Emergency Roof and Fire Safety Work at East Chapel Hill High School

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education hears an urgent request to expand roof and fireproofing work at East Chapel Hill High so the building can safely reopen before school starts. Board members press for plain-language safety assurances, weigh material and timeline options, and examine how nearly $900,000 in unplanned capital costs will affect other maintenance projects. 14mins

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Original Meeting

Thursday, July 9th, 2026
1269.64
Board of Education | Special Called Meeting | Virtual
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The Carrborean
Carrboro, NC, USA
The Carrborean staff
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In This Video
  • Dr. Stewart outlined the multi-year plan for replacing the East Chapel Hill roof and requested board approval for a not-to-exceed contract to complete phase one before the upcoming school year.
  • Dr. Stewart explained that unexpected deterioration of original fire retardant during roof work at East Chapel Hill High required full removal and replacement of the fireproofing and ceiling systems, and requested board approval to proceed with that expanded scope.
  • Dr. Stewart detailed the plan to prioritize fireproofing and ceiling work in key corridors and common areas at East Chapel Hill High and requested board approval for a not-to-exceed $900,000 contract to ensure the building could safely open within 47 days.
  • Board Member Vickie Feaster Fornville asked Doctor Stewart to clarify that replacing the fire retardant was legally required for student safety, and Dr. Stewart confirmed that fire marshals had determined the affected area could not be occupied until the fireproofing was removed and reapplied.
  • Board Member Meredith Ballew asked about the budget implications of the unexpected East Chapel Hill project, and Dr. Stewart and another speaker explained that the work would be funded from the existing capital roofing budget and deferred maintenance reserves, likely reducing money available for other future projects.
  • Operations staff compared installation timelines for fireproofing boards versus spray-on material given the compressed schedule at East Chapel Hill High, and Dr. Stewart explained that cost estimates for the remaining phases would be developed after this section is completed and shared with the board in a future update.
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