Board hears three approaches and rough budgets for Ligon Magnet project; staff seeks community input

Wake County Public School System facilities staff presented three conceptual approaches for the Ligon Magnet campus and asked the Board of Education for additional feedback through community and alumni engagement.

Staff outlined option 1 as a renovation of the existing buildings focused on life‑cycle replacements (roofs, HVAC, fire alarm, intercom), option 2 as a full replacement on the existing building footprint (requiring temporary modular swing space), and option 3 as a replacement sited on a lower field that would require raising grades on the ball field and address alumni concerns about preserving campus features.

Officials described the numbers as preliminary, a rough order of magnitude to inform public feedback and board direction. Staff cited a project budget figure of about $140,690,000 and an estimated soft/owner cost line (geotechnical, commissioning, traffic analysis, furniture, and equipment) of roughly $7,500,000. Staff also cited construction‑only estimates of roughly $147,970,000 for one replacement approach and approximately $121,800,000 for the option built on the lower field; staff said the figures are concept‑level and will be refined in design.

Staff committed to multiple community engagement dates: two alumni sessions covering different decades, meetings with staff and the principal, and parent/student meetings in January and February. The presenter said one February meeting will solicit feedback on an appropriate memorial recognition for Ligon regardless of which option the board pursues.

Board members requested clearer cost breakdowns for the mobile classroom (swing space) approach, timeline alignment with the magnet application window, and documentation of community feedback; staff said the board would receive the video, slides, and a breakdown PDF and that small‑group sessions will be available to help board members dig into details before any decision.

Next steps: staff will host the advertised community sessions, circulate supplemental materials and a cost breakdown, and return to the board with more refined cost estimates and community feedback results.