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Board endorses architect pick for Carthage Elementary; members request water monitoring and parcel planning
Summary
The board's construction committee recommended Pinnacle Architecture and a prototype design for the new Carthage Elementary; members also discussed site selection, ongoing municipal water turbidity, and requested independent monitoring and coordination of land and an IT facility.
Moore County Schools' construction committee brought the Carthage Elementary project forward on June 2, recommending Pinnacle Architecture and a prototype school design the committee members visited in Wayne County.
The district's facilities team said Pinnacle offered a flat design fee ($1,975,000) tied to a proven prototype already used in other North Carolina districts; the prototype reduces design risk and accelerates schedule by reusing elements tested in prior builds. The construction committee unanimously ranked Pinnacle first after visiting a recently built prototype campus.
Superintendent Rich Locklear and Director of Maintenance Tony Sewell told the board that once a parcel is selected, Pinnacle estimates revised plans could be ready in six to eight weeks. The proposal includes an added front wing to house preschool, daycare and some exceptional children (EC) classes; that work is included in the flat fee, the committee said. The project team also said capital lottery funds will cover portions of design, and that the district would request an additional $575,000 design draw once a site is finalized.
Separately, board members raised long'running questions about drinking water at the existing Carthage campus. Child Nutrition and facilities staff described municipal water tests showing occasional turbidity ("dingy" water) caused by sediment disturbance in town lines, and staff said they have used point'of'use filters in the school. The town of Carthage provided a May 19 water analysis showing chlorine and basic potable parameters within acceptable ranges on a morning sample taken at school plumbing fixtures; district staff said the town plans to flush the line to reduce turbidity.
Board members asked for clearer documentation and ongoing monitoring. Construction committee members and other trustees requested: 1) annual, school'site water testing with public results coordinated through Moore County Environmental Health; 2) a formal review of the phase'one/phase'two environmental reports that informed prior decisions; and 3) a plan for any additional testing (including PFAS/"forever chemical") if warranted. The superintendent said the district will coordinate with county health and municipal officials and will seek a short timeline to present monitoring options to the board.
Committee members also discussed adding a modest, metal design'build technology and IT operations facility on the same parcel as Carthage Elementary to replace an aging IT building. Facilities staff said renovating the existing IT building would require extensive asbestos abatement and still leave the district cramped; a new design'build structure would be simpler to complete and could be sited on the Carthage parcel without impacting the school footprint. The committee authorized staff to advertise a request for qualifications (RFQ) for design'build teams to provide price estimates, and to return with cost and schedule options.
No final construction contracts were awarded at the June 2 work session; the committee asked staff to return with firm site options and cost estimates for board review before any final land purchase or construction authorization.
