Board endorses Vass Carthage Road site for new Carthage Elementary amid town objections

The Moore County Board of Education voted 5–2 on Dec. 8 to endorse the board-owned parcel on Vass Carthage Road as the final selected site for a replacement Carthage Elementary School, allowing staff to proceed with site development and to include the project in a proposed November 2026 general obligation bond.

The superintendent, Dr. Locklear, told the board the Vass Carthage Road tract offers favorable topography, about 30 acres, road frontage suitable for queuing car traffic off the highway, and access to utilities. "I continue to recommend to the board that you consider a motion tonight to endorse the purchase site on Vass Carthage Road as the final selected site for the future New Carthage Elementary School," Locklear said, adding that staff needs the endorsement to move into site development and architecture.

Residents and town officials urged a different approach during public comment. "My opposition is not to building a school… My concern is that the Vass Carthage Road parcel is simply not the right location and the process that has brought us here has overlooked better, more responsible alternatives," said Aaron Honey, a community member. Honey and others said the board dismissed donated or lower-cost sites and did not fully consider using existing capacity at Cameron Elementary.

Assistant Superintendent Jenny Purvis, who led the staff review of parcels, described trade-offs for other properties: wetlands and primary power lines at one candidate site, DOT spacing recommendations for entrances, and substantial mitigation costs that could raise total project expense. Purvis said some alternatives might accommodate access with additional engineering but that unanswered questions remained. "We were able to get 340 feet in here. That's not the minimum 400. She said that would not be recommended by DOT… However, it would be, you know, a board decision," Purvis said.

Several board members who voted to endorse the site emphasized capacity projections and timelines. Dr. Dahl said the board must choose a buildable site with safe road access and that the Vass Carthage Road property best met the district's obligations: "The only property under consideration that meets our obligations to the county we serve is the property we have purchased on Vass Carthage Road," she said. Board members who opposed the endorsement said the board had not negotiated fully with the town and county and urged more time to explore donated land and cascading students to nearby Cameron Elementary. Public commenters and some board members raised concerns about the loss of a town-centered school and possible impacts on local businesses and safety services.

Board discussion included technical clarifications about capacity. During public comment a resident said Cameron Elementary could absorb roughly 150 students; Assistant Superintendent Purvis later said Cameron's core capacity is about 300 with module/trailer usage historically providing additional flexible space and that reassignment would require building to core capacity.

The motion to endorse the Vass Carthage Road site passed 5–2. Board members who opposed the motion argued the process was rushed and that the board should pursue negotiated alternatives; supporters said the site best balanced safety, buildability and an aggressive schedule needed to place the project on the bond. The board directed staff to continue site planning, work with architects, and gather additional information required for bond planning.