Carthage shares new proposed elementary school sites

November 21, 2025

Moore County school leaders and Carthage commissioners met in a joint meeting Thursday to review progress on replacing Carthage Elementary School.

Carthage Elementary, near downtown on Rockingham Street, currently serves about 310 students across an attendance area stretching eight miles north to south and 15 miles east to west. Board of Education (BOE) officials say the aging campus needs replacement to meet future enrollment and safety standards.

“The four sites presented today include both new proposals and locations previously considered,” read a presentation from the Carthage Board of Commissioners. “Our goal in revisiting and expanding these options is to support a well-informed, community-centered decision that reflects the needs of our students, families, and future growth.”

The Board of Education’s Presentation

Toward the beginning of the meeting, Jenny Purvis, assistant superintendent for Operations, talked both boards through a presentation that delineated future plans and explained the board’s decision-making process.

To guide planning, the district commissioned an updated capacity study using county growth data and birth rates. The analysis showed Vass Lakeview Elementary, not Sandhills Farm Life, as was previously expected, will be the first to exceed capacity. A 600-student Carthage Elementary would optimize space for Area 1 schools over the next decade.

“Following a public hearing on February 3, 2025, [the] message was overwhelmingly positive regarding the recommendation to have ‘a new Carthage Elementary, on a new site, with a capacity for 600,’” reads the presentation. “Our Board endorsed that path forward.”

Officials set two priorities: what’s best for students now and in the future, and fiscal responsibility for taxpayers. The search focused on land large enough for a school, with suitable topography to avoid costly grading, access to utilities, and a location that could ease traffic and allow future student redistribution.

Several Carthage parcels were reviewed, including sites near Cooper Ford, Pizza Hut, McNeill Street, and the water treatment plant. However, challenges reportedly ranged from steep terrain and traffic hazards to annexation requirements and utility limitations. The school board listed issues with all parcels suggested by the Town of Carthage.

Ultimately, the school board made the decision to purchase a 30-acre parcel along Vass-Carthage Road and Joel Road that they felt had the most favorable conditions. The site is 2.8 miles from the current school and three miles from Sandhills Farm Life, which, according to the school board, situates it well for future enrollment shifts. It was purchased by Moore County Schools for $465,000.

Maps and included notes from the Board of Education’s presentation.

The land does require a sewer force main estimated at $3 million, though officials say a septic system could be installed for about $500,000. Soil and water tests confirmed no environmental concerns.

The BOE argues the investment will save taxpayers millions by avoiding expansions at Vass Lakeview and Sandhills Farm Life, which are already at core capacity. Adding classrooms there would require costly upgrades to cafeterias and media centers, estimated at $10 million to $12 million.

Design work is already underway with Pinnacle Architecture using a proven prototype to reduce costs. The plan allows for customization in finishes and layout. The school board will review renderings this week and expects to finalize plans within two months.

If voters approve a bond in November 2026, construction could begin in early 2027, with completion projected for mid-2028 or early 2029.

The school board says the project aligns with the county’s 2024 Land Use Plan, which calls for strategic school siting to support balanced growth.

Discussion with the Town of Carthage

Representatives from the Carthage Board of Commissioners also prepared a presentation for the meeting to summarize their thoughts and the options put forth by the town.

“The Town of Carthage is honored to participate in this important conversation about the future location of Carthage Elementary School,” reads the town’s first statement. “We understand the significance of the decisions before the Board of Education and deeply appreciate being invited to collaborate in this process.”

However, by the time it was time for Carthage’s representatives to speak, the commissioners were already expressing concern.

“I understand that when you start a meeting, you need to control the discussion,” said Carthage Commissioner Dan Bonillo. “However, the narrative I see is already discounting all of our options. You started this conversation with saying ‘I’m going to cover what we discussed last time,’ and then you took every one of our options that we provided and told us what’s wrong with it. So that right there is saying that they’ve already seen these options, and it’s already been determined that they’re no good.”

Carthage officials were surprised when Purvis informed them that, of Carthage’s suggested properties, Moore County Schools had not visited the site off of Needmore Road. The Town of Carthage previously stated that it was willing to give the property to Moore County Schools at no cost, eliminating the purchase price from the board’s expenses.

The land is reportedly suitable for construction and utilities—including water, sewer, and fiber—are already planned for the area. The site would also benefit from the planned Carthage bypass.

Despite these conveniences, the BOE questioned whether the site’s infrastructure needs would outweigh its cost savings, and did not like the “low water pressure” and the fact that the property would need to be annexed.

As the meeting progressed, Carthage officials countered that the town could ultimately provide resources if they worked with the BOE. The town offered several incentives, including free police traffic support and access to utilities, to encourage the school board to select a site within Carthage town limits, rather than outside the town on Vass-Carthage Road and Joel Road.

Bonillo pointed to the fact that Carthage is the county seat and home to the sheriff’s office, SWAT team, and fire department, which he said allows faster emergency response times. He argued that moving the school outside town would distance it from these resources.

Additionally, Carthage provides water and sewer services and has three fiber providers operating locally. It was also noted that the Carthage Police Department already assists with traffic control during school pickup and drop-off at no cost to the district.

Carthage Mayor Pro Tem John McDonald moved the discussion toward preexisting traffic issues with U.S. 15-501. A commonly voiced concern from citizens and even the Moore County Board of Commissioners is that if the new school is built along 15-501, there could be considerable traffic backups during peak times, especially with 600–700 students arriving by bus and car.

McDonald, a retired North Carolina Department of Transportation engineer himself, said he would like to see a traffic engineer design improvements for nearby roads, including the particularly problematic intersection with Joel Road.

Board of Education member Pauline Bruno praised Carthage’s willingness to work with the BOE.

“Every time I call you or every time you call me, you always solve the problems,” she told the Carthage council. “You’re just amazing. I loved [your ideas] with the Carthage Police Department pickup and drop off, the water and sewer, the fiber, the sheriff’s department, the fire department.”

Carthage officials, in turn, expressed their appreciation for the ability to meet with Moore County Schools.

“Thank you for entertaining all the different options that we provided here,” said Bonillo. “We look forward to working with you more in the future.”

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~ Article by Sandhills Sentinel Assistant Editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.