Local Schools Amend Funding Proposals

The $42.8 million bond was pared down significantly by the board from its original proposal for $72 million. The initial request included plans for a new high school in addition to two new elementary schools.

Superintendent Neil Pedersen said the request for an additional high school was eliminated because the board doubted the county would approve the funds.

"Our preference was to build a new facility," Pedersen said. "But it would be highly unlikely for us to receive funding for three new schools."

The bond proposal is a response to the problems of overcrowding that have plagued the district recently because of the area's high growth. Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools spokeswoman Kim Hoke said the district's growth rate was more than 7 percent last year, the highest rate of growth in the state.

The district is especially crowded at the elementary level, with three elementary schools already over capacity. The passage of the bond would allow $27.8 million for two new elementary schools to be built in the district.

But Hoke said instead of a new high school, the new proposal includes $7.9 million for expansion of the existing two high schools.

"We have a task force working on how to accommodate additional high school capacity," Hoke said. "Some board members supported a third high school but felt that the resources were not available to the county. A new high school would cost $25 million."

The requests will be forwarded to the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force, which will assess the needs of both Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools and Orange County schools. The task force also will consider the needs of the Parks and Recreation Department and of the county buildings.

"The group will put together what they feel is a need," Hoke said. "The Orange County Commissioners will then decide what projects will be placed on the ballot in November."

Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs said the school's first request of $72 million was "overly ambitious" and the $42 million was "more do-able."

"We are all citizens of a county where there is only a certain amount of dollars," Jacobs said. "We need to see how far we can stretch them. By decreasing their request, it shows that they are working hard and taking it seriously."

Jacobs is also on the Capital Needs Advisory Task Force, which will meet from mid-March to mid-May.

The request also does not include the cost of the land on which the schools will be built or plans for a new central administration office. Pedersen said he hopes the funds for the land will be available from other sources.

Hoke said the school board will look at plans for elementary school No. 9 at a meeting on March 1. She also said a site is in mind for elementary school No. 10, but the plans are not as far along.

Pedersen said the bond is critical to the district because of the growth it has been experiencing. He also said the $7 million requested for the renovation of old buildings is needed as well.

"The (renovation) is necessary because there are buildings that are 25 plus years old. They need to be brought up to standard."

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