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Davie County Schools says Golden LEAF awarded $1.5M but bids leave $1.5M shortfall for new advanced manufacturing lab
Summary
Davie County Schools officials told commissioners they received a $1.5 million Golden LEAF grant to build an advanced manufacturing lab at Davie County High School but bids and architecture costs leave an estimated capital shortfall of about $1.5 million; the project will be phased and seeks industry and state partnerships and possible grant extensions.
Davie County Schools officials presented plans for an advanced manufacturing lab at Davie County High School and described a funding gap that will determine the pace and scope of construction.
Dr. Belcher introduced the school team and asked David Koons and Will Morris to describe the project and its workforce goals. "My name is Will Morris. I'm the drafting engineering teacher at Davie County High School," Morris said as he opened the presentation and walked commissioners through the project origin, which began with the school’s comprehensive local needs assessment (CLNA). (Will Morris)
Morris and Koons told the board that the district was awarded a $1,500,000 Golden LEAF grant that represents the county’s allotted portion of that funding cycle. After architecture and engineering costs the district said the net available from that award drops to roughly $1,300,000; the lowest construction bid the team reported came in at "2.75" (described in the presentation as 2.75 and understood in context to mean $2.75 million), so the presenters said they now need additional capital of about $1,500,000 to complete the full build-out and equipment. "We had got a great problem because we have the machines and the equipment. We just don't have the building to house them," Morris said. (Will Morris)
The school described a two-phase approach: build a shell to get the structure under roof (phase 1) and outfit flexible classroom, maker space, personnel offices and specialized metrology and machining labs in phase 2 when more capital is available. The design emphasizes workforce credentialing, dual enrollment articulation with Davidson‑Davie Community College, apprenticeships and pre‑apprenticeship pathways so students can earn industry credentials and transition directly to local employers.
Koons and Morris highlighted student successes as evidence of program value: the presentation noted a student team placing third in a national SkillsUSA competition for additive manufacturing and examples of student internships that converted to paid work. The presenters also said they had sought private and industry partners; they described earlier soft commitments that later fell through and said they were still pursuing new partners.
Board members pressed for detail on the exact shortfall and fundraising timeline. School staff said they would request a deadline extension from Golden LEAF if needed and continue to explore state and federal grants and private donations; commissioners offered to help set meetings with state and federal representatives.
No formal action or vote was taken; staff were asked to follow up with documentation and numbers for the board.
