By Charlotte Smith
Photos by Noelia Hatchell with CAB Marketing, LLC
In a noteworthy development for the community, Bladen County Schools has officially confirmed the completion of the Tar Heel School project in Bladen County, marking the culmination of over a year of dedicated construction efforts. This significant achievement ushers in a new era for education in the area, and its impact is set to be felt by both students and the local community.
Plainview Primary and Tar Heel Middle School students will share the new educational facilty. This month’s announcement of the newly constructed K-8 school building marks a new chapter in their academic lives.
The Tar Heel School project, with a budget of $47 million, has been a long-awaited and eagerly anticipated endeavor. Today, the realization of this work was announced by Elly Johnson from Bladen County Schools through an email communication. She stated, “Our students at Tar Heel School will be remote learning this week and will begin classes in the new building on Monday, January 8, 2024.”
One popular feature of the project is the addition of two classrooms to each wing of the school. This expansion was deemed necessary due to legislative class size regulations, ensuring optimal learning conditions for students. Beyond the immediate needs, the school has been constructed with an eye toward the future, designed for scalability and energy efficiency.
In a step towards sustainability, the school now boasts solar panels, harnessing solar power to reduce its environmental footprint. Furthermore, all lighting within the school has been upgraded to energy-efficient LED fixtures, aligning with a commitment to eco-friendliness.
According to reports, Bladen County Schools has also secured a new grant that will enable the addition of five electric buses to their fleet. The transformation doesn’t end there. The old Tar Heel Middle School will soon make way for a new parking lot, catering to the school’s and community’s growing needs. Notably, this new facility will also include community charging stations for electric vehicles.
With the completion of the Tar Heel School project, Bladen County stands at the threshold of a brighter and more environmentally-conscious future for education. As students step into their new learning environment and the community embraces these modern amenities, the impact of this accomplishment will be felt for generations to come.
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