Isaac Baer early‑college building funding unclear; MOA assigns construction responsibility to school board

Committee members updated one another on the Isaac Baer (early‑college) project and said the site is secured but funding and building ownership remain unresolved. Dr. Morgan summarized recent conversations with UNCW and other partners and said: “according to the MOA, the school board is responsible for bringing funds to the table to build the facility.”

Dr. Morgan and others said the parties have discussed possible public–private partnerships and shared‑space arrangements with UNCW but that the key barrier is construction funding and long‑term ownership and operations. Committee members noted UNCW’s space constraints and the trade-offs of shared versus dedicated space for ninth‑ and tenth‑grade students. A staff member said the authorizing regulations for an early college allow for up to 100 students in a standard model but that the current program enrolls about 250 students, a fact the group discussed while considering facility size and operating arrangements.

Committee members asked for a copy of the MOA and for continued coordination with UNCW and potential private partners. Dr. Morgan said talks with UNCW officials and system stakeholders would continue and that the committee would return to the item when clearer funding commitments and an ownership plan exist.