Budget Risks, Enrollment Declines, and School Closures
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education hears concerns about removing efforts to recruit educators of color, then confronts mounting budget risks from county funding changes and a possible shift to per-pupil allocations. The board reviews sobering enrollment projections, weighs closing one versus two elementary schools, and debates which campuses should stay under consideration. 23mins
Was this helpful?
In This Video
-
Chair Jenkins opened the public comment period for non-agenda items, after which an educator association representative thanked the board for proclamations on school counselors and Black History Month and raised concerns that proposed changes to Policy 7100 would remove efforts to recruit and retain educators of color.
-
-
Mr. Scott updated the board on a projected county budget gap and explained that county leaders were considering shifting to a per-pupil funding model, which could reduce total dollars for the district amid declining enrollment and would likely drive significant discussions among the county and both school boards during the budget season.
-
Mr. Scott explained how the county’s phased-in Paygo capital funding was already falling short and could be further reduced due to a budget gap, then showed that a proposed per‑pupil funding model would yield only a modest increase next year and expose the district to ongoing revenue losses if enrollment continued to decline.
-
Doctor Shiroki reviewed enrollment and capacity trends showing underutilized elementary schools contrasted with strong high school usage, highlighted that lottery-based program schools remained the fullest, and projected that declining elementary enrollment could leave the district with the equivalent of two—and potentially three—underutilized elementary schools by 2035.
-
-
Board Member Dasi asked the board to reconsider which schools were under review for possible closure, urging expansion to five high‑need schools so administration could assess where the greatest financial savings could be achieved, and Chair Jenkins checked whether members were willing to broaden the list beyond the three previously identified campuses.
More from this government
Nearby governments