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Duplin County Schools board hears high‑school facilities briefing, agrees to seek architect input
Summary
At a Jan. 14 board meeting, district staff told Duplin County Schools trustees the high‑school system serves roughly 3,200 students and uses 49 modular classrooms; trustees agreed to pursue architect recommendations and to coordinate facilities planning with curriculum staff and external partners.
Duplin County Schools staff presented trustees with an overview of high‑school capital needs at the board's Jan. 14 business meeting, and board members agreed to seek architect recommendations to plan renovations and program upgrades.
Kevin Smith, one of the presenters, told the board that "our high school serve almost 3,200 students in total and utilize 49 total modular classrooms," and gave a school‑by‑school breakdown of modular units currently in use. Presentations from staff highlighted recurring building needs including lighting and ceiling replacement, electrical panel upgrades, interior and exterior painting, floor replacement, door rekeying, gym renovations, intercom and technology upgrades, and fire alarm panel and device work.
Roger Jones, the other presenter, said addressing capital needs would also allow the district to expand and modernize vocational and career‑technical education, arts and music spaces, computer labs and science classrooms. Presenters recommended adding permanent classrooms where feasible to reduce reliance on modular units and listed safety and security improvements such as enclosed walkways, fencing and improved vehicle circulation to reduce congestion and provide adequate emergency access.
Board members framed the discussion around two linked priorities: physical repairs and curriculum outcomes. One trustee urged the board to "look deeper than that"—to focus on facility changes that enhance classroom learning rather than only cosmetic fixes. Another suggested the most practical next step was to engage an architect to develop preliminary drawings and rough cost estimates for renovations and additions so the district can prioritize projects and seek community support.
While trustees did not take a formal vote to approve a specific construction plan or funding mechanism at the meeting, the board reached a consensus to move forward with a planning phase: engaging an architect, involving the curriculum department and high‑school principals, and exploring partnerships (the presenters mentioned James Sprunt) to expand vocational offerings. Chairman Davis said staff should return with visuals and rough numbers after the initial planning work.
The discussion also highlighted equity issues across campuses—differences in cafeteria and fine‑arts space, gym capacity and vocational facilities—and board members said those inequities should be addressed in future planning. The board did not adopt any bond, tax or funding measure during the meeting; next steps are planning and staff follow‑up.
