Concerns and stances discussed about Bladen County Schools consolidations

Though they have also dicussed possibly merging some of the primary schools into the middle schools (where they would both be housed in the same facility), Penny and Taylor explained that cost savings were much greater when combining like schools with like schools. When like schools consolidate, each school’s smaller classes can then be absorbed into each other requiring less teaching positions, administration, and general resources to maintain. Though not as much, there would still be some degree of savings by moving the middle and elementary schools to one site as it would cut energy costs and would require less maintenance and support staff. Taylor mentioned that if they were to do this in Clarkton (or merged only one of their schools with another in the county), the current Booker T. Washington Primary would be a good site to use for training since it has a new roof and since the county no longer owns the old School of Extended Hope (where they previously trained).

While savings wouldn’t be as considerable by merging Tar Heel Middle and Plain View Primary, they agreed that the schools on that end of the county should be addressed first. Since Tar Heel Middle is the oldest school in the county and is closest to Cumberland County, the board felt that by prioritizing new construction there first (be it via a merged Dublin Primary and Plain View Primary or via a merged Plain View Primary and Tar Heel Middle ) businesses and families overflowing out of Fayetteville would possibly be more inclined to settle in Bladen County due to having more modern facilities comparable to Cumberland County’s.

No matter what configuration the board decides on, be it consolidations of like schools or simply rebuilding new buildings to replace the current ones, they all agreed that new construction for at least the oldest facilities was definitely necessary and should be their first priority.  They all want to hold community forums to hear community feedback, but they agreed to discuss the information with the County Commissioners first to see if new construction is even a possibility and, therefore, worth taking the time and energy to discuss further.

While new facilities would of course require some additional funding, Taylor discussed ways that the remaining debt on the two high schools could be paid down quicker in order for new construction to be addressed sooner. Possible revenue discussed included lottery funding, Capital Outlay (while saving some to address issues of current facilities as they arise), county funds, and other utility cost savings.  With these possible revenue sources coming from preexisting funds/resources, there could already be approximately $1,971,501.00 to go towards the debt. As it stands now, the debt for the previously built high schools will be paid off in 2021, so any consolidations or new schools will not be an actuality until 2019.