Pender County school leaders tour Topsail Middle School amid renovation budget concerns
HAMPSTEAD, NC (WWAY) — Pender County school leaders toured Topsail Middle School on Thursday evening to get a firsthand look at proposed renovations that would transform the building into a second campus for Topsail High School. However, the estimated $50 million price tag has officials looking for ways to reduce costs.
Members of the Pender County Board of Education walked through the school’s gym, locker rooms, cafeteria and classrooms to see what changes would be needed to convert the building into a north campus for Topsail High School, primarily serving ninth-grade students.
The proposed renovations include removing walls to create new classrooms and hallways, adding agricultural science and computer labs, converting the main gym into a wrestling and weight room, renovating locker rooms and enclosing several covered walkways connecting school buildings.
While the plans would provide additional space for a growing student population, funding remains a major obstacle.
The full renovation is estimated to cost approximately $50 million, significantly more than school leaders say they can afford.
“If we do $4 million, that leaves $31 [million] for this and then we got some change left,” Pender County Board of Education Chair Don Hall said. “So as far as I am concerned, there’s no way this can go over $31 [million]. I’d rather not go over $30 [million].”
Funding for the project comes from the $177 million school bond approved by voters in 2022. However, $142 million has already been committed to constructing the new J.H. Lea K-8 School, which is nearing completion.
Once J.H. Lea opens, students currently attending Topsail Middle School will move to the new campus, allowing renovations to begin at the existing middle school building.
Pender County Schools Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove said the district must also consider the needs of other schools throughout the county.
“We don’t want to spend everything on Topsail Middle School and then have nothing left for Rocky Point and some other areas,” Breedlove said.
According to Breedlove, rising construction costs and changes to the original plans for J.H. Lea have placed additional pressure on the district’s bond funding.
“The figures for that bond came from 2021 and since then, obviously we know all of the prices across the board have gone up,” Breedlove said. “So that’s one factor. The other factor is we made J.H. Lea larger than what was originally planned.”
Despite the financial challenges, Breedlove said the additional classroom space is essential as enrollment continues to grow.
“We are over 2,000 students here with a projection over the next 10 years of over 3,000,” Breedlove said. “And with that being said, we’ve got to do something.”
The Board of Education is expected to discuss and vote on the proposed renovations at its next meeting Monday, Nov. 16., with construction expected to start next year and finish in time for the start of the 2028 school year.
Breedlove also said board members have directed county staff to explore the possibility of another school bond in 2028.
Board approves 2027-28 school calendar despite survey preferences
In a separate decision, the Pender County Board of Education unanimously approved a calendar for the 2027-28 school year, despite the majority of survey respondents favoring a different option.
The approved calendar includes 178 instructional days, with the final day of school scheduled for June 8. High school exams will take place in January.
Nearly 67% of survey respondents preferred a calendar that would end in May, with high school exams completed before winter break.
Breedlove said the approved calendar provides important benefits for teachers by spreading workdays throughout the school year.
“And with that comes not just instructional days, but also work days spread throughout the year,” Breedlove said. “And that is much more palatable for our teachers to have these ongoing breaks, to be able to catch up on grading, to be able to work in their classrooms and do those type of things that they don’t have in the calendar.”
