The proposal to build a new Carthage Elementary School outside the town limits has continually sparked controversy among residents and county officials alike. At a joint meeting between the Board of Education and the Board of Commissioners on Monday, both boards sought to address concerns about transparency, planning, and community impact.
Previously, the Moore County Board of Education voted unanimously in a closed session to purchase a 30-acre parcel along Vass-Carthage Road outside town limits for the new school. The sale was recently finalized on October 22, just days after residents had raised concerns about the proposed site at a prior meeting.
The decision was made despite this vocal opposition from residents and local leaders who argued multiple points of contention, including opinions that the site is too far from the town center and inconsistent with the county’s land use plan.
Supporters of the site, including school board members and district staff, explained that the location was chosen for its favorable topography, cost-efficiency, and potential for future expansion. They said the current Carthage Elementary campus is outdated; it is spread across multiple buildings (generating safety concerns) and in need of repair. The new site would allow for a modern, one-story facility with improved safety and traffic flow, according to Jenny Purvis, Assistant Superintendent.
Critics, including the county commissioners, say the board failed to adequately involve and inform the public and local officials in the decision-making process. Many residents only learned of the land purchase after it was finalized, prompting accusations of secrecy and a lack of transparency. Town of Carthage officials cited that they, too, were not consulted about the site, despite earlier resolutions supporting a school within the “immediate Carthage area.”
Commissioner Tom Adams said the Moore County Board of Commissioners had not been informed of the purchase and questioned why the school board has continued to move forward despite public objections.
“No one in elected office likes to be surprised; I’m sure you all don’t, and we don’t as your as your commissioners,” said Adams. “We learned about the potential for locating the school [from] the taxpayers who had heard about it from who knows where. That doesn’t do a lot to engender trust between the two boards. I would suggest that in the future you try and involve us earlier and involve the public as they like to be informed, too.”
Citizens have placed signs near the property.
Commissioner Nick Picerno, meanwhile, asserted that he wants to ensure the county makes fiscally responsible decisions that serve Moore County taxpayers. While he supports building new facilities when appropriate, he said that the board will likely pursue a bond referendum to gain voter approval before spending millions. He warned that even if bonds are approved, they don’t have to be sold.
Though time was not initially designated for public comments, Board of Education member David Hensley made a motion to allow members of the public to share their thoughts. Speakers were given six minutes apiece, and the board did not engage with them during or after their comments were delivered.
Dan Bonillo, speaking as a representative of the Carthage Board of Commissioners, expressed concern about how the school board was making its decisions. While he acknowledged the town’s need for a new school, he said that Carthage’s elected leaders had not been included in the discussions.
“The big complaint we have right now is that it’s not inside of the Town of Carthage and that we really wanted to be part of the conversations,” said Bonillo. “At the last meeting, I had to come up with the general public to say what I needed to say. Again, I’m cut down to a certain amount of time. I’ve been elected twice, and you still don’t want the actual elected officials’ input as an equal.”
He pointed to past efforts of Carthage councils to advocate for school improvements, noting that initial cooperation with the school board eventually stalled. Bonillo said he had previously contacted the Board of Education about several other possible locations. He reiterated that Carthage officials were excluded from meetings and decision-making, despite repeated requests to be involved, and only found out about the board’s purchase of land through external means.
After Bonillo spoke, the commissioners made a motion to adjourn from the meeting and departed early. Picerno said this was to “allow these folks to stay here as long as they want” to continue the discussion.
Several Board of Education members, including Dr. Amy Dahl and Pauline Bruno, spoke on the importance of public input.
“I voted for this when it was presented to the board because I trusted what was presented, and then my phone began to ring with lots of opposition on this parcel,” admitted Bruno. “The public totally objected to where it was being [built]. I, for one, do not work for the superintendent. I work for the people of Moore County. If the people of Moore County do not want this school in this place, then I will never be for it.”
The school board spoke on their attempts to improve communication and transparency both in the past and moving forward. A public hearing and further discussions are expected in the coming months.
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~ Article by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
