Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Carolina awards Martin County $62 million to build new high school
Summary
On Oct. 3, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction presented Martin County Schools a $62 million grant to build a new Martin County High School. District officials said the existing building is more than 50 years old and needs over $5 million in repairs; construction is expected to begin within two years.
On Oct. 3, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction presented Martin County Schools with a $62,000,000 grant to fund construction of a new Martin County High School, officials said at a public ceremony.
Dr. Catherine Stigny, regional director for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, announced the award and handed a ceremonial check to local leaders. "It is my pleasure on behalf of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to present you with this check for $62,000,000," Stigny said, addressing the Martin County Board of Education and county officials.
The grant follows a competitive 2024–25 DPI funding cycle. Stigny said the cycle drew 122 applications requesting about $1.78 billion; she said DPI awarded seven grants from roughly $368 million that was available for new schools in the cycle.
A district presenter described the existing high school as more than 50 years old with accessibility limitations and undersized program spaces, and said the building currently faces "over $5,000,000 in needed repairs," including roof, plumbing and fire-alarm work. Those repair needs, the presenter said, helped drive the district's push for a new facility.
A member of the Martin County Board of Education thanked DPI and county leaders and said the planning process is already underway. "Construction will begin on the new Martin County High School within the next 2 years," the board member said.
Officials at the ceremony repeatedly framed the project as more than a building: they said the consolidated high school — formed this year by merging two former high schools — is intended to expand academic and extracurricular opportunities and serve as a focal point for the community.
No formal vote or county appropriation was recorded at the ceremony; presenters said the grant award will fund the new-school construction and that further planning and procurement steps are expected as the district moves toward breaking ground.
The district and DPI did not provide a detailed construction schedule, budget breakdown beyond the $62 million award, or an exact date for groundbreaking at the event. Officials said they will proceed with planning and design work in the months ahead.
