Lexington and Thomasville denied grants to build high schools
For the third year in a row, Lexington and Thomasville city schools have not been selected for multi-million dollar grants from the state to build new high schools, forcing leadership to reorganize and rethink how the projects will go forward.
Every year in the fall, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction provides grants to school districts to assist with capital needs, such as building new facilities. Grants from the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund are funded with revenue from the NC Education Lottery
In November, NCDPI selected 10 school districts to share more than $392 million in state lottery-funded grant awards for school construction and renovation projects, which did not include Lexington or Thomasville.
Both Lexington City and Thomasville City Schools applied for this grant to assist in building new high schools over the past several years. The state grant requires up to a 25% match in local funding from the local government.
This year, Lexington City Schools applied for a $62 million need-based grant to replace Lexington Senior High School with an estimated cost of $99.6 million. The remaining $37.6 million to complete the project would come from local funding.
Thomasville City Schools applied for a $62 million need-based grant to replace Thomasville High School. The estimated cost for the project is $93.3 million, with a remaining $14.4 million from local funds.
After being denied the state grant for a third year, leadership from both school districts said they are reassessing how to fund the new facilities.
Representatives with Thomasville City Schools, said that although they were not selected from the 92 school districts that applied for the grant, they continue to advocate for the cost of repairs, renovations and construction of a new high school.
“We continue to be resolved to find additional ways to provide the students of Thomasville High School with excellence both in their classrooms and in the facilities that impact their learning on a daily basis,” said TCS representatives. “We are awaiting results from our formal five-year Facilities Needs Assessment and that will enable us to continue to seek funding for the prioritized, most critical need projects in the building. We will of course continue to apply for grants as they become available, and we are committed to ensuring excellent facilities for our students.”
Representatives from Lexington City Schools said although they were not selected for this cycle of the DPI need-based grant, they are continuing to review capital priorities and working with the Davidson County Board of Commissioners to explore options to support the project.
“Although Lexington City Schools was not selected in this cycle of the DPI Needs-Based Capital Grant Program, the district remains committed to being a good steward of our facilities and taxpayer resources while ensuring safe, effective learning environments for students...We appreciate the partnership of our families, staff, and community stakeholders as we move forward together,” said LCS representatives.
In September, Lexington City Schools began discussing a capital fundraising campaign to go towards a potential new high school regardless of whether they receive the needs-based grant. Last year, the LCS school board approved a contract with Moss + Ross Consulting firm to evaluate construction options, design plans, cost estimates, community engagement and potential campaign goals.
But recently, current LCS superintendent Dr. Nakia Hardy announced she is leaving to take a position as the superintendent of Franklin County Schools in February. Dr. Rodney Shotwell has been named the interim superintendent.
Representatives with LCS said the school board will continue to discuss the high school project while undertaking a search for new leadership.
School district selected for the NC DPI need-based grant included Caswell County Schools ($18.8 million); Duplin County Schools ($32.4 million); Greene County Schools ($42 million); Hertford County Schools ($7.1 million); McDowell County Schools ($42 million); Richmond County Schools ($42 million); Rockingham County Schools ($42 million); Transylvania County Schools ($62 million); Tyrrell County Schools ($62 million) and Wilson County Schools ($42 million).
