RALEIGH, NC - The Local Government Commission (LGC) in Raleigh approved the $178 million general obligation bond on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
"It's very significant allowing the county to actually move forward with the financial process," said Michael Taylor, Chief Officer of Auxiliary Services. "This is the green light for the next steps of land acquisition that the county has been working on so we're very excited about moving forward with the next steps."
Voters in Pender County approved a referendum in 2022 to obtain general obligation bonds for new school projects. Among the projects that were approved in the referendum were:
The construction of a new middle and elementary school ($111,556,800)
Topsail Middle School Renovation ($22,601,432)
Rocky Point Elementary School Addition ($1,219,065)
Burgaw Middle School Cafeteria Rebuild ($4,272,000)
Construction of a new Central Services Building ($21,000,000)
Construction of a new eight-bay Maintenance Building ($17,121,600)
According to the LGC, the plan is to offer the bonds in 3 series in (approximately) fiscal years 2025, 2027, and 2028 corresponding to (1) construction of the elementary and middle school, (2) renovation of the middle school, classroom additions at the elementary school, replacement of the middle school cafeteria, and (3) construction of the central services facilities and the maintenance garage, respectively.
"Because we do prioritize seat availability for our students, the K-8 school is the first on the agenda," said Taylor. "We're excited about all of the projects but we recognize that we have to move forward methodically trying to reduce the overcrowding, especially along the 17 corridor."
During the June 13, 2023 Board of Education, meeting members approved (3-0 vote) the design-build team of Bordeaux Construction and Moseley Architects for the K-8 school build. Mr. Taylor and the design-build team toured Penderlea School as well as Surf City Middle and Elementary Schools Tuesday as those are the most recent K-8 schools to be added to the District.
The projected open date for the new K-8 school is August 2026.