During the July 10 meeting of the Moore County Board of Education, there was a discussion on the projects related to the Master Facility Plan.
During pending action at the work session, Superintendent Tim Locklair and Assistant Superintendent for Operations Jenny Purvis shared a presentation on the organization and prioritization of the Master Facility Plan projects.
After a 30-minute discussion during the regular meeting held on the same day, Chair Robert Levy asked for further debate “in nauseam” after calling for a break to diffuse conflict from repeated interruptions and disagreements.
The board sent the priority list back to the Construction and Maintenance Committee.
Concerning where to build a new high school, Levy said the board should follow the experts’ growth expectations, as the state is constructing a new four-lane highway in the West End and Seven Lakes area.
Levy said data suggests where overcrowding is and that data shows where to build a new high school and elementary school.
“These are long-term plans,” Levy said about the 10-15-year plan.
Locklair and Purvis recommended the following priority list:
Slide via Moore County Schools.
Hensley said the board did not listen to the Construction and Maintenance Committee and that the board needs to follow the county’s master plan for growth.
“We may not find suitable land for four years,” Hensley said about building a new high school.
Hensley said they could spend $200 million to expand Pinecrest High School and still be over capacity by 600 students.
Vice Chair David Hensley said to consider the tracts on the approved projects/Slide via school district.
“Go to the county commissioners and say we are going to come up with a new ten-year plan,” Hensley said about asking the county for $40 million each year for a $400 million project plan while hoping to come closer to $300 million.
Locklair said he was recommending what Hensley presented about the tracts and that the recommendations were a starting point.
Levy said he prioritized building a new high school because Pinecrest and Union Pines High School were overcrowded by about 1,000 students, leading to discipline problems.
On March 7, 2022, the Board of Education approved a contract for SFL+a, an architectural firm, to design renovations for Highfalls, Westmoore and Cameron Elementary schools’ gymnasiums for $500,000.
Locklair and Purvis recommended a change order to approve the same architectural firm to design three more gymnasiums.
The estimated design costs for renovating the three additional gymnasiums, Vass-Lakeview, Sandhills Farm Life and Carthage Elementary schools, was based on the first three gymnasiums’ scope of work is $220,000.
Hensley said the board could hire a full-time architect and save $750,000.
The board approved the change order at the regular meeting.
Please click here to watch the video on this topic and other discussions during the July 10 meeting.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel journalist Stephanie M. Sellers; BS Mass Communications and Journalism, MFA Creative Writing.
