The school, Elementary School No. 9, will be built in the mixed-use development Meadowmont, which is located off N.C. 54. The school is expected to make room for 600 more students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools by the 2003-04 school year, and the commissioners' approval was the only thing stalling construction.
The commissioners' approval means that $12.8 million will be allocated to the school system for costs associated with building the $14 million school, which include construction, site work, new technology and the estimated startup cost.
The money will come from the November 2001 bond package, which appropriated $47 million to county schools. Chapel Hill and Meadowmont developer East West Partners still will be required to finance the remaining $1.2 million.
But the board had some misgivings Tuesday about the construction site for the new school because it is slated to be built on a wetland zone.
Commissioner Margaret Brown first brought up the issue by saying the location of the new school leaves much to be desired."I think this school is in an inappropriately bad environment location," Brown said. "I wish it hadn't been built here, but it is going to, so I hope it becomes a wonderful and productive school."
Brown also said she is concerned that the school's location will numb students to the importance of environmental issues.
"Elementary schools are one of the most significant places that children learn about the environment," Brown said. "What happens when they go outside and look where their school is?"
Commissioner Stephen Halkiotis said he agrees some areas of the development plan are not ideal but that the shortcomings of this plan could prove to be beneficial in the future.
"We all show a great deal of optimism," Halkiotis said. "I think we can all learn from this example in the future."
