Wake school board approves demolishing Ligon Middle in 'tough vote'

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Wake County School Board voted to demolish Ligon Middle School and build a new facility after months of heated conversations with residents and alumni.

Ligon opened in 1953 and was Raleigh's premier Black high school.

It was eventually integrated and later converted into a middle school.

Alumni have been fighting to save the original building, arguing that it holds historical significance.

Wake County Superintendent Robert Taylor and School Board Chair Tyler Swanson, who both spent months meeting with community stakeholders, say a proper tribute will be created as a new school is built for future generations.

"We feel that the history of what has happened in this facility and what it's done to the community is something that has to be recognized and valued and a part of the educational landscape," Taylor said. "This building was constructed in the 1950s and has lasted nearly 70 years. We recognize that whatever facility we construct is something we hope to use for multiple decades."

A new school will be built in the ballfields area. During construction, students will continue learning inside the current building.

"Honoring that is important, but also looking 70 years from now, making sure that the school can fit the needs of future Little Blues -- that is important," Swanson said. "Despite how the vote came out, we heard from the community, and we were able to find ways to bring as many of those options as we could together."

Once the new facility is complete, the existing building will be torn down, and the ballfields will be reconstructed on that side of campus.

The project is expected to take at least three years and cost a minimum of $121 million.

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