Options expand for potential Williston High

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Following several school board and one community meeting, the fate of Wilmington’s Williston Middle School may change.

School board leaders still want to turn it back into a high school, but with a different focus.

New Hanover County School Board vice chairman David Wortman says the exploratory committee is looking to expand the focus of a potential Williston High School to not be only about the arts, but also carry a vocational curriculum.

Wortman adds it would differ from Sea Tech, a technical high school in Castle Hayne.

Tuesday night at a school board meeting, community members shared their thoughts on this proposal, including one man who went to Williston Middle.

“Where are you going to send those middle school kids? And furthermore, I think it’s just, it’s a ditch,” said Kevin Spears. “You’re ditching the real problem. Let’s fix what the problem is as it relates to schools in these types of neighborhoods.”

If approved, it would be grades 6 through 12, and enrollment would be application based to not compete with nearby New Hanover High.