The McDowell County Board of Education on a unanimous voice vote approved Holland & Hamrick Architects as the recommended architectural firm to lead the district’s new school project after a competitive RFQ process. The selection followed a committee review of nine submissions and interviews with three finalists on August 7.

Director of buildings and grounds Mister Marsh briefed the board on the RFQ timeline: the district posted a request for qualifications for more than 30 days, received nine submissions, the committee narrowed that list to three firms and conducted formal interviews. Board counsel John Henning confirmed the process complied with the attorney’s guidance before the committee made its recommendation.

At the committee meeting, members considered presentations from Adams and Associates, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, and Holland & Hamrick; after deliberation the building and grounds committee recommended Holland & Hamrick as “the most suitable architect for this project.” Board member Mister Barksdale moved the selection; Mister Allison seconded. The board vote to approve the committee’s recommendation was unanimous.

Administrators said the next step is to inform the McDowell County commissioners of the board’s selection and to follow counsel’s timeline for any required commissioner action before contract finalization. The board emphasized that this approval is the selection of a firm; contract terms and fees will be negotiated and presented for later approval.