Moore County Board approves $8.8 million contingent architectural engagement for possible new high school

The Moore County Schools Board of Education on Jan. 12 approved awarding architectural design services to SFL and A (SFLA) to develop plans, cost estimates and renderings for a potential new high school, a step staff said is needed to provide data for a possible November 2026 bond referendum.

Superintendent Dr. Locklear recommended the engagement and said the work will provide commissioners and the public with timeline and cost information needed to evaluate a bond measure. "This is to recommend that SFLA would be awarded the contract for design services for our potential new high school, to address capacity issues," Locklear said.

Chief operations staff member Jenny Purvis told the board the $8,800,000 figure is a fixed-design fee and "is in no way owed if the bond does not pass." Purvis and other staff emphasized the contract is contingency-based: payment is only due upon passage of the 2026 bond referendum or the owner's receipt of sufficient funding.

Several board members asked that the contract's ethics and conflict-of-interest provisions be shown publicly. Purvis displayed contract language that requires the architect to disclose and exclude personnel with conflicts, to obtain owner approval of subcontractors, and to certify consultants have read the agreement. A separate clause bars the architect, its principals and partners from donating corporate or private funds to PACs or candidates supporting the 2026 bond referendum or Moore County Board candidates during the term of the agreement.

Board member Mister Hensley raised the need for public scrutiny and asked staff to show the specific paragraphs. Doctor Dahl, a member of the selection committee, said the firm ranked highest on the committee rubric and that committee members unanimously ranked SFLA above competing firms after site walkthroughs.

The board moved and voted to award the contract, with the motion carried by the members present. Purvis and Locklear said the contract contains safeguards against conflicts of interest and that no payment is required unless the bond proceeds.

Next steps outlined by staff include final legal review of the contract and preparing public-facing materials, renderings and cost estimates that would be used in any future voter information and discussions with the Moore County Board of Commissioners.