FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners have agreed to spend $130 million to pay for construction of the new Weathers Creek High School.
Iredell-Statesville Schools asked for about $152 million to pay for construction, site work, furnishings and other necessities associated with building the school, which is planned for 114 acres off Overcash Road.
Voters approved $80 million for the high school in 2020, and commissioners agreed earlier this year to borrow another $40 million.
During the pre-agenda meeting on Tuesday afternoon, Vice Chairman Bert Connolly told I-SS Superintendent Jeff James and other district representatives that the county would draw down an additional $10 million from its fund balance for the project.
“I think we are being generous,” Connolly said during Tuesday’s meeting.
The $130 million will not cover the cost of athletic facilities, including sports fields and concession stands.
Post-pandemic estimates for the project, which were in the $190 million to $200 million range, caused considerable heartburn for the commissioners, who have been critical of the school board for not starting the project after the 2020 bond referendum. Mooresville Graded School District received funding for a middle school as a result of the same referendum. Construction of that school was completed in time for the 2023-2024 school year.
In June, commissioners shot down a $143 million bid for Weathers Creek High that had been recommended by I-SS officials.
On Tuesday, James asked the commissioners for a “hard number” that he could take back to the contractor.
“If you tell me what price you are willing to go, we’ll sit down with Monteith and see what we can do,” James said.
“I never want to build another high school in my life,” he added.
I-SS officials said the new school, which will have a capacity of 1,600 students, is needed to alleviate overcrowding at Lake Norman High School and South Iredell High School.
When construction of Weathers Creek High is complete — in two to three years, I-SS will redraw individual school district boundaries. About 700 of the students will come from the existing Lake Norman district and 500 from the South Iredell district, James said.
“My hopes are we would not need another high school for 10 to 15 years,” the superintendent said.
The district’s next pressing need is for a new elementary school. County commissioners have begun setting aside $10 million per year to pay for that school.
James estimated the cost of constructing the elementary school at $45 million.
It is past time for a new high school. Overcrowding has been an issue for a long time. One elementary school should have already started. As slow as ISS has been children will have more crowding in the near future. If more houses are built they will have children with no room to go to school. All of these homes will pay property tax. Use that money to build more schools.
Even before this school opens its doors for the fist student it will be outdated and over populated due to the the out of control growth and lack of a long-term plan by elected officials and the dysfunctional I-SS school board.
Scrambling to keep their seats in November, Iredell County commissioners approve $130 million for Weathers Creek High School.
I would like for the issue of ‘lottery money’ for construction of schools to be brought up. My understanding years ago that was the reasoning for approval of state’s lottery monies. Nothing is ever said or brought up about that. Seems that some money would come from the lottery for the construction of Weathers Creek High School.
To reply to Janice: When the lottery passed schools got 45 percent. Now it is about 17 percent. Talk to your elected representatives in Raleigh.
Lottery proceeds lookup by county.
https://nclottery.com/EducationCounty/Iredell
It definitely was originally sold as an “Education Lottery” to get folks to along with it. But the only folks who have been schooled were the taxpayers, as the money has gradually been diverted elsewhere.