THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 31, 1997 TAG: 9701310740
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE ISLAND LENGTH: 42 lines
The Dare County Board of Education has identified $51 million worth of projects - including a second high school north of Oregon Inlet - as top priorities in the school system's blueprint for 21st century facilities.
The seven-member panel will decide today if additional projects will be added to a proposed bond package.
The Dare County Board of Education will meet at 1 p.m. at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island to continue work on the bond package. The session - the second in a series of bond workshops - is open to the public, but no public comment will be taken.
School Superintendent Leon Holleman said Wednesday night that the board will try to reach agreement on additional items for a final spending plan.
``I guess we'll revisit the areas where there was no consensus,'' Holleman said by phone from his home. ``They'll look to see if that fits in the list of priorities. I can't say what they'll add in or what they'll take out, or if they'll put in or take out anything at all.''
As part of the list of top projects, the School Board at a Jan. 21 workshop included:
A new beach high school for about $23 million, based on estimates by the Wilmington consulting firm Boney Architects. The School Board expressed reservations about additions, such as a $3.6 million performing arts center, $1.8 million for an auxiliary gym and $5.4 million for a competition pool.
Renovations at Manteo Middle School for an estimated $3.37 million, including a new 11,000-square-foot multipurpose room.
Improvements and renovations at Cape Hatteras School for $11.2 million.
Renovations at Manteo High for $4.1 million.
Purchase of property on Hatteras Island, Roanoke Island and in the Nags Head-Kill Devil Hills area for new schools.
Spending $7.7 million for maintenance of all school buildings. The board drew heavy criticism at a series of December meetings concerning conditions at schools.
The Board of Education has pointed to May 6 as a date for a possible school bond vote. To legally call a referendum on that date, the Dare County Board of Commissioners must adopt a resolution by Feb. 17 authorizing the vote.