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Dare County Schools outlines capital plan and reports strong bus-inspection performance (score 6.75)
Summary
District staff told the board most 2025-26 capital-improvement projects are complete or scheduled, several items await state (DPI) lottery-fund approval, auditorium seating is ordered for September, and the district's May bus inspection produced a low score of 6.75 (lower is better).
Dare County Schools presented its 2025-26 capital improvement plan to the Board of Education on June 8, reporting that most listed projects are complete or scheduled and that several remain pending state approval for lottery-funded work.
Director-level staff walked the board through two pages of projects, including roof replacements, irrigation installations, air-handler and chiller replacements, and the Cape Patter secondary auditorium seating project. Staff said the auditorium seating has been ordered, will arrive in September, and will require scheduling so the auditorium's use is not disrupted.
Officials emphasized scheduling constraints: large projects such as compressor replacements or gym resurfacing typically must be completed during breaks (Thanksgiving, winter, spring break or summer) to avoid disrupting the school day, and some projects are intentionally financed across two fiscal years to ease annual budget pressure.
The presentation explained steps required to use state lottery funds: district identification, review by the superintendent's office and county finance, then submission to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for eligibility review. Staff said several items are highlighted as "pending DPI approval."
On transportation, the district reported the results of a surprise May 12 bus-fleet inspection. Four buses (about 10% of the fleet) were inspected under the state's fleet maintenance manual; the district's inspection score for 2024-25 was 6.75 (the lower the score, the fewer deficits found). Staff said no buses were taken out of service and that official state rankings will be announced next week at a DPI/NCPTA awards dinner.
Board members also asked for project-specific updates: the Manio Fieldhouse construction team had completed forming and was scheduled to pour concrete, after which block and walls would follow; a waterline extension around First Flight Middle and Elementary was completed to tie buildings into county water for irrigation, replacing problematic well systems; and a stoplight in front of Manny Elementary was approved by NCDOT but had been rescheduled from fall to spring by DOT.
No votes were required on the update; staff said they will continue to report project statuses and DPI approvals at future meetings.
