Union County Public Schools present $47 million bond plan to Weddington council

Union County Public Schools officials presented a proposed 2024 bond package to the Weddington Town Council on Sept. 9, saying the measure would fund renovations and new construction across the district. Kathy Henle, board chair, and Colen Moore, assistant superintendent for administration and operations, told the council the district is seeking approximately $47 million for capital projects.

Moore said the bond includes about $39.4 million earmarked for Parkwood High School design and preconstruction work and roughly $37 million to convert an older Forest Hills high-school building into a middle school to consolidate East Union Middle onto the same campus. “We’re asking for $47 million ... because of the amount of money we need to renovate schools,” Moore said.

The school officials emphasized that bond proceeds are limited to construction, renovation and capital acquisition and cannot be used for staff salaries. Henle said the district has a long-term facilities plan dating back about a decade and that the bond list reflects prioritized projects identified by a committee charged with a 10-year plan for the county’s schools.

Officials provided a preliminary estimate of fiscal impact: Union County commissioners’ estimate of the county debt-service impact for the bond was about $4.1 million, which the presenters said would translate to an increase of roughly $8 per $100,000 of assessed property value if the county implements the full levy associated with the bond. Early voting was noted to start Oct. 17 and end Nov. 2, with Election Day on Nov. 5.

Moore and Henle said construction would not begin until funds are available: design work for Parkwood High would begin roughly six to seven months after voter approval; the district expects the new Forest Hills high-school campus to be ready by August 2025, after which renovation of the former Forest Hills building as a middle school would begin. The presenters also invited residents to community meetings on the bond and said additional details (timelines and renderings) will be posted publicly as design progresses.

The presentation closed with council members asking for clarification about which schools were included and how the bond interacts with county budgeting; staff and school presenters said alternatives would be considered if voters reject the bond. The council did not take a formal vote on the bond at the meeting; the school district will pursue the measure with the county and voters in the upcoming election.