MCEDP

Voters showed their overwhelming support for better school facilities and educational opportunities in Moore County by approving a $123 million bond referendum for Moore County Schools and Sandhills Community College in the May 8^th primary election.

“When we told people what this was about, everybody said ‘yes,’ and they jumped on board and they wanted to be a part of this movement,” said Helena Wallin-Miller, chair of the Moore County Board of Education.

The $103 million bond for Moore County Schools will finance building, furnishing, and equipping three (3) new 800-student public elementary schools that are scheduled to open in 2020 in Aberdeen and Southern Pines and 2021 in Pinehurst.  In Aberdeen, the existing Aberdeen Primary and Aberdeen Elementary Schools will be consolidated and replaced by a new elementary school for grades K-5 to be located on NC Highway 5.  The existing Southern Pines Primary and Southern Pines Elementary Schools will be also consolidated and replaced by a new K-5 elementary school to be located off of Morganton Road next to The Legends at Morganton Park apartment complex.  The existing school buildings will be closed and sold.  A new elementary school in Pinehurst will replace Pinehurst Elementary School at its current location.

The new schools will feature modern architecture, improved interior configurations to support collaborative learning, and updated infrastructure to house advanced technology. They will be built to strict safety standards using efficient and cost-effective materials to reduce maintenance and annual operating costs.  These schools will make a huge positive impression in our communities.

Kathryn Chow, a Sandhills Farm Life Elementary School parent, said she received “markedly positive” feedback from voters during the election.  “They want better schools, better educational opportunities for future generations,” she said.

The $20 million bond for Sandhills Community College (SCC) is scheduled for issuance in 2022. The bond will be used to construct a health education facility on SCC’s Pinehurst campus to house its flagship nursing program and other health science programs.

Graduates of Sandhills’ nursing program in particular are in high demand by the local healthcare system FirstHealth of the Carolinas and other medical centers in the region.  The new health building at SCC will provide a realistic hospital setting with more learning spaces for students and will also feature an updated infrastructure to support the latest technology-based equipment such as simulators.

Moore County recognizes that supporting education is one of the most important investments a community can make to ensure a thriving economy and a high quality of life for its residents.  We are excited about the bright future for our children and for our County!