Moore County board shifts new high‑school planning to 2028 bond, citing need for more planning and public engagement

The Moore County Board of Education voted 5–2 on Feb. 16 to delay placing a proposed new high school on the 2026 bond and to direct staff to continue planning with the intent to include the project on a 2028 general‑obligation bond.

Interim superintendent Miss Purvis and Dr. Locklear recommended the shift after conversations with county commissioners and because the district lacks time to develop the comprehensive renovation and swing‑space plans required to include full high‑school modernizations on a 2026 bond. "At this time, we'd recommend that we do not plan taking a new high school to the 2026 bond, but we continue to move forward... to put it on the 2028 bond," Miss Purvis said.

Board members split on timing. Some argued the district must act with urgency because Pinecrest and Union Pines are significantly over capacity; others said the public needs fuller data, detailed renovation plans and community engagement before a bond measure is presented. Mister Hensley emphasized urgency and the need to communicate a clear plan to voters; other members urged development of a funding roadmap that could include a combination of bond financing and cash strategies to fund renovations.

Staff said it is already working with NC State’s ITRE on a multi‑month demographic and capacity review for the affected attendance areas and will produce a comprehensive plan, budget estimates and a phased approach for renovation and swing space prior to any bond proposal.

What happened - Motion: endorse moving forward with planning for a new high school with the intent to place that project on the 2028 bond. Outcome: passed 5–2.

What’s next Staff will continue demographic and capacity studies (ITRE engagement), refine rough orders of magnitude for renovation and modernization, and coordinate with the county commissioners on funding approaches to bring a fully specified package for public review well before a 2028 bond proposal.

Quote "We'd recommend that we do not plan taking a new high school to the 2026 bond, but we continue to move forward... to put it on the 2028 bond," — Miss Purvis, interim superintendent.

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