Halifax County board members review new high school readiness as supervisors weigh athletics funding

Halifax County Public Schools officials reported the new Van Duke High School is largely ready for the start of classes, while board members said the county Board of Supervisors will consider releasing funds for a separate athletics complex at a later meeting.

School staff told the board that classroom and cafeteria furniture has been installed, the theater and audiovisual equipment work is underway and a concrete slab for a greenhouse has been poured. Boxes were moved from the old school into the new building a week earlier, and staff said deliveries of small appliances and remaining equipment were in progress ahead of the first day of school, which the board noted falls on Monday the 18th.

The progress report matters because board members said the county’s planned sports complex requires separate approval. At this meeting speakers said at a Board of Supervisors session on Aug. 4 a supervisor indicated staff would “verify the funds” and could be prepared for a vote on Aug. 19; speakers said discussions with the chairman were continuing but no county vote occurred at the school-board meeting.

Board members also sought to clarify public questions about which tax revenues can be used. One speaker said the available funding for school projects comes from the 1% local sales tax and funds designated for high‑school projects, and that those dollars must be used for school projects rather than general county expenditures. The transcript indicates the speaker warned that property taxes would not be raised to pay for the athletic project, saying the division already “has the money to do this.”

School staff showed photographs of finished spaces including the auditorium and said a greenhouse is scheduled for delivery and installation. The facilities update listed remaining tasks such as finalizing trophy-case installations and finishing an enhanced graphics package for the new school’s interior and vehicles.

While board members praised the near-complete readiness, they did not take a formal vote on the athletics funding or the building acceptance at this meeting. The county Board of Supervisors’ planned Aug. 19 meeting was cited repeatedly as the next milestone for the athletics project funding.

With students scheduled to arrive soon, board members ended the item noting remaining punch-list items and promising staff would report back on outstanding installation dates.