Committee splits over New Hanover High School options: renovate, hybrid or rebuild

Dr. Carter Barnes and Dr. Morgan described three options presented by the architect for New Hanover High School: a renovate-only plan estimated at $137,000,000; a hybrid option estimated at $233,000,000 that combines renovations with new additions and phases over time; and a full new-construction option estimated at about $280,000,000.

Dr. Morgan said the hybrid is “a little more comprehensive” than renovate-only and “it's taking what we've got, but we're going to add some new buildings.” He likened the hybrid to adding a porch or a garage to an existing house: the hybrid would expand and enclose the campus footprint, while the renovate-only option would “tackle the things that we need to get done in order to bring it up to more modern expectations.”

Committee members pressed for specifics on what each option includes. One exchange clarified that the $137 million renovate-only option does not include construction of a new cafeteria; that element is part of the hybrid option. Dr. Morgan confirmed there are connector corridors identified in the $137 million plan to improve internal circulation but said “it's not a new building, it's new corridors.”

Members discussed phasing: slide materials break the hybrid option into four phases (phase 1 ≈ $60 million; phase 2 ≈ $75 million; phases 3–4 the remainder) and staff said phases are intended to be stand-alone so the county could pursue phases 1–2 first and phases 3–4 later if desired. Several committee members urged providing the full slide deck and a clear, phase-by-phase description so all members and the public can understand what would be built at each stage.

On the question of ballot strategy, some members argued a broader bond that includes multiple county and school projects would be easier to pass than one that asks taxpayers to fund a large amount for a single campus. Others said the hybrid is what the building needs for the long term and recommended committing to the phases that make the campus operationally whole. The committee asked staff to make the architect's phasing materials available before the next meeting and to present explicit tax-impact estimates tied to each option.