Snipes Elementary School to be demolished with new school in its place

Snipes Elementary School, which is currently unoccupied, will soon come tumbling down.

At Tuesday’s school board meeting, the New Hanover County Board of Elections approved a $150,000 contract to demolish the school’s three buildings.

A $17 million school for arts and design will eventually go up in it’s place along Chestnut Street.

Assistant Superintendent Bill Hance said the new building will not only save money in the long run, but will also have several advantages for the students. “They’ll have smart boards in the classrooms, they’ll have document cameras, LCD projectors in the room. They’ll have a full size gym, a full size auditorium, which most elementary schools do not have.”

The demolition will begin in the next few weeks with plans for the new school to open for the 2010 school year.

Hance said he hopes the new building will raise public awareness for one of New Hanover County’s newest magnet schools.