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Pamlico County construction update: new high school on track for May 2026; contingency costs and field shortfalls flagged
Summary
Facilities lead Henry Rice told the board the new high school remains on track for early May 2026 completion but described contingency disputes after permit delays and listed specific extra costs — a $21,031.33 power-pole relocation and internet repairs — and a baseball field overrun of about $29,690.
Henry Rice, the district’s construction presenter, told the Pamlico County Board of Education the new high school building remains on schedule for roughly the first week of May 2026 and that on-site work is well underway.
Rice said construction documents were submitted to the state and county in March, bids were finalized last summer, a notice to proceed was issued Oct. 18 and work began Nov. 7. He reported 500 drilled concrete piers are planned for the project and that roughly 250 had been completed at the time of the update. "They tell us that if they can have 10 working days, they'll be finished with that," Rice said of the pier work.
Rice described several items the board will need to resolve in contingency planning. A construction-manager letter blamed permit delays for schedule risk; Rice said the county’s sewer permit arrived days later and the contractor will retract its initial warning. He also reported a power-pole relocation will cost $21,031.33 and said the district plans to cover the expense from construction contingency funds. "It actually comes out of the construction budget," Rice said, adding he prefers the cost come from the construction manager contingency rather than the owner contingency.
Rice also addressed a multi-day internet outage and showed district maps tracing the damaged line; he estimated additional repairs at "another $15,000 to $20,000" and said staff expect to ask the construction contingency to cover those costs as well.
On the adjacent athletic project, Rice said the approved cost for the new baseball facility is $1,229,000 versus the MetCon budget of $1,200,000, an overrun of about $29,690. A $100,000 grant reduces net exposure; Rice said outstanding items (dugouts, scoreboard, backstop, sidewalks) still must be paid from roughly $70,000 remaining in the project account. He said the team hopes to play on the new field by March 21, with interim games at other sites if necessary.
Board members asked Rice to share presentation materials; Rice agreed. No formal vote was required at this update, but Rice said the district will continue discussions on contingency allocations and bring any needed budget amendments back to the board.
