Brunswick Co. School Board supports $152 million bond despite 3-2 vote

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Brunswick County School board members are moving forward with a $152 million school bond despite some differing opinions.

Brunswick county parents anxiously listened as the school board discussed the bond referendum at a special meeting Tuesday.

“I was concerned they were having second thoughts,” Parent Erin Cimino said.

Cimino said many schools in the county are depending on this money including her children’s.

“Lincoln is small and outdated and we desperately need a new school,” Cimino said.

She said the whole northern end of the county needs help.

“In the next few years, the entire northern end will have out grown the schools that are available,” Cimino said. “We need bigger schools. We need a middle school.”

At the end of 2015, Chairman Olaf Thorsen said not all of the board members wanted the bond.

“It’s a 3-2 vote,” Thorsen said.

Charlie miller and Catherine Cooke said they wanted to wait on it until 2018, but what they said tonight was a proud moment for Thorsen.

“Even though we had two board members that did not support it initially, as you heard tonight it was very positive,” Thorsen said.

Each board member said they will do everything they can to get it passed by the voters giving them full support.

It was a unifying moment for the board that brought some of the parents a little bit of hope for the future.

“That speaks well, so I’m happy to see them working together and really trying to do the best they can for all the kids in Brunswick County,” Cimino said.

Some of the concern for the bond is a tax increase, but superintendent Les Tubb said he hopes the growing county will help will some of the tax base.

Now, the Brunswick County commissioners must decide whether to place the bond on the November 2016 ballot. A school spokeswoman said a liaison meeting between both Boards will be scheduled.