Pitt County Schools and Pitt Community College present FY2026–27 capital requests totaling millions

Pitt County Schools and Pitt Community College presented their recommended capital improvement plans to the Pitt County Board of Commissioners on March 26, laying out multi‑million dollar projects for the 2026–27 fiscal year.

Pitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Lassiter and facilities official Aaron Errickson described active projects and the district’s FY2026–27 request. The slides listed active work including CTE lab improvements (AGHS Culinary Arts renovation under contract), sewer‑field repairs at Falkland, tennis court resurfacing at DH Conley, and bleacher replacement at Ayden Middle School. The district’s total FY26–27 CIP request was listed at $12,939,283.85. Itemized requests included capital and maintenance lines such as JH Rose football field lights ($1,570,283.85), tennis court reconstruction ($300,000), track replacements ($570,000), Wahl‑Coates canopy replacement ($675,000), and recurring annual maintenance categories totaling $2,354,000.

Slides included a request described as “money to secure land for future schools” (slide listed $5,000,000) and a listed $650,000 request to abate and demolish the 1929 section of Chicod School. During Board discussion Commissioner Rochelle Brown asked whether a previously referenced $4,000,000 land acquisition had a specific parcel identified; County Manager Janis Gallagher said a parcel had been identified in a prior closed session for an economic development project but that meeting discussion had taken place in closed session.

Pitt Community College President Dr. Maria Pharr presented the college’s capital priorities, describing the college as a countywide asset and highlighting ongoing construction and readiness work. The PCC slide deck described a FY26–27 capital request of $28.6 million focused on safety, stability and readiness. Project lines on PCC slides included: water line upgrades ($2,000,000); Phase II roof replacement ($1,200,000); Phase IV security upgrades ($500,000 FY, $2,000,000 total project cost shown); former welding building renovation ($600,000); firing range modular replacement ($600,000); Warren Building windows ($340,000); student services building expansion ($1,000,000 FY, $9,360,000 total project cost shown); Smith Center parking ($2,000,000); and a Swift Creek Crossing / Davenport access item ($1,000,000 FY, $8,000,000 total project cost shown). A slide summarized a FY total of $9,240,000 for the listed PCC FY items alongside a total project cost column (shown as $19,360,000) for certain multi‑year projects.

Dr. Pharr said instructional equipment and furnishings are being coordinated to align with final construction and that students and faculty are scheduled to transition into a new facility following Spring Break 2026. She confirmed the former welding building will be used for classes after renovation, a point raised during Board questions.

What the Board asked next

County staff and commissioners asked for time to digest the requests. Chairman Mark Smith said items would be brought back for further discussion as needed, and staff said the CIP list will be reviewed again during May budget workshops before final adoption in June.