The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board voted Thursday to move the arts wing to the "funded" section of its construction plan, making it a top priority.

An elementary school planned for the Northside neighborhood, which had topped the list, was put on hold until the county has more money to build it.

But moving the arts wing to the "funded" list doesn't mean funding is assured. That's up to the Orange County Board of Commissioners as part of the budget process now under way.

"It conveys to them that we have moved it up in priorities," Superintendent Neil Pedersen said.

A handful of Carrboro High supporters attended a public hearing on the county budget Thursday night, the same time as the school board meeting. They wore purple T-shirts that read "Build It Now" and said, as a "shovel-ready" project already designed, the arts wing could qualify for federal stimulus money.

Pedersen told the school board that interest-free bonds available through the stimulus package could give the school district $5 million, enough for the wing.

The recession has brought construction costs down, he explained, and the wing, estimated as high as $8.8 million last fall, is now projected to cost $4.5 million.

Also Thursday, the school board decided to put savings from others projects toward roofing projects.

Seawell Elementary, Carrboro Elementary, McDougle Elementary and Middle and Lincoln Center will get roof repairs or replacements starting later this year.

Board Chairwoman Lisa Stuckey said she's pleased with the new construction plan because it clarifies for Carrboro parents who's responsible for arts wing construction.

"I think that parents from Carrboro High are like a badminton birdie right now," she said.

The high school, which opened in 2007 off Smith Level Road, was built without an auditorium or classrooms designed for music, dance and arts programs. It does not meet state standards for school construction.

At Thursday's public hearing on the county budget, parent Jim Rogalski told how not having an arts wing hampered the school's recent production of "Little Shop of Horrors." The show, about an insatiable, carnivorous plant, had to be staged at Culbreth Middle School.

"Everything that was involved in this production had to be hauled back to Carrboro High School," he said. "And there was no place to put it."

Parent Susana Dancy agreed.

"We're essentially dealing with the elementary equivalent of 'art on a cart,'" she said, referring to art teachers who wheel supplies with them because they don't have a room of their own.

Staff writer Mark Schultz contributed to this story.

campbell.colin.a@gmail.com

IN OTHER ACTION

In other action, the school board:

* Approved a one-year contract with the Pierce Group to provide the flexible benefit plan and optional insurance policies for district employees. Several employees told the board they were not notified of the changes and wanted the vote postponed until more staff could give feedback. Superintendent Neil Pedersen said approval was necessary so employees can choose their plans before the school year ends. The Pierce Group will provide policies including dental and vision insurance. They provide cards that employees can use instead of saving and submitting receipts, which is necessary under the current provider.

* Heard the district's plan to use money from the federal stimulus plan. The district will get an additional $622,000 in funding for programs benefitting low-income and disadvantaged students, which will fund specialist positions at three low-performing elementary schools to help them meet adequate yearly progress standards in the No Child Left Behind Act. The district will also get $2.2 million to fund programs for students with disabilities. The money will fund coordinator positions for these programs.

* Delayed implementation of the Spanish dual language program at McDougle Elementary until 2010 due to low enrollment

* Approved a Chinese II course at Carrboro High School to allow students enrolled in Chinese I this year to continue their studies.