Staff Tour Northside Elementary

The Northside Elementary staff toured their new school for the first time together on January 10.  Steve Nally, the project manager for the school's construction, led the group around the site, first showing them the blueprints and then going through the school.

Northside Elementary's first five staff members are: Cheryl Carnahan, principal; Coretta Sharpless, assistant principal; Alan Brown, technology specialist; Kathryn Cole, media specialist; and Cindy Fernandez, school secretary.

Brick has started to be laid on the outside of the buildings and can be seen on the walls of the three-story building, where windows are also being installed.  The stage area has been poured in the multi-purpose room.  Construction is being done on every floor, as the building begins to take shape.  Outside, the newly added rock wall complements the original rock wall, as well as the original steps that are still there from the OCTS/Northside School.

Once complete, the school will accommodate 585 students and have art, science and music rooms.  Northside Elementary is over 103,000 square feet and will be certified through the US Green Building Council's LEED Green Building Rating System.  Sustainable design include:

• stormwater management plan to reduce runoff and a rainwater cistern;
• vegetated roof area, which will also be used for science classes;
• rooftop solar thermal panels to generate hot water for the building's kitchen and space heating needs; and
• windows and clerestories to maximize daylight in classrooms.

Northside Elementary opens in August 2013.  For more pictures from this and other construction visits, go to the district's Facebook page.

Northside Staff
Row 1 - Cheryl Carnahan, Coretta Sharpless, Kathryn Cole, Alan Brown
Row 2 - Cindy Fernandez

Northside Elementary
(Media Center on left, Main Entry in middle, Three-Story Building on right)

Media Center 

View of Three-Story Building from the Green Roof off the Science Classroom

View of Cafeteria from the Third Grade Wing in the Three-Story Building

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Staff Tour Northside Elementary"

Board of Education to Hold Public Hearings Regarding Redistricting Plans

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education will hold two public hearings on the proposed redistricting plans.  The hearings are official meetings of the district's Board of Education. The first public hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Carrboro High School Auditorium. The second public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the Chapel Hill High School Auditorium. Both auditoriums will open to the public at 6:30 p.m.

People interested in speaking at the Board of Education's public hearings can sign up in advance or at the meeting. Anyone wishing to sign up in advance is asked to do so by 3 p.m. on the day of the hearing and use the online form link found here. You may also sign up to speak in person at the auditorium beginning at 6:30 p.m. that evening.

Other Important Information:

• Typically the Board allows speakers up to 3 minutes of speaking time. Depending on the number of speakers signed up, the Board reserves the right to shorten the time amount to make sure everyone has an opportunity to share their comments.
• Each hearing is scheduled to end at 10 p.m. Depending on the number of speakers signed up, you may not have an opportunity to speak until the second public hearing on December 12. Anyone signed up to speak and not able to on the first evening will be given the first opportunity to speak at the second public hearing.
• Interpreters will be available and located in the rear of the auditorium.
• Placards, signs, demonstrations, etc. will not be permitted.
• Due to the anticipated volume of speakers and the desire to make sure everyone has a chance to speak, we are not able to project PowerPoints or other electronic information. If anyone is interested in sharing something electronically, please share it in advance by emailing attachments to allboardmembers@chccs.k12.nc.us. Speakers may also hand out paper copies to the Board when it is their turn to speak. They should consider bringing 10 copies.

 Northside Elementary, set to open in August 2013

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Board of Education to Hold Public Hearings Regarding Redistricting Plans"

Northside Elementary

Board of Education Celebrates Tradition of Historic Site

At its meeting on Thursday, October 3, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education approved the name of its soon-to-open elementary school. In keeping with the rich tradition of the school formerly housed on the same site, the Board approved the name Northside Elementary.

"We are fortunate to have so many community members with ties to the former Northside school who can help us carry forth the traditions," said Superintendent Tom Forcella. "At the same time, we are excited about the future of this school and all the students who will be positively impacted."

The school is scheduled to open in August 2013.

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Northside Elementary"

Carnahan Named Principal for Elementary #11

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has selected Cheryl Carnahan as the principal for Elementary #11.  She is currently the principal at Estes Hills Elementary.

Carnahan has been the principal at Estes Hills Elementary since 2007.  She had served as the school’s assistant principal for a year before that.

Before joining CHCCS, Carnahan was the director of professional and organizational development for the Howard County Public School System in Ellicott City, MD.  She also served as their staff development facilitator, as a resource teacher, speech-language pathologist and as an elementary classroom teacher.

Carnahan holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Towson University in Towson, MD.  She also holds a certification from North Carolina in Administration and Supervision.

“Cheryl brings not only her experience as a successful elementary principal, but her background in district level educational change will benefit the new school and the entire district,” said Superintendent Thomas A. Forcella.  “She will be sorely missed at Estes Hills Elementary, as the school has experienced positive academic and professional growth under her leadership,” he added.

Susan Pegg has been approved as the interim principal at Estes Hills.  Pegg was the former principal at Seawell Elementary and an interim principal at FPG Elementary.

Elementary #11 will open in Fall 2013.  When completed, it will meet gold-level LEED certification as a result of its environmental features and sustainable construction practices.  Architectural elements from the surrounding community have been incorporated into the school’s design, as well as keeping the granite walls.  The new school is being built on the historic Northside site located between Caldwell and McMasters Streets.

Principal Cheryl Carnahan

Elementary #11
Library Entry

Elementary #11
Gym and Classroom Entry

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Carnahan Named Principal for Elementary #11"

Construction project updates from across CHCCS

The CHCCS Maintenance Department has been busy working on multiple construction projects at many district schools over the summer, getting ready for students and staff to return in August.

Work continues on Elementary #11, which is being built to LEED Gold Specifications and will open in August 2013.

At Carrboro HS, construction of the physical education and athletic field's bathroom building is underway.  The building will accomodate restroom facilities, as well as be used during PE classes.

A new mobile unit has been added to Estes Hills Elementary to accomodate its new PreK class.  New HVAC units are also being installed in all of the school's lower nine classrooms to improve energy efficiency, control humidity and improve air quality.

The field lighting at Chapel Hill HS is being replaced at the school's stadium and soccer fields.  The old wood pole fixtures have been removed and new underground electrical service is being installed.  Lights are also being added to the softball field.

Roofs have been replaced at Glenwood Elementary, McDougle MS and Phillips MS.  Paving and parking lot repairs are being made at Seawell Elementary, Phillips MS and Chapel Hill HS.

Carrboro High's new bathroom building

Estes Hills Elementary being prepared for delivery of the mobile unit

Paving work at Phillips Middle School parking lot

Back to CHCCS website

read more "Construction project updates from across CHCCS"