science labs at Culbreth Middle School, to be completed in August 2012;
- A 45,000-square-foot classroom addition to Carrboro High School, to be completed in August 2014; and
- An auditorium at McDougle Middle School, to be completed in August 2015.