BURGAW, NC – Pender County Schools is pleased to announce the approval of a significant redesign for the future K-8 school, as decided in a unanimous vote by the Board of Education during a special meeting held May 22, 2024. The approved redesign includes an additional 4,000 square feet of space, resulting in capacity for 62 additional students at a preliminary cost of $1.3 million.
This strategic expansion increases the total possible student population to 2,312, adding 14 classrooms. The additional space will be achieved by constructing a second story on the middle school wing of the future school, which addresses the critical need for more middle school classroom space.
The addition of a second floor to the single-story middle school wing, instead of four separate additions, will create an additional 24,000 square feet of classroom space for 312 students, compared to the previously planned 20,000 square feet for 250 students. This approach not only meets the urgent requirement for increased middle school capacity but also ensures the overall project remains within site capacity limits. When completed, the new school will be more than 250,000 total square feet.
The redesign also considers logistical aspects such as core capacity and onsite traffic management. Bordeaux Construction has reviewed the traffic stacking and queuing capacities and confirmed the feasibility of accommodating the additional students and vehicles.
An updated design will be brought before the Board of Education during the June 11, 2024 regular meeting.
Pender County Schools is committed to providing high-quality educational facilities that meet the growing needs of our community. The Board of Education's approval of this redesign marks a significant step forward in achieving this goal, ensuring our students have access to state-of-the-art learning environments.