Lee County Schools study finds expansions cheaper short-term but new builds more durable; sewage, site and traffic complicate choices

District staff told the Lee County Board of Education that expansion of several elementary schools would cost substantially less up front than a new build but would have a shorter service life and carry hidden site and utility costs.

Stacy Eggers, a district staff presenter on the feasibility study, told the board that an expansion to add roughly 300 seats at a site such as Deep River Elementary is estimated at about $25 million, while a purpose-built elementary sized for roughly 850 students was estimated at about $56 million when the district last sought needs-based funding.

"An expansion is only going to have about a 15 to 20 year life cycle, whereas a new build is going to be between 30 to 50 years," Eggers said, noting that renovated spaces often require bringing older portions of a building up to current code when they are connected to new construction.

Why it matters: district enrollment growth is concentrated in and around Sanford city limits, and several speakers said subdivisions such as Galvins Ridge are accelerating demand in corridors that feed multiple attendance zones. The board faces a choice between smaller, earlier capacity relief and a larger, longer-lived capital investment that will require more up-front funding.

Key findings and constraints presented

- Cost estimates: staff said a 300-seat expansion at Deep River was estimated at about $25,000,000; the new-build estimate for an 850-seat elementary (the figure used in the district's needs-based grant) was about $56,000,000. In the Deep River estimate the new-construction portion was described as roughly $13,000,000 with site work estimated at about $3,000,000, though Eggers cautioned site-work costs vary by parcel.

- Site and utilities: Deep River sits on 58 acres but much is not build-ready; staff noted the school relies on a grinder‑pump system with a roughly six‑mile run to reach city sewer and said any expansion that required additional sewer capacity would need collaboration and trenching work with municipal utilities.

- Operational impacts: expansions require construction adjacent to occupied schools, increasing construction phasing complexity and temporary impacts on instruction. Eggers estimated major renovation/expansion work would take roughly 12 to 18 months.

- Capacity and geometry: several existing schools share layouts that make additions difficult; some sites are land‑locked and lack space for contiguous expansions without major reconfiguration of core spaces (gyms, cafeterias, restrooms) and traffic flows.

Discussion, requests and next steps

Board members asked how the district coordinates with municipal planning and developers. The presentation noted that municipalities hold zoning and permitting authority, and that developers or municipalities sometimes negotiate site dedications or options, but that North Carolina generally does not require impact fees or developer‑funded schools. Staff recommended proactive coordination with city planning and county officials so the district is included in development conversations.

Several board members asked that the district share the presentation and the underlying data with the county manager and county commissioners; the board directed the superintendent to forward the materials and a link to the recorded presentation for their review.

The board did not take a formal vote on either building a new school or expanding existing facilities at the meeting. Staff said the materials are posted online and will be used to continue cross‑government conversations on siting, timing and funding.

Ending

District staff recommended that the board use the feasibility data to prioritize sites for future capital planning and to continue coordination with the city and county on infrastructure, traffic and sewer connections prior to committing to design or bond timelines.