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Haywood County approves $1.55 million school capital pull-down for land purchase and innovative middle school renovations
Summary
The board approved a $1,548,500 pull from the public schools capital fund to buy three parcels (16.29 acres) adjacent to an elementary school for $648,500 and to allocate up to $900,000 for renovations to the HCC Poplar Building to host an innovative middle-school program and early-college reconfiguration.
Assistant Superintendent Graham Hayes told the board that Haywood County Schools requested a pull-down of $1,548,500 from the public schools capital fund: $648,500 to purchase three parcels totaling 16.29 acres adjacent to an elementary school (79 Francis Farm Road) and up to $900,000 to renovate the Poplar Building on the HCC campus to house an innovative middle-school program and to relocate the early college.
"The first part there, 648,500 is for the purchase price of that property... The property owner came to us on that. We didn't seek it," Hayes said. He described the potential to add buffer acreage around the elementary school and to repurpose the Poplar Building for early-college and an immersive, accelerated middle-school curriculum that could grow over time. Hayes said there are currently about 160–170 early college participants and that the proposed reconfiguration could initially enroll 50–60 middle-school students and expand later.
Commissioners discussed funding streams including lottery funds and provisions in the state House budget that may support career-education pathways and classroom-size flexibility; the board approved the appropriation by voice vote. Hayes noted the board of education had recommended the acquisition and that the purchase reflects an opportunistic offer and long-term strategic value.
