Cary District 26's Oak Knoll to reopen as early childhood center

CARY – The former Oak Knoll Elementary School on First Street will reopen in 2018 as Oak Knoll Early Childhood Center.

The Cary School District 26 Board voted Monday to approve the $5.9 million renovation and reopening of Oak Knoll as an early childhood center for the 2018-19 school year. The building was closed in 2005 at the start of the district’s declining enrollment and leased to a private school until 2012.

But since then, the district has struggled to find a tenant, and its early childhood needs have grown.

The district has various early childhood programs scattered at its three operating elementary schools, Superintendent Brian Coleman said Friday. In addition, the move to a full-day kindergarten a few years ago has taken up more classroom space.

Now, all the early childhood needs will be located in one school. No new staff will need to be hired.

“We think we can be more efficient at meeting needs, all in one building,” Coleman said.

The school board conducted a feasibility study and met over a period of several months before rendering a decision.

The total cost to renovate Oak Knoll as an early childhood center is estimated at $5.9 million. The renovation will be funded through a combination of district reserves, the issuance of debt certificates and savings generated by the return of an out-of-district special education program, the district said.

“This funding plan will allow the district to lower its tax rate by abating portions of the future debt service levy extension, resulting in savings to taxpayers of an estimated $4.2 million over the next seven years,” a news release from the district said.

Coleman said the school, built in 1958, was closed because of declining enrollment, the rate of which now has slowed down and even stabilized.

The district has been able to reintroduce arts and music classes. However, those teachers do not have classrooms and move around with a cart.

“We needed to provide them a classroom,” Coleman said, noting there will be more classroom space available at other district schools now.

Board President Scott Coffey said the reopening is a “win for our students, our staff and the community. It brings back online a valuable asset to the district and the community while driving significant savings to Cary taxpayers.”

The district plans to bid out the renovation project in November or December, with the on-site work starting in March. The goal is to have the school ready for the start of the 2018-19 school year.