Board approves Union Pines synthetic turf funding as booster groups pledge $90,000; controversy surfaces over IT building site

Moore County Schools' board members approved design services and a funding plan Feb. 9 to install synthetic turf at Union Pines High School and also discussed a separate plan to seek lottery funds for an IT/PAR building on district-owned land that prompted public concern.

Miss Purvis presented a history of the turf project and the district's funding: the county commissioners previously approved $600,000 (bond interest), and a Convention Visitors Bureau grant contributed $120,000, leaving a remaining balance. FieldTurf proposed two systems; the recommended 'cool play' infill is an estimated $1,383,100 total cost but costs about $89,700 more than the Pinecrest spec. Union Pines band boosters pledged $10,000 and the athletic boosters $80,000 to pay the incremental $90,000, so the board approved a $663,100 draw from Fund 8 restricted revenue to complete the project, with the district to invoice booster groups for their pledged amounts after construction. Miss Davis abstained from the vote.

Separately, the board endorsed requesting $3.3M in capital lottery funds for a new IT/PAR design-build project estimated at $3.3M that staff proposed to site on the Bass Carthage parcel the district owns. Multiple board members raised public-opinion and process concerns about placing an institutional/warehouse-type facility on a rural parcel that some citizens opposed for a planned elementary school; staff noted the site is zoned for school-related supplemental buildings and that geotech testing was completed. The board voted to request lottery funding; several members said the county CVB could and should be urged to direct more tourism-related revenue toward school athletics and facilities.

Board members asked staff to ensure Fund 8 expenditures do not supplant security/SRO resources and to invoice boosters as pledged. Staff also reiterated that Fund 8 is restricted revenue and the Fund 8 draw is one-time and will not change ongoing SRO funding streams.