Board to review Elem. 11 plans

For Thomas Merritt"" a new school in the Northside neighborhood would be an asset to his community.

""It would sort of put the community back in play"" said Merritt, who has lived in the neighborhood for 52 years. It will help people get into school and learn something.

Merritt lives about a block from the proposed site for Elementary School No. 11" between McMasters and Caldwell streets just off downtown Chapel Hill.

The school might bring more traffic to the area but some residents said it could bring excitement to the neighborhood.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education will review plans for the school today and allow the public to comment on the project.

The school board designated the site in the Northside community for the school on June 19. The site was approved by the Orange County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2.

The board probably won't vote on the plan until November.

A design committee of teachers school board members and others from the community met three times with Moseley Architects" the designers of the building.

""It's going to be a wonderful facility"" said Steve Triggiano, a senior associate with Moseley Architects. It's going to be one that teaches the kids. It will be a teaching tool instead of just a school building.""

Triggiano said the building will be certified efficient and environmentally friendly by U.S. Green Building Council standards.

The school will include a rain-water collection system" solar panels and naturally lit classrooms with supplemental electrical lighting.

The site is about six acres which Triggiano said is a smaller-than-normal size for a school projected to hold about 585 children.

To compensate" the school will have multiple levels with at least three stories on one wing.

""When you don't have a lot of land" up is about the only option you have" said Stephanie Knott, spokeswoman for the district.

The school, if approved, would open in August 2011.

Knott said that community response has been overwhelmingly positive, and that she is enthusiastic about the creation of the school.

One of the things that we're excited about is sort of returning a school to the downtown neighborhood" she said. All of the early schools were in the downtown area" so the opportunity to get a school that close to the heart of town is also very attractive.""

Merritt said a school in the area would make traveling easier for the students.

""Most of the kids in town here are bused to Carrboro"" he said. These kids could walk home from school.""

Lisha Foster" who lives just a few blocks from the proposed site" said she was concerned about possible traffic but that the school would be convenient. Foster has a 1-year-old child who would likely attend Elementary School 11.

""It's great for walking distance"" she said. It's a great area for a school because they don't have any around here.""

 

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