Wallace town representative warns housing boom could strain Duplin County school capacity

A representative of the Wallace Town Council told the Duplin County Schools board on April 14 that a wave of residential and commercial development near Wallace Elementary and Wallace Rose Hill High School is likely to increase enrollment and strain school facilities in the next two to five years.

"In the coming years, we expect both Wallace Elementary and Wallace Rose Hill High School to see noticeable increases in enrollment," the Wallace representative said, speaking on behalf of Mayor Wells and the town council and urging county and district leaders to coordinate planning now.

The presenter listed several projects that the town says are approved or in progress: Rockfish Point (about 32 homes), Eastwood (about 42 homes, 12 already under construction), a Crossroads development (about 208 homes) delayed while the town seeks funding for a lift station, and the Bryant Farm development (reported as roughly 276 apartments, 221 townhomes and 254 single-family homes). The representative described Wallace as becoming a "bedroom community" for nearby Wilmington and predicted that new families will bring school-age children to Duplin County Schools.

The presenter told the board the town has limited authority over school funding and operations and asked the district and county commissioners to "have the information" needed when making decisions. "Better communication early, coordination between town and county leaders will be essential to staying ahead of the strain we believe this will place on our schools," the representative said.

The Wallace representative also flagged one specific constraint: financing for a sewer lift station that must be completed before the Crossroads development can proceed. "The holdup here is that we're waiting on money for a lift station," the speaker said, adding that construction would begin once funding and required changes are in place.

Board members thanked the presenter for the overview and noted they appreciated being kept informed. No formal action or vote resulted from the presentation; the board did not take a vote on capacity planning at the meeting. Superintendent Tindall and board members were asked to continue conversations with local leaders to assess how projected housing growth could change enrollment and facility needs over the next several years.

The town representative requested ongoing coordination; the board’s next steps were not specified at the meeting other than continued communication between district and town officials.