Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks joins 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell on Monday, Mar. 23. Despite no new updates since establishing the district’s scope of study on a trio of elementary schools that could be closed soon, the topic continues to drum up passion among the CHCCS community. Jenks shares his perspective on that, how the district is hearing from stakeholders, and how the study on the schools — Ephesus Elementary, Glenwood Elementary and Seawell Elementary — aim to keep the process objective. He also shares how any potential closure will impact future budget seasons, but not the upcoming one…which will instead by complicated by the lack of a state budget. Plus: spring break awaits CHCCS students and staff!

Speaking of Schools is our regular check-in with the public K-12 school districts in our community. You can find conversations with leaders from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chatham County Schools by clicking here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe:
Related Stories
‹

New Studies Suggest CHCCS Close 1 Elementary School, Address Capacity Issues Through RedistrictingCHCCS school board members heard a presentation about the deeper studies conducted on criteria for closure of any three elementary schools.

In Split Vote, CHCCS School Board Chooses 3 Elementary Schools to Study for ClosureAfter weeks of debate and waffling between which elementary schools to study, the CHCCS Board of Education made its choices last Thursday.
![]()
Glenwood Elementary School Parents on Their Concerns, the District's Presentation and Local Reaction to Closure – On Air Today (July 27, 2026)Glenwood Elementary School parents Yehua Wei, Kayan Cheung-Miaw and Alex Jackson speak with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Monday, July 27.

Glenwood Elementary Parents Urge School Board to Keep Programs Together as Relocation Conversations BeginThe CHCCS school board gathered to hear options for rehousing the acclaimed Mandarin program as Glenwood Elementary School prepares to close.

Here's What CHCCS Board Members Said About Decision to Close Glenwood ElementaryMost CHCCS Board of Education members shared comments about their reasoning for the conclusion and unanimous vote to close Glenwood.

For Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, a Major Decision Looms: Which School to Close?The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board will have to decide on June 4 whether to close Ephesus, Glenwood, or Seawell Elementary.

'Worried For Our Future': Authors React to Removal Attempt of LGBTQ+ Books from CHCCS Elementary LibrariesNorth Carolina legislators are pushing to remove 63 LGBTQ-themed books from CHCCS elementary schools, saying they violate state law for being available in libraries.

CHCCS Board of Education Weighs Closing 2 Elementary Schools Amid Enrollment, Funding DeclinesThe CHCCS Board of Education began its latest round of feedback on Feb. 5 about how to approach closing at least one elementary school in the face of waning enrollment and funding challenges.
![]()
On Air Today: The 2026 Teacher Supply StoreTwo representatives of the Public School Foundation discuss this year's Teacher Supply Store, providing school supplies to CHCCS teachers.
![]()
The Morning News: Rani Dasi, Faith Hedgepeth, and Bobby PetrinoIn today's news: Rani Dasi discusses her impending move from the CHCCS school board to the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
›