Dr. Fletcher, Transylvania County Schools superintendent, told the board on Dec. 15 that the district had been awarded a $62,000,000 needs-based public school capital fund grant funded by the North Carolina Education Lottery and asked the board to accept the award and roll the grant into the district’s existing interlocal agreement for county-managed project delivery. “This grant will be at Brevard High School for a new CTE wing, remodeling the art wing and EC classrooms,” she said, asking the board to allow the county to continue its role in contracting, payments and timeline management while the schools lead design and instructional decisions.

The board voted to approve the form of the grant agreement and separately voted to authorize the county to manage the grant projects under the interlocal agreement. Board members made and seconded the motions in open session; both motions passed on voice votes.

Why it matters: Dr. Fletcher said the grant, combined with bond-funded projects, represents an investment of more than $100,000,000 in district facilities. She told the board the award responds to aging buildings and program limits — noting Davidson River School was built in 1945 and Brevard High School’s CTE and EC wings date to 1959 and 1974 — and that updated CTE and arts spaces will expand credential and career opportunities for students.

What the board approved: The board authorized acceptance of the grant and asked that the county — which the superintendent described as having the procurement and construction-management infrastructure — manage contracting, quality control and financial tracking. The district will retain control of educational design, classroom layout and program decisions.

Implementation and next steps: Dr. Fletcher said the district must move into an implementation phase and recommended the grant be incorporated into the existing interlocal agreement that already governs bond project management and oversight. County staff and the CMAR (construction manager at risk) process will work on scoping, schematic design pricing and a guaranteed maximum price; the district expects the project subcommittee to meet in January or February to review recommended scope changes and budget implications.

Funding and constraints: During the presentation staff said some funding streams, such as lottery funds or bond-funded work, require joint filings or have conditions; the superintendent also noted bond-funded facilities must remain in public use for the bond repayment term (20 years). Dr. Fletcher described other grant-amount figures for different grade bands (she said she believed middle-school awards are $50,000,000 and elementary-school awards $40,000,000) but prefaced those numbers as her recollection.

What was not decided: The board voted only to accept the grant and to use the interlocal agreement structure for project delivery. Specific design decisions, firm contract awards and final budget modifications will return for subcommittee review and formal board action as required.

Board action summary: The board approved (voice vote) a motion to accept the grant agreement form and approved (voice vote) a motion to have the county continue to manage construction contracting and oversight under the interlocal agreement; both motions were seconded.

Provenance: Board presentation and motions occurred during the superintendent’s grant announcement and the subsequent votes (Dr. Fletcher presentation and board motions).