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The news that there would be a tremendous increase in construction costs for two planned school projects could not have come at a worse time. A multimillion-dollar cost increase is forcing the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to re-evaluate plans for building administrative offices paired with a central preschool and a much needed renovation to Chapel Hill High School. About $160 million in needed work was identified at 10 campuses. District officials planned to start with renovations at Chapel Hill High School and the Lincoln Center campus on South Merritt Mill Road, using $75 million from last year’s voter-approved bond. The other eight projects were to have been funded over the next 10 years. Given this changed landscape of diminished revenues and escalating costs, CHALT urges the School Board and the County Commissioners to reevaluate previously adopted priorities. We urge the School Board to consider the needs of an aging high school over new administrative offices and a preschool. We urge the County Commission to reset its priorities (funding a problematic light rail and expensive meeting rooms) and commit to funding regular maintenance for our schools instead of allowing them to fall apart. These two articles summarize the tough choices ahead for our School Board and County Commission: |