The Moore County Schools Board of Education voted Monday to endorse a new path for replacing Carthage Elementary School. Rather than building an entirely new facility at the previously selected Vass-Carthage Road site, the board now supports construction of a smaller school on the current Carthage Elementary campus.
During the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Tim Locklair and Assistant Superintendent for Operations Jenny Purvis presented a revised proposal shaped by recent conversations with county commissioners.
Under the plan, the district would replace Carthage Elementary with a two-story school for approximately 400 to 450 students on the existing campus. Commissioners indicated they can fund a smaller school without placing a bond referendum before voters.
“We’ve continued to have conversations with our commissioners, and at this point in time, they’ve shared that they do have the ability to pay for a smaller school without having the need to take it to bond,” explained Purvis. “Now, a smaller Carthage elementary school would be a replacement for the current school. This school, we know, would not relieve future capacity issues, but the commissioners are committed to that, and they are aware that that will be something coming down the pipe in the future.”
Purvis said the approach guarantees Carthage will receive a new building and allows the district to move forward more quickly. A larger school designed to ease future capacity pressures would require a bond, she said, and carries the risk of voter rejection.
“If the bond fails, then you don’t have capacity to meet those needs, and you don’t have a new school either,” Purvis told the board.
The proposed design would remove several existing buildings, including the preschool wing and gym, and construct a new two-story facility behind the current structures. Students would remain on campus during construction, with five to six mobile units added temporarily. Once the new building opens, the district would demolish the remaining old structures and reconfigure traffic flow.
There are currently no plans for the Vass-Carthage Road site. Purvis said that there is no hurry and even suggested saving the land for “20 or 30 years.”
“As we’ve always shared, our priority is ensuring that the students and community of Carthage get a new Carthage Elementary School,” added Purvis. “At this time, Dr. Locklair and I recommend this path, and we request that the board endorse moving forward with a smaller school on the current site to be funded without the need to go to a bond. This decision would provide 100% certainty that Carthage will receive a new school, and it will allow us to move forward as quickly as possible, since it will be funded through the commissioners.”
Purvis said the district’s contract with its architect remains in place and that no design funds have been lost. The board’s action endorses the concept of a smaller school on the current site but does not approve a final site plan, phasing schedule, or construction costs.
Several board members, however, voiced concern about the speed of the decision and the lack of detailed visuals or cost breakdowns.
Board member David Hensley said he supports smaller community elementary schools in principle but objected to voting with limited advance materials. Others throughout the meeting echoed the need for clearer trade-offs and public communication before major commitments.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mature plan fall apart so quickly based on no understanding of the alternative,” said board member Kenneth Benway. “Presumably, we had some criteria that were pretty much immovable in terms of selecting the current site. I want to see the trade-offs to those criteria based on this new proposal. I want to see some costs. Frankly, I don’t have enough information to make a recommendation, pro or con.”
Board member Steve Johnson said he favors keeping the school in the Carthage community but wants a more defined framework with commissioners to address future growth, particularly in eastern Moore County.
Purvis acknowledged the smaller school will not resolve long-term capacity issues tied to projected residential development. She said the district is working with NC State’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education to update growth and enrollment data for the Union Pines and Pinecrest attendance areas. That analysis will also inform future high school planning and capital discussions.
Board members, including Dr. Amy Dahl and Hensley, also revisited prior concerns about water quality at Carthage Elementary. Purvis added that a new building would include all new internal plumbing. The district would also consult with the Town of Carthage to determine whether any upgrades to municipal lines leading to the campus are necessary. PFAS-certified filters are being installed across all schools countywide as part of broader water quality measures.
The board ultimately endorsed the path forward for Carthage Elementary. A motion was made to endorse the plan and passed 6-1, with the one dissenting vote coming from Benway.
“It seems to me we’ve moved ourselves into the position where we’re making a decision based on the fear of the potential of something not happening,” said Benway. “The rest of Moore County has a say in this, too, so just let’s keep that in mind that the bond should not be off the table yet.”
Having been approved, the board now hopes to work with commissioners to pursue a smaller, non-bond-funded replacement on the current site.
“I’m 100% for this,” said board chair Dr. Robin Calcutt. “I think it’s wonderful. I think the people of Carthage will love this, and this is what should have been done before.”
Photo by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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