Columbus County Schools receives $52 million grant for new K-8 school

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A grant is being awarded to Columbus County Schools and it’s helping the school district take on a major project. 

WWAY attended news conference held Monday morning at the Columbus County Courthouse Annex.  

The conference revealed that Columbus County Schools would be receiving $52 million to build a new K-8 school in the eastern side of the county. 

Roughly 100 counties applied for the state needs-based grant that will pay 95% of the cost of a new school campus.  

“There were so many reasons that Columbus County’s application shown through,” Public Instruction State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said. “But the fact that the county was willing to consolidate and close schools in order to make way for a new school, really made their application stand out.”  

That school consolidated campus will host Acme Delco Elementary and Hallsboro Artesia Elementary pre-K to sixth grade students, along with seventh and eighth grade students that currently attend East Columbus Jr.-Sr. High.  

Columbus County Schools Superintendent Dr. Deanne Meadows said this news came as a surprise to many. 

“Really it’s hard to even tell in words how great it is for our students,” Meadows said. “They deserve to be able to have a really conducive learning environment. So, that’s what this grant money is going to do for our students.” 

Meadows said Columbus County Schools has prioritized giving students more opportunities to grow in their educational journey over the past several years. She said it’s great to see that same effort coming from the state level.  State Representative Brenden Jones shared why he advocated for Columbus County Schools to receive what he said are these “much needed” funds.  

“Getting new schools is very very important to us.” We’ve done some on the south end and the west end. So, the east end was our next target,” Jones said. “We are building this county; we are shining now. There is no reason that folks wouldn’t want to move to Columbus County because we’ve now got some of the best schools and we will have the best schools in the region.” 

It is not yet decided where exactly the school will be located. But Meadows said conversations are taking place and it shouldn’t be long before taking the next step that allows them to move forward in the project.