New Hanover School Board hears update on NHHS, plans to be released in July
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County School Board received an update Tuesday night on plans for New Hanover High School, with district leaders confirming that formal design proposals will be presented at the board’s July meeting.
During the meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Dr. Rob Morgan provided a brief summary of the ongoing planning process, which he described as extensive and shaped by months of stakeholder input. That input has included students, staff, alumni, and local officials, with public events—such as a community meeting held in February at the Princess Street gym—designed to gather feedback from those directly connected to the school.
Dr. Morgan said the design team is currently exploring several schematic options. These include the possibility of building a new high school on a different site, renovating buildings on the current campus, or expanding the school’s existing footprint.
“The plan is for the design team to be able to present at the next board meeting,” Morgan said.
Board members expressed concern about transparency and public access to the proposed plans. Some members noted that draft versions of the designs have been shared with county staff and commissioners, prompting calls for those materials to be made public under state open records law.
“The attorney general has put out a statement that explains the law that anything that is done, even if it’s just a draft in our schools, is already public information and needs to be shared with the public,” said school board member Tim Merrick. “This is a conversation we’ve had and it’s not about you. I love what you’re doing but I am encouraging all of us to remember that everything we do open meetings law that we are a public body, you know, we don’t do anything in in private so I’m hoping that we can get something published ASAP.”
But board member Pat Bradford had a different opinion.
“I appreciate the fact that the plans haven’t been released because they’re not finished and we look forward to the finished product when you bring them to us next month,” she said.
Originally, the board had intended to review the plans during the June session. However, Morgan explained that feedback from county commissioners and other stakeholders prompted the design team to revisit and refine their recommendations.
