I-SS Board approves name for new high school, votes to accept $2.2 million to bolster COVID-19 contact-tracing efforts

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman

BY KARISSA MILLER

The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education approved the name Weathers Creek High School for the district’s next high school during its regular meeting earlier this week.

The name “Weathers Creek” was recommended by a committee tasked with bringing the board options for naming the school.

The new school will be located off Overcash Road in Troutman. The district earmarked $80 million from the voter-approved 2020 school bond referendum for this project.

I-SS purchased the 106-acre parcel in 2008 to address growth in the area and overcrowding in the high schools in the southern end of the county.

Board Chairman Martin Page said that the project is behind schedule due to the pandemic and other factors. Final plans have still not been drawn yet for board approval.

Page predicted that the high school will open in time for the 2024-2025 or 2025-2026 school year.

The board opted not to choose the school’s colors, deciding to let future students choose.

Other Business

Also during the Sept. 13 meeting, the board:

• Approved an Innovative Partnership Grant at Pressly Schools in the amount of $946,117. The grant will last three years and will fund a mentoring program. Additionally, the school will use funds to start up a screen-printing business. The school had all the equipment donated and the grant will help with the initial cost of starting up the business, including training, supplies and incidentals. Funds from the grant will also help the school implement, research-based school improvements.

• Approved the 21st Century Grant in the amount of $127,860.72 for three years for a total of $383,582.16. The grant will benefit elementary students from N.B. Mills, Third Creek and Pressly School through a six-week summer program that will operate Monday through Thursday and focus on academic enrichment, social and emotional programs.

• Approved Department of Health and Human Services K-12 Testing and Staffing program public school opt-in registration. I-SS will use the funds — approximately $2.2 million — pending release within the state budget process to hire additional staff to help the school nurses with COVID-19 contact tracing.

• Approved architects for Lake Norman Elementary and Harmony Elementary Schools. Architectural Firms selected to plan these projects are Adams and Associates for Harmony Elementary School’s fourth- and fifth-grade wing replacement and ADW for Lake Norman Elementary’s gym and classroom addition.