Public hearing: Moore County staff, teachers and residents back new Carthage Elementary on new site; staff favors K–5, 600‑student core

Moore County Schools held a public hearing on Feb. 3 to gather community input on a proposal to replace Carthage Elementary with a new building on a new site with a core capacity of 600 students.

The superintendent’s recommendation — introduced at the hearing by district staff — would place a new Carthage Elementary on a new site, with classrooms initially fitted to 450 students but designed for a 600‑student core to accommodate projected growth. Miss Purvis, a district staff member presenting background, said the district’s construction committee and an updated capacity review of the area supported the recommendation.

Why it matters: Carthage Elementary, built in 1950, sits on a constrained 7.6‑acre parcel; presenters said the existing campus has building problems beyond cosmetic repair. Staff and community speakers said a new site would provide safer drop‑off and play spaces, room for future expansion and long‑term cost savings compared with repeated repairs or constrained renovations.

Staff and community testimony

Several Carthage teachers and staff summarized a staff survey and urged the board to follow the superintendent’s recommendation. Lisa Moore, a 24‑year teacher at Carthage Elementary, said the staff surveyed 33 members and that 97% opposed splitting the campus into two smaller schools. "Our data shows we have a clear vision for one school in Carthage," Moore said.

Christina Harrison, a Moore County teacher for nine years, said 97% of staff preferred a K–5 model over a K–8, and she emphasized developmental and scheduling reasons: "Younger students may feel safer when they are with kids their own age," Harrison said.

Rayona Cash, an administrative assistant with 15 years at the school, said staff favored planning for growth: "Our staff believes…