Parents react to funding issues for new Pender Co. schools
PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Two new schools in Pender County aimed to combat overcrowding now face some budget cuts.
The architect for the new Surf City elementary school and Penderlea told commissioners they are over budget on both projects.
“The classrooms are packed,” Parent Chris Medlin said. “They’ve got classrooms on the stage. They’ve got the huts outside.”
Medlin has two kids in classrooms at North Topsail Elementary School.
“One of them was actually in a hut this last year which is not an ideal situation,” Medlin said.
It is a situation caused by overcrowding.
“There are safety issues to think about,” Medlin said.
That is why he voted for the school bond in 2014 to help pay to build a new elementary school, but he is still waiting for it.
“It seems like it’s been a really slow process,” Medlin said.
Architect Charles Boney told commissioners they plan to start construction in October, but first they have to address a budget issue. Boney said they are about $200,000 over budget for Penderlea, but $3.5 million over for the Surf City school.
Boney said there are several factors causing it. One is inflation, because it has been two and a half years since the original estimate. The biggest factor is the site development, because the area proposed for the school off Shepards Road is mostly wetlands.
After changing flooring and sprinklers, cutting gardens, some parking and other structural things, they went from being $9 million over budget to $3.5 million over.
“If we could have already gotten the money and got it done we could have saved a lot of money especially to the taxpayers,” Medlin said.
Boney is proposing to cut 15 classrooms to make up for the rest of the difference.
“I would hate to have to cut classrooms and have an overcrowded school when it’s brand new,” Parent Jennifer Helms said.
“Once that school is built, it’s probably already going to be at capacity,” Medlin said.
That is an option neither Medlin nor Jennifer Helms want, but commissioners said the other option may be asking taxpayers for more money.
“If we’ve got to do that, I’m for that for our kids’ education,” Medlin said. “I’m for that If we’ve got to.”
Commissioners also discussed the possibly of cutting other things out of the bond money, but right now it is not up to commission. What happens next is up to the board of education.
We reached out to the board of education to see what is next. We are still waiting for a response.
According to the project schedule, construction details must be complete by August 5. Construction is schedule to be complete by August 2018.
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