NHSB hears New Hanover High School master plan presentation, approves funding for pre-k classrooms
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — During Tuesday’s New Hanover County School Board meeting, district leaders heard a presentation about the future of New Hanover High School.
Two options were presented addressing safety concerns, a lack of adequate classroom space, and outdated infrastructure.
The first option would include a new 350,000 square foot school built on 70 acres at an estimated cost of $280 million.
The second option involves four phases of renovations to the existing campus.
It would include the construction of a new auxiliary gym, dining area, and classrooms, while expanding other areas of the campus.
Regardless of the board’s decision, New Hanover High School Principal Philip Sutton said it’s important for students to get the best education possible.
“The most important thing is to create a safe environment for our students and to, to make sure we are giving our students and our community the best,” Sutton said. “They deserve that. We have an incredible community that loves their school and they deserve that.”
The second option would cost around $230 million and would take between 10 – 12 years to complete all four phases.
Additionally, the school board also discussed the future of pre-k classes.
You may recall that New Hanover County Commissioners trimmed from its 2025-26 fiscal year budget more than $900,000 for the school district.
This funding would eliminate 6 pre-k classrooms.
During the meeting, school board members unanimously voted to utilize Title 1 funds, or about $750,000 to make up the difference for this year.
One option being considered to recoup the funding was to close Mary Washington Howe Pre-K Center and sell the building. But it will remain open.
WWAY spoke with Leighann Lampley, who is the center’s director.
“Whether it’s any building, all pre-k is valuable,” Lampley said. “But when we heard it was Mary Washington Howe, we certainly did think about the history that’s involved in that building and all the ties to the community. So we’re just really happy with the outcome.”>
School board member Pat Bradford explained where the funds will come from.
“If we don’t use the federal government’s money, they’ve allowed us to keep it,” Bradford said. “So we didn’t finish using it in this school fiscal year. So there was some title money left over, Title 1.”
Along with the cuts from the county, New Hanover County Schools is also losing funding from the state and federal government, which totals more than $5.3 million.
