Schools approve $146M in needs

Onslow County Schools has more than $146 million in urgent needs, according to Jeff Hudson, Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services, and now the school system is looking for a way to pay for them.

Under the 2009-14 Capital Improvement Program, $146,412,365 worth of major construction is needed, according to information provided by Onslow County Schools.

Those needs include technology, roof replacements and new schools to replace Richlands Elementary and Dixon Middle, plus additional construction to Richlands High, Parkwood Elementary and Northwoods Park Middle, according to the information.

Plans are also in the works for a new Southern Onslow Elementary School and the Career Launch Technology Center.

According to the school system's projected capacity, by 2014, 13 schools - including Richlands High, Trexler Middle, Southwest Middle, Southwest Elementary, Richlands Elementary and Richlands Primary - will be over 105 percent of its capacity. Dixon High would be between 100 and 105 percent of its capacity.

Once a new Dixon Middle is built, Dixon High would be able to absorb part of the middle school's current campus to help with its overcrowding, Hudson told the board.

"There are many projects ... that will help multiple school sites," he said.

According to the information from Onslow County Schools, a new Southern Onslow Elementary would ease crowding at Southwest and Dixon elementary schools, while a new Jacksonville Area Middle School would take some of the pressure off Hunters Creek, Jacksonville Commons and Swansboro middle schools.

"This is a large menu of need," Hudson said, explaining that he hopes to keep the cost down.

The Board of Education approved the Capital Improvement Program in light of projected school capacities and gave Hudson and the Auxiliary Services staff permission to pursue funding for the projects.

"(We) have the responsibility of looking at many different funding options," he said.

They plan to look at the federal stimulus package, competitive impact aid grants, state stabilization funds, no-interest or low-interest bonds, a local bond referendum, land donations and equipment donations, Hudson said.

"We believe as we move forward that the business community will once again step forward with us," he said.

Swansboro Mayor Scott Chadwick thought that would happen as well.

"The businesses and the people in Swansboro will be glad to help you because we know how important it is," he told the Board moments before Tuesday night's meeting was adjourned.

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at 910-219-8461 or ahickey@freedomenc.com.