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NEW HANOVER COUNTY – New Hanover County and the school system are allocating $ 600,000 of its NC Education lottery funds this year for new safety equipment and entrance halls on K-12 campuses.
The design and planning of the project will cost $ 250,000, and the remaining $ 350,000 will cover the cost of additions and renovations at “various locations,” according to a joint request to the North Carolina Department of Education for the release of funds. The project starts this month and is expected to end in December 2023.
RELATED: New Hanover County Leaders Discuss Investments in School Safety in Private Meeting
Education council members approved the request to NCDPI at its September 7 session as part of its consent agenda. County commissioners also unanimously approved the request on Monday after Commissioner Rob Zapple removed it from the consent agenda and asked for more details on the request.
“I recognize you don’t want to overlook the barn on this one – it’s safety and security – but I think you can provide us with a few more details,†Zapple told staff.
New Hanover County School Facilities Planning and Construction Director Leanne Lawrence confirmed to commissioners that the construction project was recommended during a school district safety audit in 2019. Compiled by True North Safety Group, the audit includes a budget, which she described as “essentially a price tag for all of their recommendations.”
Lawrence said they are implementing the improvements on campus by campus and have gradually invested $ 1 million in the effort each year.
“I don’t want to discuss the details of what we do with safety and security publicly because of, of course, confidential matters,†Lawrence said.
In April, the Port City Daily reported that $ 1 million of last year’s lottery money had been allocated to build small homes at the main entrances to Lake Forest Academy and the JC Roe Center. Visitors must enter through the vestibule and speak with staff via an intercom before gaining access to the front office, creating a two-point verification system. Technology brings old campuses up to standard with newer ones.
Investment from the audit is expected to increase after an Aug. 30 shooting at New Hanover High that injured a student. Four days after the incident, county commissioners took a surprise vote to allow the county manager to dip into a $ 350 million jackpot from the sale of the old county hospital to fight violence at home. young people. Teens have increasingly got their hands on guns since the start of the pandemic, according to law enforcement officials.
To date, none of that money has been spent or allocated, but County Director Chris Coudriet said staff plan to review past school district audits to identify improvements that have yet to come. funding receipt.
Coudriet has made it clear that most of the discussions involving the ongoing effort to protect campuses are secret, so as not to give the “game guide†to the wrong people. The county denied a public records request for the audit on similar grounds. Discussions of potential community investments, such as mental health resources, are also low-key to ensure participants feel safe offering their opinions.
In total, NHCS is receiving $ 1.75 million from the lottery for capital projects this school year. Other allowances are $ 200,000 for a boiler replacement at Murrayville Elementary; $ 95,000 to replace a water heater at the Veterans Park; $ 250,000 in flooring repairs at Forest Hills Elementary School; $ 27,500 for a roof replacement at Holly Shelter Middle; $ 350,000 for painting at Ashley High; and $ 235,000 for HVAC upgrades at Laney High.
Once the requests are approved, the school board and trustees must both pass budget amendments.
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